AN: I've been watching this show again so I've been inspired to update these fics 😊 Thank you for reading
Chapter Five
Clark shivered as the door opened and Lois gently placed her hand upon his chest. She hated seeing him this way. It wasn't only that he was Superman – she had changed him out of that suit and tried to help him into more comfortable and less restraining clothing – but that he was her husband. He was always strong. Seeing him like this was unusual for her despite having been witness to it a few times before.
"I'm here," she whispered hoping that he would hear her. She heard Martha at the doorway and saw Johnathan in her arms. She saw Dr. Kline follow after but she still kept her hand upon Clark's chest. She kissed the top of his head. "Doctor…" she said as she brushed back Clark's hair a little. "Did you come to check up on him again?"
"I came to tell you some painful news as well," the doctor told her.
Lois stared at him in horror, was Clark able to hear this? Was he conscious?
"I'm not sure what to call him, I've been calling him Superman for such a long time now. To have discovered that he was also Clark Kent, what do you call him?" the doctor asked Lois who looked at her husband once again.
"Of course I call him Clark but he won't mind, whatever name you feel most comfortable with would be fine with him. Now, can you tell me it straight? Clark would want it that way, direct and to the point, none of this waiting around business." Lois replied as she felt the tears in her eyes. Was he here to tell her about his pending death?
"His heart and lungs have been poisoned," Doctor Kline informed her and Lois heard Martha gasp and cover her mouth with the hand that wasn't supporting her grandson.
Lois trembled as more tears fell down her cheeks, "Poisoned? How long does he have? You can do something, right? You can't let him die. I…I don't…"
"He won't die unless he's put into more danger. Right now, his body is able to fight off the poison and heal but the process will be gradual, it might be a couple of weeks or even a couple of months before he's himself again, before he can use all of his powers. I know that that is a harsh truth," Kline told her and Lois shook her head.
"That's better than losing him," she said as she looked at Clark lovingly. She hated how weak he was. She wasn't sure if holding him so tightly was hurting him but if it was, she would have to protect him in another way. "Is there anything that I can do to help him."
"He's incredibly weak," Kline told her. "He may have to be on bed rest for a long time, at least until he can be out of bed for at least a half hour. He'll have difficulty flying for several weeks. His powers may start to recover in two weeks or it could be longer. Of course, there are things about his physiology that we don't know about, the time frame may be shorter or longer but we'll keep an eye on that. It must have been hard, marrying someone not from this planet."
"It was actually the easiest decision I've ever had to make," Lois whispered as she cupped Clark's face with the hand that wasn't on his chest. He didn't need his glasses any longer but she hadn't thrown them away in case he did want to continue to wear them. "No matter who he is, Superman, Clark, Kal-El, he will always be Clark, my Clark."
"My Lo-Lois," Clark whispered as his hand met with the one of Lois's on his chest.
"Yes," Lois whispered through sobs. "I'm here, sweetheart. You just rest like the doctor ordered," she said as she knelt down beside him and saw his eyes flicker. He looked at her and she saw the pain and exhaustion which he had been put through. She loved looking into those beyond gorgeous eyes. He coughed slightly and Lois saw a little dark green liquid on his lips. She grabbed a tissue and dabbed at it. It looked like Kryptonite mixed with blood. Was this his lungs rejecting the poison? Maybe it wouldn't take as long as they thought. "Doctor Kline will run some tests on you. I'll be right beside you as he does."
"Tes-ts?" Clark whispered and Lois smoothed his hair down.
"Some standard tests, nothing like what they put you through. Tests like the ones you've had before. I'll be right beside you so I'll be able to help if anything happens. I'm so sorry," she whispered. She watched as he blinked at her confused to why she was apologizing. "I'm so sorry that you were so hurt. If only I had done something sooner. Can you forgive me?"
"It's not your faul-" Clark started to whisper in response before coughing painfully with his chest moving up in the bed. He groaned and Lois still brushed his hair back. She lent down, pressing a light kiss on his forehead. She put her fingertips over his mouth.
