Ghost From the Past
Folc4evernaday | Rated: M | Chapter 21
Present Day - Smallville, Kansas
"Hold still while I fix this hem," his mom said, readjusting the cape off the back of Clark's shoulders. After his and Lois' talk, she'd convinced him to fly them out to Smallville to try and begin planning his debut and introduction to the world. She'd reiterated to him over and over on the way not to say anything about the baby yet. He hoped he wouldn't slip up. It took everything in him not to shout it from the roof tops.
"I like that," Lois said, tilting her head to look at him.
The collar wasn't nearly as low as it had been on the one before this. The cape was hooked inside the suit so that the suit just pulled over the cape which was hooked around his shoulders. It definitely felt more comfortable than the other suits.
"See?" his mom said, adjusting the collar once more as she placed pin after pin around the red fabric that was hanging out. "I just need to finish hemming this one, and then I think we'll have a winner."
His dad set a plate of fried chicken on the kitchen table, "Who wants extra spicy?" He looked at Lois expectantly.
She gave him a pleading look. Any other time Lois would be eating anything spicy without a second thought, but with her stomach acting up due to the pregnancy her appetite wasn't the same. Deciding to deflect with a little humor he interjected, "Careful Lois Dad's extra spicy's …" he gave a low whistle, "deadly."
"I'm actually not that hungry," Lois gave him an apologetic look.
"Okay, well just help yourself whenever you get hungry," his dad smiled back at her, "You know where everything is."
She nodded back at him, "Thanks, Jonathan,"
"Almost done," his mom said, sticking another pin in the shoulder of his suit.
"Clark, what about you, son?" his dad asked.
Clark shook his head, "Sorry dad, after this afternoon I can't really think about eating…"
His dad placed a supportive hand on his shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, "I understand." He took a seat at the table, setting a couple of plates out before taking a seat and grabbing a piece of chicken, "So, you think this…Lex Luthor is behind Dr. Platt's attempted murder?"
"I don't know," Clark said solemnly, "It's way too convenient. I know that."
"He's trying to push for his Space Station to go up in Prometheus' place," Lois said, taking a sip of her water.
"I remember you were saying something about some dirty dealings with him on one of your investigations," his dad recalled. "Were you not able to ever prove his involvement?"
Lois glanced down at her drink for a moment. Clark watched her curiously. There was that look again. He couldn't put his finger on exactly what it was, but he could sense there was something going on there about Lex Luthor. He watched as she fingered her glass gingerly, outlining the rim as she stared at the water before looking up at him, "No, the lead just…dried up."
"That's too bad," his dad said. "Now he's over here terrorizing this Platt guy…Sounds like a bully to me."
"Yeah," She brushed a stray hair out of her eyes, "We're hoping we can prove it."
"He plays dirty," Clark said solemnly. "I'm hoping to be able to help where I can without being recognized will help protect the innocent lives he keeps coming after."
'And maybe dissuade my guilt.' he thought to himself.
"That's all well and good," his dad began carefully, "but you have to remember to be careful. We still don't know what happened to that meteorite."
"I have to do something, Dad," he murmured, "Dr. Platt could have been killed tonight, but if I hadn't hesitated…"
"Clark, you're one man. You can help where you can, but you can't expect to protect everyone." His mom said, eying him critically as she finished adjusting his cape, "You help where you can and when you can."
"That's right," Lois chimed in. "Taking this disguise on is just so you can help but it doesn't mean all the world's problems are yours to shoulder."
"Exactly!" his dad added. "You did what you could."
He smiled back at his parents and then at Lois, "I guess you're right,"
"Of course we're right," his mom reassured him, patting him on the shoulder. "Okay, that's it. Let's have a look…"
Metropolis, New Troy
Dr. Platt's room was quiet. The monitors blinked a monotone beep and Mrs. Platt stared at her husband in despair. "I thought you were going to protect him!" she accused angrily.
"We're doing the best we can," Detective Ryder said. "We don't know what exactly happened, but we've doubled security…."
"Security?" she asked in dismay. "What good is security when you don't even know who did this? We don't know anything!" She slammed her fist against the side of Platt's hospital bed in anger.
"Mrs. Platt, we're doing the best we can right now," he pleaded with her. "I'm angry too. This is unacceptable, but…"
"Ryder?" one of the detectives knocked on the door, and they both looked toward him. "There's a Lois Lane and Clark Kent here to see you."
