Chapter 51 AINW Part III -- Trask

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.
Victor Hugo French dramatist, novelist, & poet (1802 - 1885)

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As Superman waited hovering out of sight high in the air he began scanning the buildings and hangers nearby. He could see no evidence of anything out of the ordinary. It appeared to be nothing more than an Air Force test site as the government had always insisted. There were several buildings that caught his attention due to the very fact that unlike the others he was unable to see inside the walls. Evidently they were lead lined, considering the area he couldn't help but wonder if the lead lining was there to keep his prying eyes out or for some other reason.

"Help Superman!" Superman turned to face the yell he had just heard and as he turned he heard a second more terrified scream. "Superman Help, Please!"

Without a second thought he raced towards the scream halting in mid air about 300 feet above the lead lined building. He knew without a doubt it was a trap. A trap set specifically for him which meant the Kryptonite bomb Jeff had mentioned was most likely inside and ready to detonate. As he hesitated he heard two distinct heart beats. One was pounding in obvious extreme fear near the middle of the building while the second one was excited but in a more normal range. As he listened Superman determined the second person was pacing back and forth from the middle of the building near the first person to a place near the back of the building.

Scanning the area, Superman noted that there were no visible cars or transport vehicles nearby. That meant most likely they were dropped off at this location by someone else. There was no way to know how many people were involved.

As he continued considering his options he heard the first man crying in fear. Then it sounded like he was being hit or kicked as he heard the voice he had called using Peter's cell phone say "Again, or I swear I will blow your leg off."

The response was a pleading scream. "Superman, please, he's going to shoot me. Help!"

As he heard the last pitiful scream Superman also became aware of a helicopter approaching from the south east. He assumed it was more federal agents coming to join the ones already there.

Deciding he could wait no longer he rose up high into the air in order to build up speed. As he dove towards the back of the building he broke the sound barrier and kept speeding up even faster finally ramming into the building taking a good portion of the back wall with him heading directly to where he knew Snow was located. Just as he had broken into the building and was aproaching Snow he heard the unmistakable clicking sound from a box sitting to Snow's right. Superman grabbed Snow bodily with his left hand as he passed, never bothering to slow down wrapping the man instantly in his cape for protection from the speed. He continued to hold the section of lead lined wall with his right hand as a make-shift shield from the bomb's kryptonite blast while arching his back to turn in flight keeping the wall as a shield between himself and the inevitable deadly blast.

Time seemed almost suspended as the bomb detonated milliseconds after Superman flew past. The blast sent him flying out of control but he managed to somehow maintain hold of both Snow and the wall. Superman protected Snow with his own body as he in turn depended on the make-shift shield for protection from the flying shrapnel.

The same could not be said of Myerson who had been unaware of the true nature of the bomb. Trask had set the bomb to trigger whenever Superman's alpha energy came within a 100 foot radius, not by the remote control device Myerson had been holding in his now lifeless hand.

As the smoke started to clear Superman started to move amongst the rubble under weight of the wall he had used as a shield. He rose up gradually moving the wall aside finally getting to his feet freeing Snow in the process. Freed from the weight of Superman and the wall Snow slowly got to his feet brushing himself off still trying to get his bearings.

There was considerable dust in the air, both men began coughing. Superman looked over and saw the second man who had been in the building lying in a heap, dead. Superman's coughing persisted while Snow seemed suddenly jubilant realizing his ordeal was finally over. He grabbed Superman and gave him a big bear hug. As he released the hug he suddenly realized Superman was having difficulty breathing. Then to his utter surprise he was supporting the man of steel as he was wheezing and almost falling to the ground.

At that very moment a dark gloved hand grabbed his shoulder and joined in supporting Superman's weight as they almost carried him from the building. Burt looked at the man and realized it was none other than Batman.

Looking at his friend seeing no wounds Batman asked Snow, "What happened?"

Burt just shrugged. "Superman saved me, there was bomb blast, he seemed fine then we both started coughing from the dust. Next thing I knew he was collapsing and you where there."

"Kr…Kry...ton…ite da…du..st" Superman gasped.

Looking at Snow Batman asked, "Are you alright? Can you help me get him to my helicopter?"

"I've been better, but yes I can help. It's the least I can do. He saved my life just now."

The two men helped Superman to the helicopter where Batman dug out an oxygen mask from an emergency kit and quickly put on him as he lay across the back seats struggling to breathe. Hearing the sounds of fast approaching cars racing to the scene Batman looked at Snow and said. "If you really appreciate Superman saving your life, don't say a thing about him being in that helicopter. He was never here. Do you understand?"

Burt looked at Batman and remembered what he had been put through. Whoever it was that had captured him thought he was somehow Superman. He didn't understand it all but decided if he had to choose a side it would be Superman's any day. "I swear I never saw him, on my life."

The black cars came to a screeching halt in front of the building. Several men went running directly into the building. The man in charge Special Agent Donald Roberts appeared miffed as he approached the two men standing near the helicopter. "Batman, I thought you were told you to stay out of this. This is a government operation. Now tell us what just happened here and then you need to be on your way."

"I just arrived. I went into the building and found Mr. Snow recovering from the blast. There's one body inside. I have no idea who it was. Since you obviously don't want me here I will just be on my way."

"Just hold up a minute, Batman. We'll tell you when you're free to go. Snow, what happened? How did you escape, was there only the one man inside?"

