Chapter 33 - Nightmares

He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare,
And he who has one enemy will meet him everywhere.
Ali ibn-Abi-Talib (602 AD – 661 AD), A hundred Savings

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Clark opened his eyes listening to the sudden quietness of the outdoors. Focusing his vision beyond the window he saw snow just beginning to fall. The storm he had battled the day before along the coast had made its way inland and was now blanketing the Midwest blocking out what would have been the early morning sun. Getting up he realized he would most likely have another busy day if the snow was as heavy inland as it had been on the coast.

Lois woke just as he was about to leave causing him to come back from the window to kiss her goodbye. "Tell Jason and Kala I'll see them later. I need to check on what this storm is doing. Do you want me to come back and take you to work?"

Sitting up in bed she answered, "No, I can just hitch a ride with Richard and Chloe like yesterday. By the way, Perry has been asking where those articles you said you were writing a few weeks ago are."

"He would! Hmmm, Maybe I can stop by in the next few days. Then again, I could just wait and talk to him at the dinner for Richard and Chloe on Saturday."

"Your face is starting to fill back out nicely I don't see why Clark can't come home now."

"Good, Consider me home! I don't particularly like having to continue this charade of Clark not being here any longer than absolutely necessary." Thinking back to thee previous topic he scrunched his eyebrows, "I'm going to drop that piece I was planning about tolerance and open-mindedness though. It just seems a little too self serving now."

"Well, I told the neighbors and some of the people at work you were off researching the environment so that speaks to the other article you were planning anyway."

"Speaking of which, I think I'd better go check out what the environment is doing to this city right now! Be careful. Call if you need me." He kissed her again and was gone.

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After taking a quick look around Superman decided to take a short sunbath thinking he might be glad for the renewed energy if the day was anything like the day before. The storm was an unrelenting barrage of heavy blinding snow flurries which caused traffic nightmares along its path. The freezing temperatures were playing havoc with the power lines and water pipes making things even worse.

Superman went to work immediately preventing or reacting to one problem after another on the icy streets during the morning commute. Just as he finished one rescue he heard a screech of tires and horns blowing about a mile away.

Rising up in the air to get a better vantage point he saw a familiar car and streaked to the scene just in time to prevent Richard's car form being side swiped by a car skidding out of control on the icy road. Superman grabbed the skidding car helping the driver gain control then sped to Richard's car which had gone off the road and gotten stuck in a ditch avoiding the other car. Richard was just starting to get out as Superman landed by the car making sure all four passengers were alright.

"Nice driving Richard. I'm glad you at least know how to drive in these icy conditions. Unfortunately a lot of people don't! Just stay in the car with your seat belts on, I'll get you all to The Planet in once piece. I suggest you all just stay in the office today, this storm's going to get a lot worse before it gets any better. Call me when you're ready to head home. I'd rather not have to worry about finding any of you at a crash scene!"

Superman picked up the car and flew it to the entrance of the nearly empty garage where he sat the car down. Before taking off he looked inside the car directly at Lois. "I mean it, call me." Then he looked at Richard as if to say, keep your eyes on her before he was off. They all knew he was thinking of the accident toll that had been reported for the prior day as the storm went thru the coastal areas.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Superman was again kept busy all day not even stopping to take a break. When he wasn't busy in the storm area he was busy reacting to some other emergency. A heavily loaded train had derailed in a mountainous area causing a massive spill of hazardous materials. He was there for hours helping contain the spill and clean it up.

Just as he was about to leave the site he heard his cell phone's vibration in his cape. Waving he took off straight up retrieving his phone as he flew up to catch a few rays on his way back to Metropolis. Looking at the screen he answered. "Lois, I'm on my way. I'll be there in just a few minutes."

"Good we're just about ready to go. We've been watching the news, you're right it is a mess out there. They're advising everyone to stay off the roads now. We'll see you in a minute where you dropped up off this morning. Everyone else left an hour ago even Perry and Jimmy. They wanted to get home before it got too dark making it even more dangerous."

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Lois had talked Richard, Chloe and Catherine into staying for dinner earlier in the day. Martha had actually suggested it just before they picked her up that morning. The foursome entered the warm house quickly coming out of their winter coats and hats. Clark came in just behind them shaking the snow out of his wet hair.

Jason came racing out to the foyer to meet them with Kala not too far behind. "Daddy, Daddy we've been waiting for you to get home. We wanta see your medals."

Clark laughed shaking his head indicating for them to follow him. "Come on, they're upstairs."

"Hey, we want to see them too." Richard shouted up to Clark.