Ryder sighed, "Not now."
"You're not even going to talk to them?" Mrs. Platt asked.
"They're reporters, Mrs. Platt. They mean well, but at the end of the day they're just finishing up their story. I'm trying to help you here…"
She shook her head, "They believed Samuel when no one else would." She grabbed her things and left. "Maybe they can help figure out who's doing this and stop them."
Five Years Ago…
Lois held in a breath as one of the detectives readjusted the camera that was taped to her bra strap. "You should be good to go. Just keep your bra covered and you won't have anything to worry about."
"That won't be a problem," Lois reassured.
"Okay, so this button," She pointed at the red button taped to the front closure of her bra, "is your panic button. If anything goes wrong, press it and the surveillance unit will get notified. We'll have someone by your side within minutes."
"Okay," Lois nodded, "Thanks, Detective…"
"Reed." She said simply, "Betty Reed."
Lois stepped out on stage looking around the room. She spotted Toni Taylor, the new head of the Metros, sitting up front with none other than Lex Luthor. She did her best not to react. Surely he wouldn't blow her cover here in the middle of her number, right? What song was she supposed to be singing? Oh, right….
"Clark…Focus!"
"I am…"
Hmmmmm I've got a crush on someone. Guess who
I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All day and night time give me sign
I never had the least notion that
I could fall with so much emotion
"Oh, my God…Clark,...Is that for me?"
"Yes...Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful,"
"You're beautiful. Lois, I love you, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you,"
"I love you, Clark Kent, I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you,"
Lex stared at her with intrigue. What was he doing? Was he trying to draw attention to her? She smiled, looking around the room at no one in particular in hopes that it would distract her. This was bad. A very bad idea. She fought the urge to place a protective hand over her abdomen where her and Clark's baby was growing.
"Tell me what you want…"
"You,"
Could you coo, could you care
For a cunning cottage, we could share
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I've got a crush my baby on you
As she sang the lyrics to the song, she fought back tears, recalling Clark's face when she'd first plowed into him at Met U. She felt her heart rate slow down and took a deep breath. She could do this.
"I figured we'd get married. Enjoy a very long honeymoon phase. Get a couple of Kerths…."
"Pulitzer."
"…and a Pulitzer. Then start practicing."
"I don't think practice is something that's required in that department."
"That's just part of the fun."
How glad the million ralish from millionaires to caddies
Would be to capture me
But you had such persistence; you wore down my resistance
I fell, and it was swell
'Crap!' She'd looked at Lex again. Why was he staring at her like that?
She needed to get out of here…but she couldn't. She was undercover. She scanned the room and noticed a couple of the Metro goons by the back door with Ralph.
'Double Crap!'
You're my big and brave and handsome Romeo
How I won you I shall never never know
It's not that you're attractive
But, oh, my heart grew active
When you came into view
Don't think about it. She told herself. Think about Clark.
Slowly she began to calm down as memories of the past two years flooded her mind. The expression on his face when she'd first kissed him. The love in his eyes when he held her after the attack from Roarke. The teasing smile he'd offered her everyday for two years. A smile she hoped their child would inherit.
"Best present Clark ever gave you."
"Lucy!"
I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and night-time give me sigh
I never had the least notion that
I could fall with so much emotion
"Look out! It's a trap!" Ralph called from the corner of the club.
Lois looked around, not sure what he could be referring to.
'Trap? What was a trap?' She saw no sign of anything amiss. Opting to finish her number she gave a warm smile to the crowd and finished the last line.
Could you coo, could you care
For a cunning cottage
That we could share
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I have got a crush, my baby, on you
Present Day…
Lois took a seat next to Clark in the conference room, handing Mrs. Platt a bottle of water, "Thank you for agreeing to meet with us, Mrs. Platt. I'm so sorry…"
"The doctors are doing everything they can for him, but whatever they stuck him with…They're not sure he'll recover."
"I'm sorry," Clark said solemnly.
"They said you two were the ones that … found him?" she asked cautiously.
"Yes," Lois said quietly.
"He made us leave. He was sure they'd come after him. He was afraid that Amy and I would get hurt, so he sent us away." Her voice grew shaky as she brushed a few tears out of her eyes, "Everything we worked for was for Amy. The space lab Prometheus was the only hope... and now... My husband was not insane."
"We know that," Clark reassured her.
