Disclaimer: I Own Nothing

Author's Notes: I don't like the character of Rachel Dawes. So what I did was remove her from Bruce's present life and integrated Lois in it. Follow me?

Chapter 2 – Junction

Metropolis, 2009

After four years of traveling the world, Clark Kent was glad to see the familiar sights of the big city. Smallville will always be his home, but there was something inextricably alluring about Metropolis that he couldn't stay completely away.

Before heading to his early morning meeting, he made a quick stop to Pearl Vision to grab a pair of no-prescription eye glasses. He's grown quite accustomed to them after being given a pair in Italy when he was window shopping through various flea markets.

Clark reached into his inner jacket pocket for his cell phone. Flipping it open with one hand, he dialed a familiar set of numbers before putting it to his ears.

"Hey mom," he greeted with a smile.

"Sweetie, where are you?"

"I'm in Metropolis"

"When did you get back?"

"Just a few hours ago," Clark answers. He began walking along the sidewalk to his meeting. "I'm getting ready for my interview with Mr. White"

Click. "Son?" another voice joined in the line.

"Hey dad, I was just telling mom about my interview this morning"

"I heard about that son, good luck," Jonathan says proudly. "I know you'll make us proud."

"Thanks dad." Clark used his free hand to grab some spare change to get a copy of the day's edition of The Daily Planet. "I'm a little nervous though"

"You'll be fine, Clark." Mother's always knows best.

Speed reading through the newspaper, he saw a familiar name on the byline.

Thud! His cell fell from his grasp.

"Clark? Clark you there?" Both Kent's called out into the line.

Clark clumsily picks it up while still reading the article. "Sorry…" he apologized sheepishly. "I got a bit distracted." It was the truth.

"I always knew the city was a crazy place," comments Jonathan.

Martha laughs. "You just be careful, okay Clark?"

"I will mom, I promise." Clark gulped once he finished the article. So much has changed in four years, particular with one Lois Lane.

After she left, it was like the final nail in the coffin that made him finally decide to leave Smallville too. And just when he thought she could never surprise him, she goes out into the world herself and becomes someone he never imagined she could be.

Sophisticated… Goal-oriented… A journalist.

When he called Chloe last year, he was thrilled that she and her older cousin have mended their relationship. Clark felt guilty for his part in that, even to this day he still did.

And now…

In a matter of minutes, he'll be making his way into The Daily Planet lobby and onto the busiest floor, where Editor-in-chief Perry White will be interviewing him for a job. A job in the same place where Lois is working at, and quite possibly, the same floor.

This is going to be hard.

Twenty Minutes Later, Daily Planet

"Well I'll be." Perry White stood up from his desk and approached Clark with a firm handshake and an excess amount of energy. "Welcome home, my boy!"

Clark smiled graciously at his hospitality. "Thank you, Mr. White," he replied politely, pushing his thick black framed glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

"Psst." Perry scoffed. "What's this entire 'mister' for? Call me chief."

Clark dutifully nodded. "Right… Chief." Clark sat in his chair as Perry sat down himself. Clark made sure to take a deep breath. "I just want to say that I really appreciate you taking the time for giving me this opportunity"

Perry leaned back on the comfort of his chair. "Wasn't a hard decision, Kent." He pulled a drawer open, removing a manila folder and tossed it to Clark's direction.

Clark opened it and is astonished by the contents. It contained majority of his articles during his trek across the globe.

"How'd you find all these?" the young man says in awe.

Perry gave a satisfying grin. "What? You don't think I became editor for the Daily Planet off some Cracker Jack box did you?"

"No, I don't mean…"

"Take it easy Kent; I make it my business to know who's who out there. I would've tracked you down sooner, but you never stay at one place long enough for me to make the offer, and frankly, the expenses were getting to be a little too much." Perry gives an even bigger grin. "So I figured once you make it back to the states, a resume from you to our HR department would soon follow"

Clark was extremely flattered. He hadn't realized Perry White went through all that trouble. "You were that confident that I would go straight here?"

"Ninety percent of most aspiring journalists do," the editor replied proudly. "I included"

Clark was a loss for words. "I don't know what to say."

Perry leans over his desk. "You continue to give quality work like this." He points to his folder. "And you're more than welcome to work here"

"I won't let you down," Clark says, the feeling of exhilaration coursing through his veins.

"See to it that you don't." Perry takes his folder and shoves it back into his drawer. "One other thing, I'm putting you together with our finest reporter"

"Really?" Clark is continuously floored. "You're going to let me work in the City Beat section?" He hoped that was it, because he could barely contain his excitement.

