NOTE: Whoa! Everyone can calm down right away and take a deep breath! Don't worry! I think maybe I should've worded my chapter teaser differently because I think I caused mass hysteria, lol. Jason is going to be fine. I should have said 'something happens with Jason' :). This is kind of a longer chap. (I explore the whole kidnapping thing a bit more and we see some of what poor Richard is feeling) so read on and enjoy! Tell me what you think...that would be kind of you too ;)...

Nette: Yes, that was quite evil of me :). I couldn't help myself...I had to keep you all interested right:D

Nightcrawler8: No worries! Sure thing about the Lois stuff. I think it may show up next chap. actually.

Angel452: Ah, your questions are answered in this here chapter.

Mr. Firenze: Thank you :).

Sunny2006: Thank you for your lovely review. It's very kind of you to say so :).

The Kiss of Death: I'm glad you're happily awaiting my sequel. Thanks a lot for your awesome review!

Maddi-B: Well thank you very much. It's nice to know some readers don't have any complaints, lol.

Jedi X-man Serena Kenobi: Ha ha! Yeah, I loved writing that whole scene. Thanks for the review.

1eclecticreader: Don't worry! Nothing bad happens to Jason but read and find out what does...

Fallen4DarkAngel: I love that kid too much to let anything bad happen to him! He'll be quite all right :). Thanks for the Lex Luthor opinion. I'm alreadytrying to figure outa way he gets off the island...


Jason glanced at Richard before climbing into the seaplane. He loved flying in his dad's plane. He had always wanted to fly. Now he knew he had a chance someday to do it without any machine. He shivered.

"You ready?" asked with Richard with a broad smile.

Jason nodded emphatically. He craned his head to look out the window as they skimmed over the water then lifted up into the air. He enjoyed seeing Metropolis and their house drop away and grow so small. But he also remembered the feeling when Superman carried them for a short distance to safety. Was that what it felt like?

"Hey, Jason," Richard raised his voice over the noise of the plane, "where do you want to go?"

"To the stars."

Richard laughed in a condescending manner. "Sorry kiddo. I'd need more than this ol' thing for that. Anywhere more down to earth?"

"Um, I don't know."

"All right. I'll just play by ear." His gaze lingered on the boy for a moment. He sighed sadly to think of the time he would miss now that he could no longer raise him as his son.

Jason settled in his seat and got comfortable for the ride.

It was about fifteen minutes later that something went wrong. Richard's face contorted with unease and determination. He began flipping switches and looking frantically at the instruments.

"Jason, sit tight and please don't panic."

Jason stared wide-eyed at him but said nothing.

Something was malfunctioning in the seaplane and Richard could not fix it. He held firm to the controls and braced himself for the sudden descent towards the open water.

"Dad, what's happening?" The boy's voice betrayed his worry.

"It's okay. We're just having…difficulties. Don't worry."

Jason closed his eyes tight as they began to fall too quickly back to the earth. The plane jerked and tossed, their bodies thrown against their seats. He gripped the arms of the seat and tried to shut out the terror. He didn't even notice when his breath came in short gasps, his chest heaving with the effort.

Richard was trying everything to stop the crashing flight. No, please no. I shouldn't have brought Jason.

His asthmatic breathing stopped. He opened his eyes and saw the water coming straight at them. His fingers tightened.

The plane suddenly stopped in mid-air. Richard breathed again and raked a hand through his brown hair. Jason turned in his seat but did not have to see to know what held them steady. They began to glide straight back towards home.

"Are you okay?" Richard asked. He sounded out of breath.

"Yeah."

They were set in the water at the dock, yet both still were unsettled and did not move right away. Superman landed at the door and opened it.

"Are you both all right?"

They nodded.

"Thank you," said Richard. "I don't know what happened. It just broke down."

"It happens." His attention was drawn to Jason. He knelt by him in-between the two. "You can get out now, Jason."

Richard watched as Jason unbuckled his belt and climbed into Superman's arms. A pang of jealousy struck his heart, but he hastily quashed it. At least he's safe.

Superman was about to climb out of the plane when something caught his eyes. He examined the seat his son had been in and was immediately stunned. On the arm rests where his hands had clung in panic, deep imprints of his small hands bent the hard plastic. He glanced at Richard who had also gotten out of his seat and hoped he did not notice.

That would explain it, he thought.

Jason clung to him tightly but he gradually relaxed in his comforting arms. The three of them left the dock and paused on the lawn.

"I'm glad you are both safe," said Superman. "I hope you can fix it."

"Thank you again. That's the second time you've saved my life…and Jason's."

"You're very welcome. I would never let any harm come to either of you."

Richard could not look him in the eye. Here was the man who selflessly saved lives, and he still had trouble appreciating him as much knowing he had won Lois from him. And his son. Jason looked so peaceful and at ease in the grasp of his true father.

"I'm sorry we have all this…stuff…between us," said Superman as if sensing his thoughts.

"So am I." Richard smiled at Jason. "Take good care of them for me. Lois needs you, and Jason will too. I'm counting on you."

"I will, and my word is as good as done." Superman set his son on his feet. "You need to rest and let your adrenaline calm down." He looked pointedly at Jason who had not realized what he did to the arm rests.

"Thanks, Superman," said Jason. He waved as Superman lifted away, his eyes shining with excitement. Richard was looking down and thinking.


I wonder if Richard knows.

