Chapter Twenty-Seven: 5th Session

Time passed quickly for the Kents. Kara hated high school, Lois loved her job, and Clark was trying to follow his destiny. All in all with little trouble, well as much trouble that usually followed Clark Kent and his friends, and Lois and Clark's assignments becoming easier for them to handle, their next session with Dr. O'Neil snuck up on them.

Lois and Clark were more at peace than they had been at their last session. They were sitting side by side only a couple of centimeters from each other. They were even able to look at each other without feeling awkward.

"I reviewed your tape about your relationship," Dr. O'Neil began. "I will begin with Clark. Mr. Kent, you have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to your list. You're young and obviously respect the women in your life. With that said, your relationships with these woman may have been brief but they had such a huge impact on you."

"Now, Lois," she said turning her attention to Lois. "You also have nothing to be ashamed of. You obviously had a lack of sense of love from your father causing you to search for the affection he was not giving you. There is nothing wrong with that. Each relationship helped mold you into the woman you are today and you should be proud of that."

"Moving on," Dr. O'Neil said. "What is new in your lives?"

"My cousin, Kara has come to live with us and Lois started working at the Daily Planet," Clark said happily.

"Yes," Lois said. "And everything's fine. I'm happy at my job and I'm getting along with Kara," Lois said.

"So, these changes are good?" Dr. O'Neil asked.

"Yes, definitely," Lois said.

"And how has your assignment go?" asked the therapist.

"It went well, we haven't been nervous since the first time," Lois answered.

"Oh," said Dr. O'Neil. "What did you talk about?"

"Our childhoods," Clark answered. "Whatever age I chose was the age we discussed.

"It was great," Lois said.

"And the recordings?" Dr. O'Neil asked.

"Oh," Clark said before reaching into his blue jacket pocket and pulling out the tapes.

"Thank you, Mr. Kent," said Dr. O'Neil.

After placing the tapes in her bag, she shifted in her seat.

"Today, we're going to talk about your fears," she said. "Mr. Kent, you go first."

Clark cleared his throat and rubbed his hands on his jeans.

"Lately, I've been afraid of losing people who are close to me," he said. "Last year it was my dad and this year it's Lana. I don't think I could take another loss."

Lois rubbed his arm in comfort.

"I'm also afraid of losing Lois the most," he said. "Since she nearly died, I've been extra worried about her."

"Understandable," Dr. O'Neil said. "Mrs. Kent, it's your turn."

"I don't know," the reporter shrugged. "I guess I'm afraid of the same things. You know, afraid of losing my friends and family."

"I see," Dr. O'Neil said as she wrote in her notepad.

When she was done she asked a question that was difficult for her to ask.

"Are you both afraid of being alone, of dying alone?"

And without hesitation the couple answered simultaneously.

"Yes."

"Okay," Dr. O'Neil said breaking the tension. "What about dreams, what are your dreams? Lois, you go first this time."

"Are we talking about what we want out of our lives or our dreams we have while we are sleeping?" asked the young reporter.

"The dreams you have while you're sleeping," answered Dr. O'Neil.

"Right," Lois said crossing her legs. "I have this one dream that I keep on having involves a tall man in a red cape. I cannot see his face, but I feel like I know him. He takes me flying. There's no plans and he has no wings. He can fly on his own. At the beginning of this dream, I always feel safe and feel like he's the most important person in my life. But always at the end, he leaves me, and I'm frightened and alone, I miss him terribly."

Dr. O'Neil nodded and wrote in her notepad.

"Clark?" she queued for the man to speak.

"Well, my dream is always about family," the Kryptonian said. "I'm a husband and a father. It's all that I want in life. I'm not even sure if I can have kids. I just know that's what I want. To live on my family's farm with my wife and kids."

"You must have had a strong family life," Dr. O'Neil commented.

"Yes," Clark said.

Dr. O'Neil checked her watch.

"Well, it looks like our time is up," she said and stood.

Lois and Clark did the same and they all stretched their stiff limbs.

"So, what's our next assignment," Lois asked.

"I want you to be more intimate," Dr. O'Neil answered.

"More intimate how?" asked the couple in unison.

"Massages, nothing more," the therapist answered.

"And what proof will we have to show this?" asked Lois.

"Video recording and an eyewitness," Dr. O'Neil sighed. "The recording must only show the waist up and the massage is only given to the back."

"What?" Lois exclaimed not liking the assignment at all. "We can't do that."

"You can and you will, if you want me to certify your divorce," Dr. O'Neil insisted.

Lois groaned before storming out of the office with Clark right behind her.

END OF CH. 27