Chapter 25: The Calm Before the Storm

He turned over in his restlessness and opened his eyes to the pitch dark room. He expected to find her warmth curled into him but instead he found the emptiness of the bed sheets. He sat up worriedly then sighed in relief as he found her to be standing by the window.

"Lois?" He whispered. "Is everything ok?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "No."

His brow furrowed as he walked up to her; stretching his muscles and adjusting his boxers as he moved. He walked up behind her, carefully placing a hand on her shoulder. She grabbed his hand and pulled him to her.

"The calm before the storm." She whispered.

He looked out the window and watched the stillness of the night. The trees didn't attempt to sway and the grass remained idle.

"Are you afraid?" She asked him, seemingly drawn to the picture outside.

"With you by my side? No."

"I won't be there Clark." She turned in his arms and faced him. "And the closer that day gets the more I remember what Jor-el said that day."

He grabbed her shoulders. "I'm not going to let you or mom get hurt."

"But you don't know what's going to happen! You don't know for sure!"

"But I do know with all my heart, all my power, that I won't let you get hurt."

She looked into his eyes. "I don't want you to be with me every second. If there is somewhere else you need to be you need to go. The world is more important than me."

"Lois...please don't say that."

"It's the truth! You can't let hundreds die because of one person!"

"I can't let you die!"

"I can't live forever! I'm human Clark. I'm not invincible like you!"

He looked at her curiously. "What's going on? Lois?"

"What Jor-el said will happen. It always does. Please heed his warnings this time Clark. Stop worrying about me and us and get back to training ok?"

He stepped back away from her and observed her for a moment before whispering. "So that's it? You're breaking up with me?"

"No. We need to slow down and get focused on the task at hand. Before it's too late."

"Lois?" She turned back to the window without acknowledging him. "Lois." He raised his voice to her but she still won't answer him. He sighed defeated. "I'll train harder ok? I'll get stronger and hone my abilities."

"And let me do what I need to do."

"What will you be doing?"

"Working on throwing Lex, Lionel and Lana in jail."

"Lois, I don't want you tangled up in that web."

"I was tangled in it the second I met you! You don't want me to go because they're ruthless? You think I don't know that already? I know what they are Clark. I also know that I have to do something. I can't just sit her and think about what they did to you without doing something about it anymore."

She started shaking. He turned her around and noticed the tears streaked down her face.

"Hey." He whispered concerned. She let out a sob and he pulled her in.

"I see your nightmares Clark." She mumbled. "I know what you are thinking at night.: She wiped off the rest of her tears and looked at him. "And I don't want them to come true. So you need to train. Got it?"

He smiled at her. "Yes ma'am."

"Good. Now about those wet dreams..."

He turned red. "Woops."

"Damn straight! I hate doggy style."

She kissed him then climbed into bed, him hot on her trail.

-

They sat down at the table that morning and an eerie quiet filled the room. No one was eating but the older Lois and she was jamming food in her face as fast as she could.

They all turned suddenly as the front door came open and Martha stepped through the door.

"Another guest?" She inquired towards the older Lois.

"Mom! I missed you!"

She jumped up and wrapped her arms around her, nearly crying as she held her.

"Lois?" She asked.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you call me Mom?'

She grinned up at her. "Force of habit. Sorry if I scarred you there."

"It's ok sweetie. Turn around. Let me look at you."

Lois spun and then faced her again. Martha gave her a once over then stopped at her stomach, quickly pulling her up the stairs into the bathroom.

The older Clark fidgeted as he wanted to go up with her. He listened instead.

"Are you wanting to tell me something Lois? Possibly about your expanding waist line?"

She giggled. "Well you see..." she whispered in her ear, "I'm pregnant." She stepped back and smiled.

Martha looked at her confused. "Why did you whisper that?"

"They can't know."

"Who?"

"The one's from now. They can't know."

"Why-wait. It's-"

She nodded. "Yep!"

"Oh My God! Really?"

