I could hear Clark hanging up the phone and walking upstairs, I knew when I said goodbye to him everything would be final. Clark and I have been together since we were 13/14 years old. I remember the first day I met him and gave him a kiss, I said it was to get it out of the way so we could be friends. He was so sweet that he never questioned my reasoning behind it, that I knew he wanted to kiss me, but I was the one who had been dying to kiss him. WOW!, eleven years down the road and my sweet farm boy of a best friend was now the world's greatest Hero. It was mind-boggling to think how far Clark and I had come. This was the hardest moment of my life saying goodbye to Clark, he was my oldest and dearest friend. There are so many emotions tied to Clark in my life, I don't know where to begin, how to say goodbye to the one constant. Parents, boyfriends, friends, and even husbands have come and gone, but the one thing I could always account for in my life was Clark Kent.
I loved Jimmy with all my heart and soul, but I never felt secure he would always be there. Clark was always the one person I felt secure with and it's not because he has super powers, but because he, I don't know because he's always been there in my life. We have had our ups and downs, but I think it bonded us closer together. As much as I needed Clark in my life, I also needed to leave. I couldn't really grieve my husband by surrounding myself in the place of his death. Just thinking about Jimmy made me feel like a two ton truck was parked on my chest, he was the love of my life. Now, I needed to move on and find Chloe Sullivan and not the one that needed to stand behind heroes, but the one that could stand on her own. This opportunity to work with Bruce Wayne was perfect, I could still do what I did best, but I could do it without the baggage that was Metropolis and Smallville. I wouldn't have to see worry and pity in the eyes of those in Gotham that I saw in the eyes of my friends and family in Kansas. I was finally going to become my own woman and not be defined by a man, a hero, or family, I would stand out all on my own.
"Chloe, you busy"?
"No, Clark, I am just tying up a few loose ends before I catch the Queen Industries jet to Gotham".
"I see".
"Do you Clark? Do you really"?
"I guess I Don't, but I want you to know I will miss you more than anyone. I mean Wayne is poaching the best friend I ever had".
"He's not Clark, I am. Working for Wayne is just a means to keep doing what I do best, but the move is to finally have Chloe Sullivan stand on her own".
"You do stand on your own, this team couldn't survive without you. As much as Rhys seems to know about hacking, she can never fill your shoes".
"Listen, I know Rhys is young and rough around the edges, but she has been my sidekick since she started Vandy, plus I helped her out when I was infected by Brainiac. She takes some time to get used to, but she never got a childhood and doesn't have great social skills because she never had anyone to guide her".
"Lois and I will look out for her, we will keep her safe".
"I know you will Clark, but it's still not easy for me to say goodbye to you. I know it would be final when I did".
"Then don't go".
"I have too, for me, it's just something I have to do".
"I understand, but I want you to know wherever you are, I will always be watching over you".
"Of course you will Clark, we sure have come a long way from our days of investigating deer who have been sucked dry".
"And boys who turn into bugs".
"Freshman year, that sure was an interesting one,but it's kind of where it all begin. I was a sidekick to a hero and didn't even know it".
"You were never a sidekick Chloe, but the best friend anyone could ever ask for".
This was the moment that would make it real for me. Clark walked over and enveloped me into his strong embrace. I felt tears stream down my eyes and like so many times before Clark wiped them away. I could see his eyes glistening, I knew this was just as hard for him as it was for me. It's never easy saying goodbye to anyone, but Clark and I had been through so much together, From Zoners to Zod and so much more in between. In a way I felt I was saying farewell to a part of myself and in a way I was just as much a part of him. No one knew me as well as Clark did and beside his parents I think I knew him the best.
I was still wrapped tightly in his arms, I didn't want him to let me go because I was afraid if he did no one would be there when I fell. Though that was the point of becoming independent of my life here in Kansas, I needed to know I could save myself. I looked up at Clark and stepped back, "Clark, I love you, but I need to get going".
"I know, but I am always here if you need me, you know how to reach me".
"So, I take it you get great cell reception in the air"?
Clark Chuckled
"It's ok, but you know what I mean", Clark Said.
"Goodbye Clark".
