Winner Takes All

Folc4evernaday | Rated: M | Chapter 29


Metropolis General Hospital was a frenzy of activity as nurses and doctors raced around the emergency trying to tend to the victims of the Planet explosion. Lucy Lane sat numbly in the middle of the waiting room, awaiting the doctors to return with the status on her sister and brother-in-law. When she had called Martha to tell her what had happened she had been told to call Dr. Klein. Why would she tell her to call a scientist? She'd said Dr. Klein was Clark's doctor…

"You okay, Luce?" Jimmy asked, handing her a cup of coffee.

"We had a fight," Lucy said numbly.

"What?"

"We had a fight about my wanting to marry Lex. I have hardly spoken to her since she got back from her honeymoon…." Lucy began to cry. "The doctors said there is a chance of internal bleeding. There's no way they'd be able to do the surgery without ... Oh, God…"

"Hey, hey, it's okay." Jimmy placed a supportive arm around her. "Everything's gonna be all right. Look at me. Just a few scratches."

"Well, you're one of the lucky ones I guess." Lucy sniffed. "I don't know what to do…" Lucy began to ramble. She didn't notice Jimmy kept inching himself closer and closer to her, holding her more securely against him. "Oh, Jimmy, what if they ask me to make a decision?" Lucy sniffed against his chest. "I can't make that choice for them…"

Jimmy sighed. His arm tightened around Lucy. "Lucy…" He leaned in to kiss her. For a moment she kissed him back; then without warning, she pushed him away.

"Jimmy, what are you doing?"

"Lucy, I love you. I've always loved you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"Jimmy…" Lucy stood up, backing away from him as quickly as possible. What was going on here?

"I won't hurt you; I just want to be with you, Lucy." Jimmy pleaded.

"My sister is in the hospital and all you can think about is… You are NOT who I thought you were James Olsen!"


Martha Kent stared out the window as the plane took off. Clark was hurt. The baby. Lois. She brushed away a few strands of tears.

Unconscious.

Lucy Lane had described her son as unconscious. The only other time she'd seen Clark unconscious was when Trask had exposed him to Kryptonite. The bitter memory of Trask's terror on Smallville came to the forefront of her mind.

"Hey, it's gonna be okay, Martha." Jonathan took her hand and squeezed it gently.

"All he ever wanted was to have a family…" She began to cry. "Why did this have to happen?"


"Jimmy, what has gotten into you?" Lucy hissed as she backed away from her young friend. "I think you should get checked out."

"Only if you're doing the checking," Jimmy said seductively, wrapping his arms around her.

"Jimmy, stop it." Lucy pleaded.

"Fine." Jimmy backed away. "I'm cool."

"Ms. Lane?" A young nurse in her mid-thirties came from the ER.

"Yes." Lucy turned her attention to the doctor.

"I'm Amanda Marshall, the RN on your sister's case. I'm sorry, but we're going to have to do surgery. Are you the next of kin?"

"No, her husband is. Clark Kent." Lucy said, shaking her head defiantly.

The nurse nodded solemnly. "He's in ICU. I was told he's being monitored by a Dr. Klein from S.T.A.R Labs." The doctor sighed. "I'm sorry, but he can't make this decision right now."

"Can't you wait until he's better?" Lucy asked in between tears. "I can't …"

"If we don't operate soon your sister will bleed to death; then there will be no saving her or the baby."

"Oh, God…" She cried. "Just do….do what you can to save both of them…. Please."

"I really don't think the baby will make it, Ms. Lane."

"Try." Lucy wrapped her arms tightly around her chest as she fought to remain in control.

The nurse nodded, "I need you to sign this paperwork, stating it's okay to perform surgery on your sister."


Lois' mind was a fog. It hurt. The pain was unbearable. She tried to open her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She tried to open her eyes but her eyelids were too heavy. She gave into the serenity of darkness.

"Clark…"


Clark's mind drifted in and out of consciousness. It hurt. Breathing. Moving. His body ached down to the core. What had happened? Why couldn't he just wake up?

"Oh, you are so going to pay for that!" Lois called angrily. Her face was covered in the snow that he had just thrown at her. The look of fury was partnered with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She chased him; throwing snow repeatedly at him. He kept himself just out of her reach until she stopped.

She had her hands on her abdomen, caressing the small bump with a look of awe on her face. "What is it?" He asked concerned.

"The baby. It kicked." She smiled back at him.

