Thanks again to SparklingStone and her beta work on this chapter. Always appreciated! I apologize for the longer than usual delay for posting a new chapter. It might be in your best interest to re-read Chapter 8 prior to reading this one if it's been awhile. I suppose part of the reason why it took me so long is there is a major character introduced in this chapter, one I had pondered about including but ultimately I did...now there's no turning back on that guy.
Proximity: Chapter 9
After Kal El's conversation with Richard, Lois, freshly showered sat at the kitchen table, unfolded the Daily Planet and with a comfortable cadence, sipped a fresh cup of coffee. As her eyes flew through the pages to check up on the inter-office competition, she was unable to keep her attention on the pages of newsprint. Her mind sprung backward.
A long time ago Lois, you knew everything about me.
Kal El's abrupt departure occurred without a word shared between them and Richard had been the messenger after she came out of the shower. The news had not been a surprise; both of them knew she watched the entire interaction between the men from the cracked window upstairs as well as his flight into the early winter sky. A small portion of her was relieved he regained the ability to fly, but disappointment proved a dominant emotion as he soared into the blinding sunlight.
Once again, things remained open ended between them. She sighed. Would that ever change? She loved him that much she was certain, but that was it. Kal El remained an incredible unknown figure other than the journalistic facts in her arsenal. It was a strong internal conflict that weaved itself between her right and left brain; it just did not seem plausible to have a genuine relationship with someone who was so much a mystery.
At some point, Lois felt certain that eventually Kal-El would reveal the elusive events that had occurred between them years ago…however, when that would transpire was an entirely different source of irritation altogether. Every fiber of her body hummed in anticipation of that meeting.
She was restless.
A meager substitute of keeping tabs on her colleagues would have to suffice until that time came. Lois returned her attention to the pages of the paper in her lap.
The commonplace satisfaction surged as she found her front page article: " One-on One with Mayor Furgeson." Her hands rubbed together in anticipation. She knew her inquiry had pushed the mayor's buttons about the lagging construction, not to mention the questionable contracts Metropolis had drafted with Patrinelli Industries to repair subterranean tunnels that had been damaged in the earthquake.
The infrastructure of the outdated tunnels that had been used a century ago to transport coal to the furnaces of the older buildings in Metropolis's New Troy district had been badly damaged and were in need of repair. The reinforcements had been critical as warned by Mayor Furgeson, to prevent a collapse of the tunnels and buildings above in the financial district of Metropolis. It was in that area of the city, where over fifty-percent of the buildings had been built prior to the twentieth century and their instability threatened the streets and buildings above if they were not repaired.
There had been glaring evidence of favoritism with the city contracts and she had relentlessly probed the mayor about the matter. Her eyes widened in shock. This was not her article…it had been butchered. None of her query regarding his questionable behavior had been printed. Zilch. None of it.
Any component of questionable integrity on Mayor Furgeson's part was missing. Her interview and harsh line of inquiry had been reduced to a pathetic public relations piece that merely provided an update of the re-construction and the start date for reinforcing the underground tunnels that lay beneath the city.
Lois ferociously slammed the paper onto the table. Richard jumped in surprise at the sudden disturbance in their awkward silence.
"I'll tell Ella you've gone into work for awhile." He said in response to the commonplace behavior.
"Thanks…that idiot uncle of yours butchered my article, day off my left foot…" She thundered through the hall as she grabbed her purse.
"Wait, where's Lucy?"
"Had to go to work, she left you a note on the counter it looks like."
"I'll read it when I get back, I might need an alibi too…" The keys jingled as the door groaned open and shortly after, slammed shut.
Richard sighed as he turned his attention away from the front door back to the vacant seat, abandoned coffee, and paper. A leaden ache weighed on his chest as he scanned across the familiar house. He wandered into the living room.
So many wonderful things happened here, it was all over now. His fingertips traced over Jason's keyboard; leaving trails in the dust that had accumulated on its surface. Tears welled in his eyes as he pensively gazed out along the gleaming water and his float plane that gently rocked.
