Lois shifted uncomfortably in her dress. It wasn't all that surprising that she was uncomfortable, considering the kind of dress he had brought her. It was the kind that you couldn't quite make up your mind if you liked the material because there wasn't enough of it to judge by. The neckline plunged and the hemline rose. The designer had almost forgotten to add a back to the dress. It wasn't an outfit Lois would ever think of wearing in a million years, but she couldn't afford to offend Dan, the gang mobster, right now.

She had listened to him drone on for 10 minutes, but it was obvious he was steering clear of all incriminating subjects. She had eventually tuned him out altogether and only nodded and smiled every now and then to feign listening. She was keeping an eye out for their fish. She was hoping that food in the mouth would slow him down but with her luck, he was probably one of those people who kept right on talking through their chewing. She could picture the disgusting sight now and shuddered.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

She felt like saying, 'No, you bozo. How could I be when you gave me an entire yard of ultra-thin material to cover me?' Instead she said, "I'm fine. Please continue. I love to hear you talk."

He didn't need any more encouragement than that. He went on with his talk of sports and other crap.

Lois noticed one of the guys at the bar for the first time. It was Clark. Lois had to work hard not to show anger and mortification on her face. She was angry because he had followed her on her 'date'. He could blow their cover and get them both killed. She was also angry because this wasn't the first time he had done something like this. He had this annoying need to protect her, when she could do it herself. Most of all though, she was mortified because of her dress. How come anytime she was caught in things that could barely be defined as clothes or worse, none at all, Clark was there? He had been in the club for her stupid performance, he had been there when she had come out of the shower to attack her intruder and didn't have time to throw some clothes on, and just a little while ago in that awful outfit and tattoo. If she didn't know any better, she'd think he did it on purpose, but he was too much of a gentleman for that. He just happened to be around her more often than not and caught her in whatever she happened to be in. He never brought those moments up to tease her. Well, except for the sailor thing but that was only once. She, however, teased him unmercifully when she caught him in an embarrassing situation and when you meet someone in their birthday suit, it gives you plenty of material. It was the plaid that she preferred to tease him about though and he in turn made occasional jabs about her bunny slippers.

She remembered getting the bunny slippers. She had been shopping with Lucy or more like Lucy had dragged her along. Lucy had picked them up and exclaimed, "These are so perfect for you, sis!" Lois scrutinized them, "Yeah, right." She had to admit she thought they were cute momentarily. "No, they are," Lucy assured her, "I know you're my tough, big sister but underneath it all, you have a very soft spot, especially for these bunnies. You know you do." Lois rolled her eyes. If anyone ever found out she wore them, she'd never hear the end of it. She just wasn't the kind of girl you could picture in bunny slippers, combat boots maybe. She could imagine what the General would say when he saw her in them, "No." "Come on. Think about what it says about you. I'm so tough if you make fun of this, I'll kill you. It's why mean biker guys have mom tattoos. You even think of making fun of it, they'll pulverize you." Lois almost said yes, but they were shopping for Lucy's school clothes, not hers. Lois took them from Lucy's hand and put them back on the shelf. "I'll be waiting for you in the car," Lois said. "Here's the General's check to pay for the stuff. Don't go crazy and buy a bunch of junk. I'd get the blame for your spending spree." "Yes, ma'am," Lucy mock saluted. When Lucy got in the car, she dangled a bag in front of her, "Guess what?" "You didn't," Lois said, taking the bag and looking in. "You did. Lucy, what am I going to do with these?" "Wear them with your pajamas. We better get back to the base before Daddy sends the entire army after us." Lois frowned, as she threw them in the back and started the car but a small smile tugged at her lips. She had treasured them ever since, particularly because her little sister had gotten them for her. She always wore them, no matter who saw her in them. A few times, one had managed to make it off her foot with her cuddling it like a teddy bear when she woke up. Clark had seen one of those times, unfortunately. The point being Lois was proud of her bunny slippers. She could take the teasing. She wasn't in any shape or fashion proud of this dress.

"Dan, I have to go to the ladies room. I'll be right back."

He excused her and she dashed to the restroom. She hoped with some adjustments, it wouldn't be as revealing. If she had to, maybe she could wrap herself up in toilet paper and go with the mummy look.

While she was gone, Clark took the opportunity to walk over to the table. "Hey, know who I am?" Clark asked.

It took him awhile to recognize Clark. "Oh, yeah. You're the new butler, uh…Chad or Cluck."

"Chuck. My name's Chuck."

"Right."

"So I see you're dating the new maid."

"Yeah, she's something," he said in a proud voice. "Wait a minute. Why are you so interested? Trying to steal my girl?" he asked, standing up menacingly.

"Not at all. It's just she has a reputation."

He grinned. "So do I."

"No, not like that. You know what? Never mind."

"What?" he wanted to know.

"It's just a rumor among the servants. It's nothing."

"Tell me," he demanded angrily, although now he sounded a little worried too.

"She's a nice girl and everything but well, she's one of those look-don't- touch-for-health-reasons girls." Clark had a tough time getting that out. If Lois found out what he had just said, she'd murder him, invulnerability or not. "She's a great maid," he continued, "but she wouldn't be a good girlfriend. Of course, it might not be true."

Dan was taking no chances. "Do you mind telling her I had to split? Tell her I found another girl."

"Sure," Clark said, struggling to keep from smiling. It had worked like a charm and Dan didn't seem like he was going to hold it against her.

He waited for her to come back out. When she did, she clearly looked mad and frustrated. He wasn't going to enjoy making her angrier. She saw Dan was gone and saw him standing there, making eye contact with her. She knew he wouldn't do that unless Dan had left.

Lois tried to take a deep breath to calm herself before she went over there, but it sounded more like the snarl of a bulldog. Operation Make-Dress-Less-Revealing hadn't gone very well. It hadn't worked at all. At least, Clark had the decency to make eye contact with her and pretend he didn't notice. That calmed her a little, but it was obvious he had chased him off somehow. "What'd you do?"

"Nothing. He went off with another girl." He slipped off his jacket and handed it to her.

She almost considered refusing because she wasn't in the mood to be indebted to him. She did need it though and she could tell that despite his best efforts, he was having a hard time staying focused on her face and words, so she put it on. That made her wonder if he thought of her as more than a friend or if he was just being a stupid guy. She settled on stupid guy. She'd been a stupid girl with him before. Attraction was completely different than love. "Listen, Smallville! You better not have jeopardized our covers. I can't believe you. I was this close to getting him to reveal something."

"It sounded like it."

"How would you know? You were at the bar."

"I walked here. Unless you have money for a cab, it looks like you'll be walking back with me."

"Let's go then. It's not too far away."

Lois had taken off her heels. They were standing in front of her door now.

"I suppose you want this back," Lois said, starting to take the jacket off.

"No, you can give it to me in the morning."

Lois smiled gratefully. They must have been tired because it seemed like forever before they stopped looking at each other.

At last Lois came to her senses, "Good night, Chuck."

"Good night, Lola."

Lois closed the door and listened to his steps grow fainter, as he went down the hallway. She smelled his jacket. His cologne was on it and a little of the outdoors. It smelled like him. She was tempted to keep it on, but she realized how crazy that would be. She laid it at the foot of her bed and sighed. Things hadn't gone according to plan tonight. She wanted to blame Clark, but he was so hard to stay mad at. His protectiveness stemmed from the fact that he was sweet and caring. In a way, he had saved her from being a gang mobster's girlfriend. She had to make some progress tomorrow or she was wasting her time and who knew what Chloe had uncovered by now?