An Understanding: Part 2

Lois Lane had to be one of the most competent people Clark knew. She was a journalist, mother, champion of others, and, from what he's heard, not all that bad at baseball. In fact, if fate had taken a different course, and she had his powers, Clark had no doubt that she would make a much better superhero then he.

However, Clark was learning the hard way that Lois was not, by any stretch of the imagination, a good driver. It wasn't like she didn't know how to drive; she could turn the wheel and park with aplomb. It was more that she seemed to forget to watch the road or remember that other drivers were around her. She switched lanes when she wanted, sped, and often laid on the horn, all while swilling coffee. Super powers or not, Clark wanted an extra seatbelt. And his mother.

"Did you see that guy?"

"Huh?"

"Did you? He totally cut me off!"

"Well," Clark paused, choosing his words carefully, "maybe we shouldn't have left during the noon rush hour."

Both heard the tell tale sleep tracks on the side of the road and Lois swerved back into the lane without looking. "I think that guy just flicked me off."

"I think he was waving at us."

"With only one finger?"

"Maybe he's not from around here. Maybe, in his homeland, that's some sort of positive greeting." Lois glared at Clark like his was an idiot. "Gee Lois, if this stresses you out so much, maybe you should let me drive."

Lois puffed out her cheeks and let the air out slowly. "No, no, I want to drive for now. I don't like being in a car and not being able to be in control. I'm always worried that something is going to happen."

Clark nodded; it made sense, even if it wasn't a very comforting statement. They were quiet for a while, and staying in one lane for the most part, so Clark took the time to look out the window. Metropolis was his home now, and in the end, with what he had chosen to do with his life, that was OK. But as much as he admitted to hating it to people, especially Lois, he loved the country. It had a lot to do with his childhood. After witnessing so much trouble in the world he couldn't deny that he had been lucky with his family. What would most people have done if an honest to God spaceship landed in their backyards carrying a child? And what if you found out that child had abilities beyond that of any other? It seemed in human nature to push away that which was unusual or frightening. It was a defense mechanism really and often served to keep people out of harms way. But Clark also knew that such feelings meant prejudice, hate. If there was any other who had found him that starry night, he might have ended up in an institution or worse. He didn't know if he believed in fate, but maybe that was what had brought him to his adopted mother and father, and given him the childhood he had, and inevitably made him the man he was today.

So as Clark watched the buildings and towns become smaller and more spread out, the land a sea of grain washing away 'proper' civilization, he couldn't help but smile a bit and relax.

Lois, on the other hand, was white knuckling the steering wheel and staring at the horizon, disturbingly determined. As he turned his attention back to her he noticed her breathing was irregular too.

"Um Lois?"

"What?"

"Are you alright?"

"Fine."

"But your breathing it's…"

"Lamaze."

Clark almost choked on his own spit. "Umm, OK?" He couldn't look at her, but she turned her head sharply towards him.

"When I get nervous, or stressed, I sometimes use my Lamaze breathing to calm down. It's perfectly reasonable."

Clark still kept his eyes straight ahead, her actions being too personal for him to react.

Lois huffed unceremoniously, "Oh Clark, would you relax. It's not like I'm having a kid right now."

He looked at her and gave a weak smile. "Was it helpful when you had Jason?"

The question was from left field, and anyone else would have gotten a tidy lecture on boundaries and being an ass. But this was Clark, and Lois wasn't overly bashful when it came to personal and Clark lately. "Well, with eight hours of labor, you bet that Lamaze breathing was used. I could have sworn he was never going to come out." Clark turned and gave her a reassuring smile. On the list of things he hated having missed in Jason's life, and that list grew longer by the day, not being witness his birth was in the top three. The thought was guaranteed to make him choke up, as it was now.

"I wish I could have been there," was all he said, placing a large, cool hand on her shoulder.

Lois took her eyes off the road again. Those words had been so genuine, so kind, that even though she hadn't thought of Clark in those hours of screaming and swearing, she could now imagine how reassuring it would have been to have him by her side. Feelings arose in her, strong ones, but as soon as her heart pondered those feelings, guilt swooped in and chased them away.

Lois turned back to the road, and flatly said, "Well, Richard was there, so it was alright."

Clark nodded, trying to not look very crestfallen. He knew that it was unreasonable for him to hate Richard. Here was a man who had fallen in love with a woman and not even blinked in his devotion when it became apparent she was carrying another man's child. Richard had raised Jason, and by all accounts been the type of father that any child deserves. It was more appropriate to say that Clark felt immensely jealous of the five years that Richard had with what Clark considered his family.

His family. The words turned in his mind over and over. In some ways it was selfish to believe that, considering the current circumstances. But Clark couldn't deny the amount of time he spent dreaming about what could have been and all the wonderful possibilities for the future. The possibilities were as infinite as the stars he had visited, and often just as far away.

After an hour or two, Clark and Lois switched places and Lois slept peacefully in the car. Clark could tell that this trip was needed for her in so many ways, even if going to a small town called Oneida to cover a county fair was not her ideal vacation.

Once they were about three miles away Clark woke Lois softly.

"Are we there yet?" she asked, almost dreamily.

"Almost."

"Oneida." She said concretely, and Clark could see the reporter wheels turning in her head. "Kinda like the potato."

Clark laughed, "Sure."

"I can't believe that Perry is starting a new section called about the surrounding area called 'Fresh Air.' That man is a city boy, through and through."

"It's a little out of character, I agree. Maybe his wife is from out here."

Lois shrugged, "Maybe," then shook her head, "Fresh Air."

"It's a catchy title."

"I guess. But if the country smells like that pig train we ran into, I'll pass."

Just then they came around a sharp bend, and in the middle of the road, minding its own business, was a cow. Clark swerved the car, careful not to stomp the break pedal straight through. For a second he thought they might be alright, but then the car got caught in some lose gravel, went down a slight incline, and promptly hit a stump.

The cow looked at the car for a second, snorted, and continued to walk down the highway.

To Be Continued…