The worn man pushed his hair back and looked down upon the sudden embrace around his waist.
"Daddy! You're home! I missed you." A pair of young unearthly blue eyes looked up at him. He did not see his son anymore, but a far younger version of the man of steel…one who looked upon him with admiration.
"I missed you Jason." He knelt down and enveloped the boy. Richard closed his eyes and swallowed to will the tears away. A week ago, things were so simple, however true to form, life rarely remained tranquil and sedate. Raising his son was far less complicated when he was blissfully unaware that it was the man of steel's child who listened to his nightly stories and was tucked beneath the blankets.
Superman had bestowed the approval of Richard to serve as Jason's custodial father. It was an enormous undertaking and one he doubted of his worthiness and ability to perform adequately. How on earth would he be able to instill in his son the strong moral compass he would need to serve humanity as selfless as the father who soared in the skies?
Perry White paced the floors of his office. Faded photographs rattled in their frames on the desk with each footstep. Despite the drawn blinds, everyone in the newsroom within twenty feet of the editor-in-chief's office was able to discern each syllable of the tongue lashing Lois Lane was receiving.
"You've got to be off your rocker Lane. First of all, I gave you the day off so you've got no business being here. Second, what kind of stunt was that you pulled in there?" Perry thundered as he gestured toward the general direction of the conference room.
The brunette coldly retaliated. "Nothing compared to the fluff piece of crap you had the nerve to print in my name."
Perry ignored her and continued. "Lois, you were inches away from getting canned. The new owner hasn't even met you." His hand loosened the thick tie as he continued to pace.
"Well he's met me now…"
"Hell of a first impression Lane. You had NO business horning in on that meeting—"
"About as much business as you had printing that article." She rose and stood in her editor's path.
"Drop it Lois," he growled in warning.
"Please," she huffed. "You raked me over the coals less than twenty-four hours ago. I seem to remember sitting here listening to you rant that I missed the guts of this piece..." a paper waved in the air dramatically. "Yet you went ahead and removed any potential meat that existed in the first place! If that's not a hypocrite, then what is?"
"Lois, leave it." The heavy bark in his voice contradicted the editor's reluctance to meet her eyes. Perry did not back down from Lois Lane, however he never dismissed her without a logical counter to her protests either.
"I never thought I'd see the day when you wanted a puff piece on the front page Perry. If that's what you want then fine, but I'm the wrong gal for the job."
"And if you want to keep your job Lane, you're going to leave my office, go upstairs and apologize to the new owner of The Planet for disrupting the senior management meeting."
Confused, Lois opened her mouth, and hovered momentarily in the doorway. Her editor vehemently despised puff pieces. In fact, his willingness to kowtow to management troubled her; it was something rarely seen from the editor.
"Lois" he spoke somberly. "I suggest you get up there before continuing your day off."
She slammed the door. Lois was not defeated; it was worse. She had been dismissed.
As Clark feverishly hammered on his keyboard, it was painfully clear only her partner seemed oblivious to the firestorm that had just transpired within the confines of Perry White's office. He was in deep shit with her and he knew it.
On second thought: no, he was not oblivious; the farm boy ignored it, which was exactly why he had not even acknowledged her presence. Right Clark, failure to make eye contact and acknowledge me is going to save your sorry butt, like that's worked for you before.
The female reporter in a casual sweater and worn jeans sharply contrasted the suits of her colleagues and consequently, drew more attention than usual. Lois strode over to her partner's desk, her gym shoes halted directly at his chair.
"Hello asshole."
Clark's fingers froze over the keyboard in surprise at the abrupt greeting.
She declined to wait for the anticipated raise of his eyebrows or the trademark stunned expression that she knew would follow. Lois felt his eyes on her as he watched her briskly walk to the elevators. Yeah buddy, I know you're watching me, and that's right, you're in trouble.
"Come in Lois, I've been told you're coming up to see me." A calm low voice sounded as the fuming female reporter paused at the door.