As soon as Superman came into sight of the falling plane, he saw it accelerating towards the water. Then it slowed suddenly even thought it did not stop. It had puzzled him until he saw the marks Jason had left. Jason started to hold the plane up…

He had just left their home after getting them there safely and could not help but see the scene over and over again in his mind as he glided quietly through the clouds. His son certainly was going to go through the same thing he had to, yet he would have better guidance than his father had. He would know precisely where he came from and why.

Jason, you have no idea what is ahead for you.


Richard and Lois met to talk before work. It was at the same coffee shop she went to with Clark. She sipped the steaming liquid and felt it slide down her throat. She already felt better. The smell of roasting coffee beans tickled her senses.

"What is it you wanted to talk about?" she asked, peering at him over the rim of her cup.

"The messy things."

"Ah." She set the coffee down and leaned back. "Normally I would be stubborn and tell you to deal with it later, but I understand. It's awkward isn't it? Living in the same place still."

He smiled sadly at her directness. He had gotten used to it. "A bit."

"And you want to know what to do about the car, the house, and all that stuff."

"Yeah. Like I said: messy."

There was a quiet pause.

"I think," he said, "you should have everything."

She opened her mouth to protest.

"No, Lois. You're the one with Jason and he deserves the best."

"But you should have the house so you can keep your seaplane there. It was practically yours anyway."

"And have you and Jason living in an apartment? You can't get a house just yet."

"Why not? There are some nice places." She was thinking of the apartment building Clark was in. That's a good idea, she thought. "Jason would be fine and would still be at the house sometimes."

He shook his head. "I don't know about this…"

"It's fine. And you could keep the car too since we'll be in town and closer to everything." She wrapped her hands around the warm cup to keep the chill of the early morning away. "It'll work out, Richard. We will be fine." She was already planning to go to Clark's building to inquire into an open apartment.

He frowned and took a long drink. "I'm not comfortable with any of this."

"I'm not the only one who's stubborn."

"Why do you think we got along so well? Neither of us would give. Everything always became neutral."

"I'll always remember our years together in a good light. Know that if nothing else." She grabbed her coffee, slung her bag over her shoulder, and slid out of the chair. "Think about it for a while and it'll make sense. I'll talk to you later."

Her black shoes clicked on the hard floor then stopped. She caught his attention again. "How was it yesterday with Jason? He seemed…distant…afterwards."

He cleared his throat and shrugged. "Good until there was a little problem in the plane."

"What happened?" She returned to her seat.

"We were flying and something went wrong." He lowered his head. "Luckily Superman got to us before we crashed."

She stared in astonishment and knew her silent gaze was unnerving him. "You both are okay? He always comes right when you think you're a lost cause. I'll have to thank him."

With what? Richard found himself thinking. He shook out the thought.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? My cell is never off, you know," she said, her voice dangerously low as the realization hit her.

"I didn't want you to worry because nothing came of it. It's not like we'll ever be in any real danger anyway the way that guy hovers around."

"Careful Richard. Don't scorn a man who saves your life…and more than once. Well, now I'm really leaving," she said. "Bye."


Clark besieged Lois as soon as she stepped into the office.

"Lois! Lois, how are you this morning?"

"Uh, good Clark. What's with the intense cheerfulness this morning?" She avoided looking directly at him for fear she could not hide her true feelings.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe because I got a break on our story…"

She came alive. "Really? Tell me everything."

They settled down at his desk.

"You know how tight-lipped the police are and no one's saying if there's any connection. I may have found one." He sifted through some of the mess on his desk. "Here. They're two single women living alone. Perfect targets right? But it seems there's more. I stumbled upon some information on their families. They may not have known each other but their fathers did."

Lois skimmed the old article he had found. Their fathers had bad history for one had betrayed the other by swindling some of his money from the business and also had an affair with his wife.

"Wow. Heavy stuff," she said. "That's some good motive for one of them to be taken, but why both?"

Clark shrugged. "Someone else must be involved or it's some strange coincidence."

"No such thing. I'm going to call this first guy." She tapped the name of James Johnson. "See if he talks."

"Lois," said Clark, "you should have been a detective."

She rolled her eyes. "What fun would that be? You know how depressing it is? All the death and violence and all that?"

"And this isn't?" he asked with an arched eyebrow.

"Never mind. You don't win Pulitzer Prizes for a police report on your boss's desk."

He smiled again. She was acting like the Lois he had left, the fearless reporter getting excited over a good story. The depression of the past month or so was wearing off.

She didn't even look at him but smiled softly because she felt his stare. "You may not want to stare at me like that. It's sort of suspicious."

He laughed at the use of his own words. "Fair enough."

Jimmy greeted them and leaned over the pair. "Hey guys. How's the project coming?"

"Good. We found a link. Well, Clark did."

"Way to go Clark…uh, Mr. Kent. I can't wait to hear about it." He winced as Perry's booming voice formed his name. "Talk to you later."

"See ya, Jimmy."

"I'll go call Mr. Johnson and you can call Mr.…" she found the other father, "Emmerson."

"Assuming we can find their numbers," he said. "Mr. Emmerson was released from prison only a few years ago, so who knows where he is now."

"Then I'll call Emmerson and you call Johnson."

"No, I didn't mean you had to…"

She waved him off and stood. "No, I'll do it. You know I'm the better reporter anyway." She laughed at his expression and hurried to her desk.

He searched and found the latest contact information for Mr. Johnson. He dialed the number. "Here we come Mr. Johnson…"


NOTE: Not to keep you in major suspense or anything;), but Lois is remembering some things Clark didn't want her to next chapter...