Chapter 9

Clark waited anxiously and nervously for Lois to say something, but after five full minutes of complete silence, she said nothing. She stood at the base of the Fortress's control center, her eyes piercing into his as his were to hers, waiting for one of them to break.

Somehow, Clark knew it was going to be him.

"I'm sorry."

"That's not what I asked," she said in a strong tone that very much sounded like a command voice.

It never occurred to him that he would be caught red handed like this. In his mind, he came clean to her in his own volition, but now he knew that wasn't meant to be. She looked at him with an intense gaze he wasn't used to.

"How did you know?"

Lois's face remained impassive when she held up the octagonal disk in her one hand for him to see.

"The man I know isn't reckless," she said. "And neither am I."

Clark swallowed hard. He's never known her to look and sound so authoritavely when just a couple of days ago, she acted like the perfect girlfriend.

Funny and patient.

Warm and inviting.

Lois was more than just perfect; she was one of a kind.

Who knew there was so many facets about Lois Lane he couldn't see unless she wanted him to. Clark was beginning to understand Kent's words when he revealed how his and Lois's relationship began on emotionally rocky grounds.

It seemed that their friendship started out the same, but where Kent succeeded, Clark had failed.

He didn't even know what he was fighting for until it was too late.

"He's okay."

Clark noticed a tiny change in her features but even with his quick eye, it was barely noticeable.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean – I mean there are two of us."

Lois raised her eyebrows. "Two of you?" she repeated with obvious skepticism but she rolled along with it anyway.

Clark nodded silently.

"You're going to have to explain a little further or else I'm going to introduce you to an annoying family member of mine. He's called Mr. Kryptonite," she threatened in that familiar sarcastic tone he's grown accustomed to over the last couple of years.

"A week ago, you were with…" this is the part that gets awkward. "You were with your boyfriend." That felt very weird for him to say. "In Washington," he continued. "There was an electrical storm and he disappeared in it."

This wasn't any news to Lois so she shrugged it off.

"I know that. I was there."

"Right," he nodded, losing his confidence. Being around her is making him tongue-tied. "But see, something happened and he came to my world."

Lois stared at him with apprehension.

"Your world?"

"It's sort of like an alternate dimension. Where we live similar lives but make different choices."

Clark stopped to think about what he just said and it felt like a light bulb in his brain just switched on. With all his anger and envy and regret and even the hate, they were all directed to the wrong things.

Kent was right.

His inability to accept who he was and where he came from enabled him to act out in ways that caused him to make all the wrong choices; and now, he felt an enormous wave of guilt and shame at the realization.

If his father knew what he'd become, he'd be rolling in his grave right now.

Lois looked back at him in complete disbelief.

"You're from what and where?"

"An alternate dimension," he answered, his eyes beginning to brim with tears from his moment of reflection.

Lois caught the single tear that slid down the side of his cheek and she immediately calmed her features, but remained no less cautious of this stranger who looked and acted remarkably like her boyfriend.

"So let's say I believe you," she began.

"It's the truth," Clark said.

For the first time in a long time, he was actually telling the truth. Maybe it was because this Lois knew so much about him that lying seemed almost impossible. He didn't know how he held on since his arrival, but perhaps it had something to do with the way she took care of him so diligently.

"Uh huh," she agreed momentarily because there really was nothing else she could go on.

Clark sighed just as Lois continued.

"So, as you were saying, you're from this alternate dimension." Clark nodded. "So I'm assuming that's where my boyfriend is now, right?" she asked questioningly.

Clark froze for a second when heard her say 'boyfriend.' It was still strange for him to imagine them being in a very deep romantic relationship, but it felt surprisingly nice to be a part of even though, technically, she wasn't 'his' girlfriend.

"Right."

"And you expect me to believe that?"

"Do you have a better explanation?"

Clark knew she had every right not to take him seriously, but a part of him hoped she would look past his mistakes and give him the benefit of the doubt. Right now, it was all he wanted.

