From This Moment On –Chapter IV
Notes: Here it is! It turned out so big that I had to split it into chapter four and five. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not
own Superman, though I wish I did.
Superman easily found the small boy who he had heard screaming for help. Just down river were the docks for the large cargo ships that came in and out from all over the world. Somehow the boy had gotten trapped on top of one of the containers that were stacked about fifty feet high. Superman flew to the top and quickly snatched him before another container could be placed on top of him. Once on land, the boy finally stopped crying and Superman checked to see if he was okay.
"Are you alright?" Superman asked.
The boy nodded and sniffled, "You—You are Sup—Superman?"
"Yes, I am. How did get up there?"
He looked down at the ground as if he were in trouble, "My daddy will be very angry. He-he told me to never play on the docks and to st-stay in the office." The boy wiped his nose on his sleeve.
"Yes, you shouldn't have been playing where you know it is dangerous. Fortunately, you have learned that lesson without paying for it. Do you know where your father is?"
The boy said no and then led them to the office so they could ask. Superman knew that the boy was very lucky to have survived since it was impossible to hear anyone over the noise of the huge cranes that moved the containers onto the ships. Ports as busy as Metropolis had shifts around the clock, even in the dead of the night hundreds of people were busy loading and unloading ships.
The office was a small metro trailer a good distance away from the dock. Because it was the graveyard shift, just the shift supervisors were present. Superman told the shift manager what had happened and asked if they could call the boy's father to the office. They were more than willing to help and it wasn't long until the father burst into the office.
"John! Are you alright?" The father grabbed the boy and hugged him fiercely.
"I'm sorry, daddy," the boy told his father, "I know I shouldn't have been playing on the docks. I won't do it ever again."
The father nodded, "I'm just glad you are okay." He looked up at Superman, who had been standing silently beside them. The man shook Superman's hand, "I cannot thank you enough for saving my son."
"No thanks necessary. I'm sure you have your reasons for keeping your son here at work with you; however, I'm also sure that you understand what can happen to a child in a place like this. Perhaps a baby sitter would be a better option."
"Yes, you are right. I'm going through a divorce and I haven't been able to find anyone to watch him during the night. I'm hoping that my request for day shifts will be read shortly." With that the man looked straight at one of the managers.
The manager snapped to attention, "Of course, Jonathan, you should have said something earlier."
Jonathan looked annoyed for a moment then said, "I'll have to miss the rest of my shift, understand? I'll be here in the morning for day shift. See you then."
Superman gave the managers a look that dared them to disagree.
The father and son walked out of the trailer office with Superman right behind them.
Jonathan turned to address Superman again, "I never meant to put Johnny in danger, but I think you know that. My manager is a first rate prick and puts the ass kissers in front of everyone else. I've been trying to get on day shift for over a month now."
"I'm sorry that it takes someone like me to get you a shift that you need. I have contacts in the media that can help shed light on these issues."
Jonathan nodded, "There are many people just like me who are tired of being bullied. We've tried government agencies, guilds, petitions….you name it. You have to bribe someone high up to get anything around here."
Superman nodded, "I'll make sure to let my media contacts know. Good luck with your new shift." He then looked down to the kid, "Make sure to listen to your father, kiddo." John smiled and said that he would.
Sensing no other terrible events, Superman flew back into the city.
The Daily Planet - Newsroom
Clark had managed to fall asleep at daybreak. Had his mom still been there, she would have complained about him not sleeping, even though he didn't need it like Earth humans. He woke up little after seven in the morning, got ready for work, ate breakfast, and walked to work in little over thirty minutes…and that was taking his time.
After he arrived at work and began where he left off yesterday, he realized Lois hadn't arrived. Jimmy walked by his desk and Clark caught him, "Hey, Jimmy, have you seen Lois?"
He stopped, "Nope, they are both late today I guess."
Clark nodded and started working again. Of course Jimmy meant Lois and Richard. It seemed like everything was 'Lois and Richard' these days. It made him all the more intent on visiting her again tonight. He was wrong for leaving without saying goodbye, even if he hadn't known how long it would take. Everything really was his fault, but he was determined to fix it.
'Besides, if Lois really loved Richard, wouldn't she have married him by now?' With that thought he happily continued working on his article.
A little past nine, Richard rushed and went straight to Perry's office without saying hi or good morning to anyone. Clark got up from his desk and walked to the office to see what was going on.
He opened the door to find Richard talking to Perry.
"Lois is waiting on the doctor…She said she wasn't leaving the hospital until she knew he'd be okay."
"Um, I'm sorry, is something wrong?" Clark didn't want to sound too noisy.
Richard turned around to him and looked relieved, "Oh, Clark! Could you take over the story you and Lois are working on? My son, Jason, is in the hospital. We woke up this morning with him having seizures. Lois won't be able to come to work until we know that Jason is okay."
Clark's heart stopped. "Jason is in the hospital? What did the doctors say?"
Richard looked very worried, "They haven't said anything. Will you be able to do the story?"
Clark wanted to yell. They wanted him to do the story and it's his son that was in the hospital! Of course, no one knew that it was his son so he had to play the concerned co-worker.
"Yes, of course. Tell Lois not to worry about anything to do with work."
Richard told him thanks and started to walk out the door.
"Oh, Richard, I hope Jason gets better." And he meant it with all his heart.
Richard nodded and left. Clark went back to his desk with his mind reeling. 'Should I go and see to him as Superman? No, that will raise suspicions. How about as Clark? No, they want me to finish the article. Argh, what am I going to do?' Clark banged his head on the desk.
"Ow!" Jimmy said behind him while going through a filing cabinet. "What did you do that for?"
"Just frustrated, that's all." That put it mildly, very mildly.
"What's wrong? Can I help?"
"I just have to do this article alone," Clark lied. "Don't worry about it, Jimmy. Thanks for the offer."
Jimmy shrugged and walked off back to his desk
'I have to find away to see to Jason.'
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-Kristina Leigh