Chapter 20: The Finale

At Big Ben...

Lois was still trying to loosen her bonds when Charles returns. "Just what are you trying to do, Ms. Lane?" shaking his head as he walks over and stands in front of her. "I thought a woman like you liked being tied up," his eyebrow arched.

If my legs weren't tied to this chair....

His hand reaches out to lower the gag over her mouth and she immediately spits on him. "I guess you don't like saliva all over your face," smirking at him.

"Not particularly," pulling out a handkerchief and wiping his cheek, then returning it to his jacket pocket. "Maybe I'll just keep you here until you finally die of starvation," taking a few steps back. "After all, a human being can't live without food and water for very long."

"That's your plan?" starting to laugh hysterically. "That's the best you could come up with?" she manages to gasp out between laughs.

He glares at her, then slaps her on the other cheek. "Now that was a big mistake, Ms. Lane. Keep that up and nobody will recognize you when they find you. If they find you," a twisted grin on his face.

"Did you slap Rebecca around too?" her eyes flashing.

"I never laid a hand on Rebecca. She never gave me any reason to hit her. Then again, she didn't have a smart mouth like you," smirking back at her.

"How decent of you," rolling her eyes. "That still didn't stop you from cheating on her?" quirking an eyebrow.

He shrugs his shoulders. "What can I say? I just can't resist a beautiful woman," winking at her. "However, I will make an exception for you."

"Now doesn't that make me feel all warm and tingly inside," rolling her eyes once more.

He can't help chuckling at her comment. "I suppose your boyfriend finds your 'gift of gab' endearing. Well, it's a shame that he'll never see or hear you again."

"He'll find me alright - and when he finds out what you've done to me-"

"He'll...what?" leaning forward until his nose is only a couple inches from her. "Beat me up? Put me in jail? That's a laugh," standing up once more and taking a few steps back. "He seemed like a wimp to me. Letting his girlfriend do all the dirty work."

"He is not a wimp!" her voice rising an octave. "You should never underestimate Clark Kent," in defense of her boyfriend. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he's already figured out that you were the one who kidnapped me."

"He's not that smart," he retorts.

"I'm sure he's coming up with a plan right now - unlike some people I know," a smug expression on her face.

"I've heard enough," he declares as he walks over to her again. "Time to put this back on you," his fingers reaching for the gag. Her head suddenly lurches forward and she promptly bites down on his finger.

"You bitch!" wrenching his finger from her mouth as his other hand clenches up in a fist and aims towards her face, but she ducks her head in time.

He grimaces in pain as his fist smashes against the back of the wooden chair. He manages to finally lift the gag up over her mouth again with his other hand. "You will pay for that!" holding his injured hand as he promptly leaves to find some ice.

Her heart is racing as she once again tries to extricate herself from the ropes that keep her bound to the chair. There's only one thought in her mind as she continues on her seemingly impossible task.

Where are you, Clark?

She stops struggling and slumps in the chair. There's no way I can loosen these ropes. He must have been a boy scout or something. A soft sigh escapes her lips. What if Clark doesn't find me after all? a lone tear slowly gliding down her cheek.

"Lois?"

She looks up and watches with relief as Clark quickly rushes over. "Are you okay?" he asks as he unties the ropes. He then notices the red marks on her cheeks. "He hit you?" his voice raised an octave as he massages her wrists.

"It was nothing," changing the subject. "I'm more than okay now that you're here," throwing her arms around him. He immediately wraps his own arms around her. "How did you find me anyway?" pulling slightly away to gaze into his eyes.

He smiles at her while gently caressing her cheek. "I heard your heartbeat," softly kissing her lips. "Super-hearing, remember?" arching an eyebrow.

"You have super-hearing too?" her eyes widening.

"Didn't I tell you?" looking at her curiously.

"No, you didn't," a slight frown on her face as she lightly punches his shoulder.

"I'm sorry?" shrugging his shoulders.

"You better be," standing up with her hands on her hips.

He also stands up. "Let's get out of here," grabbing her non-injured hand and leading her towards the door.

"Just where do you think you're going?"

Both Clark and Lois stop in their tracks as Charles steps into the room holding the gun he pulled on Lois earlier. "I told you that he would figure out where I was," stepping out from behind Clark.

"So he's not a big dumb-"

"I wouldn't finish that sentence if I were you," Clark's voice low and threatening. "How dare you hit my girlfriend!" walking towards him; his eyes blazing with fury.

