They landed in DeGaule airport on time and transferred planes without incident. They arrived in Vienna ahead of schedule. Lois rented a car for them while Clark got their bags. They drove through the streets of Vienna to the base where Lucy was at. Lois used her Military Dependent ID to get them on base, and they went to the guest housing. "Lucy!" called Lois at her sister's door. "It's me, Lois, open up!" The door opened, and Lois' little sister flew out.

"Lois! Thank God you're here!" Lucy started crying. "I tried to call daddy, but he wouldn't answer. What's going on?"

Lois and Clark entered the suite and Lois took Lucy to one of the bedrooms to talk. Clark went to the phone and dialed Chloe's number. She answered on the third ring.

"Chlo, are you okay? Are you with my Mom?"

"We're fine, Clark. Do you have Lucy?"

"Yes, we're here, and Lucy is okay. Any news?"

"Well, there's no official word on uncle Sam. No news reports or press releases, which is strange. A three-star general goes missing in the US, with his security detail murdered? Not easy to cover up. Your mom is making some inquiries, and I have an informant net working to get info. Your three terrorists were on CNN. Smallville PD is getting some great press today."

"Well, that's good news, at least. Let me know if you find out anything. I'm guessing that Lois won't let her father's disappearance go."

"You're probably right, Clark. Look out for her. She can get into trouble almost as fast as me."

Clark chuckled. "You know your cousin. Be safe Chlo." He gave her the telephone number to the hotel.

"Bye Clark. I'll call you when we hear something."

Clark hung the phone in the receiver. Lois came out of the bedroom. "She's going to be okay. She hasn't slept well since she called, so she's going to crash. I'm going to take a shower so stay out." With that, she went into the other bedroom. Clark sighed, took off his boots and stretched out on the couch for a much needed nap.

Clark woke up an hour later. Lucy was in the kitchenette, fixing a pot of tea. She looked at Clark, then looked away guiltily. "Hi, Clark" she mumbled.

Clark smiled at her. "Hi, Lucy. Are you doing okay?"

Lucy shrugged. "I'm still a little scared. But I'm better." She paused and looked at Clark. "Look, I'm sorry about the last time you saw me. I didn't treat you or your family very well. I'm kind of surprised that you came to help, considering."

"Forget about it. You were in trouble and needed help. You're family." Clark surprised himself with that last remark.

"Family?" asked Lucy, stunned.

"Yeah, well, why not? Lois has practically moved in the farm." Clark rested against the counter. "You know, I always regretted being an only child. I was close to a friend, a boy named Ryan. He was in trouble and my parents helped him. For a while, it was like I had a little brother. But…he died of a brain tumor. Lois is special in my life, in my family's life I mean. So, that makes you like my little sister, too."

Lucy had unshed tears in her eyes and a trembling hand on her lips. "That would kind of be cool, to have a big brother." She smiled. "Someone to back me up when Lois picks on me."

Clark laughed and gave her a hug. Lucy thought of what Clark had said. She caught his little slip about Lois, even if he didn't. Lucy thought that maybe Clark didn't see Lois as quite as sisterly as he thought. A wicked smile played across Lucy's lips. Maybe after all this was over, she could do something to get Lois together with Clark. That sounded like fun.

Lois, meanwhile, had taken a long shower and a short nap. She usually never slept well on long flights, but using Clark as a pillow had made her sleep like a baby. She woke up and put on fresh clothes. She moved to the door, which was still cracked open. She heard the conversation between Clark and Lucy. Lois leaned her head against the doorjamb. Clark was such a good man. She realized that she didn't think of him as an awkward, fashion-challenged farm boy any more. He was a man. He was the kind of man that she had dreamt about finding for herself. A caring and kind man who would take care of her emotionally, support her needs but still let her be strong and independent. Lois stopped her thinking. She couldn't have more than friendly feelings with Clark. He couldn't be anything more than a friend. Hell, she liked his family more than her own on most days. If she got into a relationship with him, she'd only screw up the one good thing in her life. If she even thought about loving him, she would have to leave him alone. That thought almost made her cry. She couldn't go away from all she had, so she couldn't be in love. She wouldn't allow that to happen. It was a good thing to have logic on her side. She straightened her shoulders and walked out of the bedroom. "Any news?" she asked Clark.

"No, nothing yet. Don't worry Lois. Mom's using her Senate contacts to get information, and you know Chloe's working overtime. Something will turn up."

Lois sighed. "You're right. Luce, get your stuff, we're taking you to the airport."

Lucy squared her shoulders. "You are not sending me away!"

Lois stepped up on Lucy. "Oh, yes I am! You seem to forget that when daddy's gone, I'm in charge!"

Lucy looked at her like Lois' head had come unglued. "Daddy's been kidnapped, you idiot! Where the hell am I going to go?" Lucy looked at Clark for support.

Clark knew that his volunteering to be Lucy's 'big bro' might get him in trouble, but not this soon. He was silently cursing his luck, and was very distracted, which made him slip up. "Uh, Lois, Lucy has a point. The safest place is probably here, with us. At least until we know where the terrorists at the farm came from." Clark realized his mistake too late, and paled.

