A.N: This chapter is very special to me. It's probably the longest its taken me to write anything. I spent about 3 hours straight, with not so much as a bathroom break on this. I actually went to bed at 6:30 am, when the sun was rising, that night I wrote this... But it was worth it. I'm very proud of this. Now without further ado, the final chapter of The Beginning of the End. Remember there will be a sequel =]
Chapter 12
They arrived in Downtown Metropolis and looked around them.
"Wow", Bart breathed, taking in all the destruction, "It's worst than we thought…"
Clark glared in anger. He turned around and faced his friends.
"Remember your jobs, to get the people to safety", he said, "I'll deal with Doomsday."
"Clark, we can help you man", AC said.
"No", Clark shook his head, "This is personal. We have unfinished business…"
Oliver nodded understanding and started to lead the rest of the team away from him.
"Oliver", Clark called causing the archer to turn around, "If anything happens to me…"
He took a deep breath.
"Find Lois", he said, "Keep her safe…"
Oliver nodded.
"I will", he said, "You have my word.
Clark nodded and watched them walk away. He turned around and walked toward the rubble of the city.
~*~
He super sped into the middle of the street and looked at the fires surrounding him. He used his super breath and put them out. The buildings were crumbling before him. It was worst than Dark Thursday had ever been. He trained his hearing, trying to find Doomsday in the city. He clenched his teeth when he heard the growling and super sped in the direction of it.
He saw the monster in the middle of the street in front of the Daily Planet and plowed into him at super speed, knocking him down.
He made a fist with his hands and punched over and over and over again. He felt his knuckles get skinned and felt the warm blood trickle down his hand.
Beneath him, Doomsday growled and pushed him off. He pushed him in through the glass of an electronics store. Clark hit the television sets in the window display and crouched in pain. The televisions all fell on him.
Doomsday stomped toward him and growled spitting up blood.
Clark stood up pushing the televisions off him. He stood strong and glowered at the monster that once raged inside of a seemingly normal man.
He used his super speed again and got a few punches in Doomsday's gut, before being pushed away again, this time against a light pole. The pole broke in half. He picked up the fallen piece and hit Doomsday with it knocking him into the window of a building across the street. He threw the pole on the ground and stalked toward the fallen beast. He stopped when he watched him move and stand up.
Clark heard a whimper and turned to his left. He saw a little girl crouched behind a beat up car and turned back to Doomsday. He watched as the monster stomped its way toward the little girl and lift its arms as if to squish her like a bug. He kicked into super speed and picked up the little girl, leaving Doomsday to smash the ground. He heard the monster's anger from behind him.
He put the little girl on the ground and smiled.
"It's okay", he said softly, "Run… go…"
She nodded and ran in the opposite direction. He pushed a finger into his ear, activating the new ear piece Oliver had given him.
"I'm sending a little girl your way", he said.
"Roger that, amigo, already got her", Bart said into his ear, "Sure you don't want my help?"
Clark smiled sadly. "Just do your job, Impulse."
"Copy that, Boy Scout", Bart said smiling sadly.
Clark turned around in time to receive a massive hit to the face.
He fell to the ground in pain, bending his body in a fetus position. He looked up slightly and saw her.
"Lois", he breathed.
She was smiling softly at him. He didn't know if it was real or not. He saw when Doomsday spotted her. He saw the monster charge toward her. He knew he needed to get up to save her, but he couldn't move.
He finally lifted himself up enough to super speed toward her, secrets be damned and lifted her in his arms. He super jumped on top of the Daily Planet rooftop. He placed her down and she stepped away from him. He lifted his hands in surrender.
"I know you're probably wondering…."
"You're a freak", she said.
He took a step back.
"Lois", he tried and took a tentative step closer to her.
"Don't come any closer", she said stepping back, "Stay away from me you, monster."
He bowed his head hearing his heart breaking into about a million pieces. He nodded sadly and jumped off the roof. He couldn't stand there anymore. He couldn't see that look she sent his away anymore. Once he reached the ground, he touched his ear piece again.
"Arrow, Lois is on the Daily Planet rooftop", he said, "Come get her."
"Got it", Oliver answered quickly.
Clark looked around for Doomsday and spotted him smashing cars and buildings alike. He stood behind him.
"Hey", he yelled to get his attention, causing the monster to turn around, "That all you got?"
