EPILOGUE

Writer's Note: There is quite a bit of influences on the epilogue, namely "Plastique", "Toxic", "Identity" and "Stiletto". Even in the original version of story, Oliver learning about Lionel killing his parents was in his nightmare. So we thought we would take it a step further in the revamped version to have a scene similar to "Toxic", but with our own take. The events of this story were always supposed to setup a Hated Vigilante arc that we did before the VRA was a thing on SV. If you read sil3nt's "Villain" on Kryptonsite (the next story), there is some similarities to "Disciple" (keep in mind he wrote that one during Season 8)

FADE IN

The next morning at the Daily Planet, Lois was busily typing at her computer, get an early start to the day. The sun was shining brightly and the smell of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. As Lois continued to work, a tray of coffees was deposited on her desk. She looked up to see Clark Kent, dressed in a royal blue shirt, red and white striped tie, and black pants…and of course those thin rimmed glasses.

"What's all this?" she asked, noticing him holding a bag of things in addition to the coffees he had deposited on her desk.

"I got you some fresh Brazilian blend coffee, a maple donut, and even some of those potato rolls you like so much," Clark explained.

Lois took a sip of coffee, and smiled, snatching the bag from him. "Thanks Smallville."

"I thought it was the least I could do for saving my life," Clark added, with a sparkle in his eyes as he gazed fondly upon her.

Another smile crept on Lois' lips. "Well, you know, it comes with the job description, me saving your butt," she joked, taking a bite of her maple donut. "I wouldn't be much of a partner if I let my co-pilot fly solo so soon."

"I suppose not," Clark offered, playfully.

"And you know, you weren't too shabby yourself," Lois continued. "You did force Dee to stab himself with that needle."

"I guess we make a good team…Clark and Lois versus the world," Clark commented, smiling.

"Lois and Clark," she corrected him. "And I suppose we do. But I wouldn't let it go to your head. You'd still be lost without me," Lois continued the playful exchange.

She furrowed her brow while looking at Clark. "There's still one thing I'm about confused about. Since when do you wear glasses?"

"Since I was a junior in high school," Clark explained. "There was an accident and I was temporarily blinded. My eyes were never the same. I started to wear contacts because I was too embarrassed to wear glasses."

"With good reason, you look ridiculous. I would stick with the contacts for now," Lois added, half-jokingly. Although she had to admit, he looked kind of cute in them. 'There you go again, Lois, cool it,' she thought.

Clark smirked. Before he could think of a comeback, both Jimmy and Perry entered the room.

xxx

Perry presented them with that morning's paper with the headline, "DESTINY'S REIGN OF TERROR OVER" Reported by Lois Lane. "Great work you two. Not only did you manage to land a bigger story, but you helped stop a criminal. Dee is now safely locked up in the high security wing of Belle Reve."

"Yeah, congrats guys," Jimmy began. "Personally, I think this is the beginning of beautiful partnership," he added with a grin.

Lois rolled her eyes at the not so subtle, not to mention, cliché Casablanca reference. She looked over to Clark. He appeared dismayed as he held the paper in his hands. Clark had done some of the leg work but he was the junior reporter.

"Chin up Clark, you did a great job on the obits for Dee ex-wife, and Dr. Price, aside from a few typos," Lois started. "I think you have long career ahead of you. And if you're lucky, one day you will have your name on the front page just like me."

Clark smiled, appreciating that Lois was trying to cheer him up, in her own way. "Thanks, Lois."

"Just don't take too much after her, Kent. Lane's already on a short leash, and I can't have another reporter running off half-cocked, risking their life for a story," Perry cut in.

"Hey, if get the gets the job done..." Lois countered.

"I appreciate your passion, Lois but you two got lucky last night," Perry stated sincerely. Perry saw potential in both of them, but he didn't want any harm to come to them. But he had to admit, Lois might be the daughter he never had.

"It won't happen again," Clark assured him, looking over to Lois.

"Good," Perry responded. He turned to Jimmy. "Have fun on your trip, Olsen. I expect you to be nice and refreshed when you return to work on Tuesday."

Perry began to walk out of the bullpen when Jimmy called out to him. "Will do. Thanks, Chief!"

"Olsen, I thought I told you never to call me, Chief," Perry snapped. Jimmy shrugged his shoulders, as Lois and Clark chuckled in the background.

xxx

Chloe folded a t-shirt and placed it in a large blue suit case, sitting atop of her bed at the Talon. As she grabbed another shirt, she heard a knock at the door. "Come in," Chloe called out.

"Lois!" Chloe exclaimed cheerfully. "I see you're learning to knock," she added in a joking tone.

Lois rolled her eyes. "I knocked…I just didn't give Smallville a chance to respond." She still remember Clark's annoyed reaction to her coming in to his bedroom when he and Chloe were discussing the aftermath of the commuter train incident.

"You gotta work on that Lois. Or did you really want to get a glimpse of Clark naked to get back at him for catching you in the shower that time?" Chloe teased.

Lois turned slightly red. "He told you about that?" she asked, in disbelief. "For your information, I've already seen Clark Jr."

