NOTE: Yes, I actually updated! Lol...Thanks for being patient and I hope this chap. is good to read. Richard begins to get over his grief and start wondering about stuff while Lois and Clark get another assignment...a very interesting assignment...Enjoy!
Lois was both dreading and anticipating going back to work. She enjoyed her job and being busy with investigating a prime story, but she also already missed the time spent with Clark and her son. The days of freedom in Smallville lingered in her mind as she sat at her desk. She looked around but did not see Clark.
She pulled up her pet project onto her computer screen and finished the last touches. "Why the World Needs Superman" was done at last.
Thwap!
The article slapped onto Perry's desk.
"There it is," said Lois. "I may have written "Why the World Doesn't Need Superman" but I'm hoping this will make up for it."
Perry nodded as he skimmed the typed pages, only half listening. There was that fiery gleam in his eye when he set it down. That was the same look that always came over him when he knew he had a good piece for his paper. He leaned back in his cushioned leather chair and entwined his fingers over his stomach.
"You may have yet another Pulitzer headed your way, Miss Lane. So are you ready for another juicy bit of journalism?"
"Of course."
"Good. I already have another assignment for you and Kent."
Lois's eyebrows rose. "Really?"
"Sit down." He opened the door, stuck his head out, and yelled for Clark. Clark came hurrying to the office. "The new big thing now is the land removal happening in a couple weeks out off the coast. The U.S. has decided to destroy what's left of Lex Luthor's last attempt at world domination."
Lois snuck a glance at Clark and thought she glimpsed the twitch of an amused smile on his lips. He really did talk with someone, she thought.
"You two will cover it," continued Perry. "I want you both to be there when it starts."
Lois was already getting interested and shifted eagerly in her chair. "Thanks chief. We get on a boat right?"
"Yeah, the best view and all that. You'll be on a boat with lots of other press though, so you'll still have to use your reporter talents. They swore they'd let you get real close." He rolled his eyes. "Whatever that means."
"Maybe we should get our own means of transportation," suggested Lois.
"No," Clark piped in abruptly, "uh, I think what we've got is fine. We don't want to get in their way or anything." He hung his head as two pairs of sharp eyes fell on him.
"What do you…? Oh. Yeah, it'll probably be fine, like Clark said." She closed her mouth and scolded herself. It was not just Clark Kent accompanying her but Superman. That much kryptonite was too risky for him to get close to again even though he lifted the whole crystalline mass before. She didn't want to replay that experience at all.
Perry looked at her like she lost her mind because of her uncharacteristic surrender, but he finally consented. "Two weeks from now, remember. Two weeks."
Clark's sleep was troubled with strange dreams. One in particular stayed with him when he awoke.
He opened his eyes to find himself in the Fortress of Solitude. He walked slowly to the panel where his special crystals had been before Lex stole them. He took a sharp intake of breath. They were back.
He hurried forward but before he could touch them, Jor-El appeared beside him.
"Father," he murmured.
"My son, they are not here."
"I know. Lex Luthor has them." He could not keep the anger from his voice.
"No, Kal-El. They are much farther away than that."
Clark took a step closer to his father. Was it an apparition just part of his dream? Or was there more to that glowing figure with deep blue eyes?
"Where are they?"
Jor-El's noble face darkened. "On the abominable combination of our crystal and kryptonite you put into the reaches of space."
"But…how am I to attain them again? I wouldn't be able to because of the kryptonite. If I got near it, who knows what would happen out in space."
"The further it drifts from this yellow sun of the earth, the less it will affect you. You may have to wait to retrieve them or not at all."
"I can't just let them go!" His voice softened. "They are all I have left of you and Lara. Through them you have guided me."
"We are still with you, Kal-El. We are always with you. How else am I speaking to you now? Do not fear the loss. In time, you may regain them, yet for now you must concentrate on more important things."
Clark thought he actually saw the hint of a smile on his father's lips. He reached out a hand, but as it nearly came in contact with Jor-El's, the dream ended.
Clark did not tell anyone about his dream, but Lois could sense a difference in his attitude the morning after at work. He had a gleam in his eyes that spoke of something troubling him. She had become familiar with Clark's behaviorisms and not just Superman's. She was glad she had an excuse to be around him at work without anyone being suspicious.
She sat on the end of his desk and his head came up quickly.
"Lois," he said with a push of his glasses.
"Hey Clark. You okay?"
"Uh, yeah. Maybe later we'll talk."
"All right. Care to talk about our story then?"
"I guess so. Thanks for covering for me with Perry. I feel guilty though for holding you back. You always want to go the extra mile—extra five miles!—and do anything for the best story, but this time you can't because of me."
"No, Clark, don't think that way." She laid a hand on his arm. "You're more important than a newspaper article."
Her hand jerked back to her lap when Jimmy came trotting up to Clark's desk.
"Hey guys!"
"Hey Jimmy," said Lois. "What's up?" She could see his eagerness.