Lois walked into the owner's expansive office. The slender middle-aged man in a black suit cut a sharp contrast to the brilliant light that poured in from the floor to ceiling windows. The Metropolis skyline consumed the backdrop. The blue eyes of the new owner followed the Daily Planet's prized reporter as she made her way to his desk.
The woman who was his employee, refrained from sitting; a maneuver to maintain physical dominance and one he appreciated. It would be tolerated. After all, her articles alone that pertained to Superman kept enough revenue flowing into the paper's bank accounts despite the difficult financial times. Additionally, Lois Lane had no perception whatsoever of how useful she had been to him in the short timeframe since he had found her.
"Well Miss Lane..." his arm extended. "Pleasure to meet you. I've heard many incredible things about your history here at The Planet."
Unfazed by the compliment, Lois blinked and firmly clasped the warm hand. "Thank you Mr. Fine."
"Call me Tony." Lois glanced down at the polished brass name plate that read "Milton Fine."
"Tony…" Lois corrected herself. The somewhat admittedly handsome man's blue eyes crinkled at the corners in a warm smile.
"I don't anticipate such impromptu meetings as before, now that we're acquainted properly."
"No, of course not Tony. That is, if you'll refrain from blatant forms of yellow-journalism. Especially pieces that have my name on them. I thought that sort of thing fell out of favor and was frowned upon after William Randolph Hurst left the newspaper industry."
Despite the verbal attack, The Planet's owner remained calm and tended to the papers on his desk that had previously occupied his attention. Tony made a few scratches in pen and without glancing upward, responded.
"I don't support yellow-journalism in any shape or form," his eyes then darted upward and back. "Even from you Lois. Especially with the credentials and Pulitzer behind your name, I was surprised at the sloppy article on the front page."
"Sloppy…" she hissed as her eyes narrowed. The blatant insult was intolerable. To hell with the promise made to Perry, this guy was dead meat. He could not fire her, he needed her. She knew it.
"Yes, sloppy. I only plan on improving upon The Daily Planet's strong reputation and caliber of journalism. I won't rest on the laurels of previous accolades and neither should you."
"My article was butchered," she growled. If this moron intended to threaten or impress her with his stature, large office or tactics, he failed.
"No Lois, it was kept clean, just the facts." An eyebrow rose as Fine insinuated she had written a work of fiction for the front page. "This is what I expect consistently. I hope I make myself clear."
"Crystal," she replied coolly and turned on her heel as the dismissive tone in Tony Fine's voice made it apparent she was no longer needed in his office.
At the door and in mid stride, her mind flashed suddenly to a vivid daydream.
"We've been through these hallucinations of yours before Lois. You almost threw yourself off a building thirty stories up! Can't you see what a tragic mistake you made?"
"See Clark," Lois swallowed as a hand adjusted the towel around her otherwise naked body. "I made a mistake alright, because I risked my life instead of yours." A flash of metal gleamed as she aimed a pistol directly at her partner.
"Lois…don't be insane," Panic spread across Clark's face as her hand grew sweaty against the ice cold steel of the weapon. "What are you doing?"
"Something I should have done a long time ago." Her gaze remained unblinking. His eyes frantically flew between her own and the barrel of the gun. His hand slowly rose in protest and fear as he retreated toward the far end of the room. "Now don't fall down, because you're just going to have to get back up again."
"D-don't be crazy now… LOIS!"
The trigger clicked. "BANG"
In rapid succession her hand flew backward with the pistol's harsh recoil. Reflexively, Lois had closed her eyes. When they opened, her partner's stunned expression remained, large blue eyes in question. His frame had been hunched forward and both hands grasped his stomach.
Slowly Clark's hands slid to his sides. The shirt was white…spotless, no blood. A chill shot through her spine.
"Lois?" Milton Fine's deep commanding voice hoisted the disturbed woman into the present situation. "Was there anything else?" His tone curious.
"Um actually yes, there was. Earlier today, I should have knocked first." Fine's eyebrows raised in suspicion. Perry had pleaded earlier not to evoke a harsh retaliation in trade for an apology from Lois. "That and I shouldn't have yelled when I interrupted your meeting."
