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Chapter 10: Destiny and Perhaps Love?

Lois looked at the children who seemed unaffected in the other waiting area, but as she looked at Clark, he looked a sickly green. His hands were holding his head, and she could see him clenching his jaw. Thoughts were running a mile a minute through her head, what was wrong with Clark. Clark, somehow he had claimed a place in her heart, though she would never admit it, she was more worried for the mild mannered report than a friend might have been.

Reaching out, tentatively with her hand she touched his shoulder, "Clark...Clark, what's wrong?"

Struggling to contain the agony in his voice, he quickly replied, "I'll be fine."

Though he had tried not to be quick with Lois, he had been, and Lois was not stupid. She had never seen Clark snap or be quick with anybody, nothing ever got to him, so she knew something must be wrong.

"Clark Kent, what is wrong? You look like your about to pass out?"

Clark looked cautiously up at Lois trying to disguise any sign of pain. There she stood, with her hands on her hip and her foot tapping, and not to mention the most worried/aggravated face he had ever seen on her. He almost wanted to laugh.

"Lois I'll be fine, just give me a minute."

"Smallville, you better be," letting on a little more emotion than she meant.

Both looked through the glass window to see, Lucius had finished taking the blood from Mara and was now, placing the needle in a lead box. As soon as the box closed, Mara began to look much better. The color returned to her face, her eyes regained their shine, and over all she looked like nothing had happened. If any of the occupants of the small room had looked towards the spot on her arm where the needle had been, they would have seen no evidence that it ever been there.

Lois noticed that with Mara's speedy recovery, Clark as well seemed to be fine as well. It was if, they had been connected, sharing the pain.

Mara, along with Lucius came into the area they were seated in.

"Alright, now I have to take some blood from the kids, scan it, and then transfuse replacement cells from Mara in," Lucius explained.

Mara nodded and Lucius called over Jordan and Lara who routinely hopped up onto the hospital beds.

"Oh, Clark I'd like to show you something, if you could come with me," getting a quick nod, Mara continued, "Lois we'll be right back."

Mara pulled Clark away into another area, which was stocked with supplies and such which were occasionally needed by Dr. Fox.

"Clark I'm sorry…"

"What the hell was that?"

"You weren't supposed to feel anything, I didn't realize I was projecting the pain," Mara looked remorsefully at Clark, "I would have never …never done that intentionally."

"Mara its okay," Clark said as he took her into a brotherly embrace, "What was it?"

"Just like we can share thoughts, we can share pains," Mara looked at him with sorrow.

Clark nodded, understanding what Mara was trying to say. Then another thought occurred to him, "Why was the needle kryptonite?"

"Duh…it's our only weakness, nothing else can penetrate the skin…moron," Mara finished with a roll of her eyes. Glancing back at the kids, she saw Lois watching intently what was going on, motioning to Clark with a sigh, "We'd better get back."

Clark nodded and they both headed back to the screening area, where Lois was.

As the night progressed Lois learned she couldn't cure her son, only his father could as she had expected. Jason would have to live with his allergies until such a time came when his biological father could give him a transfusion.

It was a long night for everyone; both Jordan and Lara were tried from the kryptonite exposure, which had weakened their small bodies. Mara and Clark were worn from their own trials and tribulations. Lois was depressed, she felt like she couldn't save nor keep anyone she loved. Jason, the ever compassionate little boy he was held his mother's hand, trying to get her to be happy. Then there was finally Anna, a little girl with a surrogate family, nothing truly to call her own, and for a small child barely six, to grasp such a concept is a tragedy in itself. Perhaps by these small thoughts, these inconspicuous thoughts which passed through each of their minds, in such a tumultuous day, they had set in motion a series of events that would forever shape each of their futures for good and for worse. All by just a single, thought, on one's own life, could you change your entire destiny from that moment on?

The party then, left the safe guarded medical center, moving out in the same style in which they had previously entered, with as little conversation as possible. Upon arriving at the suite, Lucius was shown to a suite on the same floor by a valet. Mara and Lucius exchanged goodbyes, with a few innuendos only they understood. Polite goodbyes from the rest of the group ensued as well and then Dr. Fox went on his way for a decent nights sleep.

Lois was just about to reach out to pick Jason up, when he asked, "Can I spend the night?"

Jason looked expectantly at Mara and Clark, Clark wanted to eagerly nod his consent, but he too then turned to look at Mara.

Mara couldn't believe this, everyone in the room was looking at her, she wanted to roll her eyes, but she didn't. Looking at the beautiful eyes of her nephew and that of her brother's she caved, "You're both welcome to stay the night."

