NOTE: This chapter deals with the question Lois has been wondering about her memories. It's brief but important as usual. I hope you all enjoy it! Thank you everyone who's reading my story.

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Clark scowled at his computer. It had been glitching the past few days. He glanced around before smacking it once. The error message disappeared and things were running smoothly again.

"Remind me to call you if I ever have problems with mine."

Clark whirled around to find Lois looking over his shoulder. "Uh…sure thing."

"Clark, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." Her voice was more serious. "It's important and you know how my curiosity is."

A noise of amused agreement escaped his throat. "Fire away."

"In private," she said, giving him a look that said it had to do with his other identity.

"Ah, I see. It can't wait?" He saw unyielding determination burning in her eyes. "Right. Silly question."

"The roof is good."

"Seems to be a popular place lately," he said in a low voice.

Once they were there, she wasted no time.

"Clark, I want you to be honest with me. Well, you have to be: you can't lie. Anyway, hear me out first." She leaned her back against the solid stone barrier. "I keep thinking about that night I realized who you really were and why I had such a déjà vu. Whenever you pull off your glasses, I feel I should be remembering something. Clark, what does it mean? Is there something I should know or that you're not telling me? Like when I started to recall more of that day in the Fortress of Solitude—I didn't mention it to you—yet I don't know any events preceding or following it."

With gazes locked, they waited. Clark knew he was the one expected to have answers, but he was hesitant to say anything. Lois did not back down.

"You do know about this," she murmured.

He turned his head and tried to think of what to say. She waited because she knew.

"Lois, first promise me you'll listen and not get upset."

Her eyes widened a little. "So there's a reason to get upset?"

"Somewhat. But listen." He laid his hands on her shoulders and held her gaze. "You're right. There are some things missing from your memory but for good reason. I couldn't stand to see you so stressed at work because you had to keep my secret between just the two of us and you couldn't treat me as Clark Kent any differently than before; especially since everyone knew you were in love with Superman. It was so hard for you. So I did something about it and hid those memories from you so you could live life again."

If he thought she was quiet earlier, the silence now was deafening. Her eyes were distant as she turned her back to him and stood with her arms crossed over her stomach. He watched her, anticipating a burst of anger. But it did not come.

Lois finally turned to face him, and he was amazed to see not atrace of wrath in her face or posture.

"Is that the real reason? Or did you just not want anyone to know including me?" Her tone was notaccusatory but truly questioning.

"Lois, you don't even realize how free I felt. I had someone—the woman I loved, no less—who I could be myself with! There were no secrets, no masks, no barriers. I've never been freer or happier when you share my secret. The only way I gave that up was so you wouldn't have to share in my burden also. It was so much for you…" His fingers traced the delicate line of her jaw then fell to his side again.

She closed her eyes at his touch and took a deep breath. "Why didn't you ask me?"

"You think you would have said 'yes'?"

"No, but…"

"Precisely. You wouldn't have accepted any help or release from the weight yourself, so I made a decision. It's not like it did much anyway. You found out again. Sometimes we have to make choices for people without their consent when it concerns their well-being. You know that better than most."

Lois searched his face for a long moment, his gaze as unflinching as hers.

"You know the funny thing about all this?" she said in soft tones. "I'm not upset at all. I find it hard to ever be angry with you for long. I can't say I totally agree with what you did, yet I trust you with my very life…often."

He laughed quietly and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. "Thank you for understanding. I'm actually relieved now. Now there's nothing between us."

"Except more about Clark Kent," she smiled. "You're still a bit of a mystery."

"That mystery will have to wait. We're still at work, you know."

"Fine. Let's get back. I still haven't got a hold of our James Johnson."

He was amazed she let it go so easily, so he supposed--from knowing her--she was still a little upset but did not want to be. That at least was comforting.


When Clark and Lois parted ways out of the elevator, Clark nearly collided with Richard.

"Oh, Richard. Hi." He hoped Richard hadn't noticed he and Lois being gone together.

"Hey Clark. Can I talk to you?"

"Uh, sure."

