Chapter 19

Clark walked into the bullpen of the Daily Planet, walking by Lois's desk quickly on the way to the elevators. He didn't see her, so he rushed to push the button and get upstairs.

"You wouldn't be avoiding me huh, Smallville", Lois was grinning like a Cheshire cat walking up to him.

Clark turned around and smirked. "No."

Lois smiled. "Oh. Cause see, seeing as you haven't been around in the last couple of days, I thought that you were… you know….", she whispered, "busy…"

"No busier than usual", Clark smiled as the doors dinged signaling the lift had arrived.

Lois walked in before him and held the door open. "You coming?"

"I just remembered I left something on my desk", he said nodding back to his work station, "I'll catch up with you later."

"Alright", she smiled knowingly, "hey you want to have lunch later?"

"I've got to meet with a source", he said, "Duty calls."

"Okay then. Catch you around", she winked, "Smallville."

The doors closed and he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"You alright, CK", Jimmy walked up to him.

It was good to see him back and moving again. It had been a few months, and Clark was glad to have him back.

"I'm fine", he grinned walking back to his desk and sitting down. He'd just drop off the papers later, preferably when Lois got back.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you purposely avoided an elevator ride with your partner."

Jimmy leaned up against the edge of Clark's desk.

"I wasn't", Clark shook his head denying the accusation.

"Yeah right", Jimmy laughed, "What's up? You guys had fireworks at the wedding and I get back and there's so much tension around you two I need to suck it in just to make room."

"A lot's happened", Clark nodded.

"Like", Jimmy wasn't trying to push he just wanted two of his best friends to get together already.

"Like the fact that an old friend is back in her life", Clark didn't like the way he stressed the word friend.

"Are we talking about a certain billionaire from across the pond", Jimmy smiled. Clark was jealous, and he was avoiding Lois because of it.

"I don't trust him", Clark said seriously looking up at Jimmy.

"You don't know him", Jimmy made the fact known.

"I do", Clark said, "That's the thing. He first showed up when I was in high school. I didn't trust him then, and even less now. He's so secretive."

"Kind of like you", Jimmy raised an eyebrow and Clark stared dumbfounded.

"Jimmy… I'm sorry I-"

"It's okay", Jimmy said holding his hand up, "I have my theories, but I also know you and I know that you'll tell me when and if you're ready. I'm not pushing to gain membership to the Secret Clark Kent Club, but I think you should give this guy a chance. Never know… he might become you're best friend."

Jimmy jumped off the desk and walked away leaving Clark to think about what he had said.

*-*-*-*-*

Chloe smiled opening the door to Clark.

"Not that this isn't a nice surprise, but shouldn't you be at work", she asked walking back up to her counter to get her bag.

"I kind of wanted to ask you a favor", he said walking in behind her, "I need a sort of background check."

"You want me to run it", she asked.

"Yeah", he said nodding his head, "On Bruce Wayne."

Chloe stopped gathering her things and turned around. "Why the heck would you want to run a background check on a billionaire…?"

"I have my reasons", Clark said.

"I'm sure you do but you're going to have to do better than that to get me to help you on this one."

"I don't trust him", Clark said, "And we both know Lois attracts the psychotic types…"

"So this is about Lois", Chloe tried hard not to laugh and failed.

"It's not funny", Clark was getting annoyed, "You're cousin could be in danger and you aren't going to do anything about it?"

"Clark", Chloe said leading him out the door, "Lois is a big girl and I'm sure she knows what she's doing", seeing his face she relented, "But if this means that much to you… I'll do it…."

"Do what", Lois walked up to them in the Talon.

"Uh…", Clark stuttered.

"I'm helping Clark on an article for the Planet", Chloe saved and turned to Clark, "I'll get you that background check as soon as I have it."

"Thanks", Clark nodded as she walked away.

"Bye guys", she mumbled leaving them alone.

"Wow", Lois said walking up to the counter ordering her coffee, "That was weird."

"I don't know what you're talking about…."

"Lighten up, Clark", Lois smiled, "I'm not mad you're going to my cousin for help. Especially since we're the ones who are partnered up at work… Actually I think I should be more upset than I actually am."

Clark leaned against the counter. "This is more… Personal…"

Lois nodded. "It always is."

She grabbed her coffee cup and took a sip. "And now I'm off. Rumor has it Tess Mercer is taking one reporter to a press conference out of town. I want to try and get the position. Later, Smallville."

Clark watched her leave and sighed.

*-*-*-*-*

Clark walked into Tess Mercer's office when she had called on him as soon as he walked through the doors of the Planet.

"You wanted to see me, Miss Mercer", he said walking in after knocking and being granted access.

"Kent", she turned around and walked around her desk, "Have a seat."

"Okay", he said sitting down. The last time he was here he'd been offered a promotion. Now it was hard to see what was expected of Luthor's protégé.

"I have an offer for you", she said crossing her arms across her chest, "I want you to cover the governor's speech in Star City."

"Wow", Clark was slightly taken aback, "I didn't expect that."

"I think you're the perfect reporter for the job."

"Thank you Miss Mercer", he said standing up, "I won't let you down."

"Oh I'll be making sure you don't", Tess was already sitting back at her chair as Clark was about to walk out the door, "Especially since I'll be going with you…"

*-*-*-*-*

He walked into the basement of his company's building and walked along as bright lights turned on with his presence. He saw the car in the middle of the room and smirked. It was new. He'd hired a new employee that would be building him more gadgets and cars for a long time to come.

"Master Bruce", Alfred called out and watched the young man turn around, "Mr. Fox wanted you to test drive the vehicle and make sure it was to you liking, sir."

Bruce smirked. This would be a sweet ride.

*-*-*-*-*

Clark was packing his clothes into one of his bags when he heard a soft knocking on his bedroom door.

"It's been a while since I come to this room", she smiled softly.

"Lois ", Clark smiled, "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I just found out something about Clark Kent I didn't know", she sighed, "And here I thought I knew it all…"

Clark thought the worse and tried to rectify himself. "Lois I-"

"It's okay", she said, "I'm not mad."

"You're not", he said slowly.

"No why would I be", she asked.

"I thought you get mad I'd recruited Chloe to find out information on Bruce-"

"Wait what", she stopped him.

"That's what you were talking about right", he asked.

"I was talking about you getting the press conference in Star City", Lois said, "You had Chloe run a check on Bruce?"

Clark shut his eyes. "Lois-"

"Save it", she stopped him, "Now I am mad."

She turned to walk away.

"He's got secrets, Lois", Clark said causing her to stop.

"Yeah well", she said turning around, "So did you at one time and I never turned my back on you", she turned back around and started walking out of the room, "Until now."