-A/N: Thanks for the reviews, glad you guys are enjoying! :)
Chapter 6: Oh, Baby!
3 Months later...Dark Alley, Metropolis...
Black knee-high, heeled boots clanked on the uneven, dirty concrete covered in muck and other unmentionables she rather not think about right now. In the distance sirens and horns sounded-the city life, water dripped repeatedly somewhere, something scattered to her right she hoped was a cat and not a rat; those things could be huge-the size of a small dog. All the while trying to breath through her mouth as to not smell the rancid atmosphere of the dingy alleyway, making her stomach curl.
Yet, this wasn't as bad as some of the other hell holes she met informants, it was actually a step up, as unbelievable as that was. She still couldn't believe it though, she had connections! They weren't anything really to brag about and not many, but, hey, it was a start and she was on her way to being a star reporter, alright. There was a Pulitzer or two in her future, she just knew it. Could feel it in her bones. Or the very least a Kerth award.
Lois stopped at the vibration in the front pocket of her grey dress suit, hand pulling out the illuminating cell phone and instantly putting it to her ear.
"How's the baby?" Her voice not hiding the worry in her tone.
"Geez, Lois, you're the mascot for first time moms everywhere, you know that? I would like to believe you have a little faith in me."
The brunette reporter exhaled in relief, at the teasing note of her cousin's voice on the other end of the line. "Sorry, babes, I guess I'm just a wreck anytime I'm away from Sammy for any length of time. I don't know if I'll ever get use to this mommy stuff."
"Yea, I can tell, he's almost three months and you still keep running out of the shower about a hundred times just to check to make sure he's ok. He gets a kick out of it, though, and cracks up seeing you soaked and rushing back off again."
Lois rolled her eyes, she wasn't that bad. Ok, maybe just a tad bit. "Point being, Chlo?"
"He's with me, Lo, I'm not going to let anything happen to him." The tall reporter could practically see her baby cousin shake her head with amusement. "And I don't mind the flashes of the Lane Twins, being as I'm a girl, but the other members of the Justice League really don't need to see what you're working with, Miss Lane. You almost gave poor Bart a heart attack."
Lois could hear her cousin laugh and joined along. "Cuz, he excused himself in the other bathroom for a long time. I doubt it was a heart attack he was having."
"Lois!" Chloe admonished with a giggle and roll of her own grey eyes. "And when are you going to settle on a nickname? He has several of them, Lo."
"Johnathan Jerome Samuel Lane Kent Jr." Lois saying the incredibly long name of her months old son and sighed, it was a mouthful, but she could be so very indecisive. "John-John, Jae, little John, Sammy, Jo-Jo, Jr...I don't know I can't decide. Anyway how's my lil guy?"
"My godson is having way too much fun with his godfather. Ollie says, 'hi', by the way." Chloe repeating the greeting from the blonde archer, her eyes going from the athletic-slender man, tossing baby a little in the air and catching him effortlessly.
"Quality time going ok with our merry leader?" Lois asked as she stepped further in the shadows of the rundown path, it was getting close to time to meet her source.
"Do you even need to ask? You know Jae adores Oliver." Chloe replied and they could both hear laughter from the baby as Oliver blew raspberries on the baby's belly as he drooled, biting down gums on his own chubby little fingers.
Lois smiled warmly hearing her son's giggles and turned her attention to her cousin. "I was talking about my blonde cousin and the blonde archer."
"Funny." Chloe bit out with sass. "You know we're just friends, right, and he's my boss too, Lois. Not to mention your ex."
"Uh-huh. Of which you know, nothing even remotely physical happened between us. So, no worry of sloppy seconds." Lois smirked teasingly and added just to bust her chops even more with a sly smirk. "Just make sure my son's little eyes doesn't see anything he shouldn't."
"Lois!" Chloe huffed out with burning cheeks, turning quickly away from Oliver and his raised brow toward her. "Let's get off that track, shall we? How's the Daily Planet's upcoming star reporter?"
"Little too early in the game to be called that, but I guess as long as Mr. White is impressed by me, so far, there is always hopes of me getting out of that damn musty basement."
"Don't worry, Lois, Perry has to be blind to not see how far you've come in the journalism world. The Journalist gods are impressed."
"Thanks, babe, I wish you could be by my side, though. Stupid Luther letting you go, just to days later, sell the paper anyway. I can still talk to the Chief to get your old job back, you know."
"Chief? Does Perry like you calling him that?"
"No." Lois laughed highly bemused, picturing her high-blood-pressured boss blowing his lid and roaring for her to quit calling him that. "He gets a kick out of it."