"Why not?" Perry justified. "You've had experience, I want it put to use in this city." He looks pass him. "JIMMY!" he screamed, and with Clark's hearing always on full alert, he achingly heard him.

A young man suddenly appeared. "Yeah, Chief"

"Olsen, this is Clark Kent, he'll be working with Lane in the city beat section. Get his desk ready," he ordered.

"Sure thing, boss." Olsen moved to Clark's direction, offering him a hand. "Nice to meet you, C.K." Clark absentmindedly shook his hand and the kid went on his merry way.

"Uh-huh…" Perry's words still resounding in his ear. Lane. As in Lois Lane. He looked back to Perry and saw that he was already back to his office. Clark quickly races back to him.

"Uh… Mister… I mean Chief?"

Already sitting at his desk, sifting through various stories, Perry didn't look up. "What is it, Kent?"

"When you said I'll be working with Lane… It wouldn't happen to be…"

"Lois Lane," Perry finished, confirming Clark's fears. "She went to meet with a source this morning, she should be back soon. She's a handful, Kent but I have a feeling you'll be able to handle her"

Clark swallowed hard. He hasn't seen her in four years, and even though she and Chloe are back to being friends and family, he still didn't know where he ranked in her good graces, or if he was even in the list.

"I don't think…"

"What Kent? Cold feet already?" Perry shot him a bewildered yet aggravated look. "What's got you all tongue-tied all of the sudden? Lane's an excellent reporter with an eye for finding a worthy story. You'll learn a lot from her"

"It's just…" He paused, contemplating how much he should reveal to his new editor.

"Out with it, Kent, I don't have time for twenty questions"

Before he can answer… "CHIEF!" The oh-so-familiar voice rang out clear through his office. "WHAT IS THIS ABOUT A PARTNER?" She stopped right at Perry's door when she saw the other person occupying her editor's office.

It's been so long that Clark was breathless and nervous at the sight of Lois Lane in front of him. "Hi Lois," he greets meekly.

Lois looked him up and down. Gone was the red checkered plaid and blue jeans. Beneath his black blazer, he wore a white collared buttoned up dress shirt and a goldish tie that was slightly askew.

Lois quickly turned her attention to Perry White. "What's this all about, chief?"

"Lane, I want you to meet your new partner," he gestured to Clark's direction.

Lois laughed at his joke, but when she noticed he didn't look at all joking in return, her face turned into a frown. "Tell me you're kidding"

Perry shook his head. "Now, Lois, is that any way to treat a new employee"

"Oh, this is NOT going to happen, Chief." She moved further into his office, the door closing behind her. Clark on the other hand seemed content to blend into the wall and disappear.

"Lois!" The older man pointed authoritavely in her direction. "You're the best. We all know you're the best. The world knows you're the best." Perry pulled on Clark's sleeve, placing the man next to him, and right in front of Lois dangerous sight. "Kent here has talent and I want him learning from the best"

Clark didn't know what to say at this point, or anything. He was just too overwhelmed to comprehend everything that's happening that not even his quick abilities of a response would suffice.

"Ugh!" she grumbled and Clark couldn't help but find it cute. Clark quickly shut his eyes, mentally chastising himself for thinking too optimistically.

Clark attempts to compensate. "Look, I don't have to…"

"Quite Kent!" they both exclaim.

Clark took a step back; he could already tell that Perry White and Lois had a mentor-student relationship just by seeing how easily the two acted around one another.

After several minutes of arguing, Lois gives in much to Clark's surprise. Lois isn't the type of person to give in, but considering the man is her boss, mentor and well, boss, this was noticeably an exception.

Lois left Perry… Chiefs, as he likes to be called, out of the office and Clark nervously trailed behind. "Lois… Look… I didn't realize…" He stopped, dropping his things on the ground when Lois halted abruptly.

Clark sinks to the ground, picking his things up awkwardly. After a moment, Lois joined him and Clark is momentarily surprised by her gesture. He should've known, it's not in Lois's character to be vindictive.

"Thanks," he uttered softly.

Clark heard her breath deeply. He saw her eyes looking to him then to the floor, then back to him and he seriously wondered why she was doing that. Did he have food on his face or something?

"God!" she suddenly exclaimed, pulling him in and adjusting his tie. "Four years later and you still have a problem with hand-eye coordination."

Recalling the memory, Clark grins. "I never did know what to do without you," he found himself responding. The closeness was inviting and he made no move to pull away.

Lois's face remained passive and she let's him go as soon as she was finished fixing his tie. "Jimmy!" she called out.