"Please help me. No one will listen to me…" She said shakily.
"We're doing everything we can," Lois reassured her. "Our biggest problem is trying to decipher his report. It's a lot of ramblings and nonsense. Doesn't make sense."
Mrs. Platt nodded, "Samuel writes in code. A bit of paranoia of colleagues trying to steal his work."
"Do you know anyone that might be able to help decipher it?" Clark asked.
She grew thoughtful for a moment and then nodded, "I might have something…" She jotted an address down on a piece of paper. "Can you meet me at my home? I have a lot of his old journals. They may help."
"Any help we can get is greatly appreciated," Clark reassured her.
"Thank you," she said, standing up as she headed for the door.
They nodded, walking with her out into the newsroom. "We'll be in touch," Lois reassured her.
Mrs. Platt turned to head for the elevator when she spotted a familiar face on one of the television monitors, "Isn't that Dr. Baines, Samuel's boss?"
"Hey, turn that up!" Lois motioned to Jimmy. He complied, pulling out the remote to raise the volume.
"It appears at this hour that Dr. Antoinette Baines was a victim of a car bombing this evening as she was leaving EPRAD. Officials don't know the details…"
Clark let out a long breath, glancing at Lois who reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. "He's killing everyone," Lois muttered in a barely audible tone.
Five Years Ago…
"Lois, are you okay?" Lucy asked when she'd rushed inside the apartment in a hurry.
"Fine," she breathed, taking a deep breath as she leaned back on the couch. "Fine."
She didn't know what had happened. The whole place had erupted in gunfire. Thankfully she'd been able to find cover under one of the tables as she'd tried to make her way out of the club without getting hit.
"Lois, you're trembling," Lucy observed. "What happened?"
"This was a mistake. A big, big mistake." she said shakily.
"What was a mistake?" Lucy asked.
"I almost got shot tonight," Lois cried, placing a hand over her abdomen. "If I….Oh, God…"
"Lois," Lucy placed a hand over hers, "This is too dangerous."
"I know," she cried. "I didn't think I…"
"You need to tell Perry," Lucy sighed. "You need to slow down."
Lois dabbed her eyes as she sat up. "I know. I never should have agreed to do this. I'm just so afraid of losing my edge…my big break."
"I don't want to lose my sister and niece or nephew for a story," Lucy said quietly. "Please be more careful."
"I will," she promised.
"No more unnecessary risks," Lucy added.
"I'll do what I can, but I can't guarantee anything," Lois said.
A hard knock at the door caught their attention. Lois looked up in surprise.
"Expecting someone?" Lucy asked in surprise.
"Nope," Lois shook her head.
"When were these taken?" Lex asked Asabi with a look of disapproval.
"About an hour ago." Asabi explained, "Ms. Lane is working with the police to bring down the Metros….and the boss." He gave Lex a warning glance.
"I see," Lex took a puff from his cigar. "Well, I guess we need to teach Ms. Lane what happens when you get too close to the fire."
"Ms. Lane," Detective Wilder stepped inside her apartment looking around.
"Something I can help you with?" Lucy asked cautiously.
"Just wanted to check and make sure your sister was okay after what went down tonight," Wilder explained.
"Fine," Lois said a bit too quickly.
"Undercover assignments are hard. Especially when you're not used to them," he explained, looking around the apartment.
"I'm gonna fix some coffee," Lucy said pointing toward the kitchen. "I'll be right back."
"Do you think you got what you needed?" Lois asked. "I tried to point the camera where you could see everything…"
"Yeah," He nodded, "We got everything we needed."
Lois glanced at him, pacing around the living room nervously. Something seemed off. She just couldn't put her finger on it. Her phone rang, and she reached for it, "Lois Lane."
"Lois? It's Perry."
Lois gave a quick look to Wilder. "It's my Editor. I'll be right back."
Not wanting to have a conversation with Perry in front of Detective Wilder, she stepped into her bedroom and shut the door. "What's up, Chief?"
"Where are you?" Perry asked with an edge in his voice.
"In my apartment. Why?"
"There's a leak in the department. Apparently, the whole sting operation got leaked to the boss…"
"What?" Lois gasped.
"Henderson just called. I need you to get to the Planet and…."
Lois stepped outside her bedroom and let out an inaudible scream when she saw her sister unconscious on the floor. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no…." She knelt down next to her. "Lucy?"