Both, Clark and Jason, smiled wide farm boy smiles, the kids all jumped for joy and Lois nodded in consent as well.

Before the kids could get too excited though Mara adopted a stern motherly voice and said, "It's late, bed in five minutes," which was followed by a chorus of 'ahh's.

Glancing at Lois, Mara asked, "Would you like a change of clothes for the night?"

"Oh yeah that'd be great," Lois smiled with relief and followed Mara as she motioned her to follow. That's when the door caught Lois' eye, "Umm…Mara what happened with the door."

Mara blushed, which was a first, Lois thought she would never see someone like Mara blush, Mara smiled, "Don't know my own strength sometimes," and shrugged it off. Lois was more confused than ever with this family; don't know your own strength, no woman she ever met could throw a door off its hinges unless they were a weight lifter.

Lois thankfully took the clothes, and changed in Mara's private bathroom and then asked the big question that kept running through her mind, "How's the sleeping arrangement working out?"

"Oh well I am not quite sure…the kids can all stay in their room, there's matching bunks already in there anyway," Mara shrugged, "This is my room and your welcome to share the bed with me, but it might be a little cramped," she said looking at the twin. As if Mara was struck by lightening she marched out into the living room where Clark was already changed and drinking a glass of water. Looking at him she said, "Clark you're on the couch."

Clark practically spit out his water.

Mara turned back to Lois and smiled, "You can sleep in the Master bedroom."

Lois looked from Mara to Clark in an instant, "No, I couldn't impose like that I'll stay on the couch," she quickly rambled off.

"Umm…Yes you could and you will, Lois," Mara turned toward her and escorted her down the hallway to the bedroom, "Here we are."

Lois looked and Mara a little anxiously, "Do you think Clark minds?" she asked while fidgeting with her bracelet.

"Clark doesn't mind he was just a bit shell shocked," Mara said with a shrug, "Alright I am going to tuck the kids, your-welcome to come with me."

Lois smiled gratefully with a nod and both walked across the hall to the kid's room. On one wall there was the girls' bunk with purple and pink comforters and such. On the other was a matching bunk with dark red and dark blue comforters. As they entered the children were talking in conspiratorially low voices, laughing and giggling as they had entered. Lois watched as Mara gave each child a hug, a kiss, and a smile that was each their own. Lois walked over to Jason who was on the top bunk.

"Jason maybe you should take the bottom, honey?"

Jason smiled, his beautiful big smile, "Don't worry Mom, if I fall I won't he the ground."

Lois was a little taken aback by the comment, and especially by the faces and expressions shared by everyone else in the room with the comment. The comment had even caused Mara to come over and give him another hug and smile. It was as if it had meant something much more to Mara, but to Lois it only reminded her of Superman. The man she loved who she hadn't seen in days, and due to their parting she doubted she'd see anytime soon.

Smiling down at her gift, her wonderful little boy, the one thing she could always have that connected her to the man she loved, "Alright, goodnight, Jason," smiling at all of them, "Goodnight, sweet dreams."

Mara echoed what Lois had said both leaving the room and heading their separate way. Looking down the hallway the lights were already out, assuming that Clark was asleep, Lois laid down in the queen size bed.

Sighing aloud, she scanned the room; it was very …well the best to describe it might be simple, unelaborated. The room had matching dressers, bed post, and nightstands of cherry oak, and everything else was white. The window was directly across from the bed allowing the moonlight to spill in, and a beautiful view of the city.

Rolling unto to her stomach, she took a deep breath. She soon after fell sound asleep, maybe it had been a long day, but perhaps maybe in that deep breath, subconsciously she had noticed that which can only be describe as a summer's night cling to the sheets of Clark's bed. It was a scent she knew, one that she would never forget; it wrapped her in a cocoon safe from all her worries and fears.

Sometime in the night, Lois was awoken by the closing of what sounded to be a…window? She cautiously walked down the hall, glancing in on the children who were all still fast asleep, she continued down into the living area where she saw Clark.

Lying on his stomach, his large frame was sprawled across the couch. It was quite funny to look at it. He looked so…so…Lois though quickly brushed that thought from her mind. Walking over she sat on the coffee table across from him. Gently she took her hand and brushed back an errant dark brown hair out of his face. The thought which had been previously discarded returned he was handsome; she'd hardly ever noticed what a handsome face he possessed, like a god.

Staring intently at Clark, millions of thoughts rushed through her. All dealing with Clark, and how she had never met anyone like him…and during these thoughts, Lois Lane began to feel something in her heart for Clark and she admitted it to herself. Leaning down over Clark she gently placed a kiss on his cheek, before returning to bed.

Lois never noticed Clark's eyes flutter open and she walked away.