"I just talked to the chief and it looks like I'll be coming with you guys for the kryptonite removal…thing. Got to get some good photos right?" He nudged Lois in the shoulder with his elbow.
"That's great Jimmy," said Clark with a grin after seeing Lois roll her eyes a bit. "Of course, you'd get better pictures in a helicopter or something other than a boat."
A light turned on in the younger man's face. "Hey, that's a great idea, Clark! I'm going to go ask chief about that. See you two later."
And he was gone as quickly as he came.
"Well, I'm going to go get some coffee," Lois said scooting off the desk to her feet. "Hopefully someone's made a better batch than last night's." She headed off to the employee lounge room.
Clark was left alone with his thoughts, and he was not so sure he was pleased with the fact. The dream with Jor-El had certainly left an impression. He wondered if he could ask Jor-El some of the questions lingering in the back of his mind while he dreamt.
Then he saw Lois carrying a styrofoam cup of coffee out of the employee lounge room. She walked with her head held high and a balanced confidence that set her apart. She bore a certain grace and beauty which earned her admiring glances wherever she went. There was no one quite like Lois Lane.
Wow, he thought, I don't know how I'm so fortunate. I hope I'm right planning this weekend. I've never felt more sure.
Lois found herself face-to-face with Richard. Clark knew he should be more discreet with his staring, but he had to see what they would do. He did not receive a warm smile or a hug this time, only a blank look. They exchanged a few words—Clark resisting eavesdropping—and Richard swept past her. Her eyes were downcast and she was biting her lower lip. Clark suddenly felt his plans slip through his fingers like grains of sand. No, it was not the right time. It was time she needed after her separation from Richard. He couldn't expect her to move on so fast without any repercussions after five years with him. She no longer held him so high in her heart, but the wound from the break was still not fully healed. So Clark knew he had to give her time, time before their own relationship deepened.
Jason's face shone like the sun when he saw Richard driving in to pick him up from school instead of his mom. He ran to the car without even realizing it. He had been running more often, the feel of the wind against his face and the freedom of speed exuberating for his unaccustomed body. But he had needed his inhaler a couple of instances still. He wished his body would make up its mind.
Richard drove back to the riverfront house, and Jason was glad to see it again. It was the place he had grown up, and it was strange to be in a small apartment now. Only being five he did not have a great store of memories but the few he held onto came rushing back.
He went to talk to Richard and found himself confused as to how to address him. Could he still call him 'dad' or could only one person be called that? Richard saw his bewildered look and knelt to his height there in the entry hall.
"What is it Jason?"
"What do I call you?"
Richard felt the sting to his open wounds. "Whatever you like. I know things are confusing right now, but you're still a son to me. I still want to be your dad. Do you know what I mean?"
Jason nodded. "Okay. Mommy always says I'll understand when I grow up."
"Yeah, you will. For now though don't worry about it." He stood. "So you ready for a plane ride?"
Jason stared down at his untied shoelaces on his left foot. He had flown with Superman up where the clouds dwelt and where seats and seatbelts were not necessary. Flying in a plane now seemed so much less of a thrill. He just did not feel the same excitement spring up inside.
He shook his head.
Richard frowned: Jason had never turned down time up in the air before. "Are you…Oh." He remembered the last time they flew and the seaplane malfunctioned. "It's perfectly safe. It's all fixed."
Jason shook his head again.
"That's all right. I understand." Richard suddenly felt an urge to ask the boy questions that were drifting around in his mind. After the split and Lois's move out, he heard nothing and knew nothing pertaining to her own life; especially with Superman. Had that caped crusader kept up his half of the relationship or had he left Lois to fend for herself? Yet would it be wrong to gather the information from Jason? He shoved the doubt aside: he wanted answers and he was still a reporter.
"Jason…how's mommy doing?"
"Good." He fidgeted with the cuff of his jacket.
"So she's happy at home?"
Jason shrugged. "She smiles a lot. I like it." He was young but understood well the need to protect Superman's secret, so he refrained from saying anything about Clark or Superman.
"That's good." Richard rubbed a hand along his strong jaw. "Um, have you seen Superman much?"
"Yeah."
"Really? How is that going?" A tinge of melancholy gleamed in his mild blue eyes.
"It's fun. I like him." He smiled from ear to ear.
"So your mom took two weeks off a while ago. Did you guys go somewhere?"
The boy's lips pressed tight together. Richard's brow rose and he guided Jason into the kitchen to get something to drink. Jason climbed into a chair and watched.
"Where did you go?" he pressed.
"I'm not supposed to tell anyone."
That surprised Richard even more. Why would Lois not want anyone to know where they went? Was it somewhere with Superman? Or what?
"Why is that, kiddo? Was it a bad place?"
Jason shook his head and kept his mouth closed.
"All right, all right. You don't have to tell me. So what do you want to eat?"
NOTE: Well, Lois and Clark's relationship has to stall a bit again, but it won't last forever...
Please review, send me comments, criticisms, questions...anything you like :)...
