Chapter Thirty Six
Clark landed gently inside the Fortress and lay Lois down on one of the pillars. He stroked her hair and kissed her forehead and then stood up to address his father.
"Jor-El!" He yelled out into the cold. He waited for a few minutes; Jor-El always took his time in answering his calls.
"Kal-El, why have you come?" Jor-El's voice boomed out.
"You have to help me Jor-El, Lois…she's…dead." Clark could barely say the words.
"I need you to help me!" He yelled when the only reply he got was more silence.
"Please…she's my life. I don't want to live without her. There has to be something you can do. Anything."
Clark knelt back down and caressed Lois' face. Her complexion was blue now and she was extremely cold. But Clark wasn't going to give up. He couldn't.
"I cannot help you my son." Jor-El said finally. Clark shook his head and stood back up, his face contorted into a mixture and pain and anger.
"Don't give me that answer I know there must be something you can do. Turn back time, bring her back just do something please." Clark begged.
"Kal-El you know from your training that such a thing is impossible. I cannot revive the dead. We are not Gods."
"I know that!" Clark shouted in anger. "But I am not going to lose the one thing in my life that makes it worth living. I don't give a damn if you think human emotions are weak. They make me who I am. No, she makes me who I am. Without her I'm nothing, I can't protect this world without her."
"I understand your anguish my son but…"
"No! You don't understand a damn thing! You're just a voice; you have no emotions. If you did then you would be able to feel the emotions I'm feeling right now. You would be able to feel how much pain your son is in."
"In time the pain will lessen Kal-El, you must continue with your destiny."
Clark looked down at Lois. Destiny? He closed his eyes, tears falling and blowing away on the cold wind.
"She is my destiny."
"I am truly sorry my son but I cannot help you. You must not allow your emotions to cloud your judgement."
"You know in all the years I'd spent here with you, I'd actually come to respect and understand you. I finally understood why you were always so cold and distant. I don't feel that way now, all I see is someone who is willing to let their only son suffer. The mother of your grandchild died at the hands of a meteor infected human. Ellie is only four years old and yes she is half human. But she is also half Kryptonian. How am I supposed to tell her that her mother's gone and never coming back? Please Jor-El; I'm begging you. Please find a way to bring her back to me."
He bent down over Lois and lifted her into his arms. "Father…please. I need her."
For a long time Clark just stood there in silence, cuddling Lois' body against himself, shielding her from the wind.
"There is nothing I can do Kal-El. It is out of my hands." Jor-El said finally but for the first time, there was a hint of sadness in his voice. Clark threw his head back and screamed so loud that the walls themselves shook.
"Kal-El, you must return Lois to her home. You have to bring her killer to justice before he takes another life."
Clark heard his words, but looking at Lois, he just couldn't bring himself to care. Jor-El had been his last hope and now…it was over. She really was gone.
"My son, the bloodline of the House Of El is in grave danger. You must protect your daughter."
And just like that Clark knew. Jor-El was a disembodied voice; he had no real emotions. His only thought was to protect their bloodline and the people of this planet. But that obviously didn't extend to Lois.
He didn't care about her or Ellie. He didn't care about his son's happiness or what he needed or wanted. Without another word, Clark gathered Lois closer to him and flew off back to Metropolis, turning his back on his 'father' forever.
Lois screamed. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Lara had promised her that she would be brought back. She couldn't handle seeing Clark this way as he flew her back.
It felt as if she was flying along next to him, how could she be so close yet he couldn't sense her? She tried talking to him but he couldn't hear her, she tried touching him but he couldn't feel her.
She doubted that he even felt the tears still falling from his eyes anymore. He was giving up and that scared Lois. She needed to reach him and soon.
Clark laid Lois down on the sofa in her apartment. She stood behind him watching him. What was happening to her? Was she a ghost? A spirit? Why was she still here?
"Lois." A soft, friendly voice said behind her. She turned to see Lara standing there, her eyes pained at the sight of her son.
"Lara you said that I could come back. Jor-El said he can't help Clark, what's going on?" Lois demanded.
"Jor-El no longer exists Lois. His voice is part of the Kryptonian intelligence designed to aid Kal-El on his journey but the man himself is long dead." Lara replied sadly.
"I'm sorry." Lois said, feeling a little bad. This woman had lost everything she'd ever loved, her husband, her baby son, and her entire civilisation. Lois couldn't imagine how she was feeling. "But then how are you…?"