"Yep. I never got to tell you before-" Her eyes widened as she cut herself off.

Martha quickly shook it off. "I already know it's getting close Lois."

Lois' eyes watered. "I'm leaving tonight Mom. You won't get to see it."

"I don't need to see her in order to love her."

"Him." She said with a smile. "I want it to look just like him, be just like his mother raised him."

"I'm sure he will be baby." Martha bent down and kissed her belly. "Love you in there."

Lois hugged her. "I love you and I am so sorry for everything."

They walked out of the bathroom and back into the kitchen. Lois looked at Clark and smiled at him as she sat down. He let out a sigh of relief and started eating.

The younger couple looked at each other curiously. Neither of them could figure out the secret and they were starting to get anxious as to what it was.

Clark reached under the table and grabbed Lois' hand to give it a reassuring squeeze before he started his meal.

"So Mom, how was Metropolis?"

"Same as usual. Too many politics but there weren't as many crimes."

The older Clark slowed his eating.

"Some one said a man in primary colors is playing hero in the city. Any body else heard anything about it?"

Lois took her turn to butt in. "It's all over the headlines of the Planet. People say he's an Adonis in spandex."

The older Lois chocked on her food and Clark got up to help her.

"Sorry." She mumbled out as she started turning pale. She continued to cough as Clark patted her on the back.

He saw it wasn't working and pulled her chair out, lifting her to her feet. He found the middle of her ribcage with his fist and was about to push in when-

"NO!" Was screamed by the older Clark and Martha.

He looked at them shocked as they hurried around the table. "She's chocking!"

"You don't need to do that." Older Clark stated. "I'll get it." He lifted Lois then put her back into her chair. He put his lips to her and blew a little, pushing the food down.

She regained color quickly as he pulled away. She smiled at him and whispered a thank you. She starred into his eyes for another moment and Martha cleared her throat.

They broke apart quickly, an embarrassing red flooding their faces.

"Nice lung capacity there Smallville." She said as she coughed once more.

"Thanks."

"Right. So I'm going to go eat in the living room."

"I'll go outside."

They grabbed their plates and shot in different directions. Martha attempted to grab her plate when Clark noticed her.

"Where are you going?"

She smiled sheepishly at them. "Oh...no where." She sat back down and looked at her plate. 'This is going to be a long couple of hours.'

-

They all stood on the porch and watched as she walked down the gravel road alone back to the caves.

She didn't want Clark to go with her. That was too obvious. But it hurt so badly when he came in the room to tell him no. That look in his eyes has brought the tears that now run from hers. She held them in until she had stepped through the portal and landed safely on her bed.

Jimmy stood patiently above her as she let it all out into her pillow and he couldn't stand to watch anymore.

Lois Lane was not strong without Clark Kent. She couldn't pretend to be strong anymore. She was too worried about him.

-

The stench of his death still filled the room. A mask was required unless you wanted to lose everything you had for the last month. His blood could still been seen permanently stained to the cold cement floor.

To the investigators it looked like an accident or suicide. None of the incubators were left in the room so there was no evidence that Lex had done it. But who expected any less from a Luthor?

She made notes of the size of the room, the number of outlets, the amount of blood on the floor. Anything she could get her hands on that could be even remotely helpful.

She slipped through the gate when she entered. Apparently no one was home. But of course that's why she had her Uzi in her hands as she snooped around.

Clark would kill her if he knew where she was. Both Clarks would.

She could hear it now:

"It's too dangerous."

And then more "Blah" from there. She rolled her eyes as she peeped around the corner and to no surprise it was incredibly dark.

"And I didn't bring a flashlight. Great."

"Lois?"

She turned swiftly at the shock of hearing another voice, her gun ready to fire in her hands. "Clark! Don't sneak up on me like that."

He walked forward. "Well maybe I wouldn't have to if you hadn't run off like that. Tell me where you are going next time so I can help you."

"Listen! I can take care- help me? You have to be 2017 right?"

"Is that a new nickname?"

"Maybe. If I like it. Why are you here?"