"There were others but they left this morning. I struggled with the one inside and the bomb went off. I got lucky. He took the blunt of the blast. I think they were trying to trap Superman but that's all I know."

Just then agent Roberts was notified by one of his men that additional suspects had been apprehended in the mountains trying to escape. In the communication he was alerted Trask was among those captured. He appeared relieved at that news.

"OK, Batman, you can go. But we may contact you at a later date. This is far from over."

"Mr. Snow we have transport waiting for you. Glad you're alright. If you'll just join Inspector Henderson and that reporter…hey where is he. Don't tell me we have a dmn reporter running around here unescorted. Dmn, what next. Somebody go find the son-of-a-!!tch."

Batman quickly took off in his helicopter. Looking back he could tell Superman was not doing much better. In fact he appeared to be getting worse. Taking out his cell phone he phoned Lois as soon as he was in the air away from the area.

"Lois, I have him. He needs medical attention and I don't think a hospital is a really good idea unless we have no other course of action."

"What happened? He promised me he would stay out of it."

"That doesn't matter right now, what kind of Doctor is your father? Superman is in respiratory distress. I think he may have inhaled Kryptonite dust from the bomb. I put an oxygen mask on him but there is nothing else I can do except try and keep him in the sun."

"Uhmmm, My dad works in medical research but I think he can help. I'll call him right now. How soon will you be here?"

"It's going to be at least two hours. I take it you don't mind me landing in your back yard?"

"We'll think of some explanation later, just get Clark home! And Batman, thanks."

The helicopter landed without incident. Lois and Richard came running out of the house and both men helped Superman into the house and up to the bedroom. His breathing had worsened and complicating matters he was lethargic, incoherent and running a high fever. His skin had a bluish-green tinge.

General Lane arrived just minutes after they got Superman upstairs. He took one look and after taking vitals insisted, "We have got to get his body temperature down. Lois, go start running a lukewarm bath. Uh, Batman, Richard help me get this suit off him."

"Dad, I though you used cold water?"

"That's a common mistake…the water should be lukewarm. It will feel cold to him and will reduce the fever, at lease it would in a human. We just have to assume it will do the same for him."

The three men helped Superman into the bath. Once he was situated Batman made sure his head stayed above the water and that the oxygen mask stayed in place.

Sam asked looking directly at Batman, "What in the hll happened to him?"

"From the best I can tell he somehow shielded himself and Snow with part of a wall from the bomb blast but evidently there was considerable kryptonite dust in the air. Snow said they were both fine, then they both started coughing. Superman collapsed just as I arrived."

When his fever finally broke they got him into the bed shivering and wheezing. Sam shook his head saying. "He has all the symptoms of silicosis or pneumoconiosis."

Lois looked concerned, "What is that?"

"Miner's lung. It's caused by inhalation of dust particles and usually develops over time. I'm sure his condition is complicated by the fact the dust he inhaled is poisonous to him."

"What's the treatment? What can we do for him Dad?"

"Other than continuing to administer oxygen and keeping his temperature down there's not a whole lot we can do. Hopefully the problem will resolve itself. The pure oxygen should help clear his lungs of the irritants. From what I understand his body healed itself last time. Why not now?"

Lois grabbed one corner of the bed and started pushing, "We need to move the bed into the sun. It helps him heal and energizes him." The men each grabbed a corner and helped.

"He seems to have stabilized. I think we need to just let him rest for now. I'll be back later, baby. Call me if there is any change and I'll come right back."

Richard walked behind General Lane, "Is there anything else Chloe or I can do, Lois? Do you want us to keep the kids overnight? It wouldn't be a problem."

"No, no, I'll…we'll be fine, if you could just keep them a couple hours longer. Please thank Chloe for picking them up from school. And Richard thank you for always being there when I… when we need you."

Richard embraced Lois kissing her forehead. "Anytime, just call if you need me."

Batman stood in the doorway after the other men had left. Lois leaned up and kissed him lightly on his chin. "Thank you Bruce, my husband is just too stubborn for his own good. He promised me he would stay out of it. Good thing we knew better and planned ahead. I'm sure there was no way for you to stop what happened. I'm just glad you were there to get him home."

Batman cocked his head. "Why did you just call me Bruce?"

"You gave yourself away. I guess I'm a little wiser to the subtle changes in a voice now. You switched your tone to Bruce several times yesterday when we were talking and again today. Don't worry, Clark does it too. I doubt anyone else will catch on."

"I hope Clark knows just how lucky he is to have you! I'm sure he's going to be fine. He's one tough man. And by the way, he has saved my skin more times than I care to remember. He tries to do it without my knowing, but I've seen the smashed bullets and felt the breeze as he flies by. He, in all probability, knows that I know."

Lois smiled and half laughed in response as she nodded her head.

"Lois, what I'm trying to say is he's one of the good guys and he's incapable of turning his back on someone in need. Just remember that is why he did what he did. But I'm sure you already know that. Sheesh, I am usually a man of few words. If you need anything, anytime call me."

"You're right of course. It's part of what I love about him. Thank you, I'll be in touch."

Exhausted from the day's worry and events Lois trudged back upstairs and crawled into the bed next to her husband listening to his troubled breathing. Normally his body was warm and inviting, when he arrived home just two hours earlier he had been positively hot. Now she realized lying up next to him he seemed cold. She hugged her body next to his willing her warmth to him as she fell asleep.

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I wish to thank my Beta reader SHADOLibrarian once again for her valuable input and editing and for her Trask contribution

Again thank you for reviewing.