Chapter 6
Summer Justice
"Mr. Lawson would you like to call your next witness?"
The judge asks, he looks tired Mr. Lawson smugly fixes his tie as he stands up.
"I would your honor, Vinny Vandangle."
The court gasps as a tall dark man takes to the stand. Lois and Chloe decked out in Press passes with notepads in their hands are sitting next to an older woman who's also taking notes. She leans in to both girls.
"Now take note ladies, how does he look, try to be as descriptive as possible while also being impartial."
Chloe and Lois take a good look at the man being sworn in, they begin scribbling quickly. Lois's pencil is going a mile a minute as she writes out every detail and nuance.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God?"
Vinnie looks right over to the jury who shudder at his gaze.
"I do your honor."
Lois leans over to Chloe.
"Liar."
Chloe peers at Vinnie who takes a seat.
"How do you know?"
Lois taps her ear while Chloe rolls her eyes.
"Cheater."
Lois smiles trying to listen in on the questions.
"Did you know the deceased Mr. Vandangle?"
Vinnie grunts taking a sweeping look at Mr. Lawson.
"Only for a minute."
The courtroom gasps again as Vinnie laughs at his own joke.
"Can you explain further?"
Vinnie now looks at Lana winking before looking at Mr. Lawson.
"It was business."
Mr. Lawson walks over to the jury before asking a follow-up question.
"What kind of business?"
Vinnie smiles he has one gold tooth on his front teeth.
"I'm a snuffer."
The jury looks to one another as Mr. Lawson approaches the stand.
"Can you elaborate please."
"I get an assignment and I snuff em out."
Lois stifles a snort holding her notepad to her face Chloe gives her best friend a reproachful look as the lawyer moves on for another question.
Lois and Chloe sit in front of the Editor and Chief as he reads over their articles, it's their final assignment. He grunts a few times while the girls look on waiting.
They exchange worried glances as the Editor stands up quickly, adjusting his tie.
"Well I have to say this is the first time we've had two interns make it all the way through the summer."
He peers at Lois with a slight smile before looking out the window to downtown Smallville.
"I have to say you both write extremely well, I'm surprised you were in the same courtroom today both articles were worlds apart."
Lois looks up at the Editor shocked before worriedly sharing her concern with Chloe. The Editor still smiling glances at the girls before speaking again.
"Take that as a compliment Kent, both of you had fresh ideas and I've submitted your names for placements at the Planet next summer."
Lois almost jumps out of her seat, she grips the sides of the chair to keep herself grounded, she feels like flying all around Smallville.
Chloe spoke up first.
"Is that possible sir? Are there enough spots open for us next summer?"
The editor nods before fumbling with his PDA.
"Well after the lead we gave them on the Luthor case they owe me one."
He winks at Lois smiling to himself his chest puffed out like a peacock.
"Besides I haven't seen such promising journalists come out of here unscathed in a while. We may be a small town newspaper but this summer has proved to be high profile. With the Daily Planet's finest in town, Smallville has made its mark."
Lois finally finding her voice speaks up.
"So sir about the articles?"
The editor smiles knowing the competitive edge between the two friends.
"I'm publishing them both for the Sunday Edition. I hope you two don't mind sharing a byline."
Lois and Chloe shrug smiling.
"So that's it then, we'll see your article tomorrow?"
Clark asks before faking a left leaving Pete behind as he makes a basket. Chloe and Lois nod simultaneously.
"That's it, summer's over and Tuesday we start school."
Lois winces as Chloe beams at the idea of their final year of high school approaching.
"I wish we could just skip senior year and go straight to college."
Lois whines kicking a rock a bit too hard sending it into the distant woods. Clark's gaze follows the rock's retreat laughing to himself.
"Come on Lois this is supposed to be the year we live it up."
Lois laughs mockingly at Clark rolling her eyes.
"Right, live it up. Clark's gonna go buck wild and change to blue flannel."
Pete laughs while Chloe chuckles. Clark reddens at the slight to his attire.
"I thought I was blending in." Clark tugs on his flannel shirt that's cuffed and open revealing a plain white t-shirt beneath.
Lois smiles at him crossing her arms around her chest.
"Blending in with who my Dad? Ever notice there's a reason why he rocks the flannel?"