Chloe shook her head. "Besides I found my calling as Watch Tower. These boys here need me more then you ever will, Lo. You're doing an awesome job kicking all kinds off butt out there on your own on the mean streets of Metropolis. You don't need me."
The reporter sighed. "I know, I just miss having you around...having someone around. I miss our Chlo-Lo times as Ace reporters. Well, you were the Ace, I was just a wannabe at the time."
"Now look at you." Chloe said with pride in her voice for her older cousin.
"Yea." Lois agreed equally as proud of herself and still in disbelief that she worked at the Daily Planet which was a major step up from writing Tabloid sleaze at the Inquisitor. "Whoa, look at the time I gotta go, my guy will be here any minute now."
"Becareful, Lois, you have a baby to come home to." Chloe's brave but worried voice sounded in her ear.
"Always, give John-John, my love." Now wasn't the time to loose her head with worry, she had a job to do and a son to get safely home to.
"I will, bye."
"Bye." Lois ended the call, stuffing her cell phone back inside her front pocket as a can skittered across the uneven concrete of the dank alley. Lois jumped and twirled around in fighting stance ready to take down whoever dared to cross her path.
She relaxed some and blew out a breath, seeing the skittish, almost anorexic man step into the only light dimly glowing yellow beams into the small opening housing an overstuffed dumpster and dozens of empty milk crates. It was her informant she been having dealings with for a month or so now. He was a shifty little man, but his intel proved more then valuable in getting what she needed for a story or two.
"Relax, it's just me." His eyes darting from one side to another as if expecting at any moment to be busted on some sleazy deal gone wrong.
"You're late, Chuck."
"Looks whose talking the Queen of being on time."
She gave him a brow raised and a set glare for his snarky reply, she was getting better when it came to being on time. "Touché, what you got for me?"
"You got my money?" He demanded softly, eyes still shifting around with unease.
Lois held a white envelope up filled with twenties, her hazels scrutinizing him. "Like I don't know already. Two hundred like always." Her head nodding toward him to get talking. "Now, what you have for me?"
He looked around one more time, slowly and thoroughly before pulling out a small black book from his soiled-looking clothing. "Here are names and addresses of some shady characters those dirty cops working for the MPD are dealing with. Enough of a start for you to track down some hard evidence. Look up the losers and get a front page story. Win. Win."
Lois brows furrowed as she narrowed hazel eyes at him in suspicion. "How did you come by such address book?"
"You ask a lot of questions for someone handing you a story on a silver platter." He was visibly shaking like he would wet his pants, Lois was starting to have a gut feeling something was very wrong here.
"Two hundred dollars does a lot of talking." She shrugged nonchalantly, wondering what exactly wasn't he telling her as warning bells inside was shrilling louder and louder as the seconds ticked by. But she been in enough sticky situation to know when to keep a cool head.f
"Lets just say I want one cop in particular on that list to go down for all the trouble he has caused me." He turned his head more into the dim light allowing Lois to see the black and purple around his swollen left eye.
Lois scrunched up at the obvious pain it must of caused him. "Pretty nice shiner there, what you do to deserve that?"
"Whatever happened to innocent til proven guilty? I saw one of the dirty SOB cops dealing drugs to a outside gang. I was in the wrong spot at the wrong time. He saw I recognized him as one of MPD and took me out back for all my troubles, if you know what I mean."
"Why didnt you report him, turn him in for beating you senseless and dealing drugs on a side hustle?"
"Come on Lane, you really think anyone is going to believe me over MPD's finest? I got a rap sheet as long as my arm. How do you think I recognized him in the first place?"
Lois nodded her head in understanding, he was right, when it came to people below the law and Metropolis Police Force, it was a no-brainer who would be seen as the right party in this situation. Even if it was the police that were doing the wrong in this case, things like that just seemed to get overlooked purposefully. "Don't worry I'll make sure he gets what he desrves for thinking hes above the law. I'll make sure they all do."
"Im hoping you're right, Miss Lane, that youre not like the other reporters who just want a story on the front page and could give a crap about helping out us little guys."
"Chuck, youll find out I'm not like most reporters. Soon the world will know too, I give you my word, I'll bring these dirty cops to justice for what they done." Lois said determined to do just what she said, this is what she was here for, why her heart went into the job because people like Chuck who just couldn't get a break in life, as well as other who cried out for a voice to speak on their behalf. She had plenty of voice to use and she was going to put it to a damn good use. This was her purpose.
"Well, Well, Well what do we have here? If it aint our boy chuck and some side meat?"