"Goodbye Chloe and I love you too".
I smiled and turned in the other direction, the more I walked the further I was away from my old life and Clark. I guess this is how Pete must have felt when he left. Clark Kent sure didn't make it easy to say goodbye to him, you felt less safe. I wanted to look back and glimpse his face one last time, but I knew if I did I would never want to leave, Watchtower out.
I had just got off the phone with Clark again, saying goodbye to Chloe was hard on him. I could hear the pain and the tears in his voice and I just wanted to go and comfort him, but he said he could hear a fire raging on 6th and Main and he would catch up with me back at the farm. I was sitting across from my little cousin Rhys waiting for our meal to arrive, BBQ, I love BBQ. She seemed so young, sure and cocky, but I could tell there was a scared little girl underneath all that cocky armor. I could relate to that because until Clark, I hid behind my sarcasm and toughness. I could tell Rhys and I had things in common, but I also knew I couldn't let her go on like that. She had a tough undertaking at Watchtower and I could tell she was scared to death, I needed to get her to open up to me because I sensed their was more to her than she was letting on. If she was going to be involved with Clark, Oliver, and the rest of the team I needed to know she wouldn't put them at risk and herself along with them.
"So Rhys, how long have you been in contact with Chloe"?
"For awhile now, She rescued me from Black Creek and helped me get into Vanderbilt".
"Why were you in Black Creek"?
"I can feel and project the emotions of others and another trick or two".
"hmm, really now? And what exactly would those tricks be? Because if you think I am going to let you anywhere near Clark and not be fully briefed you have another thing coming little cousin, family or not".
"Fine, I can see the future of a person if I concentrate hard enough, I am still not able to grasp it".
"I can see why you were in Black Creek, but why would Chloe let you in on Watchtower? I know you have mad hacking skills, but what watchtower does isn't exactly stuff you just tell someone".
"I hate to admit it, but I was curious about why Chloe always called me in reference to wanting to hack into things and I did some hacking of my own. Then after Black Creek, she became like a super computer and helped me become better than I already was, in a way we helped each other out".
"I can't believe you would do that to Chloe".
"It's not something I am proud of, but when Chloe found out she watched me like a Hawk and we began to work together. Without Chloe taking me under her wing I probably would have broke down and been placed in Belle Reeve or a place like it. I'm Bipolar Lois and not very good being around people, I feel like they will all leave me and I will be totally alone, I try not to get too close to anyone. This watchtower is perfect for me, I feel like I can make up for all the pain I have caused".
"What pain have you caused Rhys"?
"Well, If I hadn't begged my Mom to come get me from my friends house that night she never would have been on the road for that drunk driver to kill her. I am just as responsible for her death as if I was behind the wheel myself. There is nothing I can do to bring her back, but if I can help the world through Watchtower maybe in a way I can help save someone's Mom the way I can never save mine".
"Rhys. It wasn't your fault, it was just something that happened. Chloe and I know how hard it is to grow up without a mom".
"I know you do, but you had your Dad's. My Dad on the other hand died with my mother and became a shell of the man he used to be. The worst phase he went through was his drug phase and trying to get me to use with him, thank God that didn't last long, but it caused a deep wound. Working with Clark and his team has given me faith in life again, I no longer wake-up everyday wishing I was dead, I have a purpose now. Though if you tell anyone especially Oliver Queen, I will die".
"I see you and Ollie made fast friends", I had to laugh at Rhys because she had a little crush on Oliver.
"You can say that, though I do have to say I think Clark is an upgrade from Oliver and Oliver is fine"
"Yeah, I ended up with the perfect man if I do say so myself. It's kinda funny because A.C. And I had a little thing once. Seems I have always had a thing for heroes".
"Lois, I admire your taste in men, seems it got better with age if I must say".
"It did, though I have to admit I always crushed on Clark, but I would never tell him that, he wouldn't let me live it down. If you dare say anything to him about what I just told you, I'll make you listen to Justin Bieber".
"I won't tell if you won't, deal"?
"Deal"
"One last thing, you can look at my boyfriend, but your hands stay to yourself or you have to deal with me".
"Yes ma'am".
