Chapter 75 [Talon—About that Same Time]

Clark turned into the Talon parking lot. He shivered despite the morning's above average temperature. His muscles burned and ached. He guided them into his usual space. "There we are. Sorry I'm quiet."

"Clark, it's okay. You really should have stayed in bed." Lana frowned. Concern wrote itself all over her face. "I feel Professor Dubois' pain too. You think it was one of my ancestors?"

"Not from what Lex said on the phone. It was that zoo lady from the other day." He eased out of the truck. "I'm glad Mom and Dad let me out of chores for this morning."

"You're going to have a couple of muffins and a coffee on the house. You need it. It's almost daylight. I would've been all right." She keyed in the alarm code. "Come on. Let's get inside." She held the door open.

"I should be doing that for you." He stumbled in the door.

"Nice thought but the girl can do it for her guy too." She secured the door. "Take a seat." She headed toward the counter. "Just keep an eye out." She opened the safe and took out the money bag. Within two more minutes, she had the register set up. "Emma's figuring this out fast. Good for her."

"Glad you're getting some help. Miranda and you run yourselves into the ground." He coughed into his hand.

"Yeah well we're not trying to seem normal and save every cat in a tree at the same time." She grinned at him. Her eyes twinkled at him in the low lighting. "Maybe she can show you some things when she's better."

"I hope so. I haven't burned like that since freshman year." He looked at his hands. Once again, he remembered getting struck by lightning around Eric.

She nodded. "You were more open. It was so refreshing to have an honest conversation with you. It was like there was a heavy burden off of your back. I just wish I could've found out sooner."

"I wanted to tell you." He shuddered. "Sorry. I just wish I could get warm."

She bit her lip. "I just wish Sandra were back today. I'd have Miri work with her." The bell rang from the back. "That's the pasty delivery. Be right back." She disappeared into the back room.

Yeah. I can't let Lana tie herself down to nursemaid me. That's not fair to everyone! He ground his teeth. He heard a key click in the lock. "Now what?" He slowly stood. Lana, someone's coming in with a key?

What? Miri's not on until later! She pulled the pastry cart through the back door and locked it. She hustled toward the front.

"Clark?" Lex raised an eyebrow. "Kind of early isn't it?"

"Lana needed a ride in. Figured it was okay to…sit until they…opened." Clark spasmed.

"You'd better sit back down." Lex eased Clark back into the booth. He raised an eyebrow. He'd never seen Clark not get as much as a sniffle. "This is like what Professor Dubois' dealing with at the mansion."

"What is it? I just woke up with…this." Clark lied.

"Peter, keep an eye out." Lex glanced out the window. He saw Sol peeking over Horizon's hurdle. The sky turned colors. "A few more minutes and we'll be completely safe. Clark, the only way this happens is with one of those ghosts. Did any of them show up at the farm yesterday or this morning?"

"No." Clark quaked. "I just need some of that coffee."

"All right." Lex relented for the moment. Dave will need to check that lab out. What did that woman do? Is it spreading? He wondered if it was something like the Nicodemus flower.

"Lex, can you help me get these pastries set up?" She threw open the display case. "I'll get the first pots made." She started the coffee press.

"Anything I can do?" Peter volunteered.

"Just sit with him." Lex rushed to the front. "I think I remember how this all goes." He aligned muffins, coffee cake slices, donuts, bagels and danishes. A chocolate cake and three pies went on the bottom shelf. "How's that?"

"Great." She started the regular coffee perking. She saw it was ten to seven. "We're close enough. I can turn on the lights. Clark, can you leave me the keys to the truck? I'll drive myself home."

Clark nodded. He handed her the keys. "Sorry."

"Nothing for you to be sorry about. You should be in bed. Honestly, Clark! I can take care of you too!" She looked into his eyes. "Just go home and rest. Thank you for driving me in." She kissed him on the cheek. Then she unlocked the door.

"I'll take him home." Lex saw Chloe hustle in with her laptop. "Someone gets her second front page. You sure made an impact. I'll let Mr. Parker fill you in on the response from New York. Good job. I'll be back in a few minutes. Get Peter whatever he wants. We'll be getting breakfast at the mansion." He helped Clark out the door.

"What's with Clark?" Chloe watched Lex help their friend toward the Lexus. "Lana?"

"He's had a serious case of the chills since last night. I don't know." Lana saw one of their classmates rush in. "Hey, Rachel. Appreciate you being here. Can you get punched in? I need you to check the case."

"Sure thing, Lana." Rachel hustled into the back. A couple of minutes later, she came out in her white apron. "I'm on it." She swapped out a few things. "There you are. We're set." She started the decaf pot perking. "Your usual, Chloe?"