"Really?" He moved towards her, dropping to his knees so that he was eye-level with their unborn child. He watched in amazement when Lois lifted up her sweater and he saw the ripple of movement flow across the rounded bump that had begun to form. He placed his hand against her skin, eliciting a gasp from her. "You okay?"

"Your hand's just a little cold." She explained.

"Sorry." He shot a beam of heat vision against his hand then hesitantly touched her once more. "Better?" She nodded. He watched in amazement as their child moved beneath her skin. The strength behind the kicks was incredible. "Does that hurt?" He asked concerned.

"No. It…It feels nice." She smiled at him. "Let's me know the baby's having a good time."

"I guess he or she likes snowball fights." He teased.

"Oh, yeah." Lois slammed a snowball on top of his head and grinned at him as he shook it off. "I told you, you were going to pay."

He laughed then stood up and kissed her.


"Come on, Clark, you've got to wake up. I've tried everything I can….Something's gotta work." Dr. Klein muttered under his breath as he looked at Clark's vitals once more.

A knock at the door caught his attention. He looked up and saw and an elderly couple standing in the doorway. "May I help you?"

"I'm Martha Kent. This is my husband, Jonathan." Martha explained.

"Oh, yes. Come on in!" Dr. Klein ushered them in. "Close the door behind you.

"What is all this?" Martha asked, looking at the wires hooked up to Clark along with a large lamp that was aimed at him as well.

"Since Clark is reenergized by the sun I thought this would help. I've isolated the area where the Kryptonite has seemed into his system. It's mostly in his nasal passages. It seems to be something he inhaled when the explosion went off."

"Inhaled?" Martha asked aghast. "He…inhaled it?"

"Yes. Clark told me about what had happened in Smallville with the Kryptonite. I sent one of my assistants over there last week to try and find any more sample of this meteorite so I might be able to come up with a vaccine.."

"You can do that?" Jonathan asked impressed.

"Yes." Dr. Klein smiled proudly. His face sobered a moment, "I hope I can anyway. I've used the vaporizers to try and clear out his nasal passages and make the swelling go down. I'm trying to avoid having to manually remove it from his system. I don't know what to expect and…"

"Thank you," Martha said, placing a hand on Dr. Klein's shoulder. "Thank you for helping our son."


"The attack on the Daily Planet has had an unusual effect on the people that were caught in the crossfire. Many are declaring their love to one another and showing no restraint in the process. Police are still unaware of the source to this side effect, but they are working with the DEA to try and figure out how this has happened. Lex Luthor has announced his intentions not to rebuild the Planet based on the lack of economic funding." The newscaster sighed. "It's a sad day for the people of Metropolis. For the first time in two hundred and nineteen years, there will be no edition of the Daily Planet. With Editor-in-Chief, Perry White and star reporters, Lois Lane and Clark Kent in the hospital along with many of it's staff it is unknown how any of them will take the news."


Lex laughed as he clicked off the television. "I really do have to hand it to Miranda; she outdid herself this time. Not even a sign of Superman. By the time anyone is even aware of what has happened our Man of Steel will be long gone."

"Yes, along with those reporters," Nigel added.

"Yes, those reporters." Lex agreed. "I'm sure they'll be appropriately wounded when consciousness falls on them once more. They're too stubborn to give up that easily. With no place of employment available but with me they won't have a choice but to back down. I've won. I'll keep Lois Lane and her partner in check with Lucy Lane as my bride. I'll be unstoppable."


One Week Later…

"LaToya Cox. A widow." Detective Wolf laid the file on Henderson's desk. "I'd say you've got your killer."

"Why does she look so familiar?" Henderson asked.

"Who knows?" Detective Wolf asked. "She could have been anywhere."


"Any change?" Perry asked, handing Alice a cup of coffee. He wore a cast on his right arm and had a bandage wrapped around his head.

"No." Alice sniffed, looking at Lois. "The doctors said they removed particles of what appeared to be some kind of radioactive substance from her. Everyone was exposed to this…" She shook her head. "It doesn't make any sense."

"I know. I love those kids like they were my own."

"How are we supposed to tell them?" Alice asked.

"I don't know."


"Lucy?" Jimmy knocked on her apartment door hesitantly.

Lucy opened the door, "What is it, Jimmy?"

Jimmy's face fell. "You're still mad."

"I'm not mad. I get it. You weren't yourself. I do watch the news." She pointed towards the television. "What do you want?"

