Chapter Three

The world was very quiet these days, almost as if all the hope that had been with people had vanished and they'd become helpless without their caped superhero. People never seemed to notice their reliance on somebody saving the day until something like this came up. Sirens went for longer, police couldn't get backup, and people were more anxious. How could life be like this?

Glancing back at her husband's old desk, Lois took a few deep breaths of her own. She wasn't giving up on the hope that he would return to her, but she didn't think it would be in his old body. What would happen then? She looked around the newsroom and made her way towards the desk, picking up the name plaque and holding it. He was going to come back for her, right?

As Perry passed her, Lois reached out a hand. "He's not going to come back," she said, "I mean, after what he's been through it'd surprise me. He's not the same and he's changed well, everything including me. I mean, as his wife, don't you think I understand that if he's not coming back to me then he's not going to come back to his work. There's no reasoning him into doing anything."

Perry sighed as he glanced over the desk of the star reporter, "Listen, I don't know what's going on with you two lovebirds or if this is a he-said-she-said situation," he raised his hands up in defense, "but office regulations say to give him to the end of the week."

Lois looked down, if only he was actually Clark in that body, then as stubborn as he could be, it would be easy. He wouldn't leave something like this unfinished. She couldn't imagine him leaving her, but leaving his job? His credentials? Not being able to figure out what to do with the future? That wasn't him.

Clark Kent was a responsible, honest, loving, morally upstanding individual.

This was not him.

"Not to bring it up here," she tried again, "but I doubt he's coming back. I'll have to see him again when it comes to any divorce proceedings so if I just take his belongings now it frees up some space for someone new?" she said waving a hand around at items that she would take care of later but had to pretend they were insignificant now.

"Someone new?" Perry asked, "If you think we have time to be interviewing someone to—"

"Alright. Give Jimmy the desk, he's already had articles published, bring him in to the big leagues," Lois tried to argue. As if summoned, Jimmy came right beside Lois with his happy go lucky smile.

"Not such a bad idea, chief. I mean, if CK isn't coming back then you need someone who can write and trust me," he laughed, hoping to convince his boss of taking a chance on him, "I can write. I can get those pieces right out, anything you need."

"I bet that comes with a pay rise too," Perry chuckled, "well if Kent isn't coming back it's a good idea."

Jimmy smiled before looking at Lois and trying to have a more serious expression on his face. "I mean I really hope that he does come back. With all the good that he's done here, he has done a lot of good hasn't he?"

"You have no idea," Lois replied as she steadied herself with a few breaths.

There were no words that could come close to describing the heart ache that came with not knowing where he was or even if they would be together again. Yes, she had gone through this before, but instead of feeling more capable with the situation, it made it worse. One of these days he wouldn't be able to come back and they would run out of chances.

Lois picked up a picture that Clark had on his desk of the two of them. She was extremely lucky to have found him, for him to be in love with her. There was nobody on earth like him and that was without thinking about Superman, that was just…him.

She was interrupted from her memories by the loud chuckle of Perry White.

"Speak of the devil," he said as Lois turned to him, "now I can't say I agree with the get up he has on, but at least he's back in business. Should I give the two of you a moment alone?"

Lois looked in the direction where everyone was looking. In a white tank, leather jacket, and tight blue jeans was her husband's body. Given how he was dressed coming here, that was still Woody Sams. What he was doing here however, that was a mystery.

Lois felt her body tense in anger as she made her way towards the imposter and slapped him. "What do you think you're doing here?" she asked in frustration as a few people took a step back.

Woody laughed, "I'm here to collect my paycheck, isn't this where I get paid?"

"Actually," Perry said slowly, "I think you've mixed up the days Kent, it's tomorrow that is payday. I do have an assignment for you, you know unless you're under cover or something. Don't want you turning to another paper."

"Trust me, I have no intention of writing for another paper," Woody laughed, "In fact I don't have the intention of writing for any paper."

Lois looked away and then stared straight into the unrecognizable eyes, that was the first way to keep convincing herself that this was her husband's body but not her husband's soul. "You've got a lot of nerve coming here. If you had any decency then you would have never come here. Not after what you're responsible for."

