"I forgot that sometimes common sense isn't common. I was certain that giving Inzerillo a firm 'no' would end the situation. He would realize that he had crossed a line and be glad that he got away with his life. But the truth was because Kal didn't kill him he was certain that he didn't know. He assumed that I didn't tell him and I, in some twisted way, wanted to take him up on his offer, so he kept trying."

"And why didn't the Dictator do anything about it sooner?"

Color floods Sakura-El's cheeks, and she looks away from him. "I'm a big girl, Mr. Kent. I can take care of myself. I could handle a dirty old man trying to get in my pants. He wouldn't be the first one to try. I saw no need to go running to Kal whenever something bad happened."

Clark hears her emphasis on Kal, and he realizes what he has done, but he can't find it in himself to apologize at the moment. In Clark's mind, her words translate to one single statement. Clark says flatly, "You didn't tell him."

"He would have killed him, and that would have been a bad business move. It was a bad business move that he might not have recovered from if-" Her words break off and she shakes her head. "Inzerillo didn't have to die. I was handling it."

"But he found out."

"Yes, he found out. Kal always found out." A fond smile crosses her lips. "He was smart like that."

The sentiment is evident in her voice, but Clark can't focus on it. He can't accept the fact that he might be jealous. "And how do you think he felt to find out that his wife was being attacked on a regular basis and he knew nothing about it?"

"I never said it happened on a regular basis." The Dictator's wife argues.

"You didn't deny it either." Clark retorts.

"Mr. Kent," Sakura begins, but Clark interrupts her and says, "I'd like it if you called me Clark."

After a long moment of silence Sakura inclines her head and says, "Then, by all means, call me Sakura."

Sakura can handle a dirty old man. She's dealt with dirty old men before. Hell, she's dealt with dirty young men before. But she doesn't know how long Kal will be able to handle it. Sakura has been fending off Inzerillo for months now, and she is getting tired of hiding the strain from Kal. Every instinct in her body is telling her to snap his neck and be done with it but she can't. Kal needs Inzerillo.

It doesn't help that her husband is suspicious. He is even more so when they are in Inzerillo's presence. Kal is always careful not to leave the two of them alone. It hardly does any good because Inzerillo is a wily old man and just because Kal doesn't leave them in the room together doesn't mean he can't find some way to be disgusting while Kal is present.

When Sakura opens the door to her home and sees Enrico Inzerillo standing alone on her doorstep, she realizes that she isn't the only one to notice that Kal has been interceding.

Kal is gone to put down a rebellion. There are people, a group that calls themselves something related to Justice that was causing a ruckus.

Sakura was itching to go with him, but Kal denies her request. She does not like that he goes out to fight with no one to watch his back. It is her main arguing point that is always shot down. Kal is adamant that she remain separate from his administration of discipline. She thinks this is ridiculous, but he reminds her that they are playing good cop, bad cop and that she has a role to play. Sakura regrets ever saying those words to him. When he leaves, she feels like she's leaving him behind, that she's abandoning him. When she tells him this, he merely takes her in his arms and gifts her with a soul-shattering kiss.

She has been walking around with a dopey grin on her lips until she is interrupted by a knock on her door.

"What are you doing here Mr. Inzerillo?"

She almost opens her mouth to tell him that Kal isn't here, but doesn't think that's wise.

"Come now, Sakura, you know you can call me Enrico."

Sakura knows this. However, calling the man by his first name is far too intimate—not to mention she feels as if doing so will be disrespectful to Kal, because of his interest in her in the carnal nature. Sakura is also aware that Kal stated in no uncertain terms months ago that she is not to be called by her name by anyone but him. They were to address her at all times as Mistress El.

Admittedly there are some people that she doesn't make do that except when Kal is around being crotchety-like the kids. Conner and Kara are indispensable to Kal, and they are loyal as well as family. There is no way she is going she is going to make them call her Mistress El. Kara calls her Sakura but Conner, her sweet boy, calls her Mom.

She is going to have to talk to Kal about letting Conner move in. Kara is a mite independent, but Sakura is certain that if she could get Conner to agree to move in, then Kara will as well. It would be easier for Sakura to protect them all that way.

"No, Mr. Inzerillo, I can't. Just as you can't call me Sakura and you know that."

Sakura knows she is ignored when Inzerillo says, "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Sakura sighs, steps back, and decides to get this over with as soon as possible.

"You just let him in!" Clark knows he's shouting. He shouldn't be shouting. The events have already unfurled, and Sakura-El is sitting with him safe and sound. However, if that is the case then why is he suddenly so frightened?

"Clark, I am unharmed. There's no cause for alarm."

Clark hears her amused exasperation and notes that he's making a fool of himself. He looks into her eyes and sees her smiling reassuringly. He soon finds their hands clasped together and feels the gentle squeeze she gives him before she pulls away and says, "Sometimes Clark you remind me so much of my husband. If you don't mind me asking…are you by any chance, Superman?"

Clark freezes.

A/N: I do not come bearing good news. All my stories are going to be put on hiatus for an indeterminate amount of time. My mother is ill and it's time that I learned that I just can't do everything. I've been trying these past couple of months but I can't. So there will be one more chapter update to YB and then I'll be back as soon as I can.

-JnR