Doomsday rushed him and Clark ducked and turned around to hit him fast and hard lifting the beast off the ground and knocking him down.
~*~
Oliver jumped on the Daily Planet rooftop and found her overlooking the city.
"Lois", he said getting her attention.
She turned around and sneered.
"And you are", she asked.
"Lois", he said taking off his glasses and dropping back his hood, "It's me…. Oliver…"
She looked at him confused.
"A friend of Kal-El's, I presume…"
"Kal-El", Oliver asked, "Lois you know…?"
She turned away from him and he grabbed her arm in frustration.
"Lois", he tried.
She turned around and pushed him against the wall with one hand. He looked up at her.
"What the hell", he asked himself.
He felt someone stand next to him and saw a hand stretch out in front of him. He looked up at John Jones and took his hand to stand up. John nodded and turned back to the woman on the roof.
"If it isn't my favorite Martian Manhunter", she sneered.
"Lois", Oliver went to take a step forward but John placed a hand on his chest, stalling him.
"That isn't Lois anymore", he said grimly.
She smirked.
"I'm Faora", she said lifting her head up slightly, "Wife of Zod."
Oliver looked at her with wide eyes.
"So today, with Clark", he said nodding in understanding, "That was you today, not Lois."
Faora grinned. "Poor Kal-El, breaking his heart was not part of the plan, but such a nice detour. Now his heart break will drive him. Human emotions made him a hero, and now they will be his downfall."
John glared at her.
"You didn't count on one thing, Faora", he said evenly.
"And what's that", she asked crossing her arms.
"Jor-El's crystal", he said holding it up.
A light shot from the small crystal, straight into her chest. She screamed in agony. Oliver watched the phantom, literally be pulled from Lois' body. Once the extraction was complete, she fell to the ground unconscious.
Oliver rushed to her side and held her close.
"Lois", he said softly.
Her eyes fluttered until they opened. She looked up at him, then at John standing next to them.
"Ollie", she croaked.
"Hey", he smiled, "You okay?"
She tried to sit up, and he helped her.
"The last thing I remember", she said, "Oh my God. Ollie, Lex isn't Lex… he's Zod. We have to stop him."
Oliver nodded.
"First we need to get you out of here", he said, "Do you remember anything else… about where you were kept… about what happened today?"
"No", she shook her head, "I was knocked out a couple of times…"
He nodded understanding.
"Come on, we have to go."
She let him lift her up, as John helped and looked around.
"What's going on", she asked looking at the destruction on the city.
"It's kind of a long story", Oliver said.
She nodded and let him lead her toward the door of the rooftop.
"Um Oliver", she asked.
"Yeah Lois", he looked at her.
"Where's Clark?"
~*~
Clark watched the monster move slightly until it got up completely. He tried to get another punch in, but it was swiftly blocked. He made eye contact for the first time with the beast and watched the fist collide with his already bruised face. He was knocked back. He looked up and watched Doomsday land on him to deliver more punches. Clark felt as if he was losing consciousness.
"You're not alone."
She turned around from the grave stone.
"A fact you could have shared before you were breathing down my neck."
"I'm sorry, Lois, I didn't know you were out here."
She looked back at the grave, took a deep breath and stood up facing him completely.
"Glad to see we've moved beyond the clothing optional stage of our relationship… I'm surprised you even remember who I am…"
"Chloe's cousin", he said walking toward her, "Nicorette addiction; can't stand uncomfortable silences…"
He smirked slightly, realizing he'd answered her challenge.
He cracked one eye open and felt another blow to the head.
"You can't stay here, son, you've got to keep your mother safe. You've got to keep the whole world safe."
"No dad", he pleaded, "Not without you. Dad, I need you. I cannot do this without you…"
"Yes, you can… this is your destiny son. You are going to touch the lives of so money people. Not just as a man, but as a symbol. You're a symbol of peace; you're a symbol of justice… I'll always be with you son…"
He cringed as the blows came. He spit up blood feeling another massive, earth shattering blow to the head.
"Alright… But I want you to listen to me right now. All the years that your mother and I spent raising you from a wide eyed toddler running around on this farm to the man who is standing in front of me right now... Was for this moment. You do this son, you make us proud."
And that is the memory that made him want to fight back. He may have lost all the people he loved: Lana, Lois, his father. But that didn't mean the fight was over, and he could just lie down and die. That's not what his father wanted for him. That's not what Lana would have wanted, and he knew somewhere deep inside, even if she did hate him right now, it's not what Lois wanted for him either. He pushed the beast off him and rushed at him delivering a few of his superhuman blows himself. Doomsday shrieked beneath him.