"Lois? Are you still there?" Perry asked.
"Perry, Lucy's been attacked…."
"I'm on my way…"
"No, Perry…." She stopped when she felt a leather glove covered hand wrap around her throat. Her eyebrows shot up in fear.
'No. This wasn't happening. Not now.'
"Hang up the phone like a good little girl, and your sister just might make it out of this alive," he whispered in her ear.
"Go to hell…" she spat angrily, elbowing him in the gut hard enough that his grip on her throat loosened just enough for her to wiggle free from his grasp.
"Oh!" He groaned, "You miserable …."
She raced to the front door only for him to grab her by the hair, pulling her away from freedom. "Nooo!" She cried out as his gloved hand closed around her throat once more.
"Oh, I'm going to enjoy this so much…" He taunted her, "The boss liked your song. Wanted me to send his regards…" He slapped her across the face, and she winced in pain.
"Where's the tape?" He snarled, tightening his grasp on her.
"Bite me…" She spat, trying to portray a bit of confidence she didn't feel at the moment with his hand closed around her throat. His other hand held her wrists behind her in a vice-like grip, preventing her from escaping.
"Is that an invitation?" He teased. Her eyes widened, and he tightened his grip on her, "Don't worry your pretty little head. All I want is the tape."
"I don't have it." She snapped back, not so convincingly.
"I think you do." he shot back, moving his hands up and down her chest, "You took the wire off."
"Go to hell!" She snapped back.
His grip tightened on her once more, and she cringed when she felt her air supply slowly depleting. No, this couldn't be happening. Not now.
"You miserable little bitch…..Tell me where the damn tape is!" he snarled.
She could feel a weightlessness wash over her. This wasn't fair.
She wasn't even given a chance. No chance to do what she'd wanted. She wanted to be a mother. At least be given a chance. A bright light shone in her eyes as the memories from the last few years ran through her mind at a rapid pace.
"Clark…"
At least now she'd know for sure if Clark was dead or not.
"Go to hell!" Lucy slowly came back to consciousness and began to stir. She heard her sister from across the room. What happened? One minute she'd been in the kitchen and the next.
"You miserable…..Tell me where the damn tape is!"
Her head hurt. She could feel a sharp pain in the back of her head. She looked around and spotted the lamp that had fallen from the table during Lois' struggle. She heard her sister gasping for breath, and her grasp tightened around the neck of the lamp, feeling the metal base in her hands she lifted herself up cautiously. She fought the urge to cry out in pain.
She suppressed a whimper as she watched her sister's lips grow blue. With one hefty swing, she raised the lamp to hit the intruder as hard as she could in the back of the head. He fell to the ground in a silent groan, releasing his grasp on Lois.
"Lois!" Lucy cried, cradling her sister's head as she pulled her out from under Detective Wilder's very large body. "Oh, Lois…"
She leaned over her, listening for any signs of breathing. Remembering her training from some of her required CPR certification classes she'd taken last semester she began chest compressions, trying to force herself to stay calm.
The door opened behind her, and she heard Perry White, "Oh, my God…"
"One…two….Lois, don't you dare give up on me…" She said, leaning down to give her breaths before returning to her chest compressions.
"What happened?" Henderson asked from behind her.
"What….do….you….think?" Lucy hissed between compressions.
"Yes, this is Detective Bill Henderson. I have a female approximately 23 years old…."
"Lucy, why don't you let me take over?" Perry suggested, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"No, if I stop…no, no, no…." She continued to give her compressions.
"Lucy, you're bleeding…"
"I'm fine!" She screamed in tears, "Come on….Lois….fight! Come back to me please!"
"We've got an ambulance on its way," Henderson reassured her as she continued pumping her sister's chest at a rapid pace as she alternated between chest compressions and giving her breaths.
"Don't you dare give up on me, Lois…Fight, damnit!" she cried in despair. "Please God, no!" she cried.
The sound of an ambulance arriving from outside reached her ears as she continued to give compressions and breaths. The world around her seemed to be going in slow motion as she kept giving her sister breaths and compressions. "Lois….Please don't leave me…" She felt a vibration against her, and she cried, "Lois, come on, you can do this. Fight. You're a fighter…." She encouraged.
Lucy cried out tears of joy when Lois coughed and her body spasm against her.
"Clark!"
"Shhh…." She held her close. "I've got you."
"My baby…." she cried in hoarsely.
