Chapter 3: The Third Wheel

One week later

At the Daily Planet, Clark was riding a crowded elevator up to the newsroom. He'd been missing Lois since she took an uncharacteristic vacation last week. Since his return, they hadn't the opportunity to talk, and he could really use her company right now.

As he stepped out of the elevator, Clark was nearly trampled by the crowd passing before him. Another typical day at the office, he thought. But it wasn't. His co-workers were cheering, he dodged a cork shot from a champagne bottle as it whizzed past his head. Jimmy noticed him and waved a half-hearted hello.

"Ch-champagne, at 7 o'clock in the morning?" Clark asked.

"Uh, yeah. Well, you know, it's just one of those days I guess." Jimmy said nervously.

A man Clark vaguely recognized slapped him on the back and shoved a plastic wine glass into his hand. "It's a special occasion, Kent, the impossible has happened. Lois and Richard set a wedding date."

If Clark's jaw could drop to the floor, it would have at that moment. Jimmy bit his lip and avoided his gaze. He looked over at Perry's office where Richard and Lois were standing, their arms wrapped around each other, laughing. He knew that he had no right to be jealous. Even though he, as Superman, had essentially said goodbye to her the other night, letting go would be harder than he thought.

Five years ago, it was late into their relationship when Lois discovered the truth about Clark Kent. He always felt guilty about omitting that part of himself from her, but it was for the best. If Lois knew, he reasoned, and someone found out that she knew, what would happen to her? He already knew the answer to that question. That's why he couldn't ever let it happen again.

But, he had to admit, those few days they spent together, with the barriers completely down, were the most thrilling in his life. He felt complete, with the burden of his omission, he was careful not to use the word lie, no longer hanging between them. For the first time he felt as though there was a human being, other than his mother, in whom he could love and confide.

As Clark Kent in Metropolis, he never intended to pursue her. Just being near her each day was enough, to share her company, enjoy her conversation and take part in her laughter. Sometimes, he knew, his façade cracked and his feelings bled through. But everyone who saw it, even Lois, took it as a simple crush. He was uncertain if she could love the real him. In reality, Lois saw only the extremes, Superman the all-confident superhero, and Clark the bumbling, self-conscious reporter. He was both of those men, yet neither of them.

Clark's stare caught Lois' eye and she motioned for him to come on over to them. He looked at her, gesturing with his thumb towards himself, just to be sure. He moved slowly through the crowd to meet with her when Richard pulled him aside and wrapped his arm around him in a big hug.

"I'm so happy, man!" Richard cried. "This woman wants to marry me!" Clark tried not to suffocate in his giddy enthusiasm and, most importantly, not actually look like he felt.

"Con-congratulations." Clark muttered. He looked at Lois, who met his gaze briefly before turning away. He was rather hurt that Lois would display this grandiosity right in front of him when she knew that he had a crush on her. The old Lois Lane wouldn't have done that. It was just one more thing that had changed since his return.

"Okay guys, back to work! We have a newspaper to write," Perry White bellowed to his employees. As people moved back to their desks, he called Lois and Clark into his office.

"Guys, I've got a story for you. There's a huge scandal going on down at the jewelry store on Highland Street. A merchant purchased almost a million dollars worth of counterfeit gems. I want you to get down there and find out what's going on." Lois began to protest, but Perry silenced her.

"Clark, can you wait outside for a moment?" He left the room, immediately directing his super hearing to listen in on the conversation. It's funny how, since his return, listening in to conversations seemed to be the only way to understand anything going on around him.

"Lois," Perry said, "what's the problem?"

"I can handle this one on my own."

"Is it Clark? You two used to make a great team."

"That was five years ago!"

"Lois, Clark may sometimes act like he's from another planet, but he's a damned good reporter and he knows how to get a story. I thought you wrote some of your best articles with him. Your styles compliment each other nicely." Perry said.

"Did he suggest we work together?" Her words were laced with contempt.

"Look, this is a big story and you're going to need the extra legwork. I'm sure you can find a way to work with him again."

"Perry, he's been out of it for five years. You can't just hand him the big stories, he has to earn them!"

"And he hasn't? Have you forgotten that he's saved your ass on a number of occasions? And as I recall, once twice in the same day? Look, Lois, whatever it is, get over it! Now get the hell out of my sight!"

