Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except Lacey. And believe me, she wishes I didn't. Everyone else belongs to Warner Brothers, DC Comics and all sorts of people that are not little old me.

Six

When he arrived at the Planet one October morning, Clark found a purple box with his name on it, sitting on his desk. He took a quick peek on the inside with his x-ray vision and was surprised to see that the box contained cookies. He looked around the busy newsroom, but there were no hints on who may have left them there.

Strange. He sat down and opened the box, his curiosity at a new height. It was a little late for the cookies to be a welcome back offering. Besides, no one but Jimmy would have bothered with that.

"You have cookies?"

He looked up at Lacey, who was clutching a steaming fresh Mocha as if it were a lifeline. "Apparently. Would you like one?"

Lacey shook her head. "You're kidding me, right?" At his confused expression, she rolled along. "I had an orange soda, a bag of Skittles, and a small bag of gummi bears this morning for breakfast. Now I'm working on a mocha. You put any more sugar in me and I'm likely to try and take over the world with a tin foil sword, an invisible plane named Bob, and a random red shirt as a sidekick slash meat shield."

Clark blinked at her. "Oka-- Did you just name your invisible plane Bob?"

"What's wrong with Bob?" Lacey asked and looked a little defensive. "It's a good name! I mean, I'd use Norman, but I'm saving that for the abominable snowman I plan on having as a bodyguard and pet."

"But you just named a plane-"

"So?" She sipped her mocha and quirked an eyebrow up. "Guys name other things that really do not need names."

She couldn't be referring to.. Who was he kidding? Of course she was. Even he knew that by now. He absently took a cookie out as he tried not to overdo the embarrassed Clark act. "Not all-"

"Lies! They all do. They just don't admit it to everyone. I somehow doubt it would make a stellar first date conversation." She watched him impatiently as he ate a cookie. "Well?"

"Well what?" Clark replied instantly, even though his mouth was partially full. He quickly swallowed. "Sorry.. What?"

"Is it any good?" Lacey sighed in exasperation. "Just because I can't have any, doesn't mean I can't live vicariously through others."

"Actually, they are pretty good." Clark admitted. He wished he knew who had left them. Then he could thank them for their thoughtfulness.

Lacey was about to reply, when Perry's voice boomed at her. "Lacey! Where did you-"

"Your inbox, Mr. White." Lacey answered before he could finish.

"What about-"

"Three-fourteen this afternoon. Don't be late, because Doctor Mandrell has to pick up his son at practice at four thirty." Lacey glanced toward Perry, who had already returned to his office; apparently content with the information she gave him. Even so, Lacey couldn't help but sigh. Even though she had discovered she was a pretty decent secretary, she still hated this place. Although, she did love her apartment. If she could, she would have married it by now. She returned her focus on Clark, who she caught staring at her oddly. "What?"

Clark looked innocent. "Nothing."

"You were staring."

"I didn't mean to."

"Why were you staring? Is there something in my hair? Did someone put a kick me sign on me? Because if they did, I'm going to hunt them down for sport and str-"

Clark had to a stop her before went on a wild tangent. "No, no. It was nothing. I didn't mean to. It just occurred to me that I don't know much about you."

She shrugged. "There really isn't anything to know, blue eyes." Lacey sipped her mocha again. "I'd better get to work. Ciao."

"Oh, okay." Clark responded and watched her head for her desk. Just who was this woman that both Lois and Richard actually trusted to watch Jason?