Lois ushered everyone towards the family area just off the kitchen and dining areas as she shouted up. "Bring them down here we all want to see them." Then to the group she said, "I haven't even seen them yet." Looking towards the kitchen she continued, "Mom, what can I do to help you get dinner ready?"

"Honey, you've been working all day just sit down and relax. Everything's ready, the kids already set the table it'll just take me a minute to put the food and drinks out."

Up in the bedroom Clark handed each of the kids one of the medals. Jason's eyes lit up, "Daddy, when we go back to school can we take these to show and tell?"

"No, you can't tell anyone about these. Remember they were given to Superman. What you can do is take them down and show the family. I'll be down in a minute."

Satisfied the kids went running downstairs each with a medal in their hands. Jason had the Purple Heart and Kala the Medal of Valor on the ribbon.

"Daddy said we could show these to all of you." Kala said reverently holding up the one she had, "Isn't it pretty."

Jason held the one he had up "Why is it called a purple heart? I thought hearts were red."

Richard answered, "Purple represents the combination of the strength of red and the tranquility of blue. It also stands for nobility of purpose, leadership, teaching, & loyalty. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who've been killed or wounded in action against an enemy. The medal is called a "Purple Heart because it's supposed to symbolize the power of the wounded person to survive."

Kala looked sad remembering "My other mom has a Purple Heart they gave my other daddy. He died."

Jason looked confused, "Does that mean Daddy is in the Army now? Is he going to have to go to war like Kala's other daddy?"

Clark came down the stairs. "No Jason, I am not now nor have I ever been in the Army or any other armed service. I believe they just considered me an honorary member during the Trprian attack that's all."

Kala ran to him putting her arms around him burying her face in his chest as he knelt down to her level. "Good cause I don't want you to go away to that war."

"I still can't believe President Thorn gave you those medals especially that 'Purple Heart'. He's never been that supportive of you. He is way too much of a war hawk to appreciate what you do." Lois said looking at the medals.

"Well stranger things have happened. At least he didn't try and pin it on me!"

Lois went over and turned the TV off as Martha called everyone to the table. She noticed the look Clark gave her. "I just thought it would be nice if your dinner wasn't interrupted by the next emergency reported on the news. You've been working since before daylight, even you need a break."

"Uh, Lois you'd better call all the neighbors and tell them to turn their TVs off too. Right now I can hear KCNN next door and Met News on two others. You are in luck with the rest they seem to favor either sitcoms, cartoons or… hmmm, sounds like MTV." He smirked enjoying the fact that he had the upper hand then added. "You are right though, I do need a break so I'll do my best to ignore what I hear unless it's something I really need to take care of."

The kids handed him back the medals so he stashed them away in the home office down the hall at least for the time being.

As everyone began taking their seats Lois shook her head chuckling. "Catherine, see what you're asking for with a 'super hero' husband?"

Clark came back into the room shrugging innocently "Hey, I was just warning you in case I do hear something. I'm not as easy to control as you seem to think!" Lois rolled her eyes and the rest of the adults laughed as everyone started filling their plates.

Halfway through the meal Clark looked sharply to one side staring intently at the wall. Lois sighed in resignation noticing Jason seemed to be hearing something as well. "Oh…just go…we'll save the rest of your dinner. Just don't expect any dessert!"

Clark answered. "Sorry" and was gone in a heartbeat.

Catherine looked around the table, "Does he do that a lot?"

"More than I would like, but well I guess that is what makes him so special. He never stops giving of himself." Turning to Jason she asked, "Munchkin, did you hear what Daddy heard?"

Jason shook his head not sure if he should admit it. "There are a lot of siren noises over that way." He pointed in the direction Clark had looked, "I think its fire trucks because I hear their big horns too."

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Superman arrived at the scene of the fire ahead of the fire trucks which were having difficulty maneuvering on the icy streets. The fire was fully involved on the third floor of a five story active and assisted living senior complex.

Superman dove into a six foot snow bank and made a large snowball which he carried into the air. Using his heat vision as well as the heat from the flames he began dousing the fire with the fast melting snow. Seeing an elderly woman climbing over the railing of the balcony of her fifth story apartment he dropped the dwindling snowball on the roof so he could catch her in mid air breaking her otherwise deadly fall to the ice and snow covered parking lot below.

Superman continued alternating between dousing the fire and rescuing people for several minutes before the fire department finally made it to the scene. They pulled up to find him lowering a hospital type bed with three adults huddled in the sheets.

The fire chief jumped out of the fire engine running over, "Where do we stand Superman?"

"The fire's completely out but there's still considerable smoke in the complex particularly the three upper floors. Most of the people on the bottom two floors had been able to make it out on their own but some are still inside and many are bedridden. I don't think they are in particular danger."

