What the El #2 - Baby Boom
a Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman - based fan fiction
by: Joycelyn Solo


Author's note: Second (or third if you count #0) in the Lois and Clark What the El? series.
Disclaimer: Lois & Clark and associated characters are property of December 3rd Productions who, I believe, had them on loan from from DC Comics. Most any other character we'll run into later are property of DC Comics. I mean no copyright infringement, this story is for entertainment purposes only.

Chapter One

Metropolis, August 1997

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The Metropolis Skyscrapers were possibly one of the saddest teams in professional sports. Though they held numerous records in both the American and National Baseball Leagues, they were for such honors as most errors in a game, longest losing streak and, astoundingly, more losses than actual games played. As such, it was nearly impossible to gear up any enthusiasm for the less-than-reputable team.

It was the lack of enthusiasm held by the city, and even by the team, that held Clark Kent captive in The Daily Planet newsroom two hours after he was supposed to leave for Smallville.

With Lois, his wife and partner, already on maternity leave for the past month, Clark's workload had increased considerably. In the past week he had even more to do as he prepared to take his own leave in anticipation of their son's arrival.

If Perry White had any problems when Clark's request for maternity leave crossed his desk, he didn't say anything. Though The Planet offered the option to both male and female employees, it was rare for a man to take advantage of it. Losing two of his best reporters for three months couldn't be easy for the editor-in-chief to deal with.

To soften the blow, Clark had offered to do some correspondence work and keep in touch with his international contacts. Perry, being Perry, refused.

"Son, when that baby arrives, the news is going to be the last thing you or Lois think about. I appreciate the offer, but I want you to focus all your energy on Lois and your baby."

For all his skill with words, there was little Clark could have said to convey how much Perry's words meant to him. As soon as he got to Smallville, his focus would be entirely on his family and he was grateful that he wouldn't have to worry about his reporting job.

Of course, his other job was another matter entirely. There was no "leave" for Superman and he would still be making regular trips to Metropolis and hope the presence of the familiar red cape would ward off potential crime.

Before he or the Man of Steel could leave, however, there was one obstacle in his way: his season-closing article on the 'Scrapers -- a term of affection for their efforts to "scrape" by every season.

Sighing in frustration, Clark turned away from the computer screen just as Jimmy Olsen, budding photographer and Planet errand-boy, stepped out of the elevator.

"Hey, CK." He called across the vacant bullpen. "What are you still doing here?"

Clark didn't bother to answer until Jimmy had crossed the newsroom and made himself comfortable at Lois' vacant desk. "I'm finishing up the Skyscrapers' piece for Saturday's edition before I leave."

Jimmy looked briefly at his watched. "Weren't you supposed to leave a couple hours ago?"

Clark gave the computer a pained expression and Jimmy's eyebrows rose in surprise. "You're stuck? On a sports piece? That's like me not being able to take plant pictures."

Clark scowled menacingly at the monitor in response, willing the story to write itself.

Jimmy rolled Lois' chair over so that he could see the story. When he saw the blank document it was difficult to keep quiet. Seeing Clark's frown, he offered weakly, "You want any help? I know I'm no Mad Dog Lane, but I've watched you two do this enough times I should be able to at least pretend like I've got good ideas."

Clark smiled at Jimmy's offer. Over the last three years of working together, he and Lois had developed a system for getting through rough patches in their reporting. It was second-nature for both of them to turn to the other; he hadn't even realized how lost he was without it. "Thanks, Jimmy, that just might help. If you were Lois, I'd tell you something basic about the story and then you say the first thing that comes to your mind. Then we progress from there until we find a workable angle."

"Alright," Jimmy nodded. "Hit me."

Clark pulled up the file that had his notes written up and read the first item. "The Metropolis 'Scrapers are oh-nine this season, not including the charity exhibition they lost to the Metro Little League all-stars last week."

"Wow." Jimmy said, then realized that didn't sound very professional and tried again. "Well, even without being trounced by a bunch of twelve-year-olds, it's common knowledge that the 'Scrapers suck."

He blanched after realizing that his second try didn't sound very professional, either. Instead of chastising, Clark nodded for him to continue.

"What I mean is, if everyone knows that the team doesn't have a chance in He -- I mean, if everyone knows that there's a slim chance of the team winning, why do they even bother? Why pay for a ticket if you know they're going to lose?"

"What keeps us coming back, you mean?" A small smile broke across Clark's features. "That's brilliant, Jimmy. It's exactly what I needed."

"Yeah?" Jimmy asked, looking hopeful.

"Yeah." Clark affirmed. "The 'Scrapers have a losing streak, but a winning spirit. I like it." He swiveled his chair back toward the keyboard, tapping at the keys with enthusiasm. After getting a couple ideas down, he turned back to Jimmy. "Thanks, Jimmy. With any luck I can finish this in time to still catch a flight tonight."

"Sure thing, CK." Jimmy stood, heading toward his own desk. Halfway there a thought cowled to him and he turned back to Clark. "Hey, just think, in a couple years you'll be able to take Clark Junior to a 'Scrapers game. Maybe they'll even be in a winning streak by then."

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