Clark shrugs trying to keep from blushing.
"He's a farmer Clark, he was wearing flannel in the womb."
Clark looks down bouncing the basketball a bit before looking up at Lois.
"I thought I looked good in it."
She smiles unable to tease him anymore when he is looking back at her so cute.
"You do look good in it, but adding some plain t-shirts once and a while might do you some good."
Clark fully blushes as Lois gives him a smile. The four of them make their way to the House to get some lemonade.
"So was it me or was Lois definitely annoyed at you back there?"
Chloe asks while driving, Clark in the passenger seat shifts uncomfortably before clearing his throat.
"Seems like the normal Lois to me."
He keeps his gaze out the window knowing that Chloe was about to begin with a line of questioning.
"Normal for Lois is a one comment zinger, she was full out picking on you."
Clark laughs it off trying to make light of the situation.
"Why would she be mad at you I thought last week at the party you two were…"
Clark is completely blushing his pulse quickens as he tries not to rip the seatbelt out of its holster.
"We haven't really gotten a chance to talk since then."
Chloe steals a glance at her cousin the car moves with her, she regains control of the vehicle before finding her voice again.
"So you made out with her in front of half the school and haven't said a word about it since?"
Clark nods now afraid to look away for fear of his cousin wrapping them around a tree.
"Well that explains a lot, no wonder she's pissed."
Clark looks at Chloe a little upset.
"Well what am I supposed to say to her? One minute everything just flows between us and the next I can't even speak around her my palms sweat, I get tongue tied."
Chloe smirks shrugging.
"Clark ever since I can remember you've been that way around Lois. But now your pinning has paid off, you've got the girl and you're ruining it by playing hot and cold. Why can't guys just open up and say, 'I like you let's just see how this goes?' No it's all this playing around for years and then one day she may not be there."
Clark winces at his cousin's rant.
"Don't worry Chloe, Pete will come around."
She stops short at his name.
"Pete, who's talking about Pete I'm talking about you being a bone head and not just going for Lois." She scoffs. "You've finally got her fully undivided attention and you're going to blow it. If you haven't noticed Clark, you have competition. And you'll see when we start school on Tuesday, that if you don't let Lois know how you feel there's plenty of guys who would be willing to step up."
She glances his way as he frowns.
"Not that I'm saying she'd go for these guys, but let's face it eventually she's going to say yes."
Clark nods, "You're right."
Unbuckling his seatbelt he rolls down the window and speeds off into the night's sky.
Chloe smiles to herself looking up at the blur heading back to the Kent farm.
Well that was easy.
Lois was busy mending a fence driving one stake through the ground with her left hand. She smiles as she hears someone approaching, the smile fades as soon as it appeared as she realizes it's not Clark.
"Hey Kent is that you?"
Lex is smiling only able to see her outline in the dusk as she nails the final board in place.
"Your Dad told me you'd be out here, looks like you started your chores a bit late?"
Lois nods feigning to wipe sweat off her brow as she picks up her tools kept to her side just in case.
"Yeah but I'm all done out here."
Lex grins, "Great I'll walk you back."
"It's weird that this is our last year of high school. Remember our freshman year?"
Lois smiles shaking her head, she remembers falling right in front of Lex that first day three years ago, not knowing it was from the Kryptonite ring his aunt had given him that summer.
"Yeah I fell flat on my face the first day."
He laughs quietly to himself shrugging.
"I've fallen plenty of times Lois, trust me it was not the end of the world."
Now it's Lois's turn to chuckle, "No we've avoided that."
An awkward silence falls between them before Lex speaks again.
"So you and Clark have gotten pretty close."
She nods the frustration over Clark's behavior or lack thereof sends her blood boiling.
"I'm not sure, I mean one minute he's so attentive and the next he won't even acknowledge that we…"
She looks at Lex whose eyebrows are raised waiting for her next words.
"Sorry, too much information."
Lex laughs shrugging.
"That's okay, I like that we've finally been able to be friends, you know real friends. It seems like it was forever ago when we were inseparable."
Lois gains momentum as she smiles to herself.
"Well from what I remember we were friends up until the end of eighth grade when you decided you were too cool to hang out with, and I quote Newspaper nerds."