"Two apartments on the third floor are completely gutted. Most likely that's where the fire started I saw the burned remains of an old electric heater in one of them. I need to get back up there. There are still a lot of people in danger from all the smoke on the upper floors."

"Go, we'll be right behind you."

Superman along with the fire fighters and paramedics continued pulling people out of the building till everyone had been rescued. As Superman was setting one elderly woman down she grabbed him and kissed his cheek. He seemed touched but somewhat embarrassed. He went back to his work aware that the fire aftermath was now being captured on a live newscast.

A reporter ran over to the woman Superman had just rescued who was still just catching her breath but appeared to be laughing joyfully with her friends.

Xoxo

"Ma'am can I get your name, are you alright? How can you appear to be so happy at a time like this?"

"I'm Mrs. Miranda Simpson. Honey, not only did my life and apartment get saved tonight but I got to kiss the sweetest and cutest man I have ever seen in all my life and believe me that has been a long while!" She winked into the camera pulling out a kitten from under her sweater. "If that wasn't enough, I didn't want to leave without my little Sheba so he found her for me."

"What was it like to fly with Superman?"

"Heavenly!"

Xoxo

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Superman arrived home a couple hours after leaving the dinner table to find them all huddled in front of the TV watching for updates on the fire and weather conditions.

"Daddy you're home!" Jason jumped up immediately hearing him arrive before anyone else.

Xoxo

"Of the 105 residents only one person died thanks to Superman arriving on the scene even before the fire department saving the residents from a much worse disaster. It seems even a kitten was saved by the caped wonder as shown in this clip."

The clip showing the elderly woman kissing Superman and then being interviewed was replayed.

"The fire department reports the fire was caused by a resident using an electric space heater to try and stay warm. Now on the weather front…

Xoxo

Lois jumped up, I'll heat your dinner back up….uh, I guess you can do that easier than the microwave huh?" Clark just smiled in answer. "Do you know you have lipstick on your cheek?"

"What! Oh… right, Mrs. Simpson kissed me I guess she left her mark, heh?" he blushed slightly as Lois wiped the smug off his cheek.

Lois switched the TV to cartoons for the kids as the adults joined Clark at the table. They continued sitting at the table well after he finished eating chatting about plans for the dinner Saturday and Catherine's move the following week.

After several minutes Richard asked. "Any news on Luthor?"

"No, nothing." He sighed deeply clearly exasperated. "He could be just about anywhere. I haven't been able to find even the slightest trace of him."

Martha spoke up, "Oh, I keep forgetting to tell you I talked to Alice back home today. She told me that Jeffery Myers is in the hospital. He was beat up by a couple bikers traveling through town. It seems he made some snide remarks to them in the Piggly Wiggly. They followed him when he left and cornered him alone in the alley."

Clark's eyes got wide as he remembered what Kala had told them, "Is he going to be alright?"

Jason and Kala had heard what was said and Kala stood up in place clearly upset then ran to Clark, "I'm sorry Daddy, it's all my fault." She buried her face in his chest as he turned in his chair putting his arms around her.

"No, no Kala, it's not your fault. We had no way of knowing when your premonition was going to happen. We weren't even sure it would happen. You can't blame yourself honey."

"Honey, Jeffery is going to be fine. He's just a little sore and bruised right now. Clark is right, it wasn't your fault. From what Alice said it sounds like he brought the attack on himself."

Ben shook his head, "That boy never learns maybe this will finally teach him a lesson."

Catherine seemed confused so Chloe leaned close to her whispering. "We'll tell you the whole story later."

They continued talking for about an hour after the kids went to bed. Finally Richard nodded to the women. "You two ready to go home?"

"You had better let me escort your car. The roads are not safe right now."

"Clark, it's only a couple blocks. We'll be fine."

"You know, statistically speaking most accidents happen within one mile of home!" He gave Lois a whimsical nod at that statement.

"Clark, we'll be fine….the roads are empty."

Lois spoke up, "Richard, Clark's right let him at least escort you. The roads are empty for a reason."

"Alright I guess it won't hurt to play it safe. Thanks Clark"

Xoxoxoxoxo

Clark came back home a few minutes later and joined Lois in the living room enjoying the warmth of the fireplace. "Your mom and Ben decided to turn in. It seems we have the fire all to ourselves." She patted the couch next to where she was curled up.

Sitting down he raised his eyebrows provocatively "Nice!" Lois handed him a cup of hot chocolate, "hmmm tiny marshmallows! I thought I wasn't getting any dessert tonight?" He took a sip of the hot drink.