"Really?" Chloe slyly asked, amused.

"Yeah, he was in a corn field, no memory…," Lois started. "…Wait, why I'm even talking about this?" She folded her arms, annoyed.

"Settle down, Lois, just teasing," Chloe replied in a disarming tone. "You're home early," she observed.

"Perry gave us a couple of hours off. Slow news day," Lois replied. "Ready for your trip?"

Chloe nodded yes. "Yeah, Jimmy's picking me up in 10 minutes to go the airport. I think we're just going to miss the rain."

"Have fun, Cuz," Lois said, hugging her cousin.

"Thanks, Lo."

"What's with the boxes outside?" Lois asked, curious.

"I didn't get a chance to tell you because I've been swamped. But I'm moving out," Chloe responded.

"What? When?" Lois couldn't believe it.

"At the end of the month. I've already given Tess my notice," Chloe elaborated. "With the engagement and Isis, I figured it would best to move in with Jimmy."

"Are you sure about this? This is a big step. And Jimmy…he's a sweet guy, but he's the first guy whose really shown you any bit of attention," Lois wondered.

"Lois…I know you're just trying to look out for me, and I love you like a sister. But yes, I'm sure, Jimmy's my guy," Chloe insisted. "One day you'll understand what I see in him."

"You're probably right. I just want you to be happy," Lois relented, hugged Chloe tightly.

xxx

Rain poured and thunder cracked outside the Ace of Clubs. At times, it shook the windows. Inside, Oliver was drowning his sorrows. There was a bunch of empty drink glasses on the bar top. He had just finished a martini, when he asked for another drink. "Another shot of tequila, barkeep."

"Don't you think you've had enough?" a voice asked behind him. It was Clark.

"Spare me the self-righteous attitude, Clark. I'm a big boy, I can take care of myself," Oliver snapped, swallowing the tequila in one gulp.

"I know what you're going through, Oliver," Clark assured him.

"Do you?" Oliver asked in disbelief, the alcohol clearly impairing his judgment.

"Dee got into my head, too. He played on my fears. I lived my worst nightmare," Clark explained. "But we can't let him get to us, otherwise he wins."

"Maybe I'm not as strong as you. Did you ever think about that?" Oliver contemplated. He signalled the bartender to give him another drink, but the bartender refused.

Ollie turned around to face Clark, frustrated. Clark was speechless. "I live my worst nightmare every day. I can't bring my parents back."

"I lost my birth parents…and my dad, remember?"

"But somehow you survive, I don't know how you do it, Clark," Oliver responded, almost envious. "You know, maybe Destiny was right about me. He was certainly right about my parents."

"What are you talking about?" Clark inquired, confused.

"I had Chloe check the maintenance logs on my parents' plane," Oliver explained. "There was Luthorcorp employees working that day. Lionel Luthor killed my parents. You knew about this didn't you?"

"Oliver…," Clark began tentatively, trying to figure how best to respond. "I didn't know how to tell you. I thought you might do something you would regret."

"What, like kill him? You can't kill a ghost from the past. I would never murder someone. I'm nothing like him," Oliver shot back, unsettled. "You could've at least told me after he died. You could've have given me that much."

"That's not what I meant," Clark explained. "I was afraid of something like this happening. I'm sorry."

"Maybe the world doesn't need a hero who is unstable," Oliver mused, depressed.

"Dee was wrong about you, you're not weak. Overcoming tragedy has made you stronger, to strive to make the world a better place. You just need to find that inner strength again," Clark maintained.

Oliver took in what his friend has to say. It was hard for him to focus, but he knew he couldn't keep this up forever. Something had to give. "I hope you're right, Clark…for all of our sakes."

xxx

John Dee was now trapped in a cell in the high security wing of Belle Reve Sanitarium, having traded in his stolen clothes for a blue jumpsuit. Not that Dee would have noticed. For all intents and purposes, he was dead to the world. He just lay there, staring into space, mumbling intermittently. "Fear…you will fear me…alone…no vengeance…fear me."

Tess Mercer looked in on the patient, with a Belle Reve doctor at her side. "What can you tell me about his condition?"

"He appears to have accidentally injected himself with a highly experimental and highly potent sedative," the doctor answered. "He rambles from time to time, but most of the time he's unresponsive. It's like some strange combination of catatonic and disorganized schizophrenia."

"Dee attacked all those people, how he could he fall victim to his own power?" Tess wondered.

"When he accidentally injected himself, it's possible that all the mental power he used to try to attack that reporter was reversed back on to him. Dee receded into himself, it's like he's trapped in his own mind," the doctor speculated.

"Make sure it stays that way," Tess responded. "I'll contact S.T.A.R. Labs and make sure you are provided with enough of the sedative. We can't have Dee causing any more trouble."

Tess's gaze lingered for a moment longer before turning away and following the doctor down the corridor.

Dee was now all alone. A prisoner is his own mind, like his victims had been…at least for the time being. He had fallen prey to his own fear.

FADE OUT

THE END