He smirks at her as she turns in a circle putting him in his place.
"Hey I've tried to talk to you since; you were the one who didn't have time for a mindless jock."
Lois nods, "Yes but you did date every cheerleader so you can't really blame me. I mean wasn't it your ex Hillary Saint Claire who accepted Home coming queen 'with like great honor or whatever.'"
Clark hovers above them listening while the two reminisce laughing and enjoying each other's company. Maybe, he thought he was too late; maybe Lois was questioning everything between them. He stayed far enough away so she couldn't detect him, but he could still hear their banter.
"Well it's obvious that I was dating the wrong girls."
He kept laughing as Lois agrees with him with a hearty nod.
"It is pretty obvious."
He stares at her for a second as she smiles the lights from the house glow upon her face as they near her front steps.
"I should have been paying closer attention to the girls who were right in front of me the whole time."
Lois shrugs placing her tools she had been carrying in the toolbox on the side of the barn.
Clark barely able to stand it any longer speeds towards home.
"Just remember though if you like her tell her and get it over with. If it's one thing a girl can't stand it's waiting for the guy to just say it 'I like you.' All this waiting around and presuming can drive us crazy."
Lex smiles kicking some dirt in the air.
"I'm sure Clark will come around."
Lois snorts rolling her eyes.
"He's lucky I'm so stubborn."
Lex waves goodnight while Lois heads inside for dinner.
"And then what happened?"
Clark sighs as Chloe paces his room.
"And then I left."
She stops pacing throwing him an annoyed glance.
"So you have no idea how they ended it?"
Clark let out another depressed sigh.
"It's pretty obvious that she still likes him, and now that he's making his move they can finally have something."
Chloe throws a pencil at him it breaks into small slivers before she growls to herself.
"Listen Clark what I said before I was just trying to rile you up. Lois isn't the fickle type, when she wants something she gets it. Trust me I've found it's better to be with her then against her. Here is what I know, she likes you, and she had a chance with Lex and she totally blew him off."
Clark stops mid sigh and looks at his cousin.
"She did?"
Chloe laughs at his sudden perkiness.
"Yeah she did, she gave him the whole let's be friends speech and he's resigned to the fact."
This made Clark laugh.
"You don't hear his heart when he approaches her, he's not resigned to any fact that doesn't include Lois ,Chloe. He still likes her, and he's working her over."
Chloe looks down trying to process her cousin's theory.
"Okay, even if that's true she likes you Clark. One word from you and he doesn't stand a chance."
"Mmhmm."
Chloe turns on her heel to see her cousin is falling asleep.
"Great."
She flips the light off leaving Clark alone to his thoughts.
"So then what did he say?"
Chloe asks scooping up a heap of potato salad as they make their way over to a secluded picnic table. Nell, Lex's Aunt is hosting her annual Labor Day Picnic with half the county in attendance. Clark and Pete are immersed with the rest of the football players on the other side of the field.
"He said goodnight."
Chloe nods.
"Hmm.." She takes a bite of her salad leaving Lois clueless.
"So Clark didn't hear any of that."
Lois looks at her friend in shock.
"He was listening to out conversation?"
Chloe shrugs nodding before taking another spoonful of potato salad. Lois gets up frustrated and begins to make her way over to Clark when she hears short snapping. Glancing in the direction she sees a couple of kids climbing up a tree. With a jolt she's there as Supergirl catching them, another crack sends a second child crashing to the ground but Superboy is there as well. The party comes rushing over and worried parents come to ease their crying children.
"What were you spying on me again?"
Superboy turns red as they smile for everyone accepting their thanks before taking off to change back into their regular clothes.
"Look I'm sorry can we talk?"
"Oh you want to talk now sure, why not."
Clark takes a deep breath.
The party has wound down and the two stand off to the side talking.
"I don't know how to approach the subject of, us."
Lois nods looking down for a second. She takes a deep breath.
"I've never had a girlfriend, because to be honest having powers and, well there hasn't been a girl who lives up to you Lois."
She meets his gaze finally melting the ice wall she was building.
"I've never had a boyfriend either Clark, I sort of thought of myself above all this high school drama."
She laughs at herself and the way she had been behaving lately.