"Look, I'm sorry," he apologized. "It all happened so fast. My life…" he took a deep breath. "My life isn't as perfect as this place and I guess, I guess I just wanted to feel something other…" he shook those thoughts away. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I'm saying."

At this time, Lois relaxed as she watched as this person changed from one emotion to another. It was clear to her that he was just as scared and confused as she was. This is going to take some getting used to because she isn't used to seeing her own boyfriend this insecure.

Lois stepped away from the command center and strides confidently towards Clark.

Clark remained still, afraid of what might happen if he moved.

The ball was in her court.

To his amazement, she held out her hand.

"Lois Lane," she introduced herself.

A jolt of surprise passed through him. Clark certainly didn't expect this.

Slowly, he takes her hand with his own.

"Clark Kent."

Clark stood and watched in complete and utter awe as Lois maneuvered through the crystalline control center of the Fortress of Solitude. Even he couldn't figure out what she was doing.

"How are you doing that?"

"Doing what?" she asked, a holographic-like keyboard appearing in mid-air. Lois moved from the crystals and typed against the holo-keys, the screen filling up with his dead planet's native language. She started reading.

Clark's eyes grow even wider if that was even possible.

"You know how to read Kryptonian," he said in astonishment.

Lois smirks. "Don't you?"

Clark was about to reply to that when he realized she was just teasing him. He relaxed once again and watched her in awe as she later continued.

"After you told me about Krypton and your biological parents, I asked you, I mean him, to teach me. I can't run faster than a speeding bullet or jump tall buildings in a single bound, but I'm a quick learner."

Clark smiled. He didn't doubt that for a minute, and he was amazed that she would even try. The fact that she knew her way in the Fortress of Solitude as easily as she did her own apartment back at the Talon spoke volumes about her character.

He regrets not seeing it in her before, because looking back on his life and the two years he's known the Lois of his world, there were remarkably alike in many ways.

"You're just like her," he said out of the blue.

Lois looked away from the console and faced Clark, just missing what he said.

"Excuse me?"

"I said you're just like her," he repeated.

"Oh yeah," she said with a smile. "Am I as bossy in your world as I am here?"

"Of course," he replied with a chuckle. "And don't forget rude and stubborn."

"And those are just my good qualities." She exited the control panel of the console before turning to Clark with sudden seriousness. "I've cross-referenced everything I could find about alternate dimensional travel. There's nothing here."

Clark sighed. He liked it better when they were getting to know each other.

"I didn't think there would be. He went through this in my world and didn't find anything as well." He paused, realizing his stupidity once again. "I guess I should've told you that first."

Lois shook her head without pretense.

"Don't worry about it. You said your world wasn't an exact copy of ours, so there was still a chance."

"What do we do now?"

"I was actually hoping you'd know something that could help us since you're the one who hopped into my world."

"I'm just as lost as you are."

"I can't have that," she said with such finality that Clark knew she was going to find a way, no matter how hopeless their situation may seem. "You're both stuck in the wrong world. Look, Clark. You seem like a nice guy, but you don't belong here."

Her words struck him harder than she'll ever know.

"I know," he said understandingly even though it hurt him to admit it.

Lois was right.

Clark didn't belong here but part of him felt like he could really make a life here if all else fails. Again, it was a pretty selfish thought but this world that Kent built for himself was addictive.

To think, this life could've been his.

The thought continued to sadden him.

"Are you all right?"

Clark's eyes snap up to face Lois's. "What?"

"Are you okay?" she asked again, concerned. He looked shaken and his eyes showed something she rarely saw in the man she's fallen in love with.

Sadness.

"I'm fine," he lied.

"You're lying," she observed openly.

Clark let out a small smile. He should've known she'd see through that.

"You're right. I am."

There was a long pause before Clark spoke again.

"Aren't you going to ask me what it is?"

"No."

"No?"

"I figured when you're ready, you'll talk." Lois looked at him, slightly amused. "Are you ready to talk?"

Clark smiled again.

"Do you mind?" he wanted to be absolutely sure he wasn't stepping out of bounds. He's messed up too much as it is.

Lois nodded sincerely.

"Not at all."

To be Continued…