Chapter 35
Clark was surprised at the nerves running rampant in the pit of his stomach. He had never felt so exposed, so dependent on an individual that he barely knew.
Nadine seemed genuinely good and kind in a way that flowed naturally from her. She was intent on his words but not in a pushy or forceful way. She simply waited for him to share what he would and they would proceed from there.
He pushed aside his nerves and smiled, sliding his hands gently from beneath hers. Her gaze was strong and steady as she took in the information he gave.
"Because of the nature of his genetics, I'm not sure what medical attention you can give but any help would be appreciated."
Nadine nodded, her expression serious. She reached into her bag and pulled out a notebook and pen. She uncapped the pen with her teeth, chewing nervously a moment. "My area of expertise isn't exactly diagnosis. But I can understand your desire to stay away from the E.R. I'll do my best." She took a deep breath. "What have his symptoms been?"
Her hesitancy actually calmed his nerves a bit. She could be trusted. Clark leaned back in the chair, and stared thoughtfully at the ceiling. "Well he has had trouble breathing. He has had asthma all his life but recently it's been worse. This afternoon he actually lost consciousness from not being able to breathe." His voice grew quiet and trailed off.
Nadine frowned and scribbled on the notebook.
"Does he have medications?" she asked.
"He has an inhaler, but I have no idea what the medication is." His face scrunched apologetically. "I'm sorry I'm not very helpful there."
"It's ok. Any other symptoms?"
"His eyes have been burning." Clark offered.
"Burning?"
"I have a feeling this is where my side of the family tree comes in." Clark leaned forward once again. "Over the last month or so, he has been manifesting some of my abilities."
Nadine flipped the page and looked at him, pen poised. "Ok. Can I ask which ones? Have there been any side effects?"
Clark chewed the inside of his lip. "He displayed some strength a few times, but nothing consistent. It could have been more adrenaline than anything else as it seems to present itself if his emotions are elevated. Also, His eyes have been burning for the last week or so. We practiced his heat vision this morning. He had the attack maybe 15 minutes later."
"Do you have a medical history for him that I could look at?"
Clark's nose wrinkled. He was new to this. "That may be a question for his mother. As you can imagine I don't get to the doctor much." He offered a small smile.
She returned his smile and nodded. "I wouldn't suppose you would." Nadine read over her notes. "So he got tired after using his heat vision?"
Clark nodded.
"Like I told you, I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like his powers came into effect during times of stress. You said when he uses his powers he has the episodes. It stands to reason this is just his body's way of coping with the change. Like a case of super growing pains?"
Clark was unconvinced. "Today we were making toast. There was no stress." He sighed. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to seem contrary, it's just I worry about my son."
Nadine's expression softened. "I understand. You did use the heat vision for the toast though." She said quietly.
A seed of fear began to take root in Clark. Was this possible? Were the powers he had passed on to Jason the reason his son was enduring such pain? The limitless possibilities, in all their joy and horror rocketed through Clark's mind.
"You know, when I last saw you, you were in such bad shape. And now here you are, perhaps still on the mend but so much better. You may be a better judge of his physiology than anyone. What did you do?"
Clark's face brightened. "I rested, and spent some time in the sun." He continued on at Nadine's puzzled look. "Much of my strength comes from the rays of the sun. When I'm tired or injured I soak in the rays and it recharges me."
"Like a battery?"
Clark laughed, the first real smile of their visit stretched across his face. "Yes, I suppose so."
Nadine leaned toward him. "Then it stands to reason the sunlight may have the same effect on Jason. That and rest. While his body is adjusting to whatever changes are taking place. Don't you think?"
----------------------------
Nadine pressed her hands together so he wouldn't see them shaking. She felt like such a sham here trying to offer advice to such a man. Oh God, please let me not mess this up! She prayed silently.
Superman silently turned over her words. His face was unreadable but his eyes reflected his worry as he began to think on what it would mean for his son to take on the mantle of his father.
"Can I see him?" Nadine asked gently.
Superman was silent. Nadine began to fidget, wondering if perhaps she had crossed a line. After a moment, Superman nodded.
"Of course." He offered a distracted smile. He rose before her, his height seemingly limitless, as he blocked out the small kitchen light with his towering frame. "He's in the living room with his mother."
Nadine once again found herself following behind him. The whole thing was like an out of body experience. Who was she that he would look to her for help? She felt as if she was looking down on herself, watching the events like a movie.
His trust was both an honor and a burden. She didn't want to fail him.
Nadine blinked embarrassedly, surprised at the tears that sprang to her eyes.
They entered the living room. The room was lit softly, just one lamp casting an orange hue over the room. A small TV in the corner had a rerun of Seinfeld playing on mute. On the couch sat Lois Lane snuggled beneath a blanket that had been lovingly tucked around her shoulders. Here eyes were closed as she leaned against the side of the couch. Jason was asleep in her lap, his head resting on his mother's shoulder.