"If it's painful to you, you don't have to answer," she said lovingly. He wasn't invincible right now and although the opposite had been told to her, there was a chance he wouldn't be invincible ever again. "I love you, Clark," she said as he looked over to her, his eyelids still fluttering.
"Love…you…too," he told her before falling asleep. Lois carefully tucked him in. She lay beside him but over the covers. She looked to Dr. Kline.
"Can you perform the tests when he's asleep like last time?" she asked. He nodded and with another kiss, Lois stood up and went to hold their son in her arms.
LLCKLLCKLLCK
About a week later, Clark's recovery had been gradual but he had recovered a little. He kept trying to get up and out of the bed but Lois would catch him and remind him to lay down again. Sometimes he wouldn't rest until Johnathan was placed next to him and he felt that he could be a father to his son. During a time when he was a little more delirious, he had requested his Superman outfit and she had helped him into a new one since the old one had marks from the experimentation.
Lois heard a noise at the door and she moved to get it. Johnathan was in his crib for this moment. She froze as she saw someone who looked like they were from the government and she stretched her arms out, attempting to block entry.
"Hello," she said as she lifted her chin defensively. They had spent all their time in this location since they had rescued Clark from the lab and this was the first time a government agent had been standing there, let alone two. "I know that two men like yourselves will find it easy to gain entry but I won't let you get to my husband in the condition that he's in."
"We've come to apologize on behalf of the United States government," the first man said and Lois scoffed.
"Let me tell you this, my husband almost had a procedure done on his brain when he did not consent to it. I'm not some pushover who will agree so readily that it is forgotten. Do you even remember how much he has done for this country? How many times he has risked himself to defend a country that turned their back on him and put him through pain that I'm sure you couldn't even imagine? If you want to see him, tell me why, and it better be good and believable."
Despite the size and physical profiles of the government officials, Lois was still strong in her own movements. She had her chin raised and gripped onto either side of the doorway. Yes, she didn't have the strength that Clark did but she did have the conviction of spirit, she still loved her family more than anything. Whatever happened to her, it didn't matter, he mattered and he would think the same for her.
"Ma'am I know this is hard," the second official said and Lois continued to stand there.
"You could easily send a hundred men, I understand that but I won't let you get to him unless I know that he's safe. Now, tell me what's going on here." Lois felt a shakiness in her voice. She kept her arms still. They weren't going to take him into that lab ever again, they'd have to kill her first.
"The president wanted to extend his apologies. After all that Superman has done for the country, we want to get him into a safe and secure residence for his recovery. We have a car downstairs," they told her and Lois frowned. She had to admit that she was worried about people who might try to take advantage of them especially since Clark needed his rest. It sounded like a good idea but she wasn't sure if she could trust anyone. "We'd like to take him there."
"I'm not letting you just take him," Lois replied. "Wherever he goes, I am going too. He needs his rest. You don't understand what your scientists have done to him. I won't forgive or forget that easily." She lifted her chin again. "Would you?"
The agent shifted, "No, I would not. If you don't want to come now, then tonight?" he asked. "It's the best for his safety. We'll be able to arrange anything that he needs."
Lois took a slow breath in as she stared at them. She nodded, her heart beating painfully in her chest. She wasn't sure whether to trust anyone ever again but it made sense that she and Clark needed more protection with his secret being exposed. She hated the risk she was taking but at least she'd be with him. She'd have to ask Johnathan Sr. and Martha to take care of Johnathan Jr. but that could be done. She nodded again and after discussing times with the officials, she saw them go and returned to her husband. She wanted his opinion but was scared to stress him out. She would have to be brave for the both of them.
LLCKLLCKLLCK
Lois had managed to get Clark to put something over the superman outfit as they sat in the back of the government car. He didn't have his iconic glasses on so the image of Superman was still there for the officials but to her, he looked much more like himself. She felt his body shiver as his head rested against the window. He still desperately needed his rest.
"Sweetheart," she whispered to him and saw him look down groggily, she saw the sweat on his forehead. She touched his strong shoulder and delicately guided him so his head was in her lap. He shivered. Should she have moved him this early on?