"I was going to head over to the hospital to check on Lois and CK. I wanted to know if you wanted to ride with me."

"No." Lucy shook her head. "I…I can't."

"You can't hide forever," Jimmy said softly.

"I can't," Lucy said again. "I have to go." She opened the door; sending the silent message for him to leave.

"Right." Jimmy nodded and left.


Everything hurt. Seeing. Hearing. He had to wake up. So many people. The explosion. Lois. He had to wake up. The bright light penetrated his eyes causing him to groan in pain. "Lois…" He croaked out.

"Clark?" The sound of his mother's voice reached his ears. That wasn't right. What was she doing in Metropolis? They were in the Daily Planet.

"Lois…" He echoed more insistently.

"Clark, honey…." His mother's hand touched his forehead. "Dr. Klein, he's waking up!"

A light shone directly into his eyes causing him to flinch. "Just hold still, son." His father's voice said. He felt the familiar touch on his shoulder. What was going on?

"Lois…" He fought through the pain and lifted his eyelids. Three blurry figures were hovering above him. He blinked, trying to focus on the images. He tried to push himself up off the surface he was laying on but found a strong hand pushing him down.

"Don't try to move just yet, son." His father said.

The images began to come into focus. He wasn't at the Planet. His mother. His father. Dr. Klein. Where was Lois?

He tried to sit up once more and was met with a pounding headache. He cradled his head in his hands, crying out in pain.

"Clark…" Dr. Klein held up two fingers in front of him. "How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Two…" He murmured; still wincing from the pain of a fleeting headache.

"Okay, do you know who we are?"

Clark looked at Dr. Klein incredulously. "Yes, I know who you are." He hissed out. "Why don't you try telling me where the hell I am and where my wife is." He snapped angrily.


"I know this must be incredibly hard on you, my dear," Lex said soothingly, rubbing Lucy's shoulders gently. "So tragic. The Daily Planet….I can't believe how underinsured they were."

Lucy gave a weak smile. "You did your best, Lex."

"How is work?" He asked.

"It's good. We're trying to track down Martin Snell's killer. It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack." Lucy took a sip of her wine.

"I thought that reporter, Linda King was responsible."

"No." Lucy shook her head. "She was found innocent. They think it was someone else now."

Lex smiled at Lucy then pulled out a large folder. "Have you given more thought to the question I asked you?"

Lucy shook her head. "I've done nothing but think about it, Lex. I just don't know that we know each other well enough to…"

He placed a finger on her lips, "What is it you need to know? I love you…"

"I can't do this right now…." She cried, shaking her head.

Lex sighed, "Have you gone to see your sister?"

"No." Lucy shook her head. "I can't face her right now."

"She's in a coma." Lex pointed out.

"I signed the paper that had her baby killed," Lucy said bitterly. "I don't belong there."


"How are you feeling, Jimmy?" Perry asked. Alice, Perry, and Jimmy sat at a small café eating lunch.

"I'm fine. Just plain old Jimmy Olsen; nobody." Jimmy muttered to himself.

"Don't talk that way about yourself, Jimmy."Alice scolded. "You are somebody."

"All I ever wanted to do was become a journalist for the Daily Planet." Jimmy smiled weakly at Perry. "I guess that's a pipe dream now, huh?"

"You guys I'll bounce back," Alice reassured him. "You'll see."

"I don't think so." Perry shook his head. " 'Will not reopen in the foreseeable future' was the phrase Lex Luthor used at the press conference." Perry grew thoughtful, "You know I was only seventeen years old when I came here. I had an interview with Krebbs—assistant copyboy—and I was already late. But I stood under that globe and just stared at it. I knew that my future was in that building."

"Thirty years later…" Alice mused, shaking her head. "Feels like a lifetime ago…"

"It's a shame." Jimmy shook his head. "I keep on playing that morning over and over in my mind. The look on Lois' face when she and CK were telling us about the baby…This is going to destroy her."

"Jimmy, the doctors did all they could," Perry reassured him.

"I know, it's just…"

"Mr. White, Mrs. White, could I have a word?" Lex approached them with several policemen behind him.

"What can we do for you, Mr. Luthor?" Perry asked grimly. He didn't trust Lex Luthor anymore than he had Multiworld Communications.

"It's come to my attention that this fire was set deliberately by one of our own employees," Lex said grimly.

