So did everyone have a Happy Holiday? Christmas was awesome! I was very happy to get Lois and Clark Season 2! Yay! New Year's was great too. In case anyone is interested, I wrote a New Year's Eve Clois Oneshot "Here comes the sun." I posted it, so go read when your done this chapter :) Please leave a review!

Thanks for the great beta work, Lilly!

Chapter 37: Temptation

Richard White's pair of emerald green eyes floated up and down the sea of raging traffic ahead of the cab.

The hot, sticky late summer air mixed with the downtown New Troy clouds of vile toxins spilling out from the dozens of fuming exhaust pipes poisoned the city with a thick, foggy brown haze.

Mid-day, downtown in the largest financial borough in Metropolis. The city was at it's peak. Hundreds of the most well respected, intelligent minds of the city walked carelessly along the streets with a cell phone stuck in one ear, an earphone stuck in another. They filled the giant, looming skyscrapers towering above, conducting all sorts of productive business deals both over and under the table. Some of them were even in the next car, shouting and cursing impatiently at the vehicles ahead, their blood pressure rising at an immense speed. Anyone that could afford to send three kids off to Harvard, pay for a five star hotel while on vacation in Hawaii, and own a second white picked fence, Victorian style mansion in Tuscany, was here.

Everyone that mattered to the city was here.

It was all too perfect. Too perfect to assume that he would get away with it. He probably wouldn't. It was just too easy.

Losing half of the population of Metropolis was only a dent compared to what kind of utter chaos he was about to unleash on the rest of the world, thanks to the G-8 meeting. Eight of the most powerful and influential countries of the world were about to loose eight of the most valued and intelligent leaders all in one shot. This tiny half a handful of people would cause shock, and crises in the event of their deaths. If even one were lost, the media would chew on the story like candy. Richard couldn't even imagine what it would be like if eight were lost all in one swift moment of time. This would go down in history as one of the most tragic events in world. This would be printed in textbooks for high school students to learn and reflect upon seventy years from now. If he was caught, his name would be forever tarnished and despised.

But it didn't matter. Luthor had planned this so perfectly that it seemed to be flawless

Richard's hands trembled uncontrollably. It was all so twisted and sick, yet there was something exhilarating about the whole idea. There was a constant battle of nerves, and morality duking it out against excitement and greed. Whether it was right or wrong didn't matter. It wouldn't affect him as long as he stuck to the plan.

Richard looked down at the chocolate brown, leather case weighing down heavily on his lap. His tense, pale and twitching fingers fiddled anxiously with the sparkling, golden handle that reflected a sharp glare of the afternoon sun back into his eyes. This was his package. This was the deadly case that was going to be responsible for so much damage. This was going to kill thousands of people. And it was small enough to bundle up in a common inanimate everyday briefcase. Only he knew of the sweltering streak of hell that would soon be let loose the on innocent, unsuspecting citizens of Metropolis once activated.

The worst thing about Luthor's plan was how suspiciously simple it was. Nobody would stop him. Nobody would even check him. He wouldn't even need to face security. The blast would be big enough so that he didn't even need to be in the same building with the other executive politicians filing up the stairs and being swept into the everlasting luxuries of one of golden towers of Metropolis. The Emperor building.

"The heat finally starting to get to you?"

Richard's head shot up. The crooked, coffee-stained toothy grin of the cab driver greeted him. As Richard wiped away what seemed like a river of sweat dripping down his forehead, he gave the driver a brief nod and turned his gaze out the filthy, dusty window.

"I don't know why you big business people insist on wearing those monkey suits." The driver focused his attention back on the sluggish, pace of the traffic ahead. "No offence, but I don't think a black suit makes them look anymore intelligent or whatnot. All it does is set up a target panel for the sun. Seriously, you ought to make a complaint. You're sweating buckets, man."

As the driver continued to make snide remarks about his suit, Richard slowly slipped the briefcase down to his feet. It's now or never. He was quick to make sure the driver was still preoccupied with the traffic ahead. He laid the briefcase flat on the floor and nudged it discreetly under the seat ahead of him.

After he was sure that the driver hadn't noticed any change, he slipped a thin black cell phone out of his jacket pocket and flipped it open. His fingers were almost entirely out of his control with panic. He was tempted to let them tremble away from the key panel and close the phone again. This was the point of no return. Once he hit those keys, the timer on the bomb would begin. He would have exactly ten minutes to get out of New Troy if he wanted to escape with his life.

Just do it. You'll be fine. The helicopter isn't far. If you don't do this, you'll be hiding for the rest of your life. If you want immunity, you have to be willing to fight for it...

