A/N - I made a chapter booboo by misnumbering, but all the chapters are there. Anyway, thanks for a quick feedback and here's your answer bailey. Callista - ok, I'll update:) ;)

Chapter 18 - Family Ties

"Did you get it?"

"Sorry, sir, but I think my pocket had a hole in it. I dropped it."

"You imbecile!! That was the way to keep Superman out of our business."

"I'll go back and look for it sir. I'm sorry." The man in charge grabbed the rest of the materials from the search man and signaled him to leave. "That man was going to ruin me. Note to self; have that man killed."

"Ok, I understand Lex. I'm sorry too. Maybe we can get together later tonight. I love you too." Lois turned back to her computer screen looking for clues to the stolen chemicals from the nuclear power plant.

"Hey? Where's your dad?" This caught Lois' attention and looked up. Lois saw that Perry was holding Brit in his arms.

Out of breath, Brit answered. "Dad is...at...the park...he's sick I think." Lois looked at Perry and immediately both headed to the elevator. They ran to the park across the street from the Planet and saw Clark indeed lying on the grass next to the playground.

"Clark, are you ok?" Lois felt of his head and could tell he was warm. "We need to get him inside. I'll go get my car." Lois left while Perry helped him to his feet. Suddenly, Brittany started to feel faint.

"Brittany, what's wrong?" Clark looked up and saw that she was starting to sweat in her coat.

"I think I ran too much."

"I think we need to get both of you inside. Lois is going to take you home and get you set up to stay there. Clark, I don't want to see your face at work tomorrow. Understood?" Clark shook his head and took Brit's hand and slowly walked to Lois' Jeep now pulled up in the parking lot. They arrived at Clark's apartment, and Lois walked both of them in. Clark stumbled back to his bedroom to change. He was hot and wanted to change and call home. He was afraid something was really wrong if he was feeling sick. He headed down the hall and could now see with his X-ray vision coming back. Lois was getting Brittany undressed and in bed.

"How are you feeling?"

"I hope daddy is ok."

"I think so, but I bet he's more worried about you than himself." Lois tucked Brit in to bed and pushed her curls back out of her face.

"Lois?"

"What is it Brit?"

"Do you like my daddy?" Clark nearly walked into the room, but wanted to know the answer.

"That's a tough question. I loved your daddy at one time, but I am in love with someone else right now. Your daddy knows that and has been a great help."

"But he loves you now." Lois almost couldn't speak but carefully answered.

"I know." She waited a second more and heard Clark walk in. He was listening. "I think I got her all taken care of. Now for you." Clark smiled and walked past her and kissed Brittany.

"Let's not play with this right now." He took the rock again from Brit, who had gotten it from his coat, and put it on her bedside table and started out the door. Lois was walking out beside him when Clark slumped over against the wall. Lois struggled to hold him up while hearing that Brit had gotten out of bed. "Get back in bed sweetie. Lois has me." He walked out of the room with her and stumbled into his bedroom and laid down. He took Lois' hand. "Thank you."

"It's nothing. We're friends Clark. There was no way I would leave you. I hate to see you hurt."

"No, I meant what you said to Brit. She's been having it pretty bad and I knew that question she asked was coming. At night, she's been asking about when mom will visit or see her for her birthday."

"I'm sorry to hear that. She is a really wonderful kid. I was never much for kids but she's different. Clark, you know we should have the Daily Planet throw a party."

"I would really like that. You have made quite an impression on her." Clark crawled into bed and closed his eyes. He felt tired. He felt Lois' hand touch his head and shivered.

"Is there anything that I can do?" Clark opened his eyes and saw Lois sitting in a chair next to the bed.

"No, I think we both need to rest. If you need to go, we can handle sleeping without you." Lois smiled at the way Clark responded. "Lois, you know what I mean."

"I know. I think it was cute. But actually, I think I should stay just in case." Clark took her hand, closed his eyes, and faded off.

Two hours later, Clark awoke suddenly with a woman yelping. He realized that Lois was still next to him and squeezed her hand hard when he woke. "Sorry, I guess I was surprised. I have to get that." He could tell Lois was still out of it. He got up and headed for the door.

Answering the door, he hugged Martha and started talking to her. She smiled and stopped when Lois finally came out of the bedroom. "You must be Lois; I've have heard so much about you. Thank you for taking care of my son and granddaughter."

"No problem; they both seemed very sick. Clark still doesn't seem to have all his color back, and I haven't seen Brit since we put her down." Martha looked at the two and disappeared to the opposite end of the apartment. Lois and Clark were left standing in the doorway. "I guess I should get going. Perry probably didn't expect me to spend all afternoon here." Lois turned toward the door and felt Clark take her arm.

"Thank you." Lois stood still while Clark kissed her on the cheek gently.

"I have to get going." Lois smiled and walked out of the door.

Martha had sat vigil over Brit for several hours waiting for the fever to drop while Clark slept. She stared out the window of Clark's balcony and thought about the possibilities of what could be hurting her son for the first time since moving to Metropolis.

Martha looked up as Clark walked into the kitchen with his bathrobe on. He poured himself some coffee and sat down. "The thing is that I have seen Brit with the sniffles and she does bleed like any three year old. Today though was like looking in a mirror." Martha took her son's hand.

"Honey, so you think all of this has Brit feeling it too?"

"I have no idea. I'm going to go check on her." Clark put his cup down and walked down the small hall. "Brittany." Clark sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair back until she started to stir slightly.

"Daddy?" Brit sat up and looked at him, rubbing her eyes to focus. "Where's Lois?"

"She had to go back to work but Grandma is here. You think you could eat something now." Brittany shook her head furiously. Clark looked over at his mother in the doorway, who already had left for the kitchen. Martha came back from the kitchen and found her son and Brit asleep again leaning on the pillows.

Martha pulled Brit's blanket over both of them and then stopped short when she noticed that Clark started shivering.

"Mom, what's wrong with me? I'm so cold." Clark let his mother tuck Brit in and walked Clark over to his room. "Watch her please." Clark laid down and hoped his daughter wasn't feeling the same way. Martha left in silence except for the washcloth that she placed on Clark's head. He had already faded off to sleep.

Martha walked back into Brittany's room and then saw the rock and wondered. Not again – not here, she thought.

She took the small stone into the bathroom and rinsed it off to reveal a noticeable glow that they had seen before. Oh no. Walking out to the balcony, she tossed it into the trash bin below the apartment.