"Who would do something like that?" Jimmy asked aghast.

"Who would indeed?" Lex asked. He pointed towards Jimmy. "That's him."

"What? No!" Jimmy argued, trying to push the officers off of him.

"Mr. Luthor, this is a mistake," Perry argued.

"No mistake, Perry. The police found the explosives he used to make the incendiary device that did this in his apartment; hidden in his room."

"No, I didn't do anything! Chief, I would never…" Jimmy argued as the handcuffs were slapped on him.

"It's no coincidence that he's the only one to walk away from all of this with just a few scratches." Lex finished. With that, the police hauled Jimmy off.


"Clark, honey, are you all right?" Martha asked hesitantly.

"I've been unconscious for a WEEK?" He asked incredulously.

"Yeah," Jonathan said. "We were real worried about you, son." Clark visibly winced at the word 'son.' Jonathan sobered. "I'm so sorry."

"I want to see Lois." He whispered.

"She's still in a coma," Martha explained.

"I don't care," Clark said, standing up, peeling the tags off of his chest. "I want to see my wife now."

Martha nodded. "I'll go get you a change of clothes."


"We know you were there, Mrs. Cox. We know you went inside the Metro Club that night and came out with Martin Snell. What happened that night?" Henderson asked.

Mrs. Cox sat across from the Inspector with her arms crossed. "What makes you think I'm going to tell you anything? I know my rights. You're questioning me like a suspect; so I want my lawyer."


The monotone beeping of the monitors continued in the background. Still no change. He shook his head in disgust. Ellen had been with her non-stop over the past week. She had tried everything from music to reading articles in the news to get some reaction from Lois. Nothing so far. The soft strands of a song played on the radio in the background as he watched Lois, looking for a sign.

"Lois…." Clark whispered, taking a seat next to her hospital bed, "Hey, sweetheart, you have to wake up. I…I don't know what to do…" He cradled his head in his hands. "You are everything to me; I can't lose you too. You have to wake up."

I'm finding my way back to sanity again
Though I don't really know what I'm gonna do when I get there
and take a breath and hold on tight
Spin around one more time
And gracefully fall back to the arms of Grace
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more
than to sit outside heaven's door
and listen to you breathing
Is where I wanna be
where I wanna be

"You are a strange one, Clark Kent."

"Am I?" he asked, curiously.

"Yeah, but I think I've got you figured out." she smiled at him.

Clark watched her curiously. There was something in her eyes. The heat between them was intense. He could feel it. He found his voice, "Really?"

"Uh-huh." Lois smiled at him.

"Didn't take you long..." he commented, bemused.

"Well, it's my business, looking beyond the external." She shrugged.

Their eyes met for a brief moment. The electricity between them...Yes, it was definitely there. He wondered for a brief moment what she would do if he tried to kiss her...

"Don't fall for me, farmboy. I don't have time for it." Lois' comment penetrated his thoughts.

"Exactly how predictable is that?" Clark asked, pulling away from her.

I'm looking past the shadows in my mind into the truth
and I'm trying to identify the voices in my head
God, which one's you?
Let me feel one more time
What it feels like to feel alive
and break these calluses off of me one more time
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more
than to sit outside your door
and listen to you breathing
Is where I wanna be

"What are you saying? That this is my fault? At least I had the guts to…" she stopped a moment, realizing what was coming out of her mouth, "What am I saying? This probably is my fault. I know that I sometimes do things…you know, jump into the pool without checking the water level?"

"Sounds like he made quite an impression on you." Clark remarked with a smile.

"The guy flew me into the newsroom, Clark. It's hard NOT to have an impression made on you after that." Lois pointed out.

Clark laughed, "True."

"Come on." She said to Clark, waiting for him to get the hint.

"Where are we going?"

"You are going to walk me home." Lois turned to him and laughed when she saw his stunned look, "You're a good friend, Clark…After everything we've dealt with the last few days.. I'd like to think we're friends, right? I mean, we did call a truce, right?"

"Clark!" she ran up to him, throwing her arms around him in relief. He was okay. She reached up and kissed him; surprising herself and him. Realizing what she had just done, she pulled away, but still had her arms around him, unwilling to let him go just yet, "You're alive!" she mussed up his hair slightly.

"It would seem so…" he said apprehensively.

