AN Wow, Thanks Mak5258 you got that back to me fast! You are the greatest!

Disclaimers: I do not own WB, Superman, Lex Luthor, Zod .... This was written just because I wanted to!

Chapter 17

Jason awoke in his father's room. Looking up at the stars placed on the ceiling, he wondered what it was like out in space. He knew that his daddy was out there somewhere watching out for him. His grampa told him that when good people die, they go to a special place and watch over those they left behind. It made him sad to know that he wouldn't ever get to see his daddy again.

Hearing voices, he quietly slipped down the stairs. His father was back from the earthquake and he was anxious to know what happened. He had heard about Superman saving a Rhino while Gramma was listening to the radio. Finding his parents snuggled together in the big bed in the guestroom he did what any child would do on a lazy morning; Jason climbed in with them and snuggled too.

Martha went downstairs to check on her bereaved houseguest, only to be greeted by the sight of her son's family curled up together in the guestroom bed. Clark looked over to the doorway as he heard her approach, his face radiant as he embraced his family. He put his finger to his lips signing for his mom to let them sleep. Martha smiled back at her boy, and went into the kitchen to put out breakfast for the four of them. After so much tragedy, they needed this little respite.

Seeing Ben walking from the barn, Martha went out to greet him, and perhaps shanghai him into taking her to town to pick up a few things for her grandson.

Clark awoke again to the buzz of his cell phone. "Kent here," he answered.

"It's Perry. I'm in Chicago right now I'll be arriving in Kansas City in a couple hours. Think you can get someone to pick me up?"

"I think I can get you a ride to the farm."

Lois got up and took off for the bathroom. She didn't look well.

"Something with four wheels, and an engine, Kent. I don't want any 'special' favors from a certain blue clad hero, I'd rather fly the interstate." Clark's eyes widened at the implication Perry just made. Had he put the pieces together?

"I'll be there. What airline?"

Perry gave him his itinerary, and they hung up. Perry rushed to the gate to catch the last leg of his flight.

Jason sat at the table in the breakfast nook eating a bowl of cereal, his legs dangling from the chair.

"Whatcha eating, Jas?" Clark asked as he grabbed a loaf of bread from the breadbox.

"Kix," he answered as he scooped another spoonful in his mouth. He watched his father, fascinated, as he held a slice of bread and toasted it to perfection with his eyes.

"Cool!" Jason exclaimed, "Can I do that?"

Clark looked at his son, shrugging his shoulders, "I'm not sure what you'll be able to do. We'll know more after we get some of those test results back."

Jason slumped back in his chair as he was reminded of yesterday's events. Clark recognized the look of guilt in his son's face.

"I don't think I want to anymore," Jason answered resignedly, visibly drawing into himself. Clark wished he could do something to fix the situation, but knew only time would help.

"I don't want to grow up to be Superman, Mommy," He cried to his mother as she entered the kitchen.

Kneeling down to his level she scooped him into her arms rocking him gently "Nobody ever said you did."

Clark watched as this amazing woman comforted their son. His son. He would never get over the awe, knowing that their love had created something so wonderful. His son, his legacy; Kal El was the last hope of his race, Jason the promise of something new.

"Clark, who called?" Lois asked as she sat down next to their son.

Clark blinked, "Oh, um, Perry. He's in Chicago. He'll be flying into KC in a couple hours. I'll need to borrow mom's car. Perry doesn't want me to ask any favors from, you know…." Clark motioned with his hand.

"It's just us, Clark," Lois laughed at Clark's antics.

"You never know who might be outside the kitchen door." Clark said as he walked over to the door and pulled back the curtain covering the window. Outside was a news van, and one of GNN's most obnoxious reporters standing at the door getting ready to knock.

Lois looked over to the door and groaned. "What is she doing here?"

Clark grabbed the car keys and stepped out the door, readying himself to be accosted by Kat Grant.

"Clark! You're here! I heard about the explosion! I was so scared that you all had gotten hurt."

"What are you doing here, Kat?"

"Well, Clark, I have to admit: I wanted to be the first on the story 'Daily Planet Assistant Editor Blown Up on Fellow Reporter's Farm.' By the way, how is Lois doing?"

"She's doing as well as can be expected, Kat. Please go, she doesn't need any of this right now." Clark motioned to the video crew that was setting up outside the house.

Clark started to walk to the shed where his mother's baby blue'57 T-Bird soft-top was stashed. Backing the classic car out of the shed, he prepared for a quiet drive to the airport. Clark pulled the car up to the house, and stepped out the give his family a quick good-bye. Jason ran out backdoor hoping to catch his father before he drove off. Clark scooped him up in his arms as he walked up the steps.

"Mommy doesn't like that lady. Can I go with you, Dad?"