He closed his eyes tightly, and clicked the keys G8. He had ten precious minutes.

The first part of the plan was complete. Just too easy.

"You can pull in here," Richard croaked. There was a swelling lump in his throat that made his voice go hoarse. They were right outside the Emperor building. The media were swarmed around the outskirts of the building. The security men were completely distracted with the mob of bloodthirsty reporters. No one would notice him. Not if he moved quickly. He handed the driver a few bills and promised, "I will be back in five minutes. Wait for me and they'll be a huge tip in it for you."

The driver nodded at his instructions, "No problem."

Richard climbed out of the car with haste. Every second counted. He stepped lightly, hurrying towards the building across the street. Eight minutes and counting, he glanced at his watch. Plenty of time.

Luthor's men had set up a helicopter on top of the Metropolis WGBS-TV station. It was simple. Get in, flash the press pass, and get to the roof. All in eight minutes.

Richard could feel his heart fluttering wildly in his chest. He thought as though he might collapse in the street. But he could see the doors ahead, only steps away. Every organ in his quivering body protested, but he strode on. Get it together, White. It's almost over.

He halted outside the doors of the T.V station to straighten himself out. It was all about confidence. If he looked the part, he'd have no problem.

Richard grabbed a hold of the handle on the door and felt the cool rush of the air conditioned lobby refresh his senses. Seven minutes. He treaded across the lobby to the circular, mahogany desk of a young looking woman wrestling with the curly, spiralling of a landline telephone in one hand and a cell phone in the other. Richard couldn't have asked for anyone better.

"Uh...y-your name please, Sir?" The woman must have been new. She took both phones away for her for a moment to address him.

"Richard White." He gave her a brief glance at his fake Atlantic City press pass, "I'm here for the job interview with John Byrne." Patient grin plastered on his face, press pass, snazzy suit, there was no doubt she would buy it.

"Oh...right." The woman seemed flustered with the voices shirking out of both telephones. She gave him a wave after inspecting his pass for a moment, "Just go on up." She gestured to the elevator before returning to both phones, "Ninth floor."

"Thank you." He flashed her another smile. The elevator was already open, waiting for him to step inside. He gave the button with the number 40 a quick push. The highest floor. The elevator doors closed with a swoosh.

Richard snuck another quick peek at his watch. Six minutes. All he had to do was get to the copter and take off.

You did it. Richard praised himself with silent congratulations. There was nothing that could stop him now. He was in. And the deal he struck with Luthor was met. Luthor would keep him out of jail. Keep him safe. And with all the millions of dollars in cash needed for his every whim.

When the elevator doors finally slid open Richard was met with an empty storage room. He quickly jogged across the carpet, past the shelves and shelves of camera equipment to the flight of stairs on the other side. His feet moved quicker with every step and his heart was ready to explode. He threw all of his weight against the large metal doors that separated him from the helicopter waiting to take him to freedom at last. Thank God it's all over.

Richard felt the sigh of relief flow out between his lips as if someone had hit the release switch on him.

Everything was going to be perfect from now on.

Richard only took a few steps forward out into the sunlight again. His feet pounded against the pavement of the landing pad as he came to a sudden halt. There was no intense wind from the copter hitting his face. There were no voices of relief shouting at him to climb aboard. Richard gasped sharply. A sick sense of horror took over his excitement. There was no helicopter.

Instead, out in the middle of the landing pad, the sunlight streamed down onto the vibrant set of primary colors that the world could only recognize as a quick flash of hope dashing over the bright blue sky. But to Richard, these colors sent a shivering chill of dread down his spine. Superman, stood tall and proud with the skyscrapers surrounding the landing pad, waiting for Richard's next move.

Clark narrowed his eyes on Richard. The man seemed stiff with shock. Frozen to the spot. He'd been beaten. He'd lost and now he was going to pay.

Clark was relieved that the bomb could be easily taken care of now. But somewhat disappointed. He wouldn't have guessed that Richard could have fallen so far. Quick flashes of memories soared through Clark's mind. Jason's kidnapping, Lucy's murder, Jimmy's coma, Lois's rape, the man responsible for so much of the pain in their lives was standing right before him now. Practically begging to be hurled off the roof. There was searing anger welling up inside Clark's chest that he had never felt before. Richard had managed to do so much damage around him, to the people that he loved most. For so many months, Clark could only sit helplessly with guilt as everyone suffered under Richard's violent crimes. All of them have risked their lives to protect Clark and his secret.

Clark could stand it no longer. This was going to end now.