I don't want a thing from you
Bet you're tired of me waiting
For the scraps to fall
Off of your table to the ground
'Cause I just wanna be here now
'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more
than to sit outside heaven's door
and listen to you breathing
Is where I wanna be

She looked out the window, taking in the setting sun. "The view here is beautiful."

"Breathtaking," Clark said. Lois looked back at him and noticed he wasn't looking at the setting sun.

"You know, if you really think about it the only time people ever really seem to express themselves is when they're passionate and the polite veneer of society drops off. You know like they're fighting…"

Lois nodded, "..or make love." She blushed, lowering her head; mortified at what had just come out of her mouth. "Oh, my gosh. I can't believe I just said that."

"Doesn't anyone knock around here?" she muttered. Clark was still lying on top of her. Her leg was still wrapped around him; keeping him from moving.

"I should get up." He whispered.

"Yeah," She nodded. He pushed himself up off of her, "but what if I don't want you to."

"Farmboy?" he asked.

She nodded breathlessly; feeling the tip of his erection at her entrance. "It suits you." He smiled back at her, lowering his mouth to hers once more before he slowly entered her.

Without a word, she linked her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a passionate kiss. She felt him begin to respond to her and slowly pulled away. "I love you, Clark Kent."

He smiled back at her. "I love you, Lois Lane." He lowered his mouth to hers.

"As I got older I started developing different abilities …heat vision, x-ray, the power to defy gravity…Lois, I'm Superman."

"So, Lois Lane, will you marry me?"

"Yes." She whispered. In one fluid motion, Clark stood up, wrapping his arms around her. He slipped the ring on her awaiting hand then leaned in to kiss her.

Lois smiled shyly up at Clark, "Clark, you're my best friend. Until I met you I never had a best friend. You make me laugh when I need to and hold me when I cry. I was fighting falling in love with you from the first time you smiled at me, but I think it was too late; because I was already halfway in love with you. I don't know why I fought it so long. You have such gentle grace, and such quiet strength, and mostly such incredible kindness. I've never known anyone with as pure a heart. Today, I give you everything I am. I give you my heart, my honor, and our life together."

"By the power vested in me …I now pronounce you man and wife. You may now ….continue kissing the bride."

"A boy?" Lois asked in a light whisper. Tears escaped from the corners of her eyes. She looked down at her goo-covered abdomen and smiled.

"I love you so much, sweetheart," Clark whispered in her ear. She turned to face him, capturing his mouth with a passionate kiss.

"How do you record a message like this; knowing you're saying goodbye to your child. I don't know that I would have that kind of strength. All these years I thought I was abandoned. They saved me." He wrapped his arms around Lois, pulling her to him.

She leaned down to pick up the small pillow that lay in the bassinet. "Yours? This was your bassinet?" She asked in awe. The pillow was engraved with the monogram 'CK.' "It's so perfect…"

"Hey, don't cry…" He pulled her into his arms.

"I can't help it. It's just so beautiful. The baby will love it."

'Cause I am hanging on every word you say
And even if you don't want to speak tonight
That's alright, alright with me
'Cause I want nothing more
than to sit outside heaven's door
and listen to you breathing
Is where I wanna be
where I wanna be
where I wanna be

"Jordan Lane Kent." Lois mused. "Got a nice ring to it."

"Jordan it is then." Clark agreed.

"I used to come up here a lot by myself and just…drift. Not part of the stars, not part of the Earth. Not knowing where I fit in…until I met you."

"Oh, Clark…" she cupped his cheek, "You're not alone anymore." She whispered, leaning up to kiss him.

"I know," He said softly, "I'm not going anywhere. You mean everything to me…you and …our baby…" He couldn't hide the smile on his face.

She smiled up at him, "Our baby,"

"That's the baby's heartbeat." She answered. "We're definitely pregnant and…"

"It's so fast," Lois commented in wonderment. She looked over at Clark who was watching the screen the technician had just pulled up with intrigue. She squeezed his hand and he looked down at her, giving her a supportive smile.

"Something's wrong…" She managed in-between tears. "I'm bleeding…"

"You don't have to put on the invulnerable act with me, Clark."

"Whatever we need to do," Clark said, intertwining his fingers with Lois' as he gave her hand a supportive squeeze. "We'll do it,"

Lois gave him a weak smile, "Absolutely," She put a hesitant hand over her abdomen.

"Lois, we've been through too much…" He couldn't hold back the tears any longer.


"Jimmy would never…" Perry balled his fist up. "There has to be something more going on here."