"Boy was I wrong, I thought when and if I ever really liked a guy I'd let it be casual."
He smiles at her trying to suppress a laugh.
"I thought I'd have to keep girls at bay because I have secrets. And well I even thought, if there was ever a chance for us it could never be. Just me being Superboy would put you in danger. I had accepted that I'd always look after you and try to protect you."
He laughs now at that thought.
"Who would have thought you'd be the last girl who needed me to protect her."
Lois shrugs thinking.
"I'm not asking for that mushy, creepy stuff Clark. I don't want teddy bears or notes in my locker every day. I'm not big on PDA and I'm definitely not going to wear your letterman's jacket. I can tell you now that Lois Kent is not a girly girl, if you see me in a dress consider yourself lucky. I just want to know where we stand."
Clark nods letting it all sink in.
"Well how about this Friday we go on a date, and maybe when the Home Coming Dance rolls around I can see you in that dress you were talking about."
She laughs shaking her head.
"Friday sounds good, although a dance is negotiable."
He smiles gaining more confidence.
"And maybe on cold days you can wear my letterman jacket."
She punches him lightly on the shoulder playfully flirting.
"That is not going to happen."
He follows her back to the party.
"No?"
She shakes her head letting the scent of her shampoo engulf him.
"Not a chance."
He takes her hand and the entire party notices, Clark lets everyone know of his feelings for Lois.
The first Friday of the school year and Lois was itching for her date tonight. She rushes downstairs ready to devour her breakfast only to find both her parents pouring over the Daily Planet with a copy set aside for her next to a toasted bagel. The front cover is of Lana Luthor being released, the opposite side has the headline, 'Lana Luthor Innocent.'
Lois grits her teeth seething. She had expected as much after the news for the past week. Yet, to actually see a verdict reached in the favor of Lana was nauseating.
"Morning Sweetheart."
Her parents knew she would be upset this morning they didn't even rush her out.
"I can't believe they're letting her get away with it!"
Mr. Kent sighs folding his paper and meeting his daughter's eyes.
"We have to see the positive in all of this. Vinnie VanDangle whom, is a known killer of who knows how many , is going to be behind bars for three consecutive life sentences. Supergirl revealed all the illegal dealings involving Luthor Corp."
Lois's temper eased a bit, her parents were always reminding her of the positives even if she couldn't see them herself.
"You're right, but I just can't help feeling like I failed Dad."
Martha folds her paper, smiling at her daughter.
"Lois, all you can do is bring these criminals to the people. It is within their rights to be tried by a jury of their peers. Who are we, even those with superpowers to deny them that right?"
"Mom you sure you don't want to go to Law School?"
Martha smiles at her daughter giving her a wink as Jonathan laughs.
"You're going to be late sweetheart."
Lois nods taking a bite of her bagel and kissing everyone goodbye. Before she leaves the house she remembers her date tonight.
"Oh by the way I'm going out with Clark tonight is that okay?"
Martha half amused half surprised looks to her husband, her mouth is opened wide as he grins to his daughter.
"Of course honey, see you after school."
Martha laughs as Lois super speeds out of the house.
"I'm surprised she asked us."
Jonathan smiles at his wife's comment.
"Looks like we did something right, besides I think she really likes him."
They exchange loving smiles while taking each other's hand.
"And there she was sitting there looking so smug Clark, meanwhile this Vinnie guy was describing Lionel Luthor as though he did the world a favor by killing him."
She shakes her head as Clark nods, the concession line moves slightly closer to the counter.
"He's getting twenty to life, while Lana Corp just went public. She's worth more than her father now, did you read that Clark?"
"Yeah I did."
He sighs taking a deep breath and trying to smile.
"Lois, could you get out of reporter mode for just a few hours?"
She winces a little smiling apologetically as they move forward in line.
"Sorry, I just can't switch her off sometimes."
He smirks trying to lighten the mood.
"I like reporter Lois, I do, but not angry, frustrated reporter Lois. I have this feeling that Lana Luthor is going to be a lot harder to take down than you thought."
Lois sighs remembering what her Mother said to her this morning.
"True, my Mom keeps talking about letting the people decide. Hence why being a reporter is so important, bringing the truth to the people so they can make an informed decision."
The line moves forward again sending Clark and Lois to the counter.
