Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed the last chapter. I know that some of you were waiting for the appearance of Superman; did it live up to your hopes? Well, Here's the next installment…



"Good morning," Clark greeted Chloe in the kitchen as he opened the door.

"Good morning, there, Superman." Chloe looked up from her newspaper.

"What did you call me?" Clark shut the refrigerator door and poured himself a glass of milk.

Chloe closed the paper and turned the front page to Clark. "I guess Lois was right, she did make it into today's paper."

Clark stared at the large banner headline: New Hero in Town: Batman and Superman Save Benefit Attendees. Next to it, was a picture of him, in his suit, standing in front of the Conservatory entrance. The caption below read: Mystery hero, Superman stands outside the Metropolis Conservatory before subduing gunmen and rescuing Lex Luthor, Lois Lane, and Dick Grayson. "Where the hell did she come up with Superman? It's almost as lame as when you called Eric, Superboy."

"Hey, I thought that was very clever, and I kinda like Superman. It makes sense, with that big 'S across your chest." Chloe smiled at Clark, walked over and put her arms around him. "What does that stand for anyway?"

"It's my family shield. It isn't really an 'S.' It just looks like one." Clark went over to his desk to get his sketchpads. "Have I ever shown you the drawings I made of my biological parents?"

Chloe leaned over to look at the pictures Clark held out to her. She saw a young man and woman in white jumpsuits, both with the same, shielded "S" on their chests. "They look very distinguished."

"My father was one of the highest ranking scientists on Krypton. That symbol is the seal of my family. From what I have uncovered so far, my family was one of the highest ranking on the planet. One of my ancestors even invented a way to dispense unbiased justice." Clark seemed to be engrossed in his account of his family history.

"That's incredible. I guess we know where you get your smarts from then." Chloe squeezed Clark and then took off to the bedroom. "Hey, Superman, we're going to be late for work."

"Speak for yourself; super-speed, remember?" Clark winked at Chloe as she scrunched up her face at him.

"It never helped you avoid missing the bus." Chloe beamed in triumph from the doorway, and Clark took off after her.



"So, Lex, any idea who this, 'Superman' is?" Lana sat down her copy of the Planet and looked down the table at her brother. She noticed that he had a couple bruises on his head, undoubtedly from the explosion.

"No idea. It was rather amazing though, the way those bullets just bounced right off him. I just wish he'd have gotten there sooner and stopped those men from wrecking my benefit." Lex set down his coffee and picked up his copy of the paper.

Lana just sat there. She couldn't be sure, not having gotten a good look at this Superman, but judging by his abilities, she figured it was Clark. She'd have to ask him about that later. Right now, though, she was more interested in her brother's love life. "Speaking of Superman, have you talked to Lois at all today?"

Lex repositioned himself in his seat, obviously uncomfortable at the question. "No, we haven't spoken since before the explosion. I was rather disappointed when she left last night without saying goodbye."

"Lex, she was shaken up by the explosion. I'm sure she didn't mean to ditch you." Lana tried to reassure him. "Besides, like you said, she's been trying to interview you for months. I'm sure she wouldn't risk ruining that possibility by knowingly disregarding you."

"Perhaps you're right. I imagine I should give her a call." He got up and began gathering his things for work.

"I have a better idea. Why don't we both stop by the Planet and see Lois and Clark?" Lana joined Lex in gathering her things.

"I don't know if…"

"Lex, don't even think about saying that you don't have time. You're the boss, remember that?" Lana stared him down cold, something few people could do; in fact, she was the only one. Finally, he acquiesced.

"Fine, we'll stop by there on my way to the office. Now, hurry up."

Lana beamed at Lex, realizing her victory. She quickly gathered her things, and they left the penthouse. Lana couldn't wait to see Clark, to see if he was Superman. She also knew that, even if he wouldn't admit it directly, Lex wanted to see Lois.



"Yeah, Pete, we're all doing fine." Clark was sitting at his desk in the newsroom, talking to Pete who had called almost immediately after they had stepped off the elevator.

"I wonder if Lana is ok." Clark seemed to notice a change in Pete's tone when he mentioned Lana. "She seemed really shaken up last night."

"I'm sure that once she and Lex got away from the Conservatory, she got better in a hurry. She was just worried about him. I can definitely understand that."

"Is that Pete?" Chloe asked as she sat back down in her desk. Clark nodded. "Hey, Pete!"

"Hey, Chloe." Clark relayed Pete's response.

"So, how are things over in the marble temple?" Clark changed the subject to get away from the previous night's events.

"Well, actually, I was supposed to have a meeting with Lex this morning, to go over what to do about the charity donation from last night, but he hasn't gotten in this morning, yet." Pete stressed that last part, letting Clark know that he fully expected Lex to walk through the door any minute. "Anyway, how is Lois doing? I saw her article in the paper today. That Superman guy is something, eh?"

Clark shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He still wasn't sure if he liked the name Superman, or not. "Actually, I haven't seen her yet this morn…" Clark stopped in mid sentence when he saw Lois step off the elevator. She looked as professional as ever, seemingly unfazed by events of the preceding night. "She just got here, and she looks like she is doing fine."

