(10/14)
Chloe opened her eyes and blinked sleepily. She definitely wasn't used to waking up beside anyone, but she decided she wouldn't mind getting used to it.
Clark was thoroughly male, despite being from another planet, and that included passing out not too long after they were both spent. She didn't really mind since she was worn out, too. A quick shift of her legs told her she was going to be very sore, but she didn't care.
Chloe Sullivan was no longer dead to the whole world. She still couldn't believe that Clark was with her and felt the same way she did. It would be easy to dwell on the past and all the years they lost, but she was content to focus on the present, and, hopefully, the future.
She sat up carefully, wrapping the sheet around herself, and watched him sleep. He had never looked more peaceful or more beautiful in her eyes.
Looking at the clock, she saw it was already seven-thirty, and she had an early meeting with the Chief. She had told him she had a big story brewing about Superman and he wanted to see her first thing in the morning.
"Crap," she muttered to herself as she let the sheet fall and climbed out of bed. Clark caught her hand at the last second.
"Where're you going?" he mumbled almost incoherently.
She laughed. "Work, Clark. Remember that?"
"Uh uh," he said stubbornly, tugging at her fingers.
"I have a meeting with Mr. White in exactly thirty minutes. Are you gonna let me go or get me in trouble?"
He pulled her down close enough to kiss her. "I've always liked trouble myself," he said as his lips began an assault on her neck.
She rolled her eyes even as she wanted to forget about the outside world and call in sick for the next week. "I know you do. But these days I'm actually trying to stay out of it. You're not helping."
"I don't really feel like being helpful," he said as he sat up and wrapped his arms around her. His strong hands running up and down her back were making her crazy, but she couldn't afford to give in.
"I have to go, Clark. I'm going to be late as it is."
"Do you want me to take you?" he said with a grin.
"I think the experimental transportation can wait for another time. I'll get there myself." She kissed him thoroughly and slipped out of his grasp as he was distracted.
At his disappointed look she said, "I told you I have to go."
"Fine. I'll see you at work."
"Yes, and don't forget you're the only one who knows who I really am." She had to be sure he remembered that. "You have to remember to call me Lois unless we're alone."
"I won't forget," he assured her.
"I know, but we have to be careful."
He nodded as she headed for the shower.
When she came back into the bedroom, Clark had his jeans on and was trying to find his shirt.
"Other side of the bed," she said as she grabbed her purse.
"Right," he said, finding it and putting it on.
He kissed her quickly and reluctantly sent her on her way. "I love you, Chloe," he said, knowing it was the last time they could be themselves for the day.
"I love you, too. I'll see you tonight, Clark," she said and hurried out the door.
Five minutes after Chloe left, Clark heard a scream that could only be her. By the time he sped to the point of origin, there was no one there and, as hard as he tried, he could no longer hear her.
What had happened between the front door of her building and two blocks away from the Planet?
He went to the Planet offices to see if she had made it there. He checked her office first, then went to Mr. White's to see if she was there. His secretary wasn't in yet, so he knocked directly on the office door.
"Come in!" Mr. White bellowed.
Clark entered and looked around.
"You're not Lane," his boss pointed out.
"No. She's not here?" Clark asked nervously.
"No, not yet. She's got two minutes to be on time for our meeting."
"I don't think she's going to be on time," Clark said.
"What does that mean, Kent? And why do you look like hell, son?"
In his haste he had completely forgotten his rumpled appearance. "I - uh, Lois asked me to meet her this morning before she came down here. Something about a big story -"
"Same thing she told me," Mr. White interrupted.
"But when I got to her apartment, there was no one there," he lied. "So I started out in this general direction and I heard a scream. By the time I got there, whoever it was had vanished."
Mr. White frowned. "Do you think something happened to her, Kent?"
"I'm afraid it might have, sir." He couldn't figure out how everything had happened too fast for him.
"You better hoof it down to the police station, then. Report back here in an hour and I'll call down to the station if she turns up."
"Yes, sir," Clark said uncertainly.
As he left the newspaper offices it felt like a boulder was settling in his stomach. He wasn't going to lose her again and whoever had her was going to be sorry once he was finished with them.
TBC