"She's pregnant," Lucy whispered, looking back at Henderson and Perry who were helping the ambulatory workers set the gurney up.
"Pregnant?" Perry asked in surprise.
"Twelve weeks." Lucy nodded.
"Clark's…" Lois said softly as she was loaded onto the gurney and the ambulatory workers began working on her.
Detective Wilder sat in his hospital room, rubbing the back of his head gingerly. He was handcuffed to the hospital bed and he saw two uniforms outside. He glanced across the room and noticed his tazer and issued firearms were missing from his police duty belt that sat abandoned on the table.
"I really stepped in it now…." he muttered to himself.
"The understatement of the millennium, Detective Wilder."
He looked up and saw a tall man in a white lab coat he recognized as being one of the top lieutenants with the boss.
"I can explain…"
"I'm sure you can," He said pulling the syringe out of his lab coat, "but the boss gave strict orders for you to follow and you disobeyed. We can't have that."
"I'm sorry okay. I was trying to get the tape back but the bitch just wouldn't…."
The man slapped him across the face, "We won't have you disrespecting a mahila like that."
"What's going to happen to me?" Wilder asked in concern, watching the man warily.
"You're going to enjoy retirement," The man said, approaching the IV that was hooked up to him and inserting the syringe, "A very long, relaxing retirement…in the Swarga Loka where you will spend the rest of your days."
"Swarga what?"
A burning sensation began to fill his veins and he looked up in fear. "You were never supposed to lay a hand on Ms. Lane. You were supposed to issue a warning from the boss and get the tape. For your disobedience, your death will be a painful one…."
"Wha…" he croaked unable to speak as the burning sensation filled his lungs.
"It's amazing what you can find when you have the right resources. Drugs that were rejected by the FDA because of their likelihood to cause an overdose. Drugs that can't be detected when mixed with a patient's bloodstream. Drugs that can cause your entire body to shut down simultaneously in….one …minute. Once the toxin reaches your heart it will stop beating. Your Brian, your lungs, your liver….all of them will be destroyed." The man walked toward Wilder's police duty belt and removed a microscopic chip that was hooked to the inside of his handgun holster. "It was a pleasure doing business with you Detective Wilder."
"Okay, just lie back," the doctor instructed, "This is going to be a bit…"
"Ahhh!" Lois jerked away as the cold gel hit her stomach.
"…cold." She smiled back at her.
"No kidding?" Lois said sarcastically, her voice hitched with a slight squeak. Lucy gave her a warning glare and she stopped herself, "Is the baby okay?"
"Let's take a look here…." she said, rolling the wand over her gel covered belly. The sound of fast rhythm filled the room and Lois let out a sigh of relief. "You hear that?" The doctor smiled at her.
"Thank God," Lois breathed a sigh of relief, reaching for Lucy's hand to squeeze it.
"Is the baby okay?" Lucy asked. "She wasn't getting any oxygen and …."
"It looks like this little one is fine. Whatever your body went through you seemed to have been affected by it more than the baby." the doctor reassured her. "You're very lucky. This one has a strong will to live."
She handed Lois a few wipes to clean the goo off of her, "Be sure to follow up with your OB as soon as possible."
Lois nodded, "I will."
Lucy gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "How are you feeling?"
"Like someone just tried to kill me?" Lois sighed, her voice was still scratchy from her ordeal, "Luce, I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't…." She felt the tears stinging the corner of her eyes. "You saved my life…mine and this little one's. I'll never forget that."
"I'm just sorry I wasn't able to get to you sooner," Lucy whispered tearfully. "I still can't believe this…That guy was a cop!"
"I know," Lois said hoarsely.
"Why don't you try and get some rest?" Lucy said, patting her leg. "You've been through a lot. We can talk tomorrow."
"I saw Grandpa James," Lois said in a soft whisper.
"What?" Lucy asked, looking at her in surprise.
"There was this big flash and I saw him. He told me it wasn't time and then I woke up," Lois whispered hoarsely.
"Grandpa James?" Lucy made a funny look.
"I know it sounds crazy," Lois said, rolling her eyes at her sister's expression, "but I know what I saw."
"I didn't say anything." Lucy said.
"Uh-huh." Lois leaned back in the hospital bed, "Luce?"
"Huh?" Lucy looked at her warily.
"Clark's not dead."