"My turn", Clark grinned a bloody smile and punched him over and over and over again.
"Seriously, Clark, why are you out here?"
"Lana, you ever feel like your life was supposed to be something different…?"
She nodded and smiled.
"Sometimes, I dream I'm at school", she said smiling, "waiting for Nell to pick me up, but she doesn't come. So my parents drive up. They're not dead, they're just really late… and I get in their car and we ride back to my real life in Metropolis… it's usually when I wake up. For a minute, I'm totally happy, until I realize I'm alone…"
"What's that Mrs. Lang", he said facing the gravestone, "Yeah… I'll tell her."
She watched him curiously. He faced her with a serious face.
"Your mom wants you to know that you're never alone", he said, "She's always looking over you… no matter what. What's that Mr. Lang? Your dad thinks you're a shoe in for homecoming queen…"
He smirked. She laughed softly.
"They really say all that", she asked.
"Oh yeah", he nodded, "They're quite chatty once you get them started…"
He kept delivering blows. This is what he fought for. This is what he stood for. All those people he'd lost along his journey into forever. Even if he was meant to live alone, or die tonight, he was going to make his mark. He was going to finally become the hero they all died knowing he'd be one day. He picked up Doomsday's nearly collapsed body and threw him across the street into a cement wall.
"Your secret is safe with me Oliver…"
Clark watched as she pulled him in and kissed him. He didn't respond at first, but felt his hands slowly circle her waist. He pushed her closer to his body and deepened the kiss. She stopped suddenly and pulled back.
"You're not…"
"That's a hell of a thank you."
He lifted up the unconscious body of Doomsday. It was now or never. He couldn't chance the beast being alive to wreck havoc another day. Even if it took him his last breath, he'd rid the world of Doomsday. He held on tight and bent his legs, taking off into the sky.
This felt different, there was more control. He wasn't falling. He knew it then, he was flying. He'd finally tapped into his latent power. He shot out of the Earth's atmosphere into space.
"You look dazed and confused, are you okay?"
She was sitting quietly at her desk. She shook her head and crossed her arms.
"I can't sleep, I can't work, I can't think about anything else", she said and looked at him.
He walked up closer to her desk and nodded.
"You've been through a lot."
"There's a reason, they took me", she stated the obvious, "And we both know it's not because I was a witness. Tobias didn't identify you, Clark, because you're not a meteor freak. I was me."
"Chloe, it must've been a mistake", he tried.
She stood up and walked around the desk.
"How do you know that", she asked, "I mean, I've been exposed to more kryptonite than practically anyone else in this town. It's not that much of a stretch to think that I could have been infected somewhere along the way."
"You don't have any powers", he asked, "Do you?"
"No", she said, "But that doesn't rule me out… There's a percentage of the Wall of Weird that were latent for years… they didn't exhibit any of their powers until long after their exposure…."
"Okay", he held his hands up in surrender and walked around, "Alright, let's say it's true… but who's to say that you're ever going to develop any powers at all?"
"All I know is that every single meteor freak I've ever run into has ended up dead or in Belle Reeve", she said sitting down again. She put her tear streaked face in her hands, "Face it Clark, I'm a walking time bomb."
He grabbed a chair from a desk and sat down next to her.
"Well then consider me your own personal bomb squad."
He turned them around with Doomsday's body entering the Earth's atmosphere first and pushed harder.
"You barely said anything about what happened in Sommerholt."
He played with his model of the solar system.
"Don't worry, mom, my secret is still safe."
She sighed a little hurt.
"Well, I'll be in the house", she said softly, "If you want to talk…"
She turned to walk down the steps of the loft.
"Lara."
She turned around facing him curiously.
"It was my biological mother's real name", he said standing up and walking around his small table to stand in front of her.
"How did you know that", she asked walking closer to him.
"When I was in the tank", he said, "I saw my earliest memory… she was putting me in the ship… her only fear was that no one would love me..."
"Oh", she said, "I can't imagine the agony of putting my son in a lifeboat and sending him across the stars…"
"Because of Jor-el, I always thought that", he said, "my biological parents were monsters… but she wasn't. I just can't believe I forgot about her…"
"You didn't, Clark", she said softly, "your first word was Lara. Your father and I could never figure out what it meant… now we know."