"On most occasions such an incredibly unprofessional display from a staff reporter would merit a dismissal…" Lois failed to flinch as Fine continued. "Or at least a firm reprimand." He folded his arms and leaned back in the chair, contemplating his next choice of words.
"Oh Tony, don't misunderstand me…" her arms folded. "I wasn't sorry for interrupting. Just sorry I didn't knock."
"I'm willing to overlook it this occasion and not fire you under one condition…"
Lois suddenly felt an eerie sensation creep beneath her flesh, as if she were about to make a deal with the devil.
"Go on…what would that condition be?"
"You need to attend the Pulitzer awards."
"I've made it quite clear, Milton…I'm not going to that dog and pony show."
"That's a shame." Tony Fine's throat cleared. "I hope then that you'll enjoy the remainder of the year in the basement in the add placement department…unless you're willing to re-consider."
"You're threatening me..."
"No Lois, I'm not. It's what will happen if you don't accompany your editor to the awards dinner. I don't care if you go with a date or stag, but you're going. It's the first year Columbia University has chosen to move the awards to Metropolis and upgrade the profile to a dinner award ceremony instead of a luncheon. How would it look if the most famous recipient in recent memory of a Metropolis paper was not in attendance? I would highly doubt our city would ever host it again and it will end up back at Columbia in New York." Lois opened her mouth to protest but was silenced with Fine's last statement. "You're going and if you must bring a date, it would be nice if your ex fiancé would attend with you, considering you're both staff here. If you and your ex-fiancé can put aside your squabbles for a night that is..."
"I'll be ready at 6:30," she muttered as her feet sprinted for the exit.
"Thank you, expect the car at 6:30 then."
Fantastic, she needed a date. Like hell she would go with Richard. There were some things that were just cruel and beyond any form of torture he deserved, and a Pulitzer dinner would definitely fall into that category.
After Lois Lane left his office, Tony Fine swiveled his chair to face the Metropolis skyline.
"Hmm. Interesting" he pondered. His eyes searched across the horizion for the man who could fly. "Strange dream you had there Lois."
Perhaps it would not be so difficult to find Jor-El's son after all. When he was not in the skies above, he was in the newsroom, right below.
The violent interruption and vivid scene that had flashed across her mind a few minutes prior elicited an uncontrollable tremor as she struggled to regain a steady hand to push the elevator button. It seemed so…so…real.
It could not, no; it was absolute absurdity that she voluntarily shot her partner. It had been as vivid as the recent odd dreams. But what plagued her and proved most incredibly disturbing, was this time, she had been awake.
The door flung open and Lois scanned the floor…she had to find a date. Maybe Gil was available.
"Gil!" She called. The heavier man's head turned in response. Lois weaved through the desks. "You busy Friday night?"
"Um, yeah Lane." He scratched his greying temple with a pencil. "Bowling league."
"Can't you get out of it? I'm sure you'd much rather go to the Pulizer dinner…" She soothed convincingly.
He snorted. "Right. Like I'd jump at the chance to watch someone else accept an award I'd kill to have." He shook his head. "Not likely."
"There's always next year for you…"
"No can do Lois…I'm the best one on the team, I'll never live it down if I don't go. It's playoffs." He patted her on the back. "But congrats Lane, why isn't your fiancé going with you?"
"I'm not getting into this right now," she muttered as she stomped off.
Her stomach sank as she approached her own desk and swiftly avoided the one nearby. There was only one other man who would suffice…the man in her dream. Great. Clark Kent.
After Clark had returned briefly to his apartment for a fresh suit and shower, his phone vibrated with a text message. It was from Lieutenant Maggie Sawyer. "We need to talk, pronto. Something's about ready to break wide open. Need to give you a heads up."
Early in the morning, the smell of stale coffee from the night shift and dust mingled in the air of the central Metropolis Police station. The detective division was rather calm today.
