An: This is just a short little update. The next chapter will be longer I promise. I just didn't want to start writing about Clark coming home to Smallville in this chapter.
Smoke. Lots of smoke. Lois struggled against the rope. It was no use. Her vision started to go blurry. 'You're not gonna die here Lane.' The door burst open. "Get out of here now!" shouted a familiar voice. A tall figure approached her. Her vision was too blurry to make out who it was 'Clark?' "You're gonna be okay Lois!"
"Lois!" Lois opened her eyes. She was lying in a hospital bed. Across her sat her very nervous looking cousin. "You're awake! How do you feel cuz?" Lois coughed.
"Like I just smoked two million cigarettes."
"Do you remember what happened to you?"
"That fat bastard Rupert Thorne kidnapped me and then tried to burn me alive. How did I get out?"
"Some masked hero saved you Lois. He was working with Batman."
"Weird. I remember somebody... I thought it was Clark Chloe." Chloe smiled at her cousin. 'Chances are, it probably was cuz.' Chloe had been reading the stories in the Gotham Herald about the warehouse incident. They all said that a masked man dropped out of the sky with Lois in his arms and then flew off. Since she didn't know anybody else that could fly she assumed it was Clark. The door to the hospital room opened.
"How you feeling Lois?" Bruce Wayne entered carrying a bouquet of flowers.
"Oh you know it just wouldn't be a complete month for me without somebody trying to kill me."
"Well gotta admire your humor."
"It keeps me from going nuts being trapped in a hospital until I'm cleared to leave. Chloe we are SO getting a paid vacation for this trip."
"I agree with you there."
"Well I just wanted to stop by and wish you girls well on your trip back home. Chloe I had a really good time with you the other day. Next time you're in Gotham please call me."
"Will do Bruce." Chloe beamed. Bruce left and Lois shot her a look. "What?"
Clark stood on top of the Wayne Enterprises building, admiring the city of Gotham. It really was a nice city that was improving with every month that Bruce Wayne lived there. He pulled out his notebook and put a check next to "save Gotham city." Clark decided to pay his friend Bruce one last visit before he went home.
Clark landed gently on the front steps of Wayne manor and rang the bell. The huge double doors opened and Clark was greeted by the cheerful english butler Alfred. "Ah Mr. Kent so good of you to drop by. Quite the hero I understand."
"Clark! What are you doing here!" Bruce walked out of his study and shouted with genuine happiness to see his new friend.
"I thought I'd stop by one more time to thank you for your help and your hospitality before I leave Bruce."
"Anytime Clark. If you ever need help with anything just give me a call."
"The same to you Bruce." The men smiled at each other.
"Hey you play pool much?"
"Prepared to get your ass kicked Wayne. I'm a regular shark." The men walked off to Bruce's game room.
One day later
"Lane! Sullivan! Glad to see both of you AND in one piece I might add!" Perry White practically shouted at the two as they stepped off an elevator.
"Hey Perry. Here are your stories." Chloe said as she handed Perry several articles detailing various events that took place during their trip.
"Hey Perry, do you see what I'm doing?" Lois asked as she pulled out her cell phone and shut it off. "One month off Perry. We're going to the Bahamas."
"But Lois!" Perry started to protest.
"Perry!" shouted Chloe. The man backed down.
"Well you two have certainly earned it. Lois I'm a little concerned of your knack for finding trouble. I think I'm going to assign you a partner."
"A partner! I don't need a partner Perry!"
"You want one month off you get a partner! That's the deal! In fact I have an interview in five minutes with somebody."
"Fine..." groaned Lois. "C'mon Chloe lets go home!" The two turned around and climbed into an elevator. As the doors of their elevator shut the doors of another one opened and Clark stepped into the Daily Planet newsroom.
"The Clark Kent!" shouted Perry. "Its good to see you kid! Its been years! Come on follow me to my office!" Clark followed the short loud man as he got stares from other reporters all over the newsroom. He wasn't surprised. He had written some of the most famous articles in the past six years. "So Clark! I never thought you'd give up the freelance life to get a job with me!"
"Well I figured it was about time. Besides I think Metropolis has plenty of stories for someone like me."
"Well you don't even have to ask! You've got yourself a job mister."
"Good. Listen Perry I'm just gonna need some time off to get settled in okay?" Perry groaned.
"Oh man its gonna be so slow around here with out my top reporters." Clark smiled.
"I think I have something to tide you over Perry." Clark pulled out his Batman interview and tossed it on Perry's desk.
"How the hell did you get this!" He shouted. Clark just smiled at him.
"I'll start in a month Perry." The man just nodded as Clark walked out of his office and climbed into an elevator. As the doors shut Clark heard shouting.
"Okay people get moving! Get moving! We've got several major stories! Lets get them ready for print!"
"Hey Chloe you get the tickets ready and start packing. I'm going to Smallville to visit Martha for the night. I'll be back tomorrow."
"Ok cuz!" Chloe shouted and then went back to the conversation she was having on the phone. Lois smiled and headed to her car.