"Good." He lowered his voice, and his mild blue eyes grew earnest. "You've been around Lois a lot since…since we…"

"Separated?"

"Yeah." He rubbed the back of his neck and looked down at his feet while Clark began to fear someone had noticed more than innocent friendship between he and Lois. Excuses were racing through his mind, then ways to tell the truth without saying too much. "Well, you see her a lot so I just thought I'd ask…"

Clark waited for the blow.

"How is she doing? I haven't really spoken with her for a while and I thought you would know best how she really is. She's not been around anyone else much except you."

"Well," Clark said slowly, relief flooding his senses, "she's strong. She wasdepressed at first, but she's a resilient woman. Her life's pretty good right now." He grinned. "I mean, considering all that's happened."

Richard leaned forward. "Has Superman been around?"

"Uh, I wouldn't know if he was since he probably comes when I'm gone and she probably wouldn't exactly talk to me about that and…"

"All right; I get it. Sorry I asked. I should've known you wouldn't be aware of any of that." He lifted his eyes again. "But Clark…is she happy?"

Clark thought for a moment. "Yes, I think she is."

"That's all I wanted to know," said Richard. He nodded and slapped Clark on the back. He winced and looked at his hand. "Wow Clark. You work out or something?"

"Um…well, you know…" He shrugged. "A guy's gotta have a few hobbies…"

Richard missed the truth behind it and brushed it off. "Thanks for talking to me. It's good to know Lois is in good hands of a true friend. Take care of her, Clark."

"Wha…me?"

"You're the only one she's let get close lately, so yes: take care of her for me." He shook his head in amusement as he walked away.

Clark eyed him more seriously from where he stood. I thought he was going to find out for a moment there.


Through Lois and Clark's research and stubborn digging, they found out that there was a strong possibility that both the women of the disappearanceshad the same father. The affair between one of the men and the other's wifemarked a time period when Miss Johnson was conceived, so Lois and Clark figured out that she was actually Mr. Emmerson's biological daughter with Mrs. Johnson. Clark dug some more and read that Mr. Johnson used to own property outside of Metropolis, so he doffed his mild-mannered reporter clothes and burst into the heavens in a flash of blue, red, and yellow.
Through the bulging clouds gilded with beams of the setting sun, he flew. Gradually he lowered beneath the cloud cover and hovered over Metropolis. Using his x-ray vision, he dropped even closer and searched the buildings for a sign of the women who had been taken. After talking with the police on the case and digging into it with Lois, he had a better idea of where to look. He finished skimming the city and moved to the outer limits where he believed he would find them.

A half hour passed until his gaze caught on a likely candidate. It was an abandoned farm building surrounded by trees and open land. His vision perceived two still figures and three or four walking around and inside the place.

He smiled grimly and quickly floated down into the trees without being seen.


Lois scanned the horizon as she drove down the more rural roads out of Metropolis. She knew Superman was out here somewhere and supposed the abductors were as well. There was no better place to hide.

She had been watching the sky when Superman was making his way around and saw him suddenly drop into a certain area. She was there now and turned down a long, winding driveway. This looks interesting.


The sides of the building were worn, and the grey paint was peeling. The tin roof was rusting, and the grass around it was wildly grown. Other than the men patrolling in the shadows, there was no sign anyone had been around for years.

Superman looked inside again through the walls and spotted the two women tried up in a small storage room. Two guards were with them.

In a flash, he flew straight through the walls into the room in a burst of power. Everyone inside stared in amazement.

He calmly wiped the dusty debris from his arms, and his piercing gaze burned into the two men with weapons. They held their guns pointed at him even knowing it would do no good, but then one dove towards the captured women and aimed his weapon at them.

"Don't come any closer!" he snarled. "Or I'll blow their brains out!"

Superman paused and eyed the other man. His hands shook holding the gun as he gaped with wide eyes. He threw a few panicked glances at his partner.

"Now, I don't know how you found us, but you need to leave." When Superman did not even bat an eye he continued. "If you don't one of them will die." He cocked the gun and glared at him.


NOTE: Ah, I know I was evil and left a cliffhanger, but bear with me! I'll try to get the next chap. up quick. :)