Lois stormed out the door. Despite all the commotion of the last two weeks, she knew Clark had been eager for her attention. Before he left, they had enjoyed a friendly, often competitive comradeship. She had seen beneath his outdated clothes and gawky behavior the heart of a gentle man. She enjoyed teasing him, offering him advice about women and personal style. But that was a long time ago. Before she knew who he really was.

"I g-guess it'll be just like old times, Lois. You and me, working together." Clark said.

"Yeah," she responded, distracted with her thoughts.

Some time later, down at the jewelry store, the owner was showing Lois and Clark the counterfeit gems.

"Well, they look real to me," Lois remarked. The owner, Mr. Reynolds, had displayed some of the gems for them to view. "Who sold them to you?"

"Hollings, Co., out of Gotham City. They're looking into where this particular batch came from. We estimate that we've sold at least $200,000 worth of these rocks to consumers already. My phone has been ringing all morning. You know I sell to the richest in the city, and they are angrier than all get out. If I can't get my money back on this shipment I could lose my business."

Clark stared down at the counterfeit rubies, taking note of their vibrant hue. Why was he suddenly feeling dizzy? He stepped outside for some fresh air.

"That's very interesting. Hey Clark," Lois turned around. He's gone again. She found him outside.

"What the hell are you doing? We've got a job to do." It was then that she noted his clammy skin and watery eyes. "Are you all right?" her voice full of genuine concern.

"I'm fine," he responded, unconvinced. Just at that moment, he caught a glimpse of a young woman, dressed in a floral print dress, getting into a taxicab. She looked awfully familiar.

Lois looked back inside the jewelry store, pondering a thought. Then, in a softer tone, "Look, why don't we take a break and get some lunch."

At Leo's, a small Italian eatery, Lois and Clark were seated at a table in the far corner of the room. Clark was feeling much better. He tried not to think about why or even what happened earlier, now that he had the full attention of the woman he loved. "Lois, I am so excited that we now have a chance to catch up. We've been so busy these last couple of weeks we haven't had a chance to…"

"Richard!" Lois warmly greeted as he walked up behind Clark. "I hope you don't mind Clark joining us, Perry has us out on assignment together."

"No problem! How are you doing, Clark?" They shook hands.

Clark sighed, this was getting ridiculous. Was she avoiding him? The couple quickly fell into discussion about their wedding. Caterer, flowers, food; it all made Clark's head swell. But finally, halfway through the meal, Richard had the decency to remember he was there and asked him about his trip.

As Clark spoke, his eyes lit up, but, he sadly noted, it was Richard asking the questions. Meanwhile, Lois sat listening to him weave a tale about Kenya and Italy, elephants and historical artifacts, and wondered how he managed to keep it all straight. Undoubtedly he had been to all those places, seen all those things, but she wasn't interested in any of it. She thought back to when he first came back to work, when Perry forced her to get the scoop on Superman's return and gave the blackout story to Clark. He said something about not wanting the incident to affect their relationship. He was so prone to exaggeration.

"So Clark," Lois interjected, "did you meet anyone special on your trip?"

Richard joined in, good-naturedly poking fun at him and saying, "Yeah, tell us all about her."

Clark stammered, unable to the find words that so often eluded him. "Well I, uh…"

Lois suddenly laughed, loudly. "Oh please, Richard. Look who we're talking about! A self-conscious man who can't say two words without tripping over himself. What could any woman possibly see in such a thing?" She excused herself from the table.

Now it was just the two men, alone. Clark's face bore a mixture of hurt and shock. It was Richard who broke the awkward silence as a slight color rose in his cheeks. "I'm sorry, Clark. She's been under a lot of stress lately."

Clark nodded, feeling irritated and grateful at the same time for being saved by this man he was trying so hard to hate. He sighed. He considered the idea of following her to see if she was all right, but something on Richard's face told him it would be a bad idea.

Richard made small talk for the remainder of the meal. All the while he spoke, images of him and Lois together flashed in Clark's mind. This was the man sharing his love's bed each night. He was the man raising his son as his own. As Superman he undoubtedly was the object of others misguided jealousy, but he wondered how he was going to handle it the other way around.

On the taxi ride back to the Daily Planet, Richard and Lois talked non-stop. Clark stared out the window. His mother, and his father before her, had told him that he would never be alone. But he felt alone. Worse than losing Lois Lane as a lover was losing her as a friend. He had damaged his relationship with her and wasn't even sure how.

As the taxi pulled in front of the Daily Planet, he made eye contact with a young woman standing on the steps. No, it couldn't be! Looking straight at him was Lana Lang.

TO BE CONTINUED