The tall reporter's head was bent over a stack of police reports. His audio recorder whirred as Maggie Sawyer recanted the investigation into rumored bribes exchanged for city contracts with Patrinelli Industries. The system of underground tunnels that had remained from the city's coal consumption days was an expansive network beneath the streets and buildings of the financial district.
"Mayor Furgeson and the city structural engineers have deemed seventy-five percent of these tunnels structurally compromised from the earthquake."
"If the structures were deemed so important to repair why did the project take six months to gain approval? How did they justify these contracts?" Clark pondered as he scanned the contents from one of the manila folders. "Patrinelli certainly wasn't the most financially savvy of the offers."
"No, most expensive actually," Sawyer grumbled and sipped her coffee. "Raised a few eyebrows. Especially since there had been previous associations and allegations that the company has ties to the mob."
"Hmmm." Clark scratched his hairline with the end of the pen.
"Yeah…exactly. Fishy isn't it?"
"I'm assuming you found something, since you called."
"Well, tried to call Lane, she's been hounding me all week about it, but couldn't reach her, so here you are. We found something alright…only 25% of the tunnels were severely compromised enough to warrant temporary restrictions to the buildings above." On the computer at her desk, Sawyer pulled up an overlay of the tunnels and Metropolis streets of the financial district. "The section of New Troy…" her finger traced along the screen "were the most damaged. Where the quake hit on land first seems to be it. Near the sea wall."
Clark surveyed the map of the extensive historic tunnel system below the streets and buildings. The Daily Planet's area map was shaded in yellow, an indicator that there were minor damages to the tunnel.
"What would happen if the repairs weren't made?"
"Engineers say the tunnels could flood from the bay, every basement in the downtown would be a swimming pool…not to mention a high probability that the buildings above could collapse with all that water sitting there to seep into the soil below their foundations."
The reporter's eyes flashed with alarm. The subtle change did not go undetected by his police contact.
"Scary shit huh?" Clark nodded as the Lieutenant continued. "Yeah, but that's only for the 25% of the structures that were severely damaged…not all of it. Here's the sketchy part." Lieutenant Sawyer pulled a file folder at the bottom of the pile. Her dominating frame bent forward as she quietly continued. "The contractor's not starting the reinforcements near the bay like you'd think."
In response, Clark's eyebrows raised in suspect.
"Turn of the recorder Kent…this is between us."
The recorder fell silent as the operator of the machine mimicked the Lieutenant, leaning forward. "Go on."
"They're re-vamping the entire network of tunnels, starting this week." The older woman leaned back. "That's all I can give you Kent." A piece of paper in her scribble laid on top of the file. "Watch your back, bullets won't bounce off. Something's up." The reporter nodded. "Take care Kent."
"See you Sawyer."
A pair of harried hands swept through the scattered contents of paper, memory sticks and pads with scribbles at Lois Lane's desk. The woman who burned with indignation scooped what she had been searching for into the expansive purse. Purposely, Lois made a concise effort to avoid all eye contact with her partner who's eyes bore into the back of her head, almost one hundred percent guaranteed.
Regrettably, Clark was the only option for a date; however procrastination for a few moments would lessen the sting of the humility. Especially after the incredibly cordial and warm greeting she gave him earlier.
"Lois, look." He was inches behind her; the warmth that radiated from him was palpable through her thin sweater. His scent was unmistakable and elicited a shiver of goose pimples across her arms.
The flustered woman spun swiftly, her face was inches from the blue eyes that searched her face with remorse.
"Oh" she quipped with false bravado. "How kind of you to say hello…that is if you're not too busy to run home and feed your neighbor's damn cat. Because, you know, that's so important."
"I'm sorry I left yesterday, I had to-"
"Look Smallville," she stated with an air of indifference, "I get it. No big deal alright? Your flightiness, flimsy and pathetic excuses..."
Clark slightly winced with the sting her words carried. "I know that it wasn't the best timing."
"No Clark, it was not." The annoyed undertones accompanied a shrug. "Not much is different since the last time we…" her voice trailed as a sense of déjà vu filled her words. "Last time, well, you know...we worked together." Lois waved her hand as her attention returned to the purse she held. Suddenly the contents appeared far more intriguing than the other member of the conversation.
