A/N: Thank you for all the commentary! Now without further ado, chapter 3...

Ch 3 - Alliance


"We have got to stop meeting like this, Smallville!"

Clark grimaced and sent an apologetic glance to his companion as Lois slid into the booth next to him.

"Hi, Lois."

"I didn't know you'd be on campus this week."

Clark was in Metropolis for a campus visit; part of the recruiting process he was in with the Met U football program. Steve Shipp, a sophomore member of the team, was giving him a campus tour. They had just stopped by 'The Comm' for lunch.

"Yeah, well, we haven't talked for a while," Clark shrugged, opening a ketchup packet for his fries.

Lois nodded. They hadn't spoken since she'd headed back to school after the barn incident.

"Do you believe in destiny, farmboy?"

Clark frowned. Lana had asked him that same question. That conversation had been strange; especially the part where Lana had assumed that he and Lois were an item. He wasn't sure how to answer it now. "Huh?"

Lois waved a hand at his confusion. "I was just thinking about you, and poof, here you are."

Still confused – but that was the effect Lois tended to have – he looked across the table. "Steve, this is Lois. Lois, this is Steve. He's my host for the visit."

They exchanged nods and then Steve gathered the remains of his sandwich and stood up. "Look, I'll let you two catch up. I'll be back in a bit."

Lois watched Steve leave as she moved to the other side of the booth to take his place. "Tight end," she said, approvingly, as he pulled up a chair to a table where two girls were sitting.

"He's a running back," Clark corrected.

"Oh, I know," Lois said, smiling as she reached for his fries.

Clark shook his head. Lois was… unique. "So, Chloe tells me that you're working on the paper here… Didn't think it was your style."

"What can I say… I'm good at it. And, why deprive the world of such a rare talent." She smiled as he laughed at her remark. He had a beautiful smile. Startled by that unexpected thought, she pressed on.

"Okay, as I was saying," Lois started, helping herself to more of his food. "I need your help with something I'm working on."

"Me?"

"Yep. You seem to be pretty resourceful in a bind. Anyway, I don't have much to go on yet, but when I get more information I'll shoot it to you."

"Shoot what to me?" Clark asked, still confused.

"Oops - guess I didn't say that part out loud. I'm looking for Chloe's mother. I've got a couple of loose ends I'm researching now." She grabbed another fry.

"Do you want some?" Clark asked, sarcastically, pushing his basket of fries in her direction.

"No, I'm good, thanks."

"Why are you looking for Chloe's mom?"

"Chloe's been searching on her own for a long time, and she's recently decided to give up hope. I think I might be able to make some progress if I take a different route. I'm not as close to it as she is."

"I thought she knew where her Mom was," Clark said, his brow crunching in confusion.

"She used to. When she tried getting in contact it turned out to be a dead end."

"Do you think it's a good idea? I mean, what if you find out something bad?" Clark thought back to the nightmare Chloe had told him about. The fear that her mother had mental issues was high on Chloe's list of 'worst case scenarios'. "Maybe she'll come to terms with it all…"

Lois sat back and crossed her arms. "I don't think so. Chloe has a mother out there… somewhere. I think that the worst thing would be not knowing..."

Clark thought about that for a moment. He had to agree. Being adopted and not having a clue as to why his powers were developing would have been worse if he never knew about his birth parents. Not that Jor-El was making his life any easier…

Lois continued, "It's different when you know they're dead. Parents, I mean. You know that there is no chance that they're coming back so you don't hope for it."

Clark shifted, uncomfortably. She was obviously talking about her mother. He remembered her saying that she had died when Lois was six.

Lois saw him fidget. "I told you that I can talk about it. I usually don't, though, because other people get uncomfortable."

Clark noticed the wistful tone to her voice. It almost seemed that she wanted to talk about it. In some ways, he could relate. "Your dad doesn't…"

Lois scoffed. "No."

"My parents… my birth parents are dead," Clark offered.

Lois met his gaze. She knew he was adopted – via Chloe – but there seemed to be more to the statement.

"But, I've been with my mom and dad for as long as I can remember. They're great."

"Yes, they are." Lois smiled.

They both noticed Steve returning. This conversation would have to wait. Lois pulled a card out of her bag and handed it to Clark.

"You have business cards?" Clark asked, flipping it over to read both sides.

"Hey, my sources need to know how to contact me." They both stood as Steve reached the table.

"Ok boys, I've got to run. And Smallville," she added, nodding to Clark. "Try to stay out of trouble."

With a wink and a wave, she was gone.


tbc