SG2788: Wouldn't you know, I really did update soon! Hihi
Nat: Oh Lois is beyond peeved! But don't worry, you know how Clark and Lois always find their way back to each other :)
To anyone reading this, I hope you are well. With this pandemic looming over us, let us all be kind and take joy even in the littlest of things. Stay safe everyone!
Chapter 13
Lois looked from Dr. Rubio, to Tom the physical therapist, to Lucy. Lucy, who was looking like she's having an inner battle with herself. Lucy, who was now chewing on her bottom lip, alternating looks between Clark and Lois.
"The hell with this." Lois declared, then hurriedly wheeled out of the room. Lucy soon followed and grabbed at the handles of the wheelchair, stopping Lois from any further movement.
"You wouldn't know what's coming to you if you won't let me go, Lucy." Lois threatened.
This time, Lucy scoffed. "And what are you going to do to me? Wound me with your words?"
"You think I can't do damage while I'm in this damn wheelchair?"
"No, but right now I'm at an advantage. Admit it, Lois."
"Let go, Lucy. I will not stay here with that man. And what the hell does he mean when he said this was his idea? So all the investigation you put in was just lies? That you made me feel safe and secure with this choice because Clark strong armed you?"
Lucy let go of the handles. "But Lois—"
Lois then faced her, and Lucy could see the rage emanating from her entire body. "How could you do this to me? You've made me a fool! You know that the last person I want to see is that man." Lois pointed towards the room where they left Clark for effect.
"Lois—"
"And here you are conniving and scheming with him!" Lois threw her hands up in the air, and then turned around and headed towards the front door of the mansion. "I'd rather not walk than accept any form of help from him."
Lucy stepped in her path and grabbed at the arm rests to keep her immobile. "I've said this once and I'll say this again. My dream now is to see you walk again freely, Lois. And I honestly don't care why you hate Clark that much—"
"He was the reason I was in this condition in the first place!"
Lucy paused, but she ploughed through. "Then why does he want to help you?"
"Because he's guilty!"
"Well then, at least he's willing to help, and from the looks of things, he is sincere in helping—"
"He will never be sincere in—"
Lucy finally had enough and shouted. "Will you shut up, Lois, just this once!"
Lucy knew she caught Lois by surprise, because she stopped talking, her eyes wide at Lucy's outburst. At the corner of her eye, Lucy saw Clark step out of the room, but thankfully he didn't approach them.
"I know you hate this, and maybe you hate him." At Lois' eye roll, Lucy amended. "Okay, not maybe, you definitely hate him. But I'm going with my gut here, and that Clark's really willing to help. Lois, my family means everything to me. And now it's just the two of us: no Dad, no Chloe." Lois rolled her eyes at the mention of their duplicitous cousin's name. Lucy ignored it and continued. "I don't want to see you in a wheelchair for the rest of your life, when we know that someone is willing to help you walk again."
"I mean, what's the worst that could happen?" Lucy answered herself. "You stay in the wheelchair. But I know you Lois. You won't be satisfied sitting down all of your life."
Lois grunted, which Lucy sensed was her agreement to her last statement.
"Let's look at it this way, the sooner you heal, the faster you'll leave this place and put Clark out of your life for good."
Lois let out a sigh, and grabbed a hand on one of the armrests. "Fine."
Lucy smiled and kissed Lois' forehead. "Good. We need to go back inside so we can finish the orientation."
Lucy saw Clark turn around and went back inside the room before Lois could see him.
They entered the room and saw Clark was sitting on a chair in one of the corners.
"Everything okay, Ms. Lane?" Dr. Rubio asked.
"I will stick to the schedule. But I only have one request. I don't want him to be near me during my stay here."
"I strongly advise that a loved one or a relative be present during the sessions. They will help—"
"Lucy is here. She's the only one I want to be present during my therapy."
Dr. Rubio looked at Lucy, but Lucy only nodded. At Lois' declaration, Clark stood up and left the room quietly.
Lucy watched a disheartened Clark leave the room, and it made her wonder what really transpired. Clark's words were backed up by his body language. This wasn't just guilt. This was something else, something deeper. And while Lucy was saddened at the current state of their marriage, she hoped that Clark and Lois would be able to work out their relationship.
Arriving at her spacious and well-furnished room, one of the orderlies deposited Lois' suitcase by the drawers situated on one of the walls.
"Thank you, Grace. We'll just call if we need any more help." Lucy said to the orderly before she left.
Lois took note of the room and was impressed. Everything was within her reach. She hated to admit it, but somebody put thought in designing the room. That it was Clark who probably ordered the said design infuriated her.
The height of the drawers and the tables were made for someone who was going around in a wheelchair. The bed frame was lowered so it would be easier for her to get to bed, even handrails were installed on both sides of the headboard.
Stepping inside the bathroom, she saw that everything was designed for a paraplegic as well. The doctor told her due to the location of her injury, she can count it as a blessing that she wouldn't have a problem with her bowel and bladder systems. Going to the tub, she ran hand over a bench connected to the bathtub. She surmised it was something to help her use it. Even the shower area was fitted with a bench that would make it easier for her to take a bath.
She really hated it that Clark thought of everything.
She was brought out of her musings by Lucy's call. "I just finished unpacking." Lois turned and saw Lucy standing by the bathroom door.
"Thanks Luce. Where will you be staying?"
Lucy's eyebrows rose. "Just across the hall."
Lois nodded. "I'm just going to rest a bit. Wake me up so we can eat dinner together?"
"Will do, Lois. Sleep tight." Lucy said, helping Lois to bed.
Lois settled in, and soon Lucy was leaving the room. Switching off the lights, Lucy knew that her decision to leave Lois was for the best. If anything, Lois needs closure, and her leaving will definitely bring that about.
Lois awoke the next day feeling refreshed. After doing her routine, she situated herself on her wheelchair and decided to go to Lucy's room. Finding it empty, she went back to her own room.
It was then that she noticed a folded piece of paper on top of her drawer. Picking it up, she unfolded it and found the neat scrawl of Lucy's handwriting.
Lois,
This is my third strike but I'm willing to take it if only for you to have a better future. I left last night for Switzerland. I know I haven't told you this, because for sure you're going to stop me, but I have to do it because I can't lose my scholarship. Plus, you need to sort out your problem with Clark. It might be off-handed of me, but I want you to be happy. I know you're going to throw it in my face if everything goes wrong, but it's a risk I'm willing to take. I mean, you are one of the biggest risk takers I've known, why not now?
I love you so much, Lois. Take care of yourself.
Love you, Lucy
PS I don't know what happened between you and Clark, but I can see that he loves you. Maybe I'm wrong, but it wouldn't hurt to find out.
Lois crumpled the paper in anger and went to the bin to throw it. She wanted to be angry with Lucy, but somehow she can't bring herself to. Lucy has been her anchor these trying times, and has been the voice of reason. Looking at the paper, she picked it up, but didn't straighten it. Placing it on top of the drawer, she told herself it was a reminder of what Clark did to her. She was going to prove Lucy wrong, and Lois will make her understand that Clark Luthor doesn't love anybody but himself.
I have done some research about paraplegia, SOME being the operative word (hehe), so forgive me if there are mistakes in this.
So, what do you guys think? Reviews are golden, love lots!
