Author's Notes: Ack. My plan … I swear I have one. It's a bit short and jumpy.

JaysHeartsDesire – Yes, that last chapter was before the cave bit and before Lois waking up on Bruce's doorstep. I've decided to now put rather vague dates on things.

Enjoy.

---------------------

Chapter Five

Metropolis 2010

When Perry White introduced Clark Kent to the world famous Lois Lane he swore that he already met her. Those eyes, that hair. She looked familiar. He had seen photos of her but in person was something else. It's like she triggered a feeling. A memory. Memories.

Lois on the other hand was too incensed to notice Clark Kent. She couldn't believe Perry had sidled her with a partner. She was an award winning journalist and she didn't need some newbie following her every move. Screwing up her investigations. She sized him up with her eyes. He was tall and handsome, she had to give him that. The glasses were jarring but endearing. He could be of use, she thought to herself. He looks like someone who could take a bullet or two for the sake of a story, she added.

When Perry left them alone she quickly turned on her heel and led him to their adjoining desks. She slapped her hand on the desk to indicate that it was his and then like a game show prize model pointed to her own desk. Overrun with papers and posts-it, chocolate bar wrappers and empty coffee cups.

"Now, if you don't get in the way of me and a story we should be fine," she stated as she sat down behind her desk before opening up a new document and beginning to type.

Clark was unsure of what to do. She was obviously working on something and he was new. He was sure that she was supposed to be showing him how to do something. Giving him a guided tour or explaining the process of how she obtained the current story that she was writing. But she did nothing but ignore him. Lois was still angry over having to share her byline and the idea that she needed help. A partner insinuated that she couldn't do things on her own. And she resented that. But that's not what a partner's for and Lois still needed to learn that.

------------------

Smallville … years ago.

Two words. Not even two words, Lois mused. A contraction and then a word and she found herself doubting her once purposeful actions. She hadn't turned around and he hadn't let go of her arm.

"Lois?" she heard him say tentatively.

And she slowly found her voice. "You're just so lost without me, aren't you, Smallville?"

She slowly turned around to face him. Gently placing her hand over his hand that had captured her arm. She gently moved his arm off hers and then let go of his hand.

"I just … I just don't want you to go," he said. "I don't know why but I don't want you to leave."

"You don't know why?" she asked quizzically, her eyebrow raised.

He sighed. He had his suspicions. He looked forward to those Friday nights at Lois's apartment. The times when his mother would make him invite Lois to dinner. Just being around Lois was completely different. After their interesting introduction and their subsequent interactions, he knew that there was something about Lois. Not that he'd ever admit that to her. She was that spark. That energy that made the room that little bit different when she'd enter it. When Lois Lane entered a room it was hard not to want to look at her or speak to her. It was like everything she did commanded attention. And Clark watched her. Watched her more than she knew. But then what did all this mean? She wasn't Lana or Chloe. These feelings were something new.

---------------

Metropolis 2010

"Lois, you're not invincible. You shouldn't be chasing down criminals for quotes without me. There is a high possibility that they could kill you. Did you ever think of that?"

Lois rolled her eyes. She had heard this before and though the sentiment was there, she would pay it no heed.

"If you were around more, then I wouldn't have to keep chasing down criminals by myself now would I?" she declared, arms akimbo.

He stared at Lois. Cocky and confident. Defiant. Dangerous.

"Besides," Lois continued, "if anything bad was going to happen, Superman would save me."

Clark ran his hand through his hair. Frustrated.

"But what if he couldn't?"

That was the thought running through his head as he rescued the residents of a burning building across town. He would hear if anything bad was going to Lois. But if it had happened, he couldn't just leave the people trapped in a burning building. On his way back to the Daily Planet, he wondered what choice he would make. Lois or everyone else.

Lois frowned at the suggestion. "Don't be putting ideas into my head. I might have second thoughts about chasing criminals without my trusty sidekick."

--------------------

Smallville … years ago

Lois could hear the impatient and persistent beep of the shuttle.

"Clark … I have to go."

She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and as she left the apartment she never looked back.

Clark just stood there. Replaying the scene in his head. Thinking of things he should have said. Lines that he had rehearsed as he was inching closer and closer to the Talon. This was not how he envisioned it. He was going to tell her to stay and she would stay. She wouldn't just leave. Walk out of his life for an undetermined amount of time. And he didn't know why it hurt so much.

He walked around the empty space and found himself leaning against a wall. He sank down to the ground. A feeling of helplessness and emptiness drowning him. He was completely alone.

"You know I probably should have finished my sentence."

There she was standing in the doorway. Bag on the floor, hands on her hips. Completely in the moment.

She made her way towards him and stood next to him as he looked up at her. "I was saying that I have to go and tell the shuttle bus driver that I didn't need a lift to the airport."

She made her way down to Clark's level.

"You're not leaving?"

"Well, you put forward an enticing argument against it. A slightly short and vague one but compelling nonetheless," she said with a grin. "I'm not really in the mood to play detective anyway."

She felt him lay his head on her shoulder and felt the wetness of his tears. She moved one arm over Clark's shoulder and the other under his face, embracing him and cradling him in her arms. Placing her chin on his head as he continued to cry quiet tears. "I know, Clark. I know."

-------