Lois and her informant instantly turned around to three broad, very built men who had the look of cops written all over them, even dressed down, the arura of men in uniform was on them. They stepped from an adjacent alley walking side by side before stopping a few feet in front of them. Chuck quickly backed up to Lois' side fearfully recognizing the brutes who just stepped from the shadows.
"Chuck are these the men on that list?" Lois asked in a low voice, never wavering her deep green eyes from the men.
"No they're just rookies who want to get in the good graces of those cops. So they do side jobs for them-"
"Shut your fucking face old man! Seems like you need to learn another lesson." One of the brute with spiked red hair and sun-kissed tan skin, cracked his knuckles making his point across of what lesson he intended to give.
"Hey, leave him alone." Lois warned stepping some in front of her informant that looked like a small breeze could push him over.
"Shut up, bitch." Another rookie with natural dark skin snapped from his mouth with a steely glare.
"Your mama must be really proud, real gentleman with that mouth." Lois bit out, narrowing own gaze right back.
The guy went to go to her in a intimidating gesture but was held back by the one in the middle, dirty blonde hair, nice clean cut, strong jaw, wide shoulders like the rest of them. Whom seem to be calling the shots, leader of the greasy group. "Cool it, this doesnt need to get physical. Besides we can look real good on the force taking down this bust."
"What are you talking about?" Chuck whispered scared of the turn of events.
The rookies passed knowing looks between the three of them, leering smiles on their faces as they stepped closer to the two; reporter and informant as they took a step back from the imposing forces advancing on them.
One of the rookies' hands going from his own sport coat pockets to that of Chuck's front jean pockets, pulling out small bags of drugs. "Look what we have here. Is that heroine? You can go away for a long time for that shit, Chuck."
Chuck shook his head violently side to side, sweating bullets from the situation. "That's not mine! I swear!"
"You planted that on him and you know it!" Lois went to try to defend her informant when the rookie with straight blonde buzz cut stepped in her path.
"Hey, you're interfering with police business, but seeing as Chuck here came here to get lucky for paid services, looks like you'll be heading downtown to the station too."
Lois' face boiled with anger hearing the dirty cop imply she was prostituting. "I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet unless you want to be blasted all over tomorrow's front page, I suggest you retract all the crap you're trying to pull and run with your tail between your legs like good lil' bitches."
"Oooh, big words for someone who's gonna spend the night in a jail cell, honey." He smirked, his eyes raking over her body from her feet up to her head, starring mighty hard at two particular assets before settling on her face. "But I'm willing to make a deal if I can sample the goods, What'cha, say?."
His hand sliding down the column of her neck to close in on the mounds of flesh peaking out from the slight opening of her dress jacket, only to be snatched away by the feisty reporter's own hand and twisted back by his thumb. The blonde rookies' shouts echoing in the small alley in torment. "I told the last guy who tried to pull that move, he was going to pull back a stump."
"Are you fucking kidding me here?! You just assaulted an officer!" The rookie with spiked red hair screamed out at her, his face contorted in rage.
Before Lois could react, a back hand slapped violently against her face leveling her to the ground as her palm went up to the searing pain instinctively, pulling back blood from her busted lip.
She looked up dazed at the laughing men swimming before her hazel eyes, seeing six of them instead of the three she knew was really there. From the corner, she saw Chuck trying to come to her aide but he was no match against the three beefy men. They rounded on him, a fist thrown connecting with poor Chuck's stomach, causing him to double over in pain and a loud groan.
More fists were soon added, connecting over and over with his smaller body until he collapsed to his knees unable to keep on his feet and then he curled up like a fetus on the ground as they delivered blow after blow.
"Leave him alone!" The exact words Lois was about to say as she dizzly tried to get back up on shaky legs. But the deep booming voice came from the shadows as a figured emerged in red and blue.
"What the hell?" One of the rookies nervously shouted as they turned instinctively pulling out their concealed guns at the same time pointing it toward what they could barely see, what it was that spoke as it hid in the deep shadows of the alley.
"Show yourself or we'll cap your ass for intruding on police matters!" The leader of the slimy group spoke, his hand shaking slightly as his gun stayed in the air.
The infuriating voice sounded in a different direction this time and from the sound of it's menacing tone, whatever it was, was pissed. "The law is suppose to uphold justice not take it and do what you please."
"Buddy, youre about two secounds away from being filled with lead."
"With all due respect officers you should put those down before someone get hurt."
"Keep talking from the shadows, tough guy, we're the ones with the guns."
"Don't say I didn't warn you." His final words before red beams could be seen heating up the metal guns in their hands until they were glowing themselves and way too hot for the mere mortals to hold. They yelled in pain and dropped the useless weapons to the ground.