Alice rested a reassuring hand on Perry's shoulder. "We'll figure this out, Perry, but right now you need to rest."

"How am I supposed to rest when Jimmy's being railroaded like that?"


"Here's the deal, Inspector. My client gets Man-1 and she'll give you everything you need to know about the murder of Martin Snell as well as the destruction of the Daily Planet." Sheldon Bender remarked smugly.

"What?" Inspector Henderson asked incredulously.

"Your choice." Sheldon Bender added.


Lucy walked down the hall of Metropolis General Hospital towards the Intensive Care Unit. After identifying herself at the nurse's station she was let into the ICU. She scanned the various doors for Lois' room number. She stopped short when she saw Clark sitting next to Lois' bed; head in his hands.

"Please, sweetheart, I can't lose you too," Clark whispered hoarsely.

What was he doing out of bed? He'd been unconscious just as long as Lois and probably needed his rest...

"Clark?" Lucy knocked lightly on the door.

Clark turned to face her. A look of sorrow covered his face. "She hasn't woken up," Clark explained; his voice cracking. "Not once."

"I am so sorry. If there was anything I could do…" Lucy began to cry.

"You didn't set the fire," Clark said shakily, glancing down at Lois.

"No, but I had to sign the papers for them to operate on Lois."

Clark visibly winced at the mention of Lois' surgery. "It was….It was for the best. She would have…She would have died otherwise."

"None of this makes any sense. Lex said they found explosives in Jimmy's room…" Lucy rambled.

"What?" Clark's eyes narrowed at the mention of Lex.

"They arrested Jimmy earlier today. Lex hired a lawyer for him…"

Clark angrily ran a ragged hand through his hair. "Lex, Lex, Lex. I don't care about Lex. My wife is sitting here in a coma from something LEX probably did and you are too BLIND to see it."

" Lex would never…"

"How the hell do you know what he would do?" Clark snapped back. "You have no idea what that man is capable of doing." He waved his hands in front of him, "My wife …Your sister…is lying in a hospital bed….my baby…my…my son…." He could feel the tears threatening to overflow. He shook his head, "Just…get out. Please. I cannot stand to listen to you talk about that man around Lois. Especially not now."

"She's my sister."

"When she wakes up I'll have someone call you," Clark whispered. "Please; just go."


"Lex Luthor?" Henderson asked incredulously.

Mrs. Cox nodded, pulling out a flash drive. "Everything you need to hang him is right there. 'The Boss' that so many people are afraid of is Lex. He ordered the hit on Martin after LexCorp came under attack."

"You think you know somebody…" Detective Wolf mused.

"Write it down." Henderson handed her a paper and pen. "Everything."


Perry gazed at the Stern Building before entering. No building seemed to have the same effect on him as the Daily Planet. There was just something so majestic about it that was lacking in other offices. He made his way upstairs to meet with Franklin Stern.

"May I help you?" the receptionist asked.

"I have an appointment. Perry White."

The receptionist nodded and smiled. "Right this way." She opened the door to a lavish office where Franklin Stern sat at his desk, scanning through a pile of files on his desk. "Mr. Stern?"

"Come in, Mr. White. Please, sit down." He gestured to the chair in front of his desk.

"Thank you for seeing me at this late hour," Perry said, taking a seat.

"Perry, may I call you Perry?" Perry nodded and Franklin Stern continued, "I work a fourteen hour day, always have. If I show my face at home before eleven p.m. my wife calls the cops."

Perry laughed. "I know what that's like all too well, Mr. Stern."

"Strange that we've never met. I'm familiar with your work of course."

"As I am yours."

"I miss reading the Daily Planet. It has imitators but no true successor. Metropolis has lost an asset."

"Those of us who worked there were proud to call it home. That's why I've come."

"I didn't think you were looking for a fourth for Bridge."

"Mr. Stern, you own television and radio stations. You have interests in book publishing, but have you ever considered owning a newspaper?"

"Correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. White, but there is no newspaper." Stern pointed out.

"The Daily Planet was more than concrete and girders. It was people with ideas and principles. Those still exist." Perry pleaded his case. "There is a newspaper. There is just no place to print it."

"Even if that were true, why would I want to own the Daily Planet?" Stern asked.

"I can't imagine anyone wanting anything else," Perry said softly.


"CK?" Jimmy was stunned to see Clark sitting alive and awake across from him. "Are you okay? How's Lois?"

