Chapter 19 - From Where I Stand
Back at the Planet, Lois sat motionless in her chair trying to figure out what to tell Lex. He called her to talk to her while she had been over at Clark's, and Perry just decided to tell Lex straight out where she was. She looked up just as the elevator opened to see Lex.
"Lois, I called you and Perry said that you were at Clark's?!" He was redder than red when he stormed up to her desk. He tried to grab her but she dodged him.
"Don't you dare come in like that. He is my partner and he was ill. His daughter ran into the newsroom and got us. If you don't understand, then you just can get out." Lex sat down at her desk.
"I'm sorry Lois. He didn't tell me that Clark was ill. Is he going to be ok?"
"I think so, not that you would care. His mom came into town to help him. He was just worried about Brit. I think he would really give his life for her if he thought he would lose her."
"Excuse me, Lois Lane?" A woman with a little boy stood next to her desk.
"I noticed that Clark isn't here. He told me that he had the day off and I was wondering if you could tell me where he lives. My son Michael knows Brit."
"Yes, Clark told me. Here's the address. He was feeling under the weather today and went home." Lois scribbled down the address and watched the woman walk out of the door. She looked back at Lex, noticing a grin from ear to ear. "What?"
"I was thinking a woman like that and Clark could really hit it off." Lois huffed at the comment and picked her stuff. "So, how about this weekend, we put the final plans on the wedding. We only have three weeks left honey."
"Sounds good." But deep in her heart, Lois wasn't thinking of the wedding at all.
"Oh, hi. I'm Ally, and I thought that Clark Ke..."
"Hi. I heard about you. I'm Martha, his mom. Clark is asleep right now, but you may come in." Ally in the door as Clark slowly walked out of his room.
"Hi, come on in." Ally immediately walked over to Clark and helped him to the couch.
"I'm going to go into the kitchen. Let me know if you need anything." Martha looked at them and then left Clark with Michael and Ally. Michael sat down quietly on the floor.
"Ally, this is surprise."
"Lois told me at the newsroom that you weren't feeling that well. I thought I could come over fix you a dinner or something but I guess your mother is here for that."
"Well, you could join us for dinner. I hear my mom working on it. Maybe then you could stick around for the night. Maybe we could..."
"What?" Ally got excited.
"I have to go. The bank closes and I haven't put my check in. You could meet me back at nine." Clark shook his head and kissed Brit on the head before taking off.
Superman arrived moments later in front of the main city Post Office where a woman was screaming. "Miss, what is wrong?"
"The man who was here - in all black - dropped this and said that it would go off in three minutes. I was just hired as a security guard. I can't handle this."
"Stand back then." Superman carefully looked at the basketball size object. 'Lead - perfect.' He picked it up and flew off into the direction of the sun. When he had flown several miles into space, he stopped and looked again at the object. He took it and threw it in the sun. About halfway there, the object exploded and threw Superman back toward Earth, somewhat disoriented. Fortunately, the top of the Sears Tower broke his fall.
"Excuse me." He rose slowly as cameras continued to click. He walked out behind the building and jumped into the air. Nothing.
"This is perfect." He spoke to himself. Something strange had happened. He stopped at the phone booth and started dialing. "Pick up..."
"Hello?"
"Lois, Hi. This is really strange but this is Superman. What is the chance that you could come get me from Chicago. I sort of have a problem. I can't fly." He could Lois gasp on the other end of the line. "Lois, could you just come get me."
"On my way, where will you be?"
"Outside the MacArthur building. Hurry." She hung up and ran into Perry's office.
She knew it was a big risk but she dialed the phone anyway. "Lex, I have a big favor to ask you. Is there a chance I could get a ride from one of the Luthorcorp helicopters to Chicago?" Lois waited for the inquisition.
"Why?"
"Superman is sort of stuck there and can't get back to Metropolis. Lex this is the story to finish off that other interview. Maybe this has something to do with the bomb he threw into space." She could tell Lex was not real excited about it. On the other hand, he was intrigued by the new superhero in tights.
"Anything for you honey."
"Lois, here..." Superman waved her down and jumped into the seat behind her in the helicopter. "You don't know how much this means to me." A little later they landed back at the Planet.
"You need a ride somewhere?" Superman walked Lois down to her car and smiled over at her right before she was able to ask, "would you mind coming over and giving me the rest of the interview then I can drop you where ever you need to go." She almost fell getting into the Jeep when he told her yes. In the car, she sat silent for several more minutes.
"Lois, what do you want to ask? If it's about not being able to fly, I have no idea or any kind if answer to that. I just threw a bomb into the sun and something flew back at me. It was strange. I didn't feel different when I was blown back to Earth."
"Do you have all the other powers or are they all gone too?"
"I haven't actually thought about it honestly. I was more interested in getting back to my place of origin - that's why I called you. I guess I could try them out now to see." He could pick up something faint but not understandable. "I think the others are suffering too; maybe not to the same extent."
"Maybe they are just coming back. Maybe they were gone and now are getting better slowly. Here we are." Lois stopped and got out of the Jeep and walked to the front door. "Well, come on - no one's looking." Almost skipping, Superman walked up the steps behind Lois and into her apartment.
"I'll be out in a minute." Lois went into the bedroom to change. "Make yourself comfortable." Superman continued to walk around and look at things in the apartment.
"Hello Cronkite." He threw some fish food in the tank. "Mmmmm." He ran his fingers across the picture of Lois and Clark that Lois had put back up since he was there last.
Must be feeling guilty since Brit told her about my pics of her, he thought.
"Ok, did you feed the fish? I swear I heard you talk to them but I never told you their names I thought." Superman played dumb. "So, how are you feeling?"
"The same but better I guess." He moved closer to Lois on the couch. "Lois, I know you told me to back off but I really do need to know one thing." Lois looked at him. "How do you really feel about me? I know that I told you I loved you but maybe I was just confused or something." Lois placed her finger on his mouth, to more her surprise than his.
"I think I ... I love Lex." Lois got up and started looking out the window.
"Sounds like your working hard to convince yourself of that Lois." Lois turned around to face Superman with tears streaming down her face. "I didn't mean to make you cry. I didn't mean to push - it's just in my position, I rarely get a chance with someone like you and you are a rare one." He walked up and wiped her face with his cape. She smiled as she looked up at him.
"I think I should call Clark." She picked up the receiver of the phone and felt his hands on hers. "You must be getting your speed back. I really should call him."
"I heard he was under the weather. Shouldn't you let him rest?" Lois looked and saw a strange and curious look on Superman's face. Picking up the phone, Lois ignored Superman. "He won't mind. Yes, is Clark there? Who is this? Just tell him that Lois called." Lois hung up the phone and looked at Superman distressed.
"What is it?"
"That Ally was there at the apartment. It's just strange. I knew Clark back in college and didn't ever picture him getting involved with a woman that fast."
"Maybe he's not involved. Clark can have woman friends. Maybe you're just jealous." Lois stared at him.
"That's not a very Superman thing to say. Anyway, that's not a real important thing anyway. Just please don't tell him I said that. I'm not jealous or in love with him."
"Lois, I didn't say anything about love." Superman stood up and practiced floating to the window, smiling at Lois from across the room. "I have to go. I won't mention it to Clark." Lois stood in the middle of the living room speechless as she watched him leave.
"That's the way Superman, always leaving as we start to get into it." Down inside though, she hoped that he would keep her secret. No one could know she had finally said it out loud after so many years. Lois loves Clark.