Ch 18 – Transgression


Lois slowly became aware of her surroundings.

"God, I hate needles," she groaned lifting her chin from where it had been resting against her chest.

"It didn't really go the way I planned."

She swung around to face the voice. "You drugged me, you bastard."

Tony stepped out of the shadows and smiled. "All you had to do was get in the car, doll. Unfortunately, I had to go to my backup plan when you tried that kung fu crap on me."

Lois pulled at the bondages that securely held her arms and legs to the chair.

"Either you are doing a really good impression of Norman Bates right now, or you have just won a private room at Belle Reve. Are you on something? You don't drug and kidnap someone just because they don't want to answer your stupid questions!"

Tony pulled a chair in front of her and sat down. Grabbing her chin, he held her still as he peered into her eyes. After a moment, he angrily stood, knocking his chair to the floor with the movement.

"What is it about that kid, huh? Is this Kent character worth dying over?"

Her eyes widened. He had really lost a few screws somewhere.

"Is this about me not returning your feelings, because I thought we talked about that? My not wanting you has nothing to do with Clark. I tend not to fall for guys who stalk me."

Tony shot her a look and she grimaced. Insults were probably not the best way to calm a lunatic.

"No. I need his secret, and you know what it is."

He stalked over and grabbed her hair, forcing her to look up at him. Leaning close to her face, he ran his tongue over her ear.

"Rest assured. If I wanted you, Lois Lane, I could have you. At any time."

Wrenching out of his grasp, she forcefully rammed her head into his chin; her eyes watering from the impact and the loss of the strands of hair that remained in his fist.

He staggered back, using a hand to dab at the blood that was beginning to flow from his bottom lip.

"You really shouldn't have done that," he said, spitting a bloody swatch onto the floor.

Keep him talking, Lois thought, as she discreetly worked at loosening the binding on her wrists.

"What are you talking about, Tony? Clark doesn't have a secret. Who are you working for? What do you think you're going to accomplish by tying me up in a basement?"

Okay, note to self, Lois mused silently. In the future ask one question at a time.

Tony reached into the sterling briefcase that was sitting on a nearby table.

"Oh, wouldn't it be so cliché of me to start monologue-ing right now? Suffice it to say that first, all I wanted was to get your farm hand out of the picture because you couldn't seem to see anyone else. Then he became a means to an end. Now, it's become personal. And you, my dear, seeing as you won't help me… you're expendable."

He pulled his hand out of the case and pointed a gun in her direction.

"Now, do you have any last words? Maybe a message you would like for me to give to your boyfriend?"

Lois glared at him. "I just want to let you know that when I get out of this - I'm going to kick your ass."

Tony laughed and released the safety. "Well then, I guess I'd better make sure you don't get out."

A tiny burst of fire accompanied the bullet as it left the muzzle of the gun.


Clark jogged up the stairs to Lois' room, checking for any sign that she'd come home since he'd last been there. Her car wasn't outside and there had been no messages on the machine. He decided to take a trip out to LCC. She was most likely pulling overtime in the Journalism office.

He was definitely going to let her have it for making his parents worry.

In under a minute he arrived at the school, scanning the emptying lot for her car. When he found it, he sighed and began walking toward it, planning on passing it on his way into the building. Just as he walked by, a faint sound caught his attention. When he made out the theme of 'The Lone Ranger' he frowned.

Dropping to the ground, he found the phone behind the front tire. Flipping it open, he pulled it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"Hello… Clark? Didn't I call Lois?" Chloe asked.

"Uh, yeah. She… forgot her phone. I thought she might be calling to see where it was, so I answered." Clark decided there was no reason to worry Chloe until he knew what was going on.

"Really?" Chloe scoffed. "That's hard to believe. That thing is practically stapled to her hip. She even ordered the waterproof version so she could take it in the shower."

"Have you talked to her?"

"No, I left her a message this morning but she didn't call me back. Is everything all right?"

"Sure," he answered lightly. "Everything's fine."

"All right, well, have her call me." Chloe sounded doubtful. "Hey Clark, did she tell you about how that Tony guy was starting to act weird?"

Clark frowned as he tried to remember. "Um, she mentioned that he was a little put out when she canceled on him a few weeks ago, but that was it."

"Hmm. It's probably nothing, but he followed her the other day when she came by The Torch. She got him to leave, but she looked pretty angry."

Gritting his teeth, Clark forced himself to not get angry at the fact that Lois hadn't told him that Tony had been bothering her.

"Thanks Chloe. I'll keep an eye out for him."


"Where is she?"

Tony jumped at the sound of the front door to the club banging open. Smiling at his visitor, he walked toward him with a hand outstretched.

"I could have sworn that door was locked, but hey, come on in."

Clark's eyes narrowed as he advanced on the shorter man.

"I'm not playing games with you, Tony. Where is she?"

"And here I thought you came for Tea." Tony sighed and lifted both hands in surrender. "You'd be looking for Lois, right? Kind of a handful, isn't she?"

Clark noticed a small line of dried blood on the corner of Tony's mouth. Angry, he pushed him against the wall, holding him there with two hands against his chest.

Tony took the opportunity to lock eyes with his attacker. He found that he was unable to draw any image other than that of Lois from Clark's furious gaze. He was turning out to be just as worthy an opponent as Lois was. Tony decided to go on the offensive.

Clark suddenly released his hold on Tony, falling backwards as images flooded his mind.

He saw Lois, her head lifelessly resting against her shoulder, bound to a chair. Another image flashed and he saw Tony pointing a gun at her at close range. He saw her eyes and mouth go wide in horror as the trigger was pulled. Then, there was blood. Too much blood. And just as his stomach lurched in response to the sight, one last image swam into view. Lois in the chair. Lifeless, as her head dropped forward, her chin resting on her chest. Her shirt covered with blood.

Clark's jaw bulged as he fought the impulse to double over. Tony smiled in victory. The thoughts rolled from Clark in waves. Now that he was unfocused and grieving, Tony had free access to everything. He just needed to reestablish eye contact.

"What did you do?" Clark's voice broke as he tried to erase the images from his mind.

Tony inched toward the table and the silver briefcase that sat on top of it. With small movements of his fingers, he began mentally commanding the latches to unlock.

"Just taking care of a minor complication."

Suddenly, Tony found himself pinned against the wall once again, a forearm pressed against his windpipe. Tony was shocked – he hadn't seen Clark move.

Clark held himself in restraint. It wouldn't take much more than a little increased pressure to close Tony's throat forever.

Tony clawed at the arm pressed against his neck. His mind was reeling from the blast of images that he was receiving from a distraught Clark. It was overload. Numerous disjointed thoughts that didn't make sense flashed at an incomprehensible speed. There were a few strong ones that stood out from the rest. Pain. Rage. Sorrow. Regret. Blood.

"You had no right," Clark growled. "She was my…" His voice faltered. He didn't know what word to use.


tbc