Clark's expression was dark. "She still hasn't woken up."

"I'm sorry, CK." Jimmy's face sobered.

"Why do the police think you did this, Jimmy?" Clark asked.

"Somebody planted explosives in my apartment."

"Luthor," Clark muttered.

"You guys don't like him either." Jimmy smiled.

"Yeah, you could say that."

"I found some stuff that morning. I had hacked into LexCorp's financial files and other encrypted files. I saved it to my flash drive. It's at the hospital. Check it out. I think Luthor's behind this. His lawyer keeps trying to get me to cop a plea."

"Don't," Clark warned. "Whatever you do; keep your head low and don't draw attention to yourself. I'm going to get you out of here."

"Hey, don't worry about me. Tell Lois we miss her."

"I will."

"CK?"

"Yeah, Jimmy?" Clark asked when he got up to leave.

"I'm really sorry about Jordan."

Clark winced at the mention of his son's name. "Thanks," He said hoarsely, leaving the room as fast as he could. He could bounce bullets off his chest but the mere mention of his precious son's name could bring him to his knees right now. He shook his head. He couldn't do anything about Jordan, but he could help his friend.


"Damnit!" Henderson punched a hole through a wall. "Nothing. Absolutely nothing. It was a trick!"

"Are you sure?" Detective Wolf asked

"It's a virus." Henderson snapped. "No evidence is on here. It's just a damn virus!"

"Did you already sign the papers for the deal?"

"Judge Stevens has already signed the papers."


Stern was thoughtful for a moment then shook his head, "I'm sorry, but my answer is no. I wish you luck, though in finding some way to rebuild. If you do; you have my subscription."

Perry nodded then got up to leave. He stopped at the door, disappointed, "I just hate to see Lex Luthor win."

Stern's gaze turned icy. "Lex Luthor?"

"I suspect he's the one behind the explosion that destroyed the Daily Planet. I'd just like to see his face when….Well, thanks again for your time, Mr. Stern."


It hurt. Everything hurt. Her body was numb with pain. "Clark…"

"Lois…" Clark's voice echoed through her mind.

"Clark….Jor…" Tears escaped her eyes as she tried to open them. Something was wrong. "Clar…"

"I'm right here, honey," Clark whispered, holding her hand firmly in his grasp.

A bright light shone in her eyes as she tried to open them. Everything was blurry. Her eyes stung. "Wha.." She blinked her eyes, trying to focus her vision. Clark was watching her hesitantly. His eyes were red and his face was blotchy. It was evident he'd been crying. "Clark…"

He leaned down to kiss her. "I was so scared. I was so scared you…"

"I'm okay." She tried to reassure him; kissing him back hungrily. "I'm okay." Something was still wrong. A nagging sensation tugged at the back of her mind. She slowly broke off the kiss and looked towards Clark. His face was still covered in sorrow. Something had happened. Something bad. She instinctually reached down to touch her growing abdomen only to find softened skin..She lifted up her hospital gown and saw the incision She frowned, looking down at the lack of growth beneath her hand. "No no no no no….Jordan…My baby….Where's my baby? Clark, where's our baby?"

Clark's face visibly winced; he pinched the bridge of his nose; a gesture she had learned was something he did when he was trying to control his emotions. "Lois…"

That tone. "No.." She shook her head repeatedly. "No. No. No…God, please no…" She cried.

His arms wrapped securely around her as she beat against his chest; repeatedly crying 'no.'


Lucy looked around Lex's study; surveying the room. Clark claimed she didn't know Lex as well as she thought. She'd prove him wrong once and for all. She began opening drawer after drawer. Nothing. Files on LexCorp's finances. Project K. Project S. She picked up a small black remote that lay on the desk. It looked like a remote to a stereo.

"I wonder what this is…" Lucy mused. She opened the file as she hit play on the remote.

The wall across from the desk lit up and the figures of a man and woman appeared on the wall. The woman's dark hair covered her face as the man held her against the wall, driving into her.

"Oh, God…" The soft moans echoed through the room. "Oh, Cl…Clark, yes.."

Lucy's eyes widened. 'Clark?'

She stared at the screen once more and winced. Sure enough it was Clark.

"Oh, God, Lo-is…"

And her sister.

Why would Lex have something like this? She stared at the file in her hands and a cold shiver ran down her spine when she realized what was in her hands.

"What are you doing in here?" a voice behind her asked.

TBC...