"What the fuck did you do!" The dirty blonde cop screamed in panic as the men searched wildly around in fear as a small, secretive smile claimed the reporter's lips, eyes lighting up in glee from the dramatics displayed around. Now, he's just showing off.
Moving way too fast to be identified, the figure was nothing but a blur of red and blue color as it rushed the three low lives, throwing them hard against the wall behind them, they falling unconscious to the ground below, bodies limp and unmoving. A gush of air announced his arrival behind her, Lois turned her head to see the blur of color over Chuck's unconscious body before in a blink of an eye, his body was gone and the three dirty cops as well.
Another second passed and she could feel a slight disturbance of wind tickle the small hairs on the back of her neck, his speed making her head swim in dizzy circles again. She slowly raised to her feet, hand going to her temple at the oncoming of a migraine after the blow she took. His comforting hand on her shoulder to help steady her footing as his voice came inches from her ear.
"I'm sorry if I took so long. Are you ok?" He couldn't hide the concern in his voice, not from her ears. She been around him too many times to known what he felt at times toward her.
Lois gave a small laugh, her body shivering and it wasn't from the cool night air but more from the pressure of his hand on her shoulder. Her own hand reaching up gently to caress his fingers lightly with her own delicate ones. "You put an end to what could have been a very bad situation in 3 seconds flat."
"Two seconds flat...but, whose counting?" His rich deep voice whispered huskily, a hint of boyish charm mixed in his words.
She smiled widely hearing the note of tease in his voice. "Ego much?"
The reporter heard a small burst of glass before it went dark in the alcove of the alley they occupied, and the only faint lights coming some distance anyway from streetlights or window lights dimly illuminated by the buildings around them. What light was around didn't give enough to see much in the way of details just the way he wanted it as he took both of her shoulders in his strong, gentle hands and carefully spun her around to inspect the damage done to her face.
"We seriously have to stop meeting like this, Miss Lane." She could feel the warmth of his breath skitter across her lips and knew his own mouth was scant centimeters from her own, a delicious shiver went through her body at that thought.
Lois knew he could see perfectly well in the darkness cocooning them, from the abilities he revealed to her months ago, she knew he was using those advance eyes to check for any injuries. But besides a busted lip and maybe slight concussion, she knew she'd live to see another day of danger knocking down her door. Not that he was ever pleased about that little fact that seem to become of her life of late.
She shivered again when he placed his hand on her face, cupping her chin to tilt her head up for a better view and his thumb slid against the small cut on her swollen lip, she was sure would be purple soon. Breaking from the spell of intimacy that was so easy to fall into with the guy, she pulled her face away from his hand and tried on a glare, knowing he could see in the inkiness surrounding them.
"The phone booths have been quiet as of late and I can see you still don't trust me with your identity." Her voice was hard and accusing, but she was still hurt by the notion that he still didn't have faith in her to keep his secret. That they weren't as close as she believed they have become over the months.
"I've been busy this past week out of the country, sorry I didn't keep in touch and it's not like that. You know it's more for your protection then my own." He rushed to explain, knowing she would be upset but it would kill him if anything happened to her so his distance he had to keep at times.
Lois gulped, she was sounding like a pissed off girlfriend not like a possibly ignored sidekick, if she could even be labeled that. So what she helped The Blur on a few cases and seemed to be his go to girl when there was a need for assistance. Or even when there was no need, just to be an ear to listen to the things that troubled him. God knows she bent his ear a time or two, too many, never divulging anything too personal, though. God only knows how he would react to her putting her life in constant Jeopardy when she has a three month old home, depending on her safe return. Chloe more than made up in that department enough for a lifetime, she so didn't need a second person telling her how dangerous and selfish it is to constantly risk her life when she's a mom now.
Her natural chocolate hair, (She going back to her natural hair color since dying wasn't an option during pregnancy), swinging around her face as she shook head to shake away her thoughts and the line of conversation they were on and because she really wanted to know. "Is Chuck, ok?"
"He was beaten pretty badly, but I got enough word from a doctor that said he'll be just fine."
Lois closed the distance between them, her hand just naturally finding it's way to his cloth covered chest to feel the speeding of his heart that seem to be as fast as he could move. She feared it would burst at the rate it was going, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lip knowing he could be easily affected by her just as she could be riled up by him.
"I know I've said it a lot over the past months, but...Thank you...for saving my life. For always being there for me."
She wasn't sure but she could have sworn she heard a faint moan from the contact of her hand on him and electricity ignited as his own larger hand covered over the top of hers. "I always will."