"I am not of the same intelligence Lois. My tie is not with my son…but with you."
"Me? Why?"
"Because you were always destined to be with my son. The bracelet you wear is a symbol. It was for Kal-El to give to his true one. His soul mate. You are that person Lois. My son loves you deeply." Lara paused, looking down at Clark. Lois could tell she wanted to comfort him but she couldn't.
"So what are you then? A guardian angel or something?" Lois asked, deeply confused.
"In a way, yes. My essence was tied to that bracelet. Jor-El's purpose was to guide Kal-El as he grew up on this planet but my purpose was to protect his heart. I knew that he would one day want to find someone to share his life with. And then you found him."
"Actually I think he found me," Lois said with a smile.
"Kal-El is a very powerful being on your planet Lois. He could be dangerous if he loses his way. He needs you to help him through the difficult times he will face in his life. Can you handle that challenge?"
Lois smiled, without even needing to think about it she answered honestly.
"Yes. I love him with all my heart. You say that I'm part of his destiny but you don't understand that he's mine too."
"It is good to know that he has someone as loving as you to take care of him."
"It must've been so hard to give him up." Lois said.
"I did what I had to do to ensure that my son lived. I will always love him and I will always watch over him. But right now Lois, he is lost."
"So how does this work? You wave a magic wand and hey presto I'm alive? What?" Lois said nervously.
"It doesn't work that way Lois. It requires patience. The rest is up to Kal-El." Lara said, her eyes never leaving her son.
"What? How is he supposed to bring me back? Look at him Lara; he's giving up. He thinks I'm gone." Lois argued.
"Just be patient Lois. You will see."
Lara took a step towards Lois and she felt a warmth from her embrace.
"You are truly magnificent Lois, you're everything a mother could wish for her son. You have raised a fine daughter. I'm very proud." She stepped back and just as she started to fade from sight, Lois could see a tear slide down her cheek.
"Be well my daughter." Then she was gone.
Lois' mind was reeling from everything she had just been told but how on Earth was Clark supposed to be able to bring her back? She looked down at him, Lara was right. He was lost. But if patience was the key then what choice did Lois have but to wait.
Clark couldn't feel anymore. He was completely numb. As he bent down to kiss Lois he felt something dig into his back. He pulled it out and a sob escaped him as he realised what it was.
The engagement ring, he'd tucked it into the waistband of his pants. Slowly, he opened the velvet box and took out the ring. He placed it on the ring finger of her left hand and brought it to his lips.
"I was going to ask you to marry me. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you. Now you're gone and I don't know what to do. I'm so sorry I wasn't there to protect you Lo. But I promise you that I will not let him hurt our baby girl. I will find him and when I do…" Clark trailed off.
His eyes drifted to the bracelet adorning her left wrist. He stroked a thumb over it and slowly bent his head and kissed it. His tears spilled from his eyes onto the bracelet and down her wrist.
"I love you so much sweetheart."
With one final kiss to her lips, Clark turned and walked to the doors. He glanced back at her, felt another stab to his now cold heart, and took off into the sky.
Wrapped within his own grief Clark hadn't noticed that deep in the heart of the emerald in the bracelet, a very dim light began to glow.
Lana paced the living room floor of her penthouse. She had messed things up royally and she knew that he would be coming for her any minute now. She could always run, but where to?
He would find her eventually and besides, she knew that Clark would never let him kill her. Even if she had gone about things the wrong way. She should never have pulled out that meteor rock on Clark, but she hadn't expected him to just fling himself off her balcony either.
In all her planning that scenario had never come up. But she knew Clark was a good person and he had the purest heart she had ever seen. He would save her. Although by now he probably knew that she had sent those two men after Ellie.
She had told them not to harm the girl, simply bring her to the penthouse that was all. She wanted her there to try and appease Clark, maybe make him see that in time, they could be a real family.
But the moment she saw the fear in his eyes when he heard what was going on, she knew she had lost him forever. He didn't belong to her anymore. It was time to give him up. But she would always love him. Always.
How had she been so foolish to think that he would just come running back to her? Had she completely lost all sense of reason? It appeared so but she reasoned that most of it stemmed from the threat of being killed if she didn't comply.
Though she had to admit that having Lois out of the picture would've made things a lot easier if she were to try and win Clark back. There was always something about Lois she never liked.