"Now I wish you hadn't said that," shaking his head as he pulls the trigger.

Clark immediately pushes Lois down to the ground and ducks to avoid the bullet. "Guess your aim isn't very good," he smirks.

Charles stares at him in shock. "How on earth-"

"I have pretty good reflexes," he quips.

Charles takes a few steps back but still has the gun pointed at Clark. "You really should put the gun away," Clark adds as he again walks towards him.

"I don't think so," firing once more.

Clark ducks the bullet again, but instead it grazes Lois in the shoulder as she was standing up; causing her to fall to the floor. "Clark," she calls out to him.

He immediately stoops down and lifts her up into his arms. "I'll get you out of here," whispering in her ear as he runs past Charles. "I thought you were invulnerable?" Lois asks him as bullets keep whizzing past him. "And why aren't you using your super-speed anyway?"

"I didn't want to use my abilities in front of him," he replies as he finds an opening in the wall and steps out onto one of the outside ledges.

"If you don't want him to find out, then why are we out on a ledge many stories up?"

"I wanted to be out of his sight first," he replies as he takes a quick look around.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I'm going to jump down to the ground," looking into her eyes. "You trust me?"

She smiles back at him. "With all my heart and soul," her hand touching his chest.

"I'm happy to hear that," smiling back at her. "Hold on tight, okay?"

"Okay," nodding her head.

He bends his knees, then launches them into the air. She looks down expecting to see the ground coming closer, but instead it's becoming further and further away. "Clark?"

"Yes, Lois?"

"We're not going down."

"Sure we are-" his voice trailing off when he realizes where they are. "I don't believe it!"

"You're flying, Smallville," a look of awe on her face.

He stares at her in shock at first, but it soon softens when he finally notices the sweetest expression on her face.

"I didn't know you could fly?"

He smiles back at her. "I've only flown once."

"Really? When?"

"I'll tell you later," he replies.

"Let's go back to the hotel," she tells him. "I'm starving."

"Not yet," flying past the Kensington.

"Why not?" a confused look on her face.

"You were shot, or did you forget already?" slowing down and landing in a secluded spot near the hospital.

"I was only grazed in the shoulder. I really don't need a doctor," she insists as he walks towards the emergency entrance.

"Humor me, okay?"

"Fine," sounding annoyed. "What about Charles?" she asks as he carries her inside.

"I'll take care of him," he replies as he sets her down in a wheelchair and wheels her up to the admissions desk. Once he tells the admitting nurse what happened, he turns to Lois. "I'll be right back," kissing her cheek and exiting the hospital. He looks around to make sure nobody was watching, then once again launches himself into the air.

Back on the ground a little girl was sitting on the front steps of the house when she happens to look up into the sky. "Mommy!" she yells out.

Her mother rushes outside. "Is everything okay, Teri?"

"Look up there," pointing towards the sky.

Her mother looks where her daughter is pointing; her eyes widening at the rapidly disappearing red and blue blur.

"That wasn't a bird, was it?" she asks.

"No, honey," she replies; a thoughtful look on her face.

"I know it wasn't a plane," she continues.

"It wasn't that either," still staring at the sky.

"What do you think it was?" standing next to her mother and looking up at her.

"I'm not sure what it was," she replies honestly.

"You want to know what I think it was?"

She looks down at her daughter. "Of course I do," stooping down to take her daughters hands in hers. "What do you think it was?"

"I think it was a flying man," a grin on her face.

"You just may be right," smiling at her. "Come on, let's get ready for dinner," standing up.

"Okay," still looking up at the sky as she follows her mother into the house.

Big Ben

Where'd they disappear to? Charles asks himself as he frantically runs around looking for them. I can't have them calling the police. He runs around a corner and bumps into Clark; falling down on his ass.

"You didn't think I was going to just leave you here?" Clark remarks as he lifts him up by his throat. "Nobody gets away with kidnapping and attempted murder as long as I'm around," throwing him against a wall and knocking him out. He then picks him up and promptly super-speeds him to the nearest police station. Once he tells them what happened, he rushes back to the hospital and finds Lois standing outside waiting for him. "Didn't a doctor check you out? he asks as he comes up to her.

"The nurse on duty said it was only a graze," showing him the bandage on her shoulder. "Now can we go back to the hotel and get some food? I haven't eaten since yesterday and I'm starving," her stomach growling a little.

"Your wish is my command," lifting her up and super-speeding them back to the hotel...

TO BE CONCLUDED...

Just the epilogue to go. *sighs*