She smiled brightly.
"I wish she could have met you", he said smiling, "To see what a great mom I have."
"She knows, Clark", she nodded, "A mother's love never dies."
He pulled her close and hugged her smiling softly.
He could see the street getting closer and had enough time for one final memory to rush through his mind.
"Fear not, Kal-El."
He watched the space ship lit up and hovering above the ground.
"Who are you?"
"I am your father."
"I thought you died."
"I am his memory, his will", the space ship answered, "I am to fulfill his promise, and guide you, all the days of your life. You are the last son of Krypton. When you traveled through the cosmos, you carried the hopes and dreams of your people. They now live through you, Kal-El. It is time."
"Time for what", he asked the omnipresent voice.
"Time to accept your destiny."
"I don't know what you have in mind for me, but-"
"By the setting of the sun, Sol, you will return to me. Your destiny will be fulfilled…"
He felt the ground hit him hard, even with the covering of Doomsday. He fell limp with the smoke rising around him. The Sun rose slowly into the darken sky behind the sky line, giving its first rays of light to a once pristine city. All that was left now was a crater in the middle of fifth and main, and smoke rising from the ashes.
~*~
Lois looked up at the sky as they were walking out of the building. It looked like a meteor was about to hit. She looked up at Oliver, but he was too busy staring at the falling star. They watched as it crashed into the Earth. It crashed so hard, it shook the very foundations of the city. Lois held on to Oliver and almost fell. John helped steady her. She looked at the site where it landed and felt a pull towards it.
She took off running into the smoke.
"Lois!"
She heard Oliver and John, both calling her name, but she didn't acknowledge them. She walked briskly through the smoke, covering her mouth and nose. Her eyes stung but she knew she needed to keep going.
She stopped suddenly, when a shadow emerged from behind the smoke. She recognized the silhouette as it got closer and lowered her hand in shock.
"Clark", she breathed and smiled, walking faster toward him.
She watched him collapse to the ground and took off running. She slid beneath his frame, before he could fully hit the ground, and felt her knees skin.
"Clark", she said holding him up.
He tried to open his eyes, but could barely do so, because his bruised eyes were almost permanently shut. He tried to smile but his cut lip made it difficult. He coughed and she held him closer.
"Clark", she tried again.
"Lois…"
"Clark, hang on, help is on the way…"
"Is he", he coughed again, "Dead… is he dead?"
She didn't know who he was talking about and looked around searching for some sort of clue.
"Who", she asked looking at him again.
"Doomsday", he choked.
"The monster from Chloe's wedding a year ago", she asked finally understanding what had happened here.
He nodded softly.
She looked around again and didn't see anything besides the two of them.
"Yeah", she said nodding, "Yeah… he's dead. You saved us, Clark, you saved us all."
"Good", he nodded one time, "Lois… I need to tell you something…"
"Save your strength", she commanded, "You can tell me later, Smallville."
He smirked. "No… now."
"Okay", she relented smiling, "What is it?"
She could already hear tears prick her eyes.
"Lois", he said breathing in air, "I…. Love…. You…"
She watched as his eyes closed one last time and his head fall to the side.
"Clark", she tried to shake him gently.
He didn't respond.
"Clark", she let a sob escape.
He wasn't moving.
Oliver and John walked toward them quietly with their heads bowed in respect.
"Clark", she let the tears flow and buried her head in his chest, "I love you too…"
"Lois!"
She turned around and watched him jump in front of her, taking the bullet that was meant for her.
"Clark", she called out to him.
Then everything happened in a blur. Jimmy was hitting Bruno, then Lois was smashing a bottle against his head.
But none of that mattered. She tore off her mask and gloves and dropped herself on the ground next to him.
"Hang on there", she sobbed, "You're going to be just fine…"
Jimmy crouched down in shock.
"Oh my God", he breathed.
She barely looked at him when she commanded, "Dial 9-1-1."
He nodded and ran to find a phone, leaving her to tend to Clark.
"Why did you do that, Clark", she sobbed, "You didn't need to be some kind of hero…"
She cupped his cheek.
"Lois", he said slowly, "You… have… to… get… me… out of here…"
She nodded quickly. "Okay… come on…."
She tried picking him up and sighed in relief when Jimmy appeared at their side to help.
"Paramedics are on their way", he let them know.