"Can I help you?"
Lois steps quickly up to the counter commanding the situation.
"Yes, please I'm going to need chocolate."
The cashier gives Clark a look as he just beams at Lois while she points out various boxes of chocolate candies.
Leaving the concession counter Lois is carrying several boxes of various candies while Clark has their drinks in hand.
"Lois I asked you out it's only fair that I pick up the bill here and there."
Lois rolls her eyes as she hands their tickets to the kid by the velvet rope.
"Clark I'm not making you pay for my chocolate addiction, besides you paid for the tickets. By the way what are we watching anyway?"
As they walk out of the movie theatre Lois is unusually silent. Clark tries to read her mind but sadly that was a superpower they don't possess. He wants to reach for her hand but waits a split second too long. Feeling the timing is off they make their way walking towards the Talon.
"So did you like the movie?"
Lois shrugs pensively deep in thought.
"It was, a chick flick Clark."
She was abrupt, half sighing half annoyed.
"It got great reviews I thought you would like it."
She smiles to herself slowly taking his hand.
"I did like it; it's just not the type of movie I'd see in the movie theatre. Whenever I do get to the movies, it always features some sort of explosion or alien attack, picked out by Pete."
"Oh.."
She smirks at his slight embarrassment. Nudging close to him for a second she laughs.
"I loved it, seeing a romantic drama chosen by a boy was a nice change of pace."
He smiles exhaling deeply while opening the door to the coffee shop for her.
As they take a seat in the corner booth a waitress walks over to take their order. When finally alone again Lois laughs at herself for feeling awkward with Clark.
"Well this is weird."
Clark looks up from the sugar smiling at Lois.
"What is?"
"Us, not being able to just talk."
He leans back in his chair marveling in the moment.
"I thought it was nice to have a relaxing night, no big catastrophe no-one who needs rescuing..."
A scream is heard from the front of the Talon as two masked men enter the shop waving their guns in the air.
"No-one move."
Lois looks at Clark rolling her eyes.
"You were saying?"
They both super speed out of the shop, returning a few moments later as their respective super alter egos.
"To save the day, yet again; Smallville's very own super duo took down the two robbers above the roaring crowd at the Talon. The owner, our very own (recently cleared of murder charges)Lana Luthor refused to comment; only stating she owes everything to Superboy."
Lois rolls her eyes at Lana's comment as Chloe laughs. Closing the Smallville Gazette, she looks at her friends. They were all waiting for their assignments for the latest edition of the Torch.
"The super duo?"
Lois grabs the paper rereading the quote.
"We…they aren't a duo he just happens to be at the right place at the right time."
Clark reads over Lois's shoulder with a smirk on his face.
"Someone doesn't like sharing."
She makes a face at him before grinning at his cute lips. Blushing she looks away.
"Can't help it, I'm an only child."
Chloe sifts through her post-its, joining in on the conversation.
"Don't take it to heart Clark; Lois has been burning through partners since I can remember. She set Robby Kraken's eyebrows on fire last year in chemistry."
"She made Lauren Bosworth cry when they lost the three legged race in third grade."
Pete chimed in as Lois gave them both reproachful looks.
"Robby got too close to the Bunsen burner not even my fault."
"You wouldn't let him touch anything."
Lois took a bite of her licorice pointing her finger at Pete.
"Exactly and the moment I let him light the Bunsen burner look what happened. No-one could tell if he was happy or sad…"
"Or surprised."
Chloe commented suppressing a smile as she put down her notes.
"And what about Lauren?"
Lois shrugs.
"I carried her half the way, sobbing across that finish line. She was fine, nothing broken, I checked."
Pete gave Clark a laugh and pat on the shoulder before looking to Chloe who was handing out the assignments.
When Lois finally read through her post-it she gave Chloe an incredulous look.
"What's this Chloe?"
She shrugs.
"A hunch."
Clark and Pete leave heading to football practice, leaving the two girls alone.
"You think the robbery could have been meteor related?"
"You said yourself Lois, that they were acting weird. And no mention of names in the paper that means they're minors. It doesn't take a lot of sleuthing to realize that Jack Minor and Mike Dambize aren't in school today. It was them wasn't it?"