If daggers could pierce Clark's skin, he would've died from the look Lois gave him. "What terrorists?" she said flatly.

Oh, s#!t thought Clark. "Um, you were really tired and upset, so I didn't tell you about the men who broke in. The police have them now. It was okay, really."

"Okay?" Lois shouted. Her voice rose another octave, "OKAY? Terrorists break into the Kent farm bent on death and destruction, I'm sleeping in the Plaid-King's bed with only a mongrel dog and a moron with his brains in his biceps for protection? What the hell were you thinking, you blockhead?"

Lucy ducked out of the room. "I'm going to take another nap."

Clark got angry. "Look, Lois, you were really upset. I've never seen you like that, even after I pulled you out of the sewer when you were paralyzed. So, I took care of three guys that were trying to hurt you," he shouted. "And I didn't tell you, because I didn't want you to worry! You had been through too much already." Clark got hold of his temper. "Besides, they couldn't hurt me anyway."

Lois was shocked. She tried not to show it, but failed. Clark had taken on three armed men, trained killers. She looked at him with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean, they couldn't hurt you?"

"Nothing, forget it" Clark said shortly. He looked her in the eye. "Lois, I care about you, and I will do everything in my power to protect you, even if you don't like it."

She backed down. "Okay, protect me, but don't coddle me! I'm a big girl, Clark. And I need to know the truth. Whatever it is, I can handle it."

For a moment, Clark thought she was talking about his secret. Maybe he wished she was. Clark realized that he desperately wanted to tell her. He thought she could handle it, and not look at him like a freak. But, some doubts lingered. "You're right. I'm sorry."

A knock at the door made them turn. Clark scanned through the cheap wood and saw an Air Force officer standing outside. He moved to the door and opened it. "May I help you?" asked Clark.

"Mr. Kent?"

"Yes."

"This is for you," the officer said, producing a large cell phone. "Please dial memory number one." With that the officer walked away.

Clark pushed 1 and the dial button. A series of clicks and beeps came out of the phone. A voice answered, "Yes?"

"Uh, this is Clark Kent. I was given this phone?"

"One moment please…" a series of beeps followed, and the voice was subtly altered, sounding more mechanical. "We're secure now, Senator."

"Thank you," said Martha Kent.

"Mom! What's going on? Why all the cloak and dagger stuff?"

"Clark, we don't have much time. Put me on speakerphone."

Clark pressed a button on the phone, "Okay, mom, you're on. Lois is here."

"Listen, kids. Lois, we think that we are getting close to finding your father. I don't have access to all the details, but we've traced the plane he was taken in to Vienna."

"What! He's here?"

"Maybe," said Martha. "Your father's aide, Major Preston, is flying over to debrief your sister. He has some questions for her on her attackers. You all will come back to me here in the Capitol. Lois, your father was working on projects where he had access to nuclear weapons."

Lois gasped. "You think they wanted my sister and me to force my dad to give up secrets? They didn't know my father like I know him. That would never work."

"Actually, Lois, that would be the only thing that would work. Your father may not ever show it, but he loves you both more than you can imagine. He would do anything to keep you safe. Now, Clark, turn off the speakerphone."

Martha got right to the point. "Clark, I know that your father and I always told you to protect your secret at all costs, but this may overshadow your secret."

Clark was shocked. "Mom, I can't believe this! How bad could it get?"

Martha sighed. "Clark, Sam Lane has direct access to nuclear devices. Not just any bombs either, but small, man portable devices. If terrorists get their hands on just one, millions could die. If it comes down to it, forget your secret and stop them at all costs."

Clark was speechless for a moment. "Okay, Mom. I understand. Just keep me posted and I will do what I can." Clark hung up. "Lois, we need to get packed. Your father's aide will be here in a few hours."

"No way, Smallville! You heard her. My dad's here somewhere and I'm not leaving! Not without him." Lois crossed her arms and stared him down.

"So what do you want to do, start walking around town and looking in every basement and seedy hotel?" Clark shook his head in disgust. "I can just see it now, 'excuse me, have you seen an American general in the company of any terrorists lately?' Come on, Lois, let the experts handle this for once."

Lois stalked over to Clark. "Look, you can run home to mommy if you want, but I'm staying here. LUCY!" Lois shouted.

Lucy came out of the bedroom timidly. "What?" she asked her sister with suspicion.

"Oh, stop that! Where were you when those guys tried to grab you?"

Lucy cleared her throat. "I was at a club on Danovue Street. Lyon 83."

Lois turned to Clark. "Okay, we start there. Lucy, you stay here and wait for Major Preston. Then you leave with him." Lucy started to object, but Lois cut her off. "No back talk this time! You are going to Mrs. Kent's and that is it. Once we find dad, we're coming home."

Clark shrugged at Lucy, and she shrugged back. There was no talking sense to her when she got like this. Clark looked at Lois, "Okay, when do we start?"

Lois smiled, "Got anything planned for five minutes from now, Smallville?"