Fear is a question: What are you afraid of, and why? Just as the seed of health is in illness, because Illness contains information, your fears are a treasure house of self-knowledge if you explore them.
Marilyn Ferguson
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Rushing to the scene but keeping his distance to try and understand what he was seeing, Superman hovered in the air. A young girl was on the ledge of a tall apartment building threatening to jump. A woman was hanging out a nearby window trying to coax her back inside but she refused. Moving even further away crying the little girl said in a whisper. Not realizing the rescuer she had called was nearby and watching her every move, "Superman, I would rather die if you don't rescue me from this place." She jumped.
With tears threatening to form in his eyes Superman caught the young girl ever so gently in his arms. Looking at the woman with questions in his eyes, he flew off without asking a single one. He took the little girl with him not even bothering to look back at the woman.
Landing in a nearby park like area Superman sat the young girl down and kneeled on one knee beside her brushing away some of her tears. She continued to cry but quickly wrapped her arms around his neck hugging him fiercely not wanting to let go.
"Are you alright, why did you want to die? Did someone hurt you?" He pulled away so he could quickly scan her. He saw evidence of severe physical abuse where bones and scars had healed on her arms and legs. She was well dressed but the emotional toll was very evident in the lost look in her eyes.
"I knew you would save me. Jason told me how wonderful you are. Please don't let them send me back there. I would rather fall off the face of the earth than go back there. Promise me, please?" Then in the softest whisper as if ashamed to say, "My mother hates me, she beats me."
"I promise I will do everything in my power to see that you are safe and protected. You can trust me. What's your name? How do you know Jason?"
"We go to the same school. I'm two years older than him but we're friends. He's always been nice to me even when others are mean. I guess we're both kinda lonely. He told me you saved him when he and his mom and dad almost drowned and how you like little kids. I trust you, but please don't let them send me back there, like they always do, please." The tears that had almost dried began to fall once again. "My name is Katherine but everyone calls me Kala."
"Kala it is. I'm going to take you to the hospital where they will make sure you're okay. While you're there I'll talk to social services. You will not be going anywhere you are afraid of even if I have to kidnap you myself. Do you understand?"
Wiping away the tears, she allowed a smile finally and once again threw her arms around his neck fiercely hugging him with all her might.
Flying again with the young girl back in his arms Superman landed at the hospital traveling again the same route he had taken the day he was supposed to be writing about.
"Excuse me, uh, Nurse Lauraleye is it. This is Kala. She has been traumatized and needs to be examined for child abuse. I scanned her and saw evidence of several healed broken bones both in her arms and legs."
"Oh, my god, here follow me. She looks familiar. I think she's been here before. By the way, how are you doing? You left rather abruptly last week, not that we could do much for you anyway? I was actually the one who found you gone that night. I was glad, since it meant you had flown off suddenly better."
"I'm fully recovered. Thank you for asking. Right now I'm worried about this little girl. I want to speak to the social worker. I've promised Kala she will not go back to her mother and I mean to keep that promise." He said looking down at the young girl he was still carrying. She seemed so content in his arms he hadn't wanted to put her down.
Entering the exam room he gently laid her onto an examining table. Noticing she was hesitant to let go he said. "It's ok. I'll be right outside if you need me. Just whisper my name and I'll come to you from wherever I am." Before the door could even close behind him he heard her whisper softly so only he could have heard.
"Superman I need you please come back, I'm still scared."
Peeking back inside the room knowing it was a test he smiled at her, "I heard that, you don't have to be afraid, I will be right here, you can count on it."
While Kala was being examined the social worker arrived. She introduced herself as Sara Widow. She and Superman talked at length. It seems the little girl was almost eight years old and had a long history of physical abuse at her mother's hands. Each time she had been returned to the mother who insisted she would never hurt her little girl again. The mother, Ms. Victoria Jackson, was well off financially but a heavy drinker and when drinking got abusive. This was to be the last straw, Ms. Widow explained. But there were limited placements so Kala would become a ward of the courts.
"She needs love. Do you know she threw herself off the ledge of a high rise apartment? I heard her say she would rather die than stay where she was. I gave her my promise that she would be safe."
"We'll do everything we can, but you know how it works."
Thinking of a solution he excused himself telling Ms. Widow he knew someone who might be able to help.
Finding an isolated place nearby he dialed Lois. "Lois, I…"
"Oh, so are you calling me for the neck rub." She said seductively
Smiling at the thought he said softly into the phone, "That would be nice, but no. I have just brought an abused little girl to the hospital, she needs our help. Can you get over here as soon as possible? She goes to Jason's school and they know each other."
"I'll be right there. You can fill me in on the rest when I get there. Richard's here with Jason. It'll take about 15 minutes or so."
"Good I'll see you then, Love you. Bye."
Going back to Ms. Widow, Superman asked what was involved in becoming a foster parent saying he knew a couple who might be willing to take Kala. As they continued to talk Lois arrived.
"Lois this is Ms. Sara Widow, she's a social worker handling the little girl, Kala's case. Ms. Widow, this is Lois Lane, she and her fiancé Clark Kent are the couple I told you about."
"Nice to meet you Miss Lane, will Mr. Kent be joining us?"
Lois looked at Superman as if to attain the answer. "He's tied up at the moment but hopefully he'll be able to join us soon. Superman told me the little girl goes to my son's school. If she needs a safe place we would be glad to provide one as long as needed."
"Well, ordinarily we have to do a complete background search but this appears to be a special case. I am concerned with your history though, you do have a rather wild reputation. I'm just worried about the child's safety."
Looking again at Superman, "well I have a personal protector. He's standing right next to you. How much safer do I need to be?"
Smiling, Superman said. "Lois and I go way back. And, yes she has needed protection from various sources from time to time. But she is also capable of protecting herself and her son in most circumstances. I can also vouch for Clark Kent. Besides I have promised Kala, that I will personally keep her safe, I intend to keep that promise. The Kent's will make excellent foster parents, of that I'm sure."
"But you are not even married." Sara frowned looking at Lois shaking her head.
"That's true" Lois confirmed, "but we're getting married in less than two weeks. As a matter of fact you're welcome to come to our wedding in Smallville on the 18th to verify the fact if it would help."
"That won't be necessary Miss Lane. I see no reason she can't go home with you when they release her tonight on at least a temporary basis. It's certainly preferable to a child welfare shelter. This little girl needs some tender loving attention now! We'll see how it works with you and go on from there."
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I wish to thank my Beta reader SHADOLibrarian once again for her valuable input and editing
Vgerland
All Is Not Well - A Superman Returns Fan Fiction Sequel
also at The Planet Fan Fiction site
Excerpt from Chapter 35 - Trask posted in conjunction with SHADOLibrarian
... this Superman creature had fooled everyone. Trask knew that an alien craft had landed near Smallville ...he'd kept an eye on Kent and Lane for some time..the alien entity seemed to take a special interest in them...he would find it, prove that Smallville was just ground zero for an alien invasion.