"One thing is different…"
"Oh really Clark? Explain it to me then. I must have missed it."
"You look at me differently; it's a bit unnerving actually." There, he had said it…he had to. It had become increasingly difficult to ignore the newfound softness in her eyes in the past few weeks. "I, I kind of like it."
Fellow reporters whose desks resided within the general vicinity had heard numerous squabbles between the reporting team; however this particular circumstance was extremely personal and had peaked the interest of their colleagues who were within earshot.
The clacking keyboards quieted a few decibels and decreased the speed in which the keys pounded. Apparently, they had not wanted to miss an opportunity to eavesdrop. Lois and Clark remained oblivious to their surroundings and the indiscrete audience.
Lois's eyes narrowed. "Just how is that…I look at you differently, and you-you like it?"
Clark's hands dug into the pockets of his suit to camouflage the genuine nervous fidgeting.
Lois continued. "Well, I'd wager the look I've given you recently, would be the look of disappointment. You know, the way I've felt around you lately. Disappointed, and you know something Kent? I've got you pegged." Her index finger was held directly in front of his nose. "It wasn't easy but I've finally got it."
"Oh you do." His stomach twisted in knots. Superman or not, Lois could be far more intimidating than he ever was. It was apparent she was furious at him.
"Yes Clark, I do. You're afraid of me."
"I'm afraid of you." He chuckled as he repeated Lois. Actually Lois, I'm terrified. I love you and I don't know how much longer I can keep it from you. But now isn't exactly the time for that discussion. I'm not going to out myself at work.
"Anytime I share one little detail about my personal life with you lately, you bail. Every. Single. Time."
She was still furious with him but couldn't ignore the way her stomach flipped when he was close. Damn it. At that moment, Lois knew she was between a larger rock and hard place than she had ever been wedged between before with the man of steel and her former fiancé.
No one could have ever predicted that Clark Kent would actually be substantial competition for any suitor, let alone the man of steel. This was ridiculous. Maybe it was just loneliness and desperation. Yes, desperation was a far more likely culprit.
"Lois," his voice dropped in register, a damn spine tingling one at that. There is something about this guy. "I'm not afraid of you."
"Yeah," she pushed. "Funny you never put money where your mouth is." What the hell are you doing Lane?
"Fine Lois," his voice grew in volume as the index finger of his hand pushed up the horn-rimmed glasses that slid. A hand of his partners flew to his hand and ceased the man's nervous habit.
"I need a date for the Pulitzer dinner." Her fingers pushed the glasses up his nose. The contact of their hands sizzled across the fingertips of Lois as she swallowed. "Looks like you're it." Her eyes bore into his.
Clark retreated but Lois held his hand firmly in plain sight. Her fingers relaxed, slipped through his as a crinkled piece of paper with her address and time "6:00" was left in place.
The fiery woman had already sprinted toward the elevator. She failed to break stride and did not turn back to the stunned man who still stood in front of her vacant chair. "Don't you dare be late Kent. No crappy excuses this time or I will hunt you down and kill you."
Clark glanced down at the paper in his hands that trembled. As he looked up, the swish of the elevator doors sounded as they slid shut. The metal embossed doors melted away as he sought the woman whose heart rate raced as rapidly as his own.
Behind the elevator doors, Lois closed her eyes, bent forward and pushed her forehead against the smoothly polished mahogany walls. "Oh what have I done?" she mumbled. "I just set myself up on a date." She sighed. "With my partner. I'm in trouble."
Her partner's gaze that gave the appearance of lost in thought watched Lois descend. The candid confession caused the corners of his mouth to twitch upward. Lois was as apprehensive as him in regards to their impending date. Good.
Alright...so hopefully now you know, Braniac's aka Milton "Tony" Fine is now involved in the story. The Plot thickens...I hope it was enjoyable. Please R & R. Constructive feedback is always welcome and helpful. Thanks! (I've got no preview for the next chap. Sorry!)