Lois looks down taking a deep breath affirming everything Chloe just deduced.
"You know those guys as well as I do Lois. They're not the types to go Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid robbing coffee shops."
Lois takes another deep breath before looking into her friend's eyes.
"I didn't want to mention it in front of Clark because I don't want him to think I was harping. Don't you think it's odd that a week after Lana's released one of her businesses gets held up?"
"You think they're connected? But how does Mike and Jack fit in?"
Lois shrugs before getting a determined look on her face.
"Mike's always had a crush on you; I bet you could get him to talk."
Chloe shook her head blushing.
"And how are we supposed to get in there, the Sheriff's not going to let some teenage girls waltz into their cells."
Lois smirks.
"Let me handle the Sheriff."
The two girls giggle their way into the Sheriff's office. Chloe is amazed.
"I can't believe that worked."
Lois smirks at the deputy on duty at the front desk.
"You'd be surprised how many cops show up to a donut shop heist."
They saunter to the desk as Lois smiles at the deputy.
"Deputy Skinner, my friend here is the girlfriend of Mike Bambize and we were just wondering if she could talk to him for a few minutes?"
She leans over batting her eyes hoping the low top and a few minutes alone with her will be enough of an incentive.
"Oh I'm sorry Miss?"
"Lane, Lois Lane." She smiles wide and Chloe gives her a double take before regaining her composure. The deputy didn't notice, his eyes were on Lois and he couldn't help but return the smile.
"Right Miss. Lane I'm sorry but all visitors have to be approved by the Sheriff."
Lois nods.
"Oh I think the Sheriff left a note he said he would."
She super sped around his desk writing a note forging the Sheriff's signature, she was back in the same place before Chloe or the deputy could blink.
"Oh a Ms. Chloe Sullivan to see Michael Bambize."
He smiles apologizing to Chloe.
"You have twenty minutes Miss Sullivan."
He leads Chloe to the cell as another Deputy takes over the front. Lois smiles at the older deputy she looks around for a second before pointing down the hall where the restrooms are located.
"I'm just going to head to the ladies."
He nods barely acknowledging her presence. Lois sneaks out super speeding as Supergirl and heading outside the cell windows.
"He's right here Miss Sullivan."
Mike stands up as he recognizes his visitor right away.
"Chloe? How did you know?"
Chloe waits for the deputy to leave them alone as Mike gets closer to the bars.
"My parents just left a few minutes ago, they said we had guns and we tried to rob the Talon."
Chloe gets closer to his cell.
"They said? Are you saying it wasn't you?"
Mike looked lost for a moment before nodding.
"Jack…"
Supergirl stops outside of a window floating up in the air she looks to see a pair of frightened eyes staring at her.
"Who is it?"
She smiles leaning close to the window.
"It's Supergirl I need to ask you a few questions."
"Last thing I remember we were hanging out over at my house playing video games in my basement. Next thing I know I'm waking up in a squad car outside of the Talon."
Chloe looks surprised as Mike sits on the cot.
"I don't understand what could have happened to us Chloe. You can help us though right?"
Chloe nods thinking.
"You think you were drugged?"
Jack shrugs pacing back and forth as Supergirl crosses her arms.
"Who could have done that?"
He doesn't answer but walks right up to the window turning around and lifting his hair to show the back of his neck.
"Can you see it? It's been itchy and sore."
Lois strains her eyes using her x-ray vision to see a small puncture.
"I see it."
"You believe me right Chloe?"
Chloe looks down at her watch her time is almost up.
"I do Mike, but you have to be honest with me. Does your family have anything to do with the Luthors?"
Mike pauses looking up at her scared.
"My parents worked for Luthor Corp, well now Lana Corp."
"And Jack's parents?"
He nods.
End of Chapter 6
Preview of Chapter 7
"Lois where are you going let's just wait for Clark to get here."
She rolls her eyes at Chloe floating a little in the air.
"Just let him know where to meet me. I'll take Mike's house first see what I can gather from where they were playing video games. Have Clark take Jack's house and we'll meet on the far South side of Lana Corp tech lab."
Chloe winces and nods as Lois takes off into the sky. A few moments later Clark appears as Superboy.
"Where's Lois?"
Chloe points to the sky but before he can take off again she explains the plan.