"Every parcel on the list? Excellent. Nothing like a little firestorm to lower prices on real estate. Let's move directly to phase two. I'd like to break ground on LexHarbor sometime next month… No, I wouldn't worry about that. Toni Taylor and I have an arrangement. … Destroy them. Plans, too. Should we ever need to revive the Toaster technology, it'll be easy enough. I know you will. That's what I pay you for." With the click of a button, Lex ended the phone call, taking a puff from his cigar.
"Asabi?" He called out. "Any news from Lois Lane in the Daily Planet?"
Asabi stood by the door, "No, sir, it appears she's been placed on administrative leave after her attack."
Lex nodded, "Keep close tabs on her, Asabi."
"Yes, sir."
Present Day…
Judge Davis read over the warrant in front of him with a furrowed brow. "What's this?"
"Your honor, we've received an anonymous tip that Dr. Antoinette Baines, the Director of EPRAD was seen leaving Mr. Luthor's home within twenty–four hours of her untimely demise last week. All we're asking for is permission to watch him. If nothing comes up, then there's no harm, but if something does come up…"
"We'll be happy we did it," Davis nodded, "You know you're treading on dangerous territory here, right?"
"I do, your honor," Henderson nodded solemnly, "but a woman is dead, and it is my job to find out why."
Davis nodded, scribbling his signature on the warrant, "Go get him."
Clark watched Lois squirm in the uncomfortable waiting room chair. After everything that had happened at Dr. Platt's apartment, he'd insisted on getting her in to see an OB to make sure everything was fine. Even though the doctors at the hospital had reassured them both Lois was okay, he still needed that extra reassurance. They'd sent in what they had on Platt to Perry, but neither of them were hopeful on it getting to print with the lack of hard evidence they had at the moment. Dr. Platt was their source, and he couldn't corroborate their story because he was in a coma. The Messenger was scheduled to launch in two days, and so far they hadn't come up with anything solid to prove sabotage or convince EPRAD to postpone the launch.
"Here." Lois handed him a pamphlet from the table that was next to her.
"First Trimester Q&A?" He read through the pamphlet. It seemed there were a lot of changes to be expected in the first trimester. Mood swings, sensitivity to smell, loss of appetite, bloating… He glanced over at Lois once more and couldn't help but smile when he saw her place her left hand over her right which was covering her abdomen. 'Definitely more than cautiously optimistic.' He thought to himself. He glanced around the room, noticing the different sizes of the women's protruding bellies that filled the waiting room. Some were small, medium, large …All were carrying a new life. He wondered what it had been like for Lois to go through this without him.
He reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with hers as he ran his thumb against the base of her ring, "You okay?"
"Just uncomfortable." She sighed, twisting in her chair once more to look at him. "Five years and they still have the same uncomfortable chairs they had before."
He smiled at her attempt at humor and brought her hand up to kiss. She smiled at him, and he sighed, running his thumb against her ring. The ring he'd given her five years ago. He could tell from the imprint on her finger she'd never taken it off. He'd had no intention of making her wait five years when he'd given her that ring. With impending fatherhood and the changes, they were looking to make with his alter-ego he wanted to have some permanence in their lives. The question was, was she ready?
She stroked his cheek, leaning in to kiss him, "We'll figure this out. You'll see."
He gave her a weak smile. "No, I was just thinking how much our lives are going to change…"
"Yeah," she smiled at him, resting her head against his shoulder as he spoke. "but in a good way."
"A very good way," he smiled, placing a hand over her abdomen, "I love you so much, Lois, I…"
"Lois Lane," The nurse called.
Lois sighed, reaching for his hand as she stood up and headed toward the door, "That's us,"
"Mr. President?" Shepard Wilson called into the Oval office, "General Newcomb to see you."
"Send him in," Thompson said, not looking up from his notes.
"You must like playing chicken," Newcomb said as he closed the door behind him.
Thompson looked up at him in surprise, "Chicken?"
"Lex Luthor," Newcomb said firmly. "He's becoming a problem."
"I know," Thompson said bitterly, "He's getting more demanding."
"People are going to start to put two and two together and then where will we be?" Newcomb asked. "I stepped aside because it was what was good for the mission. He's becoming reckless. The FBI has opened a file on him…."
"What am I supposed to do?" Thompson asked. "He's got us both by the…"
"I know," Newcomb said, pacing the room uneasily. "He knows too much."
TBC...