"Turn off those ears of yours or you won't!" She smiled giving him a kiss and coy look. "I want your total attention for a little while. I have an appointment with my OB-GYN Thursday. Are you going to be able to go with me?"

"I wouldn't think of missing it. Is the doctor the same one you had when Jason was born?"

"Yes"

"Does he know…?"

"I think he suspected something, but no, I didn't tell him."

"Do we need to tell him?"

"No, it should be fine, it was last time. I was so confused last time I didn't even know for sure."

"Lois, if it's important he knows we should tell him. I don't want to risk either of you."

"Are you sure Clark?"

"Yes, Elina is in your care now. I will support whatever you decide to do."

Lois took his cup and sat it next to hers on the coffee table then turning back to him she melted into his arms enjoying the warm fire and the closeness of his warm body. Before long their lips found each other with their kisses growing more and more intense. Nearly out of breath from the intensity of their emotions, Clark got up and turned the gas fireplace off. Gathering Lois in his arms he carried her up to bed.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Lois' sleep was disturbed by Clark's sudden heavy breathing, his head started to thrash back and forth as he began moaning as if in fear or pain. Lois sat up as she tried to shake him awake realizing he must be having a bad nightmare. She shook harder finding no affect. "Clark, Clark wake up." Growing more concerned she noticed he was sweating and clammy to the touch as he continued to thrash about.

Just then she realized Kala was screaming down the hall. Getting up and grabbing her robe she raced to Kala's room getting there at the same time as Martha and Ben. Kala was thrashing and crying, sweat visible on her face. "Daddy, Daddy, save me. I'm scared." She mumbled in deep distress.

Lois hesitated momentarily not sure what to do. Martha started to wake Kala "Wait, Clark is having the same dream. It might be another premonition. I couldn't wake him. I think we need to let them finish, somehow they're connected right now maybe it's important they see whatever is happening."

The three looked at each other worry in their eyes. "Martha, go sit with Clark, Ben and I will stay with Kala."

Jason came to the door "Mommy, what's wrong with Daddy and Kala? It's scaring me."

"It's alright honey. They're just having a bad dream but we need to let them finish it." She pulled him into her lap as she sat next to Kala who continued to cry and moan in her sleep.

"I don't like it Mommy, when are they going to wake up?"

"Soon Munchkin, soon." Lois rocked Jason worried letting the dream continue was not the best thing to do.

Xoxoxoxoxoxo

Clark was in a maze of tunnels. He could hear Kala's screams but just as he got close they receded again. He called out to her again entering an area where the walls of the caves were red hot even to him. Then he realized they weren't red but green. The walls were lined with Kryptonite. He stumbled, barely able to rise but he forced himself to continue. He was determined to get to Kala. Finally making it past the deadly kryptonite to an inner chamber still weakened from the kryptonite he found Luthor waiting, holding Kala roughly by one arm. Before he could recover Luthor opened up a lead box throwing the contents, a Kryptonite shard at him which pierced deeply into his stomach.

Moaning he fell to the floor in agony. Kala fell on top of him screaming after Luthor shoved her in his direction. The images changed and they were suddenly in a crystal room with Luthor laughing maniacally.

"There's no getting away now for either of you. Soon I'll have your other super pawn and your queen. I already have your castle and your knight. I win the game Soups. You and yours are as good as dead. Checkmate!"

Xoxoxoxoxo

Kala finally opened her eyes crying uncontrollably. "Daddy…, Daddy's hurt." She cried.

"Kala, honey it's alright. It was just a bad dream."

"Daddy, I want Daddy." She cried, Jason also seemed distressed and started crying as well.

Clark came running in appearing shaky, breathless and deathly pale wearing only pajama bottoms. "I'm alright honey." He scooped Kala up in his arms and took her back to the master bedroom retreat motioning for Lois to bring Jason. Clark sat down with Kala still in his arms in a rocking chair and slowly started rocking telling Kala everything would be alright as her sobs and trembling slowly quieted down.

Lois grabbed a blanket off the bed and placed it over Clark and Kala who both seemed oblivious to everything else going on around them. Taking a second blanket Lois sat down on the nearby loveseat pulling Jason with her. She nodded to Martha and Ben who excused themselves after Martha made sure Lois knew they were there if needed.

Early the next morning Martha peeked in and saw Clark and Kala sound asleep still in the rocking chair and Lois and Jason asleep on the love seat. Martha quickly checked to make sure they were all warm and covered then pulled the heavy drapes closed over all the windows before leaving the room.

Lois opened her eyes catching her just as she was about to leave the room and mouthed 'thank you'.

Martha smiled acknowledgment as she silently pulled the door closed.

Xoxoxoxoxo

A very big thanks to those who have be kind enough to review. :)