She felt a pull like always being around him, as the rest of the space between them melted away and the world with it. Their bodies greedily pressed into each other to be closer than two people could possibly be without climbing inside each other. The sounds of their harsh breathing competing with the pounding of their racing hearts in her ears adding to the need she wanted in this instant and every other since the first time they met.
It was all so damn infuriating, though, to not be able to see his face because like all other times, the only face she could picture was Clark Kent's when it came to this stranger who felt so familiar, like coming home after months of hiatus. Her heart believing it was only from desire to be with the one man who set her aflame like no other, that allowed her to believe this complete stranger felt so familiar to her. And it was guilt that kept her from pursing anything further then this, between them or any man who shown interest. Her heart still fought for the one who staked claimed on it almost a year ago. Even when she tried to fight it tooth and nail she just couldn't allow herself to be with anyone else.
Lois bit her lip to keep from doing something stupid like kiss him, especially with his lips being just a breath away. Taking a deep breath she took a step back, severing the connection between their bodies. Unbeknownst to her, a smile broke out over The Blur's mouth from her actions, knowing that it was because she still had feelings for the real him and not his ego, but Clark didn't get to revel in it long as blaring sirens and screeching tires zipped by in the distance.
Lois' face turned from the direction of the noise back to his face "Sounds like it's going to be a busy night."
"Get straight home safely, Miss Lane, I'll be in touch." A caress from his hand upon her cheek before in a flash he was gone, off to save the day again.
But-Not before a light illuminated the dark alley, the one he burst with his heat vision replaced with a new one, bringing her out of the darkness. The corner of her lips curled into an appreciative smile at the gesture.
"Thanks." She said to no one, as she stood for a moment alone in the alley alcove before heels walking on the dirty, wet concrete ground headed her toward home.
Lois stopped suddenly as her phone gave a quick couple of vibrates, signaling an incoming message. She pulled her cell phone out to see a message sent by Perry.
From: Chief
9:23pm
I need you at the Daily Planet tomorrow
morning 8am, sharp. I got an assignment
for you.
The door knob jingled as keys turned the tumblers in the lock, door swinging open to let in one battered and bruised snarky reporter as blonde cousin rounded the corner with bright smile that instantly died on her face seeing the swelled skin and purple-blue bruises on the one who entered.
"I was wondering when-Oh my god, Lois! What happened to your face?!" Chloe was instantly grabbing down her older cousin's face to do her own inspection.
"Careful, mother hen." Lois winced from the sting of her lip and pulled from her baby cousin's grasp as she walked further into the small apartment, tossing grey suit jacket and matching purse on the furniture along the way. Only one thing she needed more than a band-aide at that moment. "Besides you should have seen the other three."
Chloe eyes bulged from their sockets as she watched her older cousin make her way to her bedroom to check on her son. "Three? Lois."
"Hi, my John-John." Lois whispered, hand caressing her sleeping son's face, from his thick black locks down to his chubby rose-colored cheeks. Her face smiling adoringly toward the tiny slumbering package as her head laid on the rail of the crib watching him contently. Heart swelling to the point of bursting for the love she didn't think was possible to hold for a child, any child. Children just were never on the agenda, especially since she and them never mixed well. She could attest to that from past experiences and the great job she did with her baby sister Lucy, who was like her first child.
But this was different, He was hers and she was going to do everything in her power to not screw him up. She just hoped the past wasn't waiting around the corner anytime soon to take a major chunk from her ass. Sighing she let go of that thought and focused on the elephant in the room.
That elephant, all the while, her highly upset cousin, leaning against the entrance post of her bedroom door drilling holes into her body with cutting glares.
Lois rolled her hazels and made eye contact with the blonde who could be just as feisty as herself when she wanted to be, and right now the rivulets of being pissed were rolling off of her by the barrel full. The tall brunette broke away from her kid and reached up to pull out the pins of her hair letting it down as she kicked her heels across her bedroom softly and walked past her cousin. She didn't need to wake up the baby with the blow out that was sure to come from her young cousin who was starting to act like she was the mom of the both of them.
"Are you going to talk or continue to glare at me til I burst into flames?" Lois smirked picking up a bottle of water from their kitchen counter and taking a sip.
"Lois, when you said you'd be careful, you didn't mention the fact that there would possibly be a brawl in a back alley somewhere." Chloe exasperated, wanting badly to strangle some since into the brunette.
"Well, wasn't exactly expecting it, Cuz, but you know me and danger. I can't stay away." Lois flippantly teased just to grate her nerves.
"I'm glad one of us can be light hearted about this. Lois I love Jae like a son but I don't want to end up replacing you as his mother any time soon."
