Ooo! I can't wait to find out what happens in this chapter! Sees the readers giving her strange looks What? I know nothing more about what's going to happen than you do, Dear Reader. An author is just a glorified reader. Grins. A platitude worthy of Jonathan himself :)

DISCLAIMER: So there was this guy, and he turns to this girl, and he says, "She so doesn't own it, dude."

Chapter Four

Lex stared at Clark for a moment, trying to think of what Clark meant.

"Her?" Realization dawned. "Her? Are you sure?"

Clark gave a tiny nod, like a little boy confirming to his mother that the nightmare had been about zombies jumping out of his bedroom walls. His whole body was as tense as a rubber band stretched nearly to the breaking point, as he tried not to tremble. Memories drowned him, and he felt the sudden urge to grab a blanket and hide under his bed, like he had done during thunder storms when he was little.

For his part, Lex's head was spinning. His seemingly invincible friend was scared stiff. His seemingly invincible friend who had become Superman. The Man of Steel was currently sitting curled into the side of a billionaire who'd been his best friend since high school, trying to make himself invisible.

All to suit the whims of some crazy chick.

Now Lex was shaking, and it wasn't in fear.

The last thing Clark needs right now is anger. I have to re-establish his sense of safety, Lex thought. "Clark."

The man was staring at an inconspicuous spot on the wall, lost in unwelcome thoughts. Gently, Lex shook him out of his trance, watched the relief flicker in blue eyes for a moment. "Clark, you are safe here. She has to get through me first, and kryptonite can't hurt me."

Clark nodded, but the words didn't get through to him. He buried his face in Lex's neck, trying to hide from the evils that had, without warning, decided to prey upon his life. Lex granted him that. He wrapped his arms around the younger man, whispered soothingly to him.

Five minutes wasn't enough to calm him down as much as Lex wanted, but he let go anyway. He noticed the rejection in Clark's eyes. "I need to call the building security, and the police."

Clark visibly relaxed. Of course. Lex will make sure we're as safe as possible.

The young billionaire's thoughts were a bit less optimistic. Long years of practice at hiding his emotions ensured that none of his worry leaked into his outward behavior, but his mind was hectic. What if I'm already too late? She may have been in another part of this building, for all I know. She might have goons with her. Since she knows Superman's identity she must know we're constantly together. Obviously she'll have kryptonite with her.

Cellphone in hand, Lex got up and began to pace as he waited for rent-a-cops to pick up the phone. Finally, he got building security, and warned them. Then he called the cops. Settling down at the promise of officers coming to his apartment, he moved back to Clark's side. Clark was trying to focus on the football game on TV, but from the fact that he was still shaking, Lex ascertained that he was still scared. I don't blame him, he thought with a mental snort. I would be too. All I have to do is think of Desiree but worse. With kryptonite and without the pheromones that made me willing.

"The cops are coming, Clark. It'll be okay." He knew it. Nothing was going to hurt his friend, he'd make sure of it.

Clark looked up at him, for all the world looking like a lost puppy that had been kicked one too many times. Without a second thought Lex reached down to hug him. Before his hand reached Clark though, a loud bang interrupted them. Between that, and the loud snickers and chuckles from that direction, Clark and Lex's attention was drawn to the source of the noise: the door.

Several muscular, tattoo-laden thugs stood in the doorway, obviously smug about something. The shortest of the group was smirking and cracking his knuckles, but neither Lex nor Clark paid much attention to the spectacle these goons made in the posh apartment. No, what drew their attention was the petite, curvy figure in front of them, even more out of place among the thugs, than the thugs in the apartment.

It was her.

Grins. I know I'm evil. Muwahahahaha!

You want to know who she is. The one with the guts to torment Superman.

Grins ultra-evilly. You're going to have to review, then, aren't you? I don't typically do this, but I'm holding this information hostage. My demands, in exchange for the hostage: a minimum of three reviews, and a bowl of cereal. I haven't slept all night, and I'm starved. Dinner was hours ago. Lol!