"Maybe this will help you feel better" she commented as she pushed his hair back lovingly. He coughed some of the green fluid again and she dabbed at his mouth with a handkerchief. She hated not knowing what was wrong with his body. His body was different to hers but the physiology was close despite some distinct differences. She had to try to take care of him as much as possible.
"Seems strange, him being so weak….or dressed in normal clothes," the government official who wasn't driving added. Clark reached for Lois's hand which she immediately held and squeezed, she pushed his hair back. His temperature felt slightly cooler but he was still incredibly ill. She hated seeing him this way and she didn't need for it to be pointed out to her.
"Can we just get to the residence," she asked before turning to her husband. "It will be okay. You will be okay," she told him. She saw him nod to her but as he opened his mouth, he didn't speak. It seemed too painful for him to speak. She hated that this had happened to him. "You just relax, okay?" she told him. "I'll take care of everything."
LLCKLLCKLLCK
So, they had been telling the truth about a more secure residence. Lois actually felt safer in this house. There were guards and security equipment and everything they might need. There were also enough bedrooms for the whole family. She had managed to leave Clark's side as he slept a few days later and gone to the place she had set up as an office.
She stared at the computer as she looked over the short article that she had written. She wished she had more space to write it but being a journalist, she knew to pick her words carefully.
You, the people, have asked numerous times how I feel about the dual identity of my husband. Let me settle that now. I love my husband. To me, he is Clark Kent, the man I worked beside, married, and trust above anyone else. I don't see him as alien, I see him as my best friend, the man I love, a hard-working reporter, and an amazing husband and father. Many people have told me that he is Superman with the secret identity of Clark Kent, this couldn't be further from the truth. Clark was born different than others. He grew up knowing he'd be seen as different if he was exposed. Even in Smallville, he had countless people to save. He came to Metropolis because he takes pride in a career he loves. When he discovered the crime level was daunting, the intrinsic beauty of Clark Kent couldn't stand by as he watched these things happen. He became Superman due to a need to help others, others unable to protect themselves from the harsh realities of crime. I couldn't be prouder of him or of being his wife. After all that he has done for this country, I hope he continues to receive your respect as Clark Kent. The only thing he seeks is acceptance. I hope that after the shock has cleared, you'll be able to give him at least that. He has given us so much that I believe he has earned that from all of us: acceptance.
Lois read through it again, making sure the word count was correct before she would send it to Perry. She wanted to write something that brought out his human side. He might be seen as a superhero but that was a smaller part of his personality. Most people wouldn't see it that way though. She clicked save before sitting back, she'd read through it another couple of times to perfect it.
As she sat still, she felt a set of hands on her shoulders, massaging them. She looked back and immediately stood up. "Clark," she whispered as she finally saw him out of the bed. She threw her arms around him, pressing her cheek into his chest. After making sure to breathe him in, she stood back and cupped his strong and well defined cheek.
"Sweetheart, how are you feeling? Are you sure that you should be standing?" she asked him as she pulled out the chair she had just been sitting on. "Here, sit down."
"I'm fine," he whispered before pushing her hair back and tucking it behind her ear. He kissed her forehead lovingly. "I've missed you," he told her and she looked up and into his eyes. He was doing a lot better than before. Still, it was her privilege to worry about him.
"Clark, what happened in that la-" she said before seeing how haunted he looked.
"I know you have a million questions about it," he said, his voice still weak but at least he could have a conversation with her, his body had recovered that much. "If possible though, for right now, just for right now, could we forget about it."
Lois stared at him before nodding. She kissed him again. "Yes, if that's what you want. I really missed you," she told him. "I'm glad that you're feeling better."
"I still don't feel like myself," he told her honestly. "I'm recovering though."
Lois nodded. She hugged him again. "I love you, no matter what," she promised him. "We'll get through this together, just like we can get through anything together."
End of Chapter Five
Thank you for reading
Thank you to the reviewers of Chapter Four
Gisela19wwe