Her words did it's job and got Lois to sober up on the matter. "Look I know I can be stubborn-"
Chloe scoffed at the understatement of her words but only shrugged as Lois glared and stayed quite so her older cousin could continue. "...and sometimes I do take risks I shouldn't but John-John is always on the forefront of my mind with any decision I make and I really don't go looking out for trouble 90% of the time."
"It's the 10% that worries me Lois, you need to take less risks."
"Well, stop worrying, I'm fine, thanks to my very own guardian angel." Lois smiled widely as she thought on her hero.
"The blur saved your life again." Chloe cocked her brow. Those two seemed to be getting closer, the thought running in her mind. "What does that make? Save two-fifty of your life since you met the guy?"
Lois screwed her face to the side in a glare and tossed a water bottle at Chloe, aiming for her head but her cousin caught it before it could do any damage. "Shutup. He doesn't save me that much and there were a few times I saved him. Thank you very much."
"Yea, like once." Chloe laughed to the annoyance of her cousin, who was more like a sister.
"Anyway, I need to ask a big favor, you free tomorrow morning to watch Jae?" Lois asked hopefully, she knew she was running out of brownie points and rushed in to explain at the hesistancy she read there on her baby cousin's face. "Nothing dangerous, I promise, Perry called me in for a special assignment at the office."
"Lois, you know I love Jae and I'll watch him anytime you need me to." Chloe replied earnestly and returned the grateful smile that Lois was giving, following her to their quaint living room and sitting next to her on the couch. "Any idea what he wants?"
Lois said with a dismissive head shake and raised shoulders. "None, but as long as he doesn't try to do something stupid like try to partner me up with someone again, he won't get any problems from me."
Next day..., Daily Planet...
"I woke up yesterday and you know what came to me?" Perry asked enthusiastically and with too much glee for the early hour it was, but Lois didn't even try to answer knowing he would just steam roll along with his story. And just like she predicted with bemused grin. "What great, Elvis Level, idea revealed itself-how I can keep my up incoming favorite star reporter alive and in line long enough to see a Pulitzer I know she has on the path before her?"
The beaming smile spread out wide on Lois' face disappearing just as quick as it came, from the words that continued to pour out from her Editor in Chief's mouth. Her heart seized in her chest with realization where he was going with his line of conversation, having her hazel eyes go wide in fear and head shake vehemently side to side.
"Perry, no!" "A partner!" They both spoke in unison, to one's excitement of having someone to tame his said reporter and getting her out of his hair somewhat and to the other's horror who was ready to storm herself from the basement and never look back again.
"No?" Mr White dragging out the word from her reply, not accustomed to having anyone go against his wishes.
"Look, Chief-Mr White-Perry, not that I don't value your insight and experience here on this, but I work better alone." She gritted out between teeth, nearly masking the whine in her words.
"I wasn't asking here, Lane, it's a package deal. You and him or adios! Besides I have enough grays on my own, I don't need you adding to them."
"Him?" Lois huffed out with a roll of eyes, hearing the sex of her new partner. "I don't need a sitter! I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."
"Your twenty-two hospital visits in the past two months says other wise."
"Oooh, it wasn't that many." Lois dismissed in annoyance, walking away to steel her nerves with a fresh cup of coffee at the refreshments table.
"You may be a army brat and trained in combat, Sweetheart, but this old man is going to have an aneurism if I have to worry about loosing the only reporter I can really tolerate in this basement." Perry voice in a fatherly tone as he placed his olden hand on her shoulder to soothe the rage that was boiling inside the young one.
Acquaintances through Martha Kent, some months back when she finally came around the farm after her four months or so of being away, to finally see her farm boy. Only to learn from his mother that he was studying abroad around the world-with heavy heart too, since she built up courage finally to tell him what took her over a year to reveal-He, Clark Kent, was a father to a three month old. But, instead, meeting someone who set her on the right path in her life and giving her a chance in the Journalistic world when Luther did a major lay off days before he sold the Daily Planet and Perry becoming the new Editor in Chief.
Since, he's become a father figure only one person ever had the honor of being until his untimely death, Johnathan Kent.
Hazel green eyes cocked at him and smirk on her lips as taking a quick sip of coffee and placing down on the refreshment table, she turned around to face him. "Really, the basement? Please, I'm the only reporter you can tolerate period."
Mr White gave a lowly chuckle in his throat, hands stuffing in his business suit, she was right but she didn't have to know that. Besides, she already knew he had a soft spot for her, they being so much alike. A daughter he never got to have in life with it being too late to even consider having children now. His job being his life, left little else in the way as priority.
"So, you're staying on board then?"
"Of course, you can't get rid of me that easily."