"I was looking for you. Seems you disappeared without a word."

"Sorry. I knew if I told him where I was he would freak. So I just kept it to myself."

"So you two already had the nightmare talk?"

"Yeah. Don't forget the doggy style part." She said as she turned away from him to continue snooping.

"How could I?" He asked in a sexy tone.

She continued forward but her walk faltered. "Don't tell me you lose your modesty!"

"Some of it. But don't worry, I'm still the same old Clark you know."

"And that would be wrong Mr. I-Bleed-Honesty."

He walked towards her. "Tell me then Lois. How much did I change?"

"Well you don't seem to brood anymore, which of course is a good thing. You grew an inch or two. You are more shy now, which is just weird, because bantering doesn't flow like it should anymore. And it seems you lose your touch with me." She whispered the last part as she was lost in thought.

"Super hearing Lois."

She rolled her eyes. "Should I say 'crap' now?"

She turned and he ran into her, accidentally knocking them both down.

"Sorry." He whispered.

"Yeah. You can get off of me anytime now."

"Yeah." He stood and extended his hand to help her up.

She stood without his help. "I can see that you still get butterflies and so does she. So what gives?"

"If I can't tell myself, why should I be able to tell you?"

She stepped forward. "Because it's eating you alive that you can't tell me. I know it is."

"It may be but I can't ruin the future-"

"Because we are both happy right? Already heard it Clark. Already heard it." She starred at him for a moment as if waiting for something and then turned, walking away.

"Lois." He said.

"I get it 2017, whatever."

"No you don't. Neither of you do. And you won't until you live this."

"We have to do this too?"

"Yes. And then the younger versions of you and so on."

"Great. More fun. I get to ruin more lives."

"Ruin? Lois you are going to help so many people. You have no idea."

"But of course you do. Could we not talk about this?" She grabbed something and fell.

"Lois?"

"What the hell is this goop? Holy SHIT!" She jumped back. "That's Lex." She whispered.

He walked forward and touched it. "No. That goop comes from it."

"A bad clone?"

"What?"

"There were thousands of incubators in here. I tend to remember something so vivid."

"Makes sense." He continued to stare at the mass as it melted and something clicked in his mind. "That's wasn't Lex that day Lois." He stood and turned to her.

"What day?"

"Um…the day we almost had sex on the couch."

"That's why he melted." She stopped and thought for a second. "X-ray the room."

"Why?"

She rolled her eyes. "Just do it."

He sighed and went over the room. His mouth dropped slightly as he saw the room lined with lead. He started walking forward and stopped at the door. He felt along the wall, mesmerized by it. He pushed in and it crumpled, falling limply to the floor.

Lois quickly passed him up walking in. She looked the place over with a manner of disgust.

It was the same as he remembered, as he ran his hand along the wall. The same disgusting smell, the same sick bleeding white color.

"Clark?" She whispered to him.

"Hm?" He stopped.

She walked over to him putting a hand on his broad shoulder. "You ok? We can leave if you want."

"No. I need closure. I have to let this place go." He touched his blood that was stained to the wall. "I never lost hope that you would find me Lois."

"I know you didn't."

"You remember in that dream where I told you where I was?"

"Yes. I was so scarred and relieved."

He chuckled sadly. "I remember when Lana showed me her baby and said it was mine. I remember thinking of you in that very second and wishing it was our baby not mine and hers. But I still told Lana I would love that baby no matter what happened. And I did. Even after figuring out it wasn't mine. I cried when it died, that's why she put it in here. To let me say to goodbye. I never did."

He turned away from the wall and walked to a part of the floor and stopped. He kneeled down and raked his hand across a part of the floor.

"It took me a while to realize she had never gotten a semen sample."

She put her hand on the wall and touched the blood. The blood she remembers so well as it bleed from him. "You speak as though she tried."

"She did. But once she almost got me to that point she saw the pain and anger on my face. She didn't have the heart to finish."