"Sounds great. I need to celebrate!" Chloe pumped her fists.

"You didn't get the wake up call. I did." Peter rubbed his forehead.

"Wake up call?" Chloe rolled her eyes. "Jameson woke you up to complain about this? Is he for real?"

"That's him all right. He's not going to change." He walked to the front. "I could really use a hot mocha please."

"You bet. I'll have that right up." The slender Native American girl measured espresso into its cup. She started the press. Given that she didn't know him, she didn't want to get in between Chloe and him in this brewing argument.

"So you think Mr. Jameson was right in what he did to Jasmine, Lex, Chloe and you? What he does to that Spider-Guy? Mr. Parker…." Lana wanted to understand his point of view.

He sighed. "One thing you have to understand about J. Jonah Jameson, he doesn't care. He treats everyone like that. And Spider-Man's his personal target. Spidey can't do anything. Worse Jameson knows he can't do anything. You saw me not go into his office on Thursday, Chloe. You saw me not give him the pictures, right? I sniped him. But I've learned to pick my battles."

"If Jasmine is partial owner, she can make him stop with the editorials, Mr. Parker. I'll give Spider-Man the credit he deserves. Think of the exclusive! And you notice, I do have the Planet at my back. The editor there agrees with you by the way. That's why she wanted this story. She also wants to talk to you by the way." Chloe smiled. "Spidey and you deserve better."

"Why does she want to talk to me? I'm not going to do an interview about Jameson with the Planet," he refused.

"It's not about an interview. Mr. Parker, they want to talk with you about a job. They don't want you just to freelance. They want you for their staff." Chloe turned to the counter. "Give me a cappuccino with a triple shot and whip."

"They want me for the Daily Planet?" He knew of the newspaper's prestige. Still he was loyal to Robbie, his fellow staff members and New York. He wanted to be close to Aunt May. Still, he could make what he deserved to make. In Metropolis, he could still fight crime as Spider-Man. But it would represent a change.

"Mr. Parker? Your drink." Rachel handed him the coffee.

"Huh? Oh thanks." He took a sip. "I wasn't expecting…"

Chloe shook her head. "Mr. Parker, do you have any idea how good of a photographer you are? You get the action shots everyone wants. It's almost like you're right there. Hey you pulled it off right here last weekend. How much did he give you for those pictures?"

"$300. That's normal." He shrugged off the argument.

"That's not bad, Chloe, for a night's work." Lana presumed.

Chloe swallowed her coffee hard. "For those pictures? Lana, our article made the front page! It was picked up by dozens if not a hundred newspapers off of the AP! Each of those pictures is worth $300! APIECE!" She shook her head. "He's taking advantage of you!"

"Like you said, maybe Jasmine might make changes although I doubt it. He has the money and influence." He gulped from the mug. "I would like to think so."

"She does. You're right. Talk with her. See what she can do after the sale goes through. And tell Spider-Man I want that exclusive interview. I can be a royal bitch at interviewing. He saved a lot of lives. I might ask a couple of hard ones. He deserves some great press." Chloe gulped from her cup again.

"I'll keep that in mind. Meantime I need to talk with my fiancée and Jasmine. Maybe Gwen and I can transfer to Met U. and get into the right programs. It's worth thinking about." He took another draught from his mug. He saw Lex's Lexus pull up in front. "That's my ride back. Thanks for the offer. I just don't want you losing out on your career."

"I know that, Mr. Parker. Why do you think I'm not yelling at you? You've got talent as a scientist and a journalist! You're a great photographer! I know you've got your friends. Well you've got friends here too. You've got a real chance here. Talk to them. Talk to Lex. Believe it or not, Miss Stacy and you are making a hell of an impression here. And…" Chloe smirked at Lana. "You're inspiring a couple to stop dancing around themselves."

"Chloe!" Lana turned red.

"I get it. I'll consider it." Peter saw Lex walk into the Talon. "I'm set when you are."

"Really? No refill? Chloe drive you away with arguments? Jameson's a real creep. You can do better," Lex took a coffee refill from Rachel. "Give Mr. Parker a refill on his drink, Rachel, please."

"The Daily Planet wants to talk to Mr. Parker about a job on their staff," Lana chimed in.

"Seriously? Well now! You have something to think about." Lex accepted the two to go cups. He handed Peter's to him. "Let's go talk to Jasmine and Gwen. Shall we? Have a great day, Ladies!"

"Thanks, Chloe. Sorry." Peter apologized.

"What? I told you, Mr. Parker, you're looking out for me. That's part of being a great mentor. I appreciate it. We'll talk again. Your lady and the Princess await." Chloe motioned toward Lex's car.

Peter followed Lex to his car. Could I be a regular photographer?

Seems there was a lot to think about….