"Good, because I want you to come introduce yourself." Perry said latching his arm quickly through hers and steering her toward the elevators to go to his office on the higher floors before she could huff out a protest.
"Is this necessary!" Lois groaned in protest anyway.
His hand still firmly on her upper arm, he ushered her from the elevator once they reached his floor. "I want a 110% from you on this, Lois, he's a little green in the news world but he has a lot of potential and with your aide...Well, lets just say, I'm sure you guys will be good for each other."
"Stop selling him to me already, I said yes...not like I have a choice." Lois blustered, yanking her arm free from his grip, she feeling like she was being lead to a firing squad, not on her way to meet her new partner.
Their feet taking them through the hustle and bustle of the bull pen, where Lois longed to be one day, until they stood in front of the window door, frosted pane decorated with the golden insignia of The Daily Planet's globe along with Perry's name and job title of Editor in Chief.
Lois hesitated in front of his office door, Perry noticed and watched as she spun around, a determined set in her eyes. "I'll give it a week, if it doesn't work, Chief, I want out of this song and dance number."
Perry raised a hairy brow to the young, sassy reporter for her words. "Don't worry, something tells me, you're not going to have a problem with this one."
Lois didnt like the knowing smile that passed over his lips toward her like he was keeping a scoop of the century. Or something from her. He walked passed her, to hold the door open for her to pass through. His free arm up in a gentlemanly gesture-Ladies first.
With a heavenward roll of her eyes at his chivalry, Lois stepped into his office, arms instantly crossing over her chest in anoyance as she waited for Perry to introduce.
Perry walked past her, still with that irking smile on his face. "Son, I want to introduce you to your new partner."
The smile on Perrys face was apparent now. So was her feeling of apprehension toward said smile as the last person she ever expected to be paired with turned around in his seat to face them. Dark black curls, shorter than she remembered and slicked back above a face holding the same blue eyes she'd look into every day for the last three months on a smaller, chubbier version.
Her heart sank into her stomach, skin paled to snow and questions ran amok in her head because of the man who looked back at her in just as much shock as she was feeling at that moment.
Where has he been all this time? He looks so much different...more mature. What is he doing here? God, why does my body still react to him. Who are you kidding, Lane, it's more than just your body. He looks good, really good. Stop that, Lois! You can't expect things just to pick up from where they left off. I wonder if he is seeing anyone. Look at him! Of course he could get any girl in the world. Why would he want anything to do with you after what you did?
But more prevalent than all the questions and words bouncing around inside the stunned reporter seeing the father of her child after almost a year. The one that stood out the most standing there in wide mouth shock as he sat there, unmoving with Perry looking from one to the other in high amusement.
What's with the glasses?
Metropolis..."Big Mart', grocery store...
Chloe slid her fingers along the canned items on the shelf trying to choose the right ingredients for the recipe she planned on trying out for dinner tonight. She was no Bobby Flay, but if they expected to not starve or end up at the hospital with food poisoning then the task of making sure they ate three square decent meals a day was left up to her. Only on nights when Lois didn't insist they order take out, her answer for not being able to cook.
So tonight, it was her turn to provide sustenance since she had some culinary skills unlike her beloved cousin who very much lacked in that department. Well, now, being able to boil water without burning that or setting aflame to their meager apartment. Chloe made sure to install extra smoke alarms and fire extinguishers just for that purpose alone.
"Just be thankful, you don't have teeth to sample what your mommy calls food." Chloe spoke down to her godson as she placed a few items into the cart and walked along down the frozen food aisle to stock up on other groceries.
The babbling baby boy slapping his hands playfully at his beloved aunt, drooling as he tried to place his sock covered foot into his mouth. The blonde aunt just raised an amused brow at the newborn. "Or maybe you wouldn't mind so much."
A wide innocent smile broke out on the babe's face at his aunt's words as if he could understand what she just said. Chloe return the brilliant smile down to her cousin's child, bending over to kiss the top of his dark curled hair and gently tickling his blanket covered tummy. He giggled and squirmed slightly in his baby car seat latched to the basket of the shopping cart. His small chubby fingers latching onto her fingers and squeezing softly but then the pressure became more than what a normal three month old should possessed.
Chloe winced in pain and carefully moved her hand away before it was accidentally crushed by the three month old strength, rubbing her sore hand as she looked worriedly down at the baby who was showing more and more that he was definitely her best friend's son. "Looks like a visit to Emil today is in order."
"Why, is that, Chloe Sullivan?" A motherly female voice spoke out to the young woman, a voice Chloe Sullivan grew up hearing almost every day of her life from her best friend's mom-Martha Kent.