A laugh rumbled in Clark's chest, "No, kiddo, she never has," He whispered back, winking at his son. Joy burst in his heart: Jason called him Dad! Not Clark or Father, but Dad.

Kat sauntered over to the pair, "Cute kid."

"I think so. Takes after his mom," Clark answered back, ruffling his son's hair. Kat gave him a puzzled look, the same, he thought, that he must have given Jimmy back in the newsroom as he had spied the picture of the boy for the first time.

Clark set his son down on the porch, "Ask your mom," he said as Lois walked out the door.

"Ask Mom what?" Lois asked, looking at her two men conspiratorially.

Clark gazed at Lois on hearing her voice so strong and steady. Nothing belied that last night he had listened to her crying, the anguish matching that of the people in Africa, the loss from both overwhelming. Now she stood, strong, poised and ready to begin the next stage of what looked to be a long battle between two undefeatable forces.

"Can I go with Dad to pick up Uncle Perry?" Jason asked his mother as he held onto his father's hand. Lois smiled at her boys, happy that Jason was finding comfort in his dad.

Kat looked from Lois to Clark, "You two?"

Lois smirked at her collegue, as she pulled her boys into a hug, "And you thought I never noticed the farmboy."

"Why don't you stay here, it's a long boring drive to Kansas City. If you stay you can play with Shelby, and maybe get some cookies from Grandma," Lois chided.

"Okay," Jason said half-heartedly, running off to chase after Shelby.

Clark gave Lois a quick peck on the cheek, "I'll be back soon," he promised.

"Why are you here?" Lois glowered at Kat as the car disappeared down the dirt lane.

Kat smiled back at her, "You know, Lois, in a very short time the press is going to figure out where you're hiding. The news feeds are already flowing with reports on Richard, and want they're going to want the full story.

"And you, my dear, are by no means up to the game, nor do I believe is Perry. You are going to need a family spokesperson. I know that we have had our differences in the past, but right now, I want to be someone you can count on, to be there for your family."

"Why? What's in it for you?"

Kat paused, inhaling deeply said "Resolution."

"Resolution?" Lois motioned Kat over to the porch swing and sat down, "Explain."

"The Vanderworth's own the TV station I work for. They thought that Gertrude was getting pulled into some scam, and asked me to find out what it was. They hoped that I might be able to get your help in the investigation since I had worked with you in the past, and it did involve Lex Luthor. "

"You called me, what was it, eight months ago?" Lois agreed, mentally hitting herself for ignoring her call.

Kat nodded, "When you didn't return my call, I decided to go undercover myself. Got some colored contacts, some ugly wigs, made myself up differently. I got hired as a maid for the Vanderworths, and eventually got the attention of Gertrude's new husband, Lex Luthor."

Lois looked at Kat more closely than she had ever looked before, "YOU?! You're Kitty Kowalski?"

"I'm not proud of that, that I had to pretend to be Lex Luthor's bitch. It is something I'd rather forget about. It was a good thing he was so much in love with himself; I don't know what I would have done if I had to do more than play a part," she shuddered.

"I hated every minute, but by the time I finally found out what Luthor was up to, there was no way out. He kept me with him every second after the whole Mustang incident, threatened to kill me if I left, if I tried to contact Superman."

"He knows about Jason, Lois. When the guys told him what happened to Brutus he panicked. Does Clark know? He seems to think that –"

"Jason is Clark's son, Kat. Of that I am absolutely positive."

"But, what about the piano?"

"What about the piano? Do you think a five year old could move a piano?" Lois tried to look confident as she attempted to convince Kat that Jason was not Superman's son.

"I know what I saw on the boat. Your son did not like being near that Kryptonite, Brutus was crushed by a flying piano, and you hesitated for a brief second before you answered Lex's question, you weren't very convincing. But if you are absolutely positive that Clark is Jason's father, and I know that Jason is Superman's son, then I can come to only one conclusion: Clark didn't meet with Zod because he couldn't meet with Zod, because Zod would know that Clark Kent Superman," Kat whispered to Lois.

Lois looked around to make sure that nobody could have heard Kat.

"And that Zod creature –" Kat shuddered as she thought of the eerie conversations Lex had with the disembodied head emanating from some green crystal device Luthor kept hidden on his person.

"Lex fancies himself as the savior of humanity. He thinks that Superman is selfishly hording his technology, and Lex wants it. Zod has convinced him that he is the key to getting it. Zod has a way of getting people to follow him. He's the ultimate conman. Between the two of them they've bribed, conned, and threatened just about every high level bureaucrat between here and Washington, DC. They have several Congressmen and Senators in their pocket, not to mention the business mogels and foreign dignitaries that are fawning over the alien technology Zod has promised them."

"Do you know what they are up to?" Lois asked.

Kat shook her head sadly, "Lex would send me away when he spoke with Zod. But I think it has something to do with crystals and a Kryptonian library."

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