Nadine's eyes lifted from the sleeping pair to Superman. She was amazed at his transformation. His eyes traveled to each of their faces, the soft smile on his face exuded joy from his very being. For a moment the burdened superhero was gone. He was a man in love. A father completely enraptured with his son.
He seemed hesitant to wake them as he silently crossed the room and sat beside Lois. He ran the back of his fingers gently across her cheek. Nadine sighed inwardly at the tenderness in his eyes.
"Lois. Wake up." He called gently
Lois' head turned toward him, smiling even in sleep at the sound of his voice. Her eyes fluttered open and she smiled at the sight before her.
"Hi" she whispered.
His face lit up in a wide smile. "Hi."
Nadine shuffled her feet, feeling a little out of place.
Superman's head turned quickly as if he had forgotten she was there. "Nadine. I'm sorry. Lois. You remember Nadine."
Lois looked up at her sleepily. "Of course. Thank you for coming on such short notice."
Nadine blushed and looked at her hands. "It was my pleasure Miss Lane."
"Lois. Please."
The two women smiled at each other.
Superman rose to his feet. "Have a seat."
Lois turned to the small boy in her lap. "Jason, wake up honey. There's someone here to see you."
Jason looked up at her with his father's eyes. "Hi Nadine." He said through a yawn.
Nadine smiled at the boy. "Hi Jason, I hear you've been sick. Would you mind if I took a look at you?"
Jason looked uncertainly at his parents. At their approval he found his courage and nodded.
"Sure."
Nadine lifted her small black bag into her lap.
Jason eyed it curiously.
"What's in there?"
Nadine gave him a reassuring pat on the knee. "Some of my tools for work! Wanna see?"
Jason nodded a bit nervously.
Nadine produced a small object.
"What's that"
"This." Nadine held it up into the light. This, is a StrabismoScope Unidirectional Occluder."
Jason looked at her with wide eyes.
"But some people call it a flashlight."
She grinned at the boy. He returned her smile. Nadine flicked on the switch and a tiny yet bright light poured from the vessel.
"Would you like to try it?" She offered it to Jason.
Soon the boy was sitting in her lap, flashing the light in her eyes and asking to see what other tools in her bag he could play with. With no fear or hesitation, Nadine was able to look in Jason's eyes, ears and throat, finding some slight swelling, but nothing too alarming.
She pulled a stethoscope from her bag and laid it against Jason's bare chest.
"Ah!!!" the boy yelped.
"I'm sorry honey! What's wrong?"
"It's COLD!" Jason grinned impishly, smug with how easy it had been to startle her.
Nadine warmed up the cool metal disc with her breath and laid it once again on Jason's chest.
"Ok Honey, take a deep breath for me and the let it out slowly and steadily." He smiled at her. At the look in his eye she added, "This would not be the time to see if you have super breath. Got it?"
Jason smiled again and followed her instructions.
Nadine listened intently at the results of his breathing. She frowned.
"Ok. Good job buddy. You're all done." She handed the boy the stethoscope and he ran around the room trying to listen to things. First he listened to Nadine's heart beat then his mother's, then his father's. After running out of live specimens, he expanded to various pieces of furniture.
"So, what do you think?" Lois turned to her and asked quietly.
Nadine snapped her bag shut. "Well his ear drums are a bit swollen, and his pupils react slowly to light – however, Superman yours do the same thing. I'm thinking it has to do with the developing heat vision. I wouldn't be alarmed too much by that, just maybe keep an eye on it." Nadine lowered her voice. "Lois, I am concerned about his breathing. There is a rattling in his lungs that I don't attribute to his asthma."
Superman sat beside her. "Do you think this is along side of what we discussed?" He cast a sidelong glance at Jason who was merrily taking the pulse of the ficus plant in the corner.
Nadine hesitated. "I don't know Superman. But I don't think a bit of rest and sunshine would hurt him."
Lois nodded and went to collect Jason. "Ok. That makes sense. We can do the sunshine part tomorrow." Lois rose and collected Jason. "Come on Honey. Time for bed."
Jason crossed the room and handed Nadine her stethoscope. He shook his head in mock seriousness. "I'm sorry ma'am. The plant didn't make it."
Nadine smiled and took the equipment from him. "I'm sure you did everything you could."
Lois scooped Jason up into her arms. As they crossed to the doorway, Superman stood up and planted a kiss on Jason's cheek. "I'll be right up."
Lois headed upstairs to tuck Jason into bed and Superman turned to her. "Well, Nadine. Thank you so much for coming. I appreciate your discretion."
"Actually, Superman, I was wondering if I could check you out. I mean medically." Nadine stammered at the slip. "I - I mean I want to see how everything is healing."