"That's amazing. I figured she'd be pretty shaken up still, seeing as she was one of the three actually held captive, and that it was the second time in three days she was assaulted." Clark nodded at what Pete said, even though he knew Pete couldn't see him.

"Good morning, Clark, Chloe." Lois set her things down at her desk and seated herself in front of her computer.

"I loved your article this morning, Lois." Chloe winked at Clark when she said this, careful not to let Lois see her. "I especially like the name Superman."

Clark cringed ever so slightly when Chloe said that. She really wasn't going to let him forget this. "Yeah, I liked it too. I'm still amazed you got it in on time."

"Barely. I didn't think I was going to make it, but I worked like a mad woman to finish it. With all the energy I had, I don't know what I would have been like without the tranquilizers." She smiled back at Chloe and Clark. "Have you two been holding out on me?"

Clark and Chloe both noted the rapid change in subject and were momentarily caught off-guard. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, are you two a couple or what?" Lois leaned over her desk, alternating her glare between each of them.

Clark wasn't sure what Chloe wanted to say, but he didn't get a change to wonder for long. Chloe quickly responded to Lois's question. "Actually, we are."

Clark breathed a sigh of relief and noticed the big smile on Chloe's face before Lois spoke again. "Why didn't you tell me sooner? Not think I could handle working with two people who were involved with each other?"

"It wasn't anything like that; we just didn't want to make you feel uncomfortable, like you had to worry about us ganging up on you." Clark finally made a contribution to the conversation.

"It's sweet, but you shouldn't have." She curled her hands up into fists. "Besides, I think I could take you both."

Everyone was so busy laughing at Lois, that nobody noticed the two new arrivals at their office space. "Good morning, everyone."

Clark was the first to respond to their new visitors. "Lana, Lex. What a surprise to see you here."

Lois quickly quit laughing and readjusted her skirt and blouse. "Mr. Lu…I mean, Lex."

"How is everyone doing after our little adventure last night?" Lex walked over by Lois, while maintaining eye contact with everyone. "You all left so quickly that I didn't get a chance to make sure you were alright."

"I'm sorry that we took off so quickly, Lex." Lois stood up to look at Lex. "I was still a bit shaken up by what happened, and I wanted to get home so that I could write my article for this morning's paper."

"That's alright. I know you wouldn't have ditched me on purpose." He smiled, playfully at her. She blushed. "It was quite good, by the way. Any idea who this superman fellow is, or where he comes from?"

Everyone just sort of shrugged in response to Lex's inquiry, even though two of them knew exactly who he was. Chloe was the first to respond. "I don't think anyone really saw his face last night, nobody but Batman."

"And, ass usual, he didn't stick around to give any comment to the media." Clark finished Chloe's thought.

Lois returned to her seat, pulling herself up to her computer. "I just hope that I get a chance to interview him before anyone else. A new superhero in Metropolis, can you believe it?"

"So, Clark, who you on the phone with?" Lana pointed to the telephone receiver sitting on Clark's desk.

"Oh, crap, Pete!" Clark grabbed the phone, only to hear Pete whistling on the other end. "Sorry about that, Pete. Lex and Lana just got here and I forgot about you."

"Don't sweat it. Is Lex going to be coming in soon, because if not, I'm going to get to work on those new contracts he sent down to me yesterday?"

"Lex, Pete wants to know if you're going to be in soon, he said something about a meeting to go over the details for the donation from last night's benefit." Clark could see Lex's eyes widen.

"Tell him I'll be right there. I completely forgot about that." He got up from the edge of Lois's desk and started for the elevator. "I'm glad you're all ok. I'll see you all later."

As the elevator door closed on Lex, the remaining four people stood in relative silence. "I guess last night is bothering him more than he is letting on."

"You know what, Chloe, I think you're right." Clark leaned back in his chair. "By the way, Pete, he's on his way."

"It's not like Lex to forget about anything, especially when it has to do with business." Chloe had her pencil stuck behind her ear and was leaning back in her chair as Clark finally hung up with Pete.

"I think you're right." Lana pulled up one of the chairs along the wall of the room and sat in front of Clark's desk. "He seemed a little more distant at breakfast this morning."

"Breakfast?" Lois shot an inquiring look at Lana.

"You know, for an investigative reporter, you seem to know very little about Lex." Clark laughed slightly at Lois's minor display of jealousy. "This is Lana Lang, Lex's step-sister."

"Oh." Lois was openly embarrassed, but extended her hand to Lana. "I didn't recognize you. You look different than you did five years ago."

"Don't worry about it. Well, I hate to run, but there are some things that Nell wants me to take care of today, and I promised Pete I'd stop by and see him later. I'll see you." Lana got up and hugged Clark and Chloe goodbye and made her way to the elevator. When the door closed behind her, she let out a sigh. She'd just have to ask Clark about the Superman deal later. Just then, the elevator stopped and the lights went out.

"What in the?" Lana regained her footing and tried pressing the buttons. It was no use; she was stuck.

*Sorry to leave it like this, but you can guess what is next! Superman to the rescue!*