SORRY for the insanely long delay but not only did I have trouble writing out this chapter but work has been such a hassle, I haven't had anytime to myself. I'm really hesitant to post this chapter because I feel like I didn't do Batman/Bruce Wayne justice. I think I made him more cocky then suave but I'm getting restless so I'm going to post anyway and hope Bruce Wayne works out better in my other chapters. Now, don't worry. It may seem like my story is going in totally different directions but that's the idea. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING will make some sense in the end. Everything that has happened has something to do with Lex and whatever he's planning...even the cliffhanger at the end.

Enough of this...READ ON!

"I uh...I have no idea what you're talking about." Clark babbled out, trying to mask his voice by making it deeper in hopes that whoever Batman was would think he had been mistaken.

He was wrong.

"You need to work a little more on your disguise, Clark. Really, it's not that hard to guess." Batman stepped forth from the shadows in perfect view for Clark to really admire his outfit. Clark felt slightly abashed in his suit, suddenly very aware of how ridiculous he might look in a dark coat and a t-shirt with his emblem sprayed on to his chest next to Batman's chiseled armored suit.

"Well, not all of us have deep pockets, Bruce." Clark had no idea where that came from; it had just popped forth from the back of his mind. Clark hadn't been ready to admit it but something about Bruce's cockiness just rubbed Clark the wrong way. He hadn't been all too sure but he had his suspicions after Oliver had given him the profile on Bruce Wayne and The Batman to research on.

Batman smiled beneath his mask. "Touche. But not all of us have super abilities like you do." He seemed to float above the ground, his large cape draped over him, hiding his fluid like movements. "We humans have to rely on wits and our god given abilities."

Clark was a bit taken aback at how much knowledge Bruce...or The Batman seemed to know about him. Batman seemed to guess what was running through Clark's head as he continued on.

"I've been following The Blur all through Metropolis. Your miraculous rescues really got my attention. Not to mention their have been no witnesses to see you and no trace of you except for the criminals you happen to leave behind so pardon me if I got a little obsessed..."

"I have this thing with billionaires riffling through my life." Clark stated firmly.

Batman nodded his head, "Lex Luthor." He said simply. "No need to worry, Clark. I'm one of the good guys.

Clark stepped out of the shadows, the moon striking his chest where Batman could see the emblem shine.

Clark's voice was hard. "That's exactly what Lex said."

Batman stood in somewhat awe at this person. He could see the difference between mild-mannered Clark Kent and the strong assertive demeanor of The Blur. Maybe it was disguise enough.

"Meet me back at my house in an hour. And bring your friends along too." He said simply.

"Lois?"

"Chloe and Oliver." And with that The Batman was gone, melting into the shadows, the only evidence of his departure being the quick snap of his cape.

******************

Lois, sulked in her hotel room. Something she didn't like doing but seemed to be a common outcome after any outing with Clark. Pacing across the floor, still in her dress, her mind ping ponged between anger and excitement over the events of the night. While she seethed with anger of having not one but two guys ditch her in one night another part of her was completely intoxicated with the memory of Clark's lips pressed hard against hers.

"No, Lois! You're mad at Clark." She muttered. "Mad people don't wish for more kisses from kiss-dong-ditchers."

A soft tap disturbed her rant and she almost tripped on her dress, cursing, as she made her way over to the door.

"CL-Oh...Chloe." Her face fell. She had been prepared to fight and ready for an apology, maybe even a maple doughnut.

Chloe raised her hands up in surrender. "I come in peace." She had felt Lois' anger from down the hallway, a hovering dark cloud with a promise of thunder that made Chloe very weary. "I know this might be a stupid question coming from me but are you okay?" She stepped through the door cautiously, keeping a good distance away from Lois' blazing red aura.

"Define okay?" Lois slammed the door shut, kicking her dress away as she made her way over to the closet.

"I take it the interview with Bruce didn't go so well?"

Lois' hard voice spoke out from the closet along with the clatter of a few hangers. "Well, I would need a certain billionaire to have an interview with!"

"I'm confused. Did Bruce not show up?"

Lois poked her head out, "No. And to make matters worse, Clark ditched me too."

Chloe made a mental note to give Clark a good slap the next time she saw him. As Lois came from the closet sans dress and sporting a pair of pj's, Chloe felt a slight ripple in her vibrations, something that slithered beneath the surface.

"There's something you're not telling me..." She said slowly, eying Lois who had just shoved a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"At o meen?" Her eyes shifted and Chloe watched as Lois' red aura turned into gold, the same golden vibrations she had come to associate with...Clark.

"CLARK KISSED YOU?!"

"I didn't even say anything!"

"You don't have too! I can feel it!" She squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh god I can feel it!" She grimaced as the hot rush of their passion flooded her. "Lois...PLEASE stop thinking about."

"Sorry!" Lois whined in the background of Chloe's mind. "You keep making me think about it."

Chloe winced. "Me?!"

"Yeah! You mentioning it makes me think about it which makes you feel it which makes you yell at me for thinking about which just makes me think about it!" Lois brushed out in one breath.

Chloe blinked at her cousin, who stood fists on hips and eyes wide with energy.

"Do you even understand what you just said?"

"No but who cares?!" Lois nodded her head in affirmation before heading over to grab an extra spoon for Chloe.

"So, what does this mean for the intrepid reporters?" Chloe asked as Lois plopped herself next to Chloe, offering her the bowl of ice cream which Chloe gladly accepted. Lois was quiet for awhile.

"Nothing." She stated firmly.

Chloe glanced wearily at her cousin. "You don't believe that." She insisted.

"Don't I?" Lois responded, throwing her spoon hard