"Yeah Miss Lane," a young man appeared carrying a stack of papers. "Oh hey, C.K. Got your desk ready, its right in front of Miss Lane's here."

Lois grumbled even more, and Clark feels even worse for putting her in such a position.

She continued her focus towards Jimmy. "I received a tip from a source that there's a new player in town. I don't know much except that they're foreign. I need you to go back the last month and cross-check every foreign businessmen, both reputable and not and find me a clue"

"Got it Miss Lane"

"Jimmy!" she scoffs. "How many times do I have to tell you to call me Lois?"

"Sorry Miss… err… Lois," he responds weak-kneed. Clark found the interaction between the inexperienced boy and the very experienced Lane quite adorable. "I'll be right on it, Lois," he finished before disappearing with his stacks of paper.

"Thank you," she nodded to herself, satisfied.

"He has a crush on you," Clark observed a little too loudly.

Lois spun around to look at him. "What?"

Clark immediately regretted saying anything. "Jimmy… Olsen… he has a crush on you"

She looked at him like he was crazy. "That's ridiculous; he's like my kid brother." She walked around him and sat at her desk, jiggling her wireless mouse around to open her screen.

Sitting down at his, "Operative word like and not is," he argued, and Clark didn't even understand why he kept pressing. He mused at the dramatic irony of the situation. Nearly five years ago he claimed he couldn't stand her, but once she left, he found himself missing her company more and more.

The saying 'You don't know what you've had until you don't have it anymore' resonated throughout Clark's mind ever since.

Until now…

"I see your humor is in tact and operational." She says, clearly avoiding his reaction. Lois looks up and noticed someone else familiar walk into the newsroom.

Smiling brightly like Clark had never seen before, he turns to see what she was looking at. All he saw was an older gentleman, standing erect right by the elevators. He had an air of sophistication around him. When he saw Lois approach him, his serene face broke into a wide smile.

"Hello, Miss Lane," he greeted politely and in a British accent.

"Alfred!" Lois hugged him like he was family. "What brings you here, to Metropolis nonetheless?"

Alfred eyes her with secrecy, and Lois noted it immediately by nodding her head accordingly. "Ah, I see"

"Shall I fetch your bags, Miss Lane?"

"I have a feeling that isn't necessary," she grinned.

Alfred chuckles. "Well, you know me, Miss Lane; I like to cover all bases as best as I can"

Lois smiled at Alfred's constant enthusiasm. "I'll be right down, Alfred."

As he left, Lois walks back to her desk and grabbed her purse.

"Look, Smallville, I gotta go." She flew past him faster than he could blink.

"Huh… What?" Clark turned to see her already halfway to the elevator. "And I thought I was fast," he mumbled quietly to himself before getting up and following her.

Daily Planet Lobby

"Lois, where are you headed?" Clark asks as he follows her like a puppy, down the elevator and through the lobby.

"I have to take care of something first. Work with Jimmy, he'll tell you where to start"

"You're my partner, remember?" Clark was exasperated.

Exiting the revolving doors of the Daily Planet, she turned to Clark's direction. "Listen," she tells him in a clear leveled voice. "I'm not going off to scoop some story, all right. It's a personal matter, so please, drop it and do as I say"

Clark always finds himself doing what she says, and to this day, he doesn't fully understand why.

"When will you get back?"

"Tomorrow night," answers Lois.

"You're going be gone that long. Lois, where are you going?" he nagged restlessly.

In that moment, a Rolls Royce parks right in front of the curb. The British man from a few minutes ago exits the driver's seat, moving around to open the side door in the rear. He bows his head to Lois's direction.

"Miss Lane"

Lois moves pass Clark and greets the older gentleman. "Thanks Alfred." She takes one more glance back at Clark. "Bye, Clark"

Once again, she disappeared from his life… albeit this time only for a couple of days. Clark had to take a moment and deeply breathe in. He's as confused about her now as he was back when she lived with him and his family in Smallville.

In-Flight to Gotham City

"Are you coming back to Gotham for long, sir?"

"As long as it takes to show the people of Gotham that their city doesn't belong to the criminals and the corrupt," he answers truthfully.

"A little dramatic, don't you think?" Lois appeared behind the curtains. She took the liberty of playing co-pilot and waited for the best possible moment to let her presence known. Bruce looks at her for the first time since they parted with a flabbergasted then amused look which was soon followed by a serious expression.

"Sometimes, people need dramatic examples to shake them out of apathy and I can't do that as Bruce Wayne. As a man, I'm flesh and blood, I can be destroyed." He pauses then continues. "But as a symbol… I can be incorruptible, everlasting…" he describes.

"A vigilante," Lois added, using what the past few years of being an investigative reporter has taught her.