"I wanted to kill her." Lois said suddenly as her fists clenched into balls.

He stood and faced her. "I know you did. I am so proud of you for not killing her. No one deserves it Lois, no matter what they have done to others."

She put her hand on his face. "Make me understand why someone would want to hurt a good man like you."

"Jealousy, fear, loathing. There's a lot of things Lo."

She smiled. "Why do you call me that?"

"I had to get even with the nicknames. Lo just turned out to be one that stuck."

They starred into each others eyes. "I'm not ready for a love like this."

"Neither is he."

"What happens?"

He starred at her for a moment. "God, I wish I could tell you."

She stepped closer to him. "Then do it. Tell me that I don't end up unhappy."

"You're not unhappy Lois."

She looked deep into his eyes. "Tell me you always have loved me."

He turned away from her touch. "Lois. Don't."

"Tell me that you don't love me right now."

His head snapped back up to meet her eyes. He backed away from her. "It's not you that I love." He whispered.

Her hand was stilled in the air until the shock wore off. "Do you love her? Me in 10 years time?"

"I can't do this. Lois, please, stop."

"Answer the question."

"Stop."

"How much would it change?"

"It would change everything Lois. You have no idea what one simple thing can change." He backed even farther away from her. "Do you know how much like Lana you sound right now?"

"It's called being insecure Clark."

"It doesn't suit you Lois."

She turned away from him. She shook her head and swiftly turned back, anger written across her face.

"I've changes! I'm not that person you know now."

"I know you're not. But that doesn't give you reason to act this way."

She opened her mouth and then closed it, words evade her mind.

"Quit pushing him away Lois. Those nightmares are worst case scenarios. They're not something to believe."

"I don't want him to die because of me."

"Don't push him away. It'll only make things worse."

She met his eyes. "Ok."

He starred at her for another second and scoffed. "Ok? Is that it? After all of this?"

"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?" She screamed.

He slapped a hand across her mouth and super sped them out. He ran then into Clark's room where he set unsettled on the bed.

"Fix this." He whispered before blurring out of the room and shutting the door.

She watched him for an eternity and all the while he didn't move. The silence was killing her. She stepped forward and bit her lip. She extended a shaky hand to touch him, possibly to ease his woes.

"Clark I'm-"

He sighed. "You know what Lois?" He said in a bitter tone. She jumped in her skin. "The entire time you were gone I thought about what you said." He stood and looked at her. "You're right. I have to work harder, even if it means spending less time with you. You need to be able to do what you need to do. No matter how much I don't want to, I know I can't stop you from pursuing what your heart desires most."

Even in this darkness she could see the red and puffiness of his eyes. She felt so bad. How could she break his heart like this? How could she break her own heart like this?

"And what if what my heart desires the most is you?"

She saw his eyes search hers. He let out a sigh and put a hand on her face.

"Lois…"

"You don't believe me."

"How am I supposed to believe you? You keep pulling away from me!"

"I'm afraid." She whispered ashamed.

"Why? What are you so afraid of?" He whispered calmly.

"I'm not ready for where we are going. I'm afraid we'll get hurt."

"Where are we going?"

"I can't imagine life without you anymore Clark. I feel dependent on you now."

"I can't imagine life without you either. We need each other Lois."

"I'm not ready for that."

He smiled. "That's why we are dating Lois. To get ready. Together."

"So we're dating now Smallville?"

"Well. I won't tell anyone if you won't."

"Right."

He hugged her close and watched as the door cracked open to a wondering pair of eyes. "Thank you." He mouthed and he saw a smile before the door closed again.

"Everything's going to be ok."

-

Martha walked out to her car and got in, starting the ignition and releasing the emergency brake. She checked her mirrors then swore she saw something move. She turned and looked. Nothing there. She shrugged it off and pressed the gas when the rope wrapped around her throat. She was out in a matter of seconds as the gag was added to her mouth. She couldn't scream or breathe.

No one could help her.

And as if mother nature knew, in that very moment, the rain suddenly began to fall.