Chilled to the bone, with heart feeling like it was frozen in her chest, after quickly tossing a baby blanket over precious cargo, Chloe whipped around to see the red hair woman. Grays streaking on one side of her short shoulder length hair with smile lighting up her olden, wrinkled eyes for one blonde she hadn't seen for quite some time. Her senatorial duties having her travel from one state to another and harboring a full plate that barely left her time to check up on her own son.
"Mrs Kent!" Chloe returning the bright smile, forgetting her predicament for a moment as the older woman wrapped her in a warm embrace and she returned it.
"It's been too long." Martha squeezing the younger girl in a hug once more before stepping back to drink her in with her green-grey eyes.
"I feel like I'm standing in front of royalty, should I courtesy or something? You're doing so many great things and really cleaning up Washington." Chloe teased the older female Senator who dismissed the girl with a roll of her eyes and a humble scoff toward herself.
"I'm only doing what is right and what anyone should want to do. Besides, you're family, Chloe, you've been there for my son more than I could possibly ever thank you for."
Chloe swallowed hard at the words she felt she didn't deserve anymore. "Ho-how is he? He's been so busy with things around the world it's been weeks since my last smoke signal or telegram sent to him was replied to."
Martha looked thoughtfully, her lips thinned. "Even as his mom you think he would be in touch with me more, but it has been quite some days since I heard from him too. He's really changed...for the good, though. But..."
"He's distant..." Chloe supplied helpfully, feeling the heavy burden of guilt eat away a little more inside, she was surprised there was anything left for a meal after carrying all this guilt for so long.
Knowing eyes pierced her from her best friend's mom, knowing the younger woman knew more than she was willing to admit out loud. "I know something has been eating at him for many months and you as well, Chloe...and I know that has something to do with, Lois..."
Chloe looked as if she was going to interrupt headlong but Martha kept right on with a slight raise of her hand to stop the blonde. "...but what exactly that is I'm not really sure. I have some ideas, that those two maybe have gotten closer than what was intended to become with the way they denied their feelings toward each other constantly."
The petite blonde looked on at the mother figure with shock and amazement to which the elder gave a pointed look back. "I am his mother and I know my son and have come to love and know Lois very well also. Plus it's not hard to deduce that something happened between them to keep Lois away the way she has been. How is sh-"
Before Mrs Kent could finish asking her question, the youngest Kent member decided to make himself known with a loud squeal of delight as if recognizing who the older woman was, his grandmother. His tiny chubby hands a hold of the baby blanket meant to hide him, pulling it to bring it to gum in his toothless mouth. Chloe scrunched up in fear, forgetting all about the hidden one who she hoped would have fallen asleep by now in one of his many constant naps.
"Chloe, you have a baby?" She asked highly curious instead as she looked behind the girl to the shopping cart she seemed to be trying to hide behind her body.
The elder Senator walked around the blonde and pushed aside the thin blanket to take a look at the baby, a smile warming her face for the wee one but like Chloe feared once she got a good look the expression on Martha's face; eyes widen, mouth gapped open in shock, changed drastically. Those springy black curls and the blue eyes on a small, round face not completely like the one she took care of when He was Her baby. But it was enough of a resemblance that it just couldn't be mistaken!
She looked into those eyes for over twenty-five years, through his first steps in their family living room, his first words of 'mama' and 'dada', through tiny crying blue eyes when he accidently broke the kitchen table with his super strength and knew he had done something wrong. Through fears, depressions and heartache filled with tears throughout the years of his life and blue eyes crinkled around the edges in the many times of great joy too. She knew those eyes just as well as she knew her very own heartbeat and immense love toward those blues.
Her hand clenched tightly at her chest and her footing falter some as if she might faint from what her old eyes were beholding; in the small baby car seat propped in shopping cart basket, a smiling round, squishy baby with angelic smile, black curls and those blue eyes looked fascinatingly back at her. Chloe reaching out to grab Mrs Kent's arm to steady her with some support on wobbly knees. Martha grabbed the young blonde's hand instinctively in a death grip, her face tight with emotion and eyes so serious, penetrating her with a piercing stare Chloe couldn't break from or knew she couldn't lie to when the dreaded words came.
"Chloe, I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to be very honest with me right now." Martha finally spoke from thin lips and tight voice what felt like an eternity after she got her fill of stunned silence, starring at a child that was an almost direct mirror of her own son. "Who is this baby's parents?"
To Be Continued...
A/N: Thanks for Reading, please Review!
Up Next: How does Martha react to Lois, finding out she kept away her grandson all this time? What happens with Lois and Clark's as partners? And things between Oliver and Chloe get heated up-Chollie! Until next time!