Bruce thought the contrary. "I'm not advocating to take the law into my own hands, nor am I using it to my own gratification"

"So how exactly are you going to accomplish this?" Lois says sternly. Alfred sat back and enjoyed the entertainment.

"Have you told anyone I'm coming back?" Bruce asks the both of them.

Lois shifted uncomfortably in her chair, looking like a little girl who was caught with her hand in the cookie jar, and Alfred started looking hesitant.

"What?" Bruce says flatly.

"I'm afraid I've yet to resolve the legal ramifications of raising you from the dead, sir," answers Alfred in a suddenly amused manner. Lois couldn't help but chuckle at the revelation. She knew he wasn't dead and even fought Wayne Enterprises current CEO Mr. Earle about it, but she could only go so far.

"Dead?" says Bruce wide-eyed.

"You've been gone a long time, sir." Both can hear Lois laughing in the background.

"You had me pronounced dead?" Bruce continued on in the same line of thought. Bruce leaned back, a smug smile forming on his face. "It's a good thing I left everything in your name"

Alfred rested both his hands behind his head, leaning back even more comfortable than before. "Yes… please be sure to fill the tank after using the Royce, Master Bruce"

Kent Farm, Smallville

Clark flew home and collapsed disappointingly on the living room couch, hiding his face between his hands wondering how wrong everything has become. He had spent the entire morning preparing excitedly for the interview at the Daily Planet, and when he learned that he was working directly alongside Lois Lane of all people, memories and regrets of the past resurfaced giving him little time to breathe.

The lights flickered on.

"Son?"

Clark barely looked up, but when he finally did, he greeted his father with a tired expression.

"Hey dad"

Jonathan quickly made his way by his son's side. "What's wrong? Is everything okay?" he asks in fatherly concern.

"Define okay…"

"What happened?"

"Where's mom?"

"Working late at the Talon. Don't change the subject and tell me what happened?"

"I saw Lois today"

Jonathan opened his mouth and closed it, no words coming out. Jonathan read the Daily Planet newspaper everyday, so when he first saw Lois's name in the byline of the front page of the renowned paper, he was shocked and proud beyond belief. He and Martha had kept a scrapbook of all her articles just as they do their son's.

"How did that go?" Jonathan asks carefully.

"It was a disaster"

The older Kent chuckled. "It couldn't have been that bad"

"Oh it was," Clark assured without hesitation. "She hates me"

"Lois doesn't hate you"

"No," Clark repeated, not believe believing him. "She despises me"

"How much have you two discussed?"

"See, that's the thing, we barely did and I'm her partner"

Jonathan was taken aback. "Wait… What? Her partner? Not only do you two work together, but youwork together?" Clark nodded his response to his father weakly. Jonathan leaned back and sighed in amazement. "I knew she worked at the Planet, but partners?"

Clark stares at his father in his own disbelief.

"You and mom knew she worked there and you didn't tell me?"

"We didn't have the chance?" Jonathan defended himself. "We just found out you were interviewing there when you called this morning, and you hung up before we got the chance to tell you"

Clark got up even more frustrated than before. "I can't believe this," he uttered to himself.

"Clark…"

"Dad!" he turns to him, his face flushed with sadness. "I don't know what to do. I want to get to know her again and be in her life, but I can't do that when it's pretty clear she wants nothing to do with me"

Jonathan reached out and put a comforting hand to his shoulder. "Have you told Lois this?"

"Do I have a right to?" he asks skeptically. "After what I said, I'm beginning to believe whatever friendship we had back then is irreversible"

"Well, then you're right," Jonathan answers uncharacteristically.

Clark gives him a disappointed look. "Not exactly what I expected to hear from you, dad"

Jonathan chuckles. No matter how much his son has grown, there is still much for him to learn.

"What I meant was that you don't have the right to take back what you lost with her four years ago…" Jonathan continued to look at his son with care and wisdom. "But its okay to try to build a friendship with her now and you can't do that if you keep moving backwards."

His father always had to make better sense than he did.

Clark stood up with a renewed sense of purpose. Jonathan temporarily wonders what he was doing.

"Where are you going, son?"

"I'm gonna head back to Metropolis and wait for Lois. I'll sit outside her apartment in the hallway if I have to"

Jonathan raised both eyebrows. "And then what?"

"I figured begging and pleading for her forgiveness would be a good start"

His father gives a low laugh. "Well, if you're going to do that, why don't you take some of your mother's apple pie? It's Lois's favorite"

Clark smiled, beaming at the idea. If that didn't work, he didn't know what will.

To be continued…