Chapter 36

The door clicked closed and Clark listened to Nadine get in her car and drive away.

He turned off the porch light and locked the front door.

He turned to Lois. She had the look on her face she always had when she went too far for a story. Guilt, mixed with pride. He'd seen that look enough, but there was something else. He noticed her hands shaking as she turned the silver case over in her hands. When she spoke her voice quivered slightly.

"Clark. Artem is dead."

"What!?"

"I was going to tell you sooner," she rushed. "but with everything that happened tonight I didn't get the chance to –"

"Ok, Ok. Lois. What happened?"

Lois sighed. "We're gonna need coffee." She walked into the kitchen and fired up the coffee machine.

Clark followed her into the kitchen.

A few minutes later Lois and Clark sat at the kitchen table, coffee sitting steaming and untouched before them as Lois laid out the events of the morning.

"I went to the Planet to get your clothes and Polly patched through a call for me. It was Artem. He said he was in the alley behind the Planet and he had information for me."

"Lois –"

"I know! I shouldn't have gone down alone, but I didn't know how long he would stay and for all I knew you were still hurt. What was I gonna do? Call Jimmy out of bed at 5am? His mother would kill him!"

"Lois. You could have been kidnapped or... worse. We have talked about this before." His eyes blazed with protective anger and fear.

"Yes, yes and I never listen, can we skip the lecture and get to the important things?" Lois met his gaze head on.

Clark sighed and nodded almost imperceptibly.

"Thank you." Lois laid the silver case on the table and reached into her purse, pulling out a cell phone Clark didn't recognize. "When I got downstairs, Artem had been murdered in his car. I called the police – see I'm not totally irrational…"

Clark shot her a look and waited for her to continue.

"I don't know what he was going to tell me Clark but this phone was on his front seat and I figured if he WAS working with Lex, we might be able to get something from it. And when I reached for the phone I knocked this case from his hand. I have a feeling it's important."

"Lois, this is tampering with evidence. You can't just take things from a crime scene."

"Clark! The police would take forever documenting what was found and even then not share the information with us! I'll UNTAMPER with this evidence once we get the information we need. Ok?"

Clark rolled his eyes and grabbed his coffee, glowering at her over the rim as he took a sip. He paused for a moment.

"Let me see the phone."

"I don't know how much good it'll do us. All the menus are in Russian."

"Who are you talking to?" He smiled "Give me the phone." He held out his hand.

Lois made a face and slapped the phone into his hand.

Clark turned on the phone and began flipping through the menus. "Ok, Lois the battery doesn't have a lot of life in it. We need to write these numbers down." He began to dictate the last few numbers called. "There is one he seemed to have called more often then the others." Lois grabbed a pad of paper and scribbled down the numbers, marking the last with a star.

"I'll call Jimmy and see if he can track down where these numbers are located." Clark rose and crossed the room, and dialed the phone.

"Hey Jimmy. It's Clark." His voice took on the familiar dorky timbre of his public persona. "I wondered if you could track down the addresses of a few phone numbers for me?" Clark listed the numbers. "Great. I know you'll do your best. Thanks Jimmy."

He turned to see Lois had put away the dishes from the evening and had collected her purse. She let out her breath slowly her eyes betraying her anxiety.

Clark didn't want to think about the possibilities right now either. With Jason sick that was their priority. But the thought of Luthor planning another attack on his family wasn't something that could be ignored. The snake wouldn't stay in the grass for long.

Lois crossed to the door. "Is he going to take care of it?" She leaned against the door jam and rested her forehead against the wood.

Clark nodded. "Which means you can stay out of the crosshairs for a little while."

Lois shook her head. "I still don't know why Artem wanted to give me this case." She held up the object.

"Lois." His tone was a warning.

She rubbed her eyes in exhaustion. "Fine. Come on. I'm tired. You can lecture me just as easy from a comfy bed."

"I'm sorry. I know I sound like a broken record. I can't imagine what I'd do if something happened to you. You know what? No I'm not sorry. You put yourself into danger too often Lois. What if something HAD happened?"

Lois stroked his face, sliding her finger down his jaw to rest in the cleft of his chin. "I know. But nothing did happen this time. And I'll try to be more careful, but that's me Clark. What would you do with a Lois that was meek and mild and never got into trouble?"

Lois held out her hand for him. Clark took it, planting a kiss on the back of her wrist. Clark chuckled softly, gathering her into his arms. She laid her head upon his chest and snuggled close to him. "I'd sleep better for one."

In his arms he felt her defenses lower. She let out a shaky breath. Fear of the events of the day crept into her eyes.

"It's going to be alright." He whispered.

Lois sighed deeply. "Please keep telling me that ok?" Her eyes shone with worry of the future.

Clark turned her face to his and laid the gentlest of kisses on her lips.

"Forever."

He leaned down and gathered her into his arms and headed up the steps.

He took it slow and steady, measuring his steps. His body felt weaken as he reached the landing, but his resolve to be her comfort was stronger than his physical limitation.

They reached her bedroom door and he set her down lightly to the hardwood floor. "I'll be right back."

A few minutes later he returned, having shed his plaid and jeans for a pair of flannel pajama bottoms.

When he re-entered the room, Lois had changed as well and was snuggled under the cotton coverlet, looking much like a child waiting to be tucked int.

"Will you stay with me?" Her eyes pleading.

Clark smiled gently and nodded. He climbed between the cool sheets. Lois laid her head on his shoulder. He rested his chin on the top of her head, running his fingers over her hair.

Clark exhaled and let his body relax. Moments later, he heard her breathing become slow and even. Her warmth was his blanket. Her heartbeat was his lullaby as he drifted off to sleep.