"What is he responsible for?" Jimmy asked one of the other reporters who shrugged.

"Listen, all I want to do is get my paycheck and beat it. Don't want to talk to you or anyone else, I just need the money."

Lois looked at him, "Well, you're not getting it today so I'd say go and do whatever you think will make you the money after claiming for a story that you did not write."

Woody looked away, "How about the fact that I'll get fame and fortune when I am the story."

Lois stared confused only to look horrified when she saw the glasses coming off. She took a few steps back and heard the gasps. Jimmy went to the paper and found a print of Superman.

"Wow, that's…pretty identical," he said in shock. "Who knew that…"

"just a pair of glasses could conceal the appearance of Superman. It was funny how fooled you all were. Did you ever wonder why we were never in the same room."

"So all this time, we've been working with Superman?" Perry asked, "So…is it still Clark or…gawd, am I having a dream. It doesn't seem right."

"It does make sense that the three of you were all such good friends," Jimmy commented as Woody took off the shirt to reveal the suit underneath.

"I only concealed my appearance to protect those that I love. I guess nobody here fits that," he said before putting his shirt and glasses back on and walking out.

"Boy," Perry said, still speechless about what to say, "Guess there are some secrets out there which are bigger news than the king's ghost."

….

….

It had already been a two and a half hour train ride between the hospital and the heart of Metropolis, but Clark didn't feel he had another way. As Troy he didn't have a superhero identity, he didn't have a cape or a costume and he only had drugstore glasses to try to make himself look more like himself.

The family he had met had been told to keep an eye on him so that he didn't add to the heavy slashes underneath the bandages on his wrists and lower arms. The thing was that although these wounds, and the slightly nauseous feelings of the drug overdose was still giving him pause, Clark had no desire whatsoever to return to the afterlife.

Maybe people would be worried, but if he went into the city he might be able to head home or at least to the office. Get a safe space, his mind was telling him, and you can figure out the next plan of attack.

As he watched the train car approach the city, he let himself listen to the different conversations that aired in the car.

"So it was proved. Clark Kent is Superman."

That wasn't good. Clark put a hand on his forehead, what on earth was happening? Didn't that guy who had taken his body understand that there was a reason to have two different identities. Sure, he didn't expect that man to care about the people he cared about, but surely they had connected him to his daughter, the two would have been seen together. Had he even considered her in all of this?

He fidgeted with this new body. It was weird, different, but this was the vessel in which he had to live his life. He wondered how it would look when he got it into shape or how he could modify the hair and the clothes, this outfit of a white button up shirt and hounds tooth pants wasn't his preferred attire.

However, when he looked at himself in the window of the train he didn't look like Clark Kent, he didn't even look like his adolescent Kansas farm boy self, if anything he looked like a younger version of the war hero Steve Trevor.

As the train car pulled into the city, Clark stood and readied himself to get out.

He looked up at the city, the news about Clark Kent being the man of steel was everywhere. He felt exposed and in need of an escape, but he already had that. He had his escape in the body of Troy. All he wanted was…

"So, how does it feel being married to Superman?"

"Does this insider perspective of events reflect on your stories?"

"Are you willing to sell the movie rights? We'd love to have them."

Clark watched as Lois attempted not to say anything to the press. She was a reporter and very skilled in knowing how to avoid the press. However, everyone around her was creating this barrier between them and he didn't know how to get through to her.

Making a mad dash he came and stood before her which made everyone look at him.

"Mi-Miss Lane," Clark said not sure what to say.

"Come on now you've got college papers?" she asked, she paused before looking into the eyes of the person before her. She blinked before smiling weakly, trying to figure things out. As she stared into those eyes though she could swear she felt the connection.

"I…" Clark repeated weakly.

"You've got a great pair of glasses," Lois said before whispering to him, "Meet me later, you know where the key is."

Clark took a step back before smiling, maybe she didn't quite trust who he was but at least she was questioning it. At least he got her attention.