Superman's eyes twinkled with amusement but he graciously ignored her embarrassment. "Of course. I'd actually be glad to see how everything is coming along." He unbuttoned the front of his shirt.
Nadine looked into her bag for an excuse to avert her eyes. She mentally kicked herself. What am I thirteen? Be a professional! She smoothed her hair back when she found the gauze in her bag and steeled herself to not act like an awestruck teenager.
She turned back to Superman, her face serious. She bit the inside of her lip as she examined his now bare torso.
"Wow." She exclaimed as she inspected the site of his wound. "You really do heal quickly!" The gashes on his skin were now nearly a memory. The welts seemed to be calming into pink lines. She doubted he would even have a scar. "That's amazing." She laid the stethoscope against his chest, listening to his breathing, his heartbeat. "Has there been any pain?"
"Surprisingly, yes- "
"Take a deep breath-"
He inhaled.
"Ok. Let it out steadily."
She could see where Jason got his mischievous smile as she saw him ponder a "super" exhale.
"This may seem odd, but, you don't have a history of asthma do you?" She replaced the stethoscope into her bag. Superman buttoned the front of his shirt. His brow furrowed. "No. I think Jason gets that from Lois' side. Why?"
"You had a slight rattle. Nothing too pronounced. You may have had some internal injuries that are healing from the blast. You mentioned you were having pain?"
He nodded. "Despite the lack of external damage, I find myself weak and tired at random intervals. And when Jason had his attack, I tried to x-ray to check for the cause but… I couldn't. My eyes just exploded with pain and my vision blurred."
Nadine frowned. "That's odd. Have a seat." His height made it impossible for her to inspect his eyes while he stood. She sat beside him on the couch and shone her light into his eyes. "Hmm." She ran the light from one eye to the other. "Do me a favor and look at my hand." She raised her hand off to the side.
He did.
"Now try and do a gentle x-ray, if it starts to hurt, tell me." She was amazed to see his pupil expand in small increments allowing her to see deeper into his eye. She heard him inhale painfully yet the pupil continued to expand. "Superman-"
"I'm fine. What do you see?"
Nadine leaned closer. Inside the pupil of his left eye was a small tear. The exposure to light seemed to cause the pain and irritation. She turned off the light. She suspected she would find the same in his other eye. They had been healing but she suspected today's events had reopened the wound.
"There is a tear in your eye that is uncovered when you expand your vision. I have a feeling that is what is causing you pain. In your rush to x-ray Jason, you aggravated it much like overworking an injury. There is bound to be pain. Were you able to use your x-ray just now?"
"Yes. Painfully. But it was there this time. I'm guessing I should lay off on the toast making?" He offered a small smile.
She returned his smile. "I think that might be a good idea if you can at all help it."
Nadine packed up her bag. "Well I guess I had better get going. Merlin will be wondering what happened to me."
Superman tilted his head curiously as he walked her to the door.
"Merlin?"
She smiled sheepishly. "My cat."
"I see." He smiled again and leaned forward, planting a small kiss on her cheek. "Thank you Nadine."
Nadine blinked a few times, blushing furiously at the gesture. She took a step back, bumping into the table in the foyer next to the door. The potted plant jostled loose and would have crashed to the floor were it not for a pair of very large, very fast hands.
"Oh!!" In her haste to get out of the way her medical bag brushed against Lois' purse.
This time Superman didn't see the impending calamity before Lois' purse and all its contents were spread all over the floor.
"Ohmigosh!" Nadine cursed her clumsiness. "I'm so sorry!" She and Superman scooped knelt down to collect Lois' scattered belongings.
Just in time, Lois descended the stairs.
"Superman, What is it with you and dumping my purse?" Her eyes sparkled good naturedly.
Superman laughed as the last of the mess was cleaned up. "I couldn't resist. I was checking for cigarettes." He extended the bag to Lois.
"I'm clean thanks." She quipped, giving him a mock glare.
Nadine grabbed the compact from beneath the table and rose to her feet. "Here…." She paused a moment. "Lois, I didn't realize you were diabetic."
Lois looked at her in confusion. "I'm not."
Nadine held up the small silver case she had recovered from the floor. "My mistake. This just looks like a case for insulin vials."
"Really? You've seen these before?"
Nadine nodded. "All the time." She popped open the case revealing empty lining. "See? The insulin or whatever would be in a vial to go here where the indentation is." Nadine looked from Superman to Lois. "Where did you get this?"
Lois reddened. "I...found it." She looked up at Superman guiltily.
Nadine saw his eyebrow go up and she sensed it would be a good time for her to go.
"Well. I'm going to attempt to leave again without destroying anything."
Superman turned to her. "Thanks again. Good bye Nadine."
Nadine closed the door behind her.
And smacked herself in the forehead.