Chapter 26 - Back to Normal

"Lois, it's for you." Lois rolled over and saw Clark was up and dressed, handing her the phone. He wished he could listen in on the conversation. "Tell me Jimmy."

"They found those men in a warehouse over next to where you were yesterday. They have a deal for Superman." Lois hung up the phone and looked at the plainly dressed man. He looked back at her.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go." He threw Lois' shirt to her. He waited in the living room and saw her dash in and through the kitchen before she was ready. Wrapping his arms around her cautiously, Clark whispered, "I want you to stay calm. If things don't go my way, you can't lose your cool. Things could change if you slip."

Lois turned and looked at him. "Slip? You think I would be dumb or impulsive enough to give away your secret?" Clark looked at her cross and she remembered that she has lost her cool in the past. She put her hands on his face. "I promise. Cool."

Arriving at the plant, Lois and Superman found the men caught in their own creation. Lois smiled funny at Superman, "Look, what we have here." Moving closer, Lois looked over Superman, "Are you going to be alright?"

"If I'm mortal, what's the problem then?" Smiling, Superman walked over to the men. "Now, before the cops arrive, would you like to tell me how to get my powers back? You have a way to reverse this?" The men shook their heads. "Well, I'm waiting!" Lois had never heard Clark so rough.

"Why should we give you any antidote. You're not Superman - you can't hurt us." Then men squirmed further away as Superman walked toward them.

"I may not have my strength but I will find a way to make you pay. Think - if you have an antidote and I think you do. Someone else could also make one from the amount of stuff here on the floor. So, I say, even without Superpowers, I have the upper hand." Superman gently smiled as he folded his arms over his chest.

The men looked at each other, disgruntled. "The antidote is over there. I would warn you there haven't been any tests. We think it'll work but it's not our fault if it doesn't work."

"Wanna bet? What do I do with it?" Superman walked over and found a can of another gel.

"Put all over you like the gel we put on you." He signaled for Lois to watch them while he went around the corner. Stripping down, he rubbed the oil substance over his body. He suddenly fell to the ground and started clutching his head. A stabbing pain forged his body and made him scream. He could see all the things he had done as Superman in his past appear again. Sitting there, he began to get his breathing back. Then he saw Lois looking down at him.

"You need some help, are you in pain, can I?"

"Stand back." Superman turned away from her and disappeared in a flash. She smiled as seconds later he returned very much Superman.

"Back to normal. By the way, I like the underwear Lois. I didn't know I was so loved." Lois grabbed his arm.

"You are very loved." She could see the Clark smile come over him as he beamed at her. In the other room, the men who had helped open all communications seemed to have been picked up and carried off. "Does Superman need a change of clothes for work?" Clark smiled and entered into a spin. "Now, I get it. All those times you would keep your tie on in the 100-degree heat. And all this time I thought you were crazy."

"Lois, go back to the Planet. And not a word of me and my, you know." Lois smiled and headed to the car and heard a noise from Superman's direction.

"Lois, where is Clark? Is he still sick?" Perry was walking a hole in the floor wondering where all his reporters are going.

"No, he should be here in a few. How's the story?" Lois sat down at her desk.

"It's beautiful - I smell another award here. But that doesn't mean you can't stop writing. I want gut wrenching emotion. What he was thinking as a human and I want it before you leave to get ready for the wedding." Lois smiled and knew Perry wasn't kidding. She went on and started on the story wondering where Clark really was. A train derailment answered that question.

"Lois, this just came for you." The messenger set a package on her desk and she proceeded to open it. Lois saw a picture of her and Clark at graduation moments before he had asked her the first time. The ring...he gave me the ring. Lois opened the letter and read:

Lois, I am standing up with Lex at the wedding for you. I know we have been through a lot the last few days and this is more painful than I ever imagined - having to let you go. But I want to make a promise to you. As Clark, if Lex ever hurts you again, I will make sure he pays.

Clark

Lois sat silent at her desk wondering if that was it. He seemed so calm earlier when they had seen each other off. She read the letter over and over while spinning the ring on her finger. Lois felt a tap on the shoulder.

"Honey, you ok?"

"Lex, I'm fine. Are we ready for tonight?" Lex sat down and tried to see what Lois was so interested in. Lex smiled and replied that they were.

"So, are you ready to go?"

"Give me a few minutes to tie up some ends. You can stay." Lex waited patiently while Lois finished the story. She wanted so much to talk to Clark once more before tonight, but that would not happen. Lex and she left the newsroom without a sight or sound of Clark or Superman.