They both hung each of Clark's arms over their shoulders and helped him out of the room.
"Come on, Super hero", she said, "You're going to be fine…"
~*~
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, and he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake", Pete recited sadly, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."
It was all a blur for her. She kept her head bowed, not wanting to see who was around her. Granted she could probably count them on all ten of her fingers and a couple of toes. Only those who knew his secret were allowed to be here.
She should feel honored, finally being allowed into this little club they'd kept from her for years. But if it meant she'd have him back in her life, she'd gladly undergo a mind wipe.
She hated funerals, a fact he knew. But for him she'd endure it. For him, she'd endure anything he asked of her.
She felt Martha's hand on her shoulder. Pete had finished his eulogy. As his oldest friend, Chloe asked him to do it. Lois didn't care. It didn't matter who read it, she just wished they didn't have to read it at all. She walked up to the casket and placed a white rose on it. She bent down and picked up some dirt in her hand and let it cascade over the wooden box.
"What if my soul mate comes along", he asked, "And I'm too blind to see it?"
"I don't know, Smallville", she smiled, "I think that when the right girl walks into your life… you'll know."
He smiled.
She felt the tear leave her eye, before she even felt it make its way down her cheek.
"I guess that explains why we're friends."
"Oh so we're friends now?"
"Well", he shrugged, "I won't tell anyone if you don't…"
She grinned and punched him in the arm.
"Lois?"
She turned and saw Martha watching her sadly.
"It's time to go sweetie", she told her.
Lois nodded and let the older woman, who she saw as a mother lead her away.
He watched her from across the floor. She looked at him awkwardly and she tried to get away.
"I guess I could give these well heeled puppies a rest", she said walking around him.
He grabbed her hand before she could walk off and she turned around. He nodded slightly toward the dance floor. Didn't the best man and maid of honor get a dance out of this? She stepped in to him and let him wrap his arms around her. They gently swayed to the jazz music until they were pushed into each other.
She quickly stepped back and looked into his eyes. There was something there, something she'd never seen before. They subconsciously stepped closer to each other and began to lean into each other…
"He really cared about you, you know."
She looked up and nodded.
Chloe nodded.
"Lois", she started, "If you ever want to talk…. I'm right here."
She nodded again.
Chloe smiled slightly, and allowed Jimmy to lead her away.
After that it was all a blur. Some people came up to her and gave their condolences, while others hugged her tightly. Even Dinah Lance, bane of her existence, hugged her tightly and cried on her shoulder.
And now, here she was. After everyone had gone to bed at the farm house, she'd snuck out and found herself here. She sat on the cold wet grass.
"You know I hate funerals", she cleared her dry throat, "I don't know what I'm supposed to do…"
She could feel the wind in her hair, and hitting her face. She liked to pretend it was him, talking back to her.
"Clark", she said and let a sob escape her lips, "I guess, I always knew there was something special about you… I'm not even mad you didn't tell me… I knew it was an important secret to keep…"
She nodded sadly.
"I want you to know, that I'm going to take care of your mom, and Chloe, and Jimmy and even Oliver… I'll do that for you, so don't worry, wherever you are."
She let the tears flow freely now that she was alone.
"But why did you do it", she sobbed, "You told me you'd always be there, when you held me that night… that's what you holding me meant to me… you promised me that night… No matter who came along, you'd never leave me behind… And now you're gone, and I'm still here… why did you leave me? I miss you so much… I can't do this without you…"
"Lois, just because someone's life has great responsibility, doesn't mean your life has to take second place."
"Of course it does, Clark", she whispered, "Can you imagine what it would be like… to look into somebody's eyes and know that their destiny is so much greater than yours, that you will never compete, that you will always be left behind…"
"That would be hard for anyone", he said trying to soothe her.
"No, I can't be left behind, one more time", she said crying, "You know, where Ollie's life is going… there's not room for me in it. And I know he'd never admit that so, I had to. I just um… I can't face another heartbreak down the road…"
He pulled her into a tight hug and held her while she cried.
"Besides, why settle for hot, rich and famous", she laughed, "When I can hang out with you…"
He smiled from over her shoulder.
She sobbed into her hand.
"I love you, Clark, I'll always love you…"
She stood up quietly, kissed her fingers and placed them to his tomb stone.
"I'll never forget you…"
She bowed her head sadly, turned and walked out of the cemetery, back to her new reality.
