Chapter 7

After hours of discussing and analyzing all the possibilities, they were still nowhere near a plan.

"We had already spent a lot of time thinking about this before you two found out about it. I don't think there's much we can do if we don't have a lead." Lana finally said out loud what they all had been thinking.

Clark wished he could tell them what he knew about the drawings and the symbols, but he had to keep quiet.

"Let's just take a break and cool our heads for a while." Chloe said.

"I'll get us something to eat." said Lois getting up.

"I'll help you." Clark volunteered.

"You're offering help? Wow, I don't know who you were with those last couple of months, but they sure have taught you manners" Lois said, feigning shock.

"Okay, I'm sitting down again."

"Hey, you're not backing out now!" Lois said, grabbing his arm and leading him towards the counter.

"They seem happy, don't they?" Lana asked. "I mean, it's been a while since I've seen Lois smile, and Clark... I really don't remember him being that relaxed before she came along." She still wasn't over Clark. She knew there was a part of her that would never stop loving him, but she had already started to realize that maybe they weren't the one for each other. She remembered how good Jason made her feel when they first started dating, how it had felt nice to just love someone and be happy, without all the baggage and all the angst. Looking at Clark and Lois laughing on the counter made her think how much Clark seemed comfortable around her, like he was finally being himself. She knew he hadn't realized it yet, but she was happy that he was on his way towards happiness.

Chloe wasn't over Clark either. But she had gotten used to the idea that she and Clark weren't meant to be a long time ago. Of course it still hurt to see him with someone else, but as a friend she really wanted him to be happy. And Lois... She had never seen Lois open up to anyone and she seemed to be finally opening up to Clark. Chloe knew Lois' fake smiles, the ones she usually put on so that everyone would know she was okay, but looking at her and Clark on the counter like Lana had done, she knew that smile wasn't one of them. Lois was the sister she never had, she would do anything to make her happy. And if "anything" meant finally letting go of Clark Kent, she would have to find a way to do that.

"Clark Kent and Lois Lane. Kind of has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" Chloe said and they both started giggling.

"What's so funny?" Clark asked, sitting down.

"Nothing." Chloe said. "We were just… " But she didn't have time to finish what she was going to say. They all heard a loud noise coming from the back alley.

"Stay here, I'll go see what it is." Clark started to say, but Lois was already standing up.

"Lois, this can be dangerous."

"So you shouldn't go alone."

"Lo, stay here. Clark can take care of himself" Chloe said, looking at Clark.

"We can stay here and argue or we can go see what made the noise. I'm not going to just sit here."

Seeing it would be worse to continue trying to convince her, he just told her to stay behind him. Lana and Chloe followed.

Opening the back door, Clark didn't see anything unusual. When he stepped outside to get a closer look, something jumped at him and before he had time to react he felt all his strength draining and he fell to his knees. The monster Lana had described was standing in front of him holding a piece of kryptonite.

Without even thinking, Lois went straight for the monster, punching him, but getting hit back hard in return, making the monster drop the piece of rock he was holding, which Chloe quickly grabbed and went inside the Talon to take it away from Clark.

Starting to feel better, Clark got to his feet, but the monster had gone. He saw Lois on the ground and ran to her side. She had a really nasty cut on her arm and was losing a lot of blood. Clark took her in his arms and they all got into Chloe's car, with Lana on the passenger's seat next to Chloe, and Clark on the backseat, holding Lois and trying to convince her, as much as himself, that she would be okay.

To be continued