He marched forward towards Richard. He watched Richard spin around and head back for the doors. Clark took in mighty breath and before Richard could grab the handle, they had been frozen shut by the icy blast.

Richard didn't give up. He pounded and kicked the doors, shouting and pleading for help. He didn't dare turn to face Clark. He knew that he was in trouble. Clark gave him a quick scan and searched his suit for any trace of the radioactive, glow of green. Richard didn't even have a shard.

"There's nowhere to go, Richard."

Richard stopped beating at the doors. His shoulders heaved up and down as he took in long, heavy breaths of panic. There was something infuriating just watching Richard. Clark felt the whispers of temptation in his mind. Richard was just standing there. Just waiting to be attacked. Clark was using every fibre in his body to resisted doing just that.

Clark didn't have the time to speak with Richard. He knew the only way he was going to get the location of the bomb out of Richard was with sheer force. Just as Richard began to turn around to face his opponent, Clark lunged at Richard and threw him up against the icy metal doors. He held Richard firmly. He winced as Clark pressed down on his shoulders. It would be so easy to just finish him off here. No one would know. No one would care. Richard was a threat to the city. A threat to the President of the United States. Surely the rest of the world would understand why Superman was faced with no other choice...

Clark's grip tightened around Richards arms; he could feel the bone beginning to crack under the pressure. The more he squeezed, and the longer he stared into Richard's cold, selfish, eyes of greed, the more he was tempted to just keep crushing. This man, Richard White, Jason's adoptive father, Lois's fiancé, was at Clark's mercy. He thought of all of the people Richard had betrayed, all the people he hurt. He thought of Jimmy, lying helplessly in the hospital, unlikely to ever even wake up again. He thought of Jason, the innocent little boy that he cared so for so much, until one day he was abandoned. He shattered Jason's world. Jason was never going to see his father again.

But what sickened Clark most, was the thought of Lois, pinned to the ground in the alleyway, kicking and shouting for Superman. She did nothing to deserve that. None of them did.

"You listened to her screams," Clark's voice shook with fury as he spoke, "You ignored her. You just kept going. You had the nerve to raise her child, you had the nerve to come into her house every night and act like you deserved it. Act like you loved her." Clark knew he was on the brink of time. Another minute and New Troy would be nothing but a pile of ash and rubble. "You had the family that I was supposed to have. Do you have any idea what I would have given for that?" Richard's vacant expression didn't change. This man didn't even have a conscious. He was staring at death in the eye and he didn't feel an ounce of remorse for what he'd done to them. He didn't even appreciate the family that Clark would have done anything for. He didn't deserve them. He didn't deserve to even waste another precious breath of air. He wanted so much to deny him from that. The temptation was almost too much for him. "Give me one good reason why I should let you live?"

Richard's lips parted slowly, he was shaking and sweating, he struggled to take in a ragged breath under the crushing weight Clark compressed down onto his chest. "If you kill me," Richard began to choke out before he gasped for another stinging breath, "She'll hate you."

Clark's hard stare became locked with Richard's. He wanted so much to take all of the pain away from her, away from Jimmy and Jason. No matter how much he hated to admit it to himself, Richard was right. It would only give them all more pain. Lois would never forgive him. She had suffered long enough with a murderer. Long enough with evil. Clark wasn't going to be the one to do that to her again. Richard's death would only bring more agony for her.

"You tell me where that bomb is, or you will die here along with the rest of New Troy, under your own foolish actions, not mine."

Beads of sweat poured down Richard's face like it was raining. He struggled for air, his face was turning pale, and he knew he was pressed for time. The bomb would go off any second.

"The taxi," Richard whispered dryly.

Clark didn't remove his burning stare. He knew he didn't have any time left to decide whether or not Richard was telling the truth. He reluctantly released his fierce death grip on Richard's shoulder's and against his chest. Richard fell into a crumpled heap on the ground, desperately gasping for air. He wasn't going anywhere. He'd be back for Richard later.

Clark didn't waste another second. He raced to the edge of the rooftop and gazed down at the street, scanning for anything that he couldn't see through.

Bingo. The bright yellow taxi, parked on the curb below was unknowingly carrying a solid square package, outlined with led. Richard's wasn't completely stupid after all.

He dived down towards the cab. He swung open the back door while the driver spun around in his seat and shouted in protest. Clark reached under the seat and clutched the gold handle. He yanked the briefcase out it's hiding place. A few people gawked and stared at his sudden appearance. But he didn't have time to explain. This bomb had seconds. He tucked the briefcase safely under his arm and bolted up into the sky without a single word.

Well, I know a lot of you have been waiting for Richard to finally get caught. What do you think? Please leave a review!