She was always able to reach Clark in ways that Lana couldn't. She got him to open up more; he was more himself when he was around her. She took away the man she loved and Lana hated her for that.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when the doors smashed open behind her. She stood there, frozen like a deer caught in the headlights, staring into the cold, angry eyes of the man before her.
"Bruce stop, we're almost there." Chloe murmured against his lips as he gently backed her up against the wall of the elevator. She pushed him away and straightened her clothes out as he straightened his tie.
"Sorry, you're just so beautiful I can't help it." He replied, kissing her again. She giggled and stepped off the elevator as it reached their destination.
"Yeah I'm sure a two tonne tess is everyone's idea of sexy." She replied jokingly. He stopped her just as she reached Lois' door, wrapping his arms around her.
"You are and always will be beautiful to me Chloe Wayne." He said. Chloe didn't know what to say to that so she kissed him and knocked on Lois' door.
"Maybe she's still at work?" Bruce offered.
"Yeah maybe but still…" Chloe said to herself. Something didn't feel right. She turned the handle and was surprised to find it wasn't locked. Instinctively Bruce stepped forward to enter in front of Chloe.
"Oh my God, what happened here?" Chloe asked as she saw the state of the living room. She bumped into Bruce's back as he stopped dead, looking over at the couch. Chloe followed his gaze.
"Lois!" She cried and went over to her. Bruce checked for a pulse but both of them knew just from the look of her that she wasn't alive.
"Oh god, oh no please. Lois!" Chloe shook Lois' shoulders. She could see the bruising on Lois' neck.
"Bruce, he killed her." Bruce took Chloe into his arms and held her tight as she started crying. He looked around the apartment, taking in the shattered patio doors and then his eyes fell on something lying on the floor. He slowly eased away from Chloe and picked it up.
"Clark's been here Chloe." He said grimly.
Chloe looked at the empty box and then at Lois' hand. There sat the engagement ring that just a few hours ago, Clark had been eagerly anticipating giving her. Her heart broke for him as she realised that he'd given it to her after all. She slowly eased herself onto the floor and held Lois' hand.
"Bruce she's so cold." Chloe sobbed. "I'm sorry Lois. We didn't know. I never should've left you." She said, leaning her head on her older cousin's shoulder.
"Chloe, I'm worried about Clark." Bruce said softly. She looked up at him; she hadn't seen that look since the night he'd told her about his parents' murder. There were tears in his eyes but she knew that he wouldn't let them fall. But he'd loved Lois just as much as she did. She was his family too.
"Bruce, you have to find him, he's going to do something he'll regret for the rest of his life."
"I'm not sure he's thinking of that right now Chlo. He wants revenge. This guy has taken something very precious away from him and Clark is going to want to make him suffer. I know the feeling trust me."
"I can't begin to imagine how he's feeling right now but he has a daughter to think of. Oh God Ellie. Is she safe? Is she still at Martha's?" Chloe asked urgently but she didn't let go of Lois.
She stayed on the floor holding her cousin's hand so tightly as if sheer force of will could bring her back. Bruce took out his phone and called his security guard. Chloe watched as Bruce's face darkened and turned to one of pure anger.
"And what exactly was I paying you do? Shop? So let me get this straight, the two people I sent you to watch are now with the police because they were attacked and you did what?" Bruce shouted. He listened for a moment before erupting again. "I don't care, I don't want excuses. You're fired." He snapped the phone shut and turned to Chloe.
"Apparently Martha and Ellie are safe, they're with the police right now. Two men showed up and attacked them…" Seeing Chloe's look of panic he raised a hand. "It's okay they're fine. They're not hurt but they are understandably very shaken up."
"Oh my God, Clark must be going out of his mind. Please Bruce, you have to find him."
"Chloe where would I start looking? He can fly for pete's sake. If he's going after this guy I don't think I can stop him. I'm not sure I want to either."
"You and I both know that Clark is not a murderer. If he takes a human life, no matter what that scum has done, he will cross a line Bruce. You know that. A person like Clark can't afford to fall." Bruce let out a heavy sigh and nodded.
"Okay well I'll…" Bruce stopped and looked past Chloe. "Uh Chlo?"
She turned around and her eyes widened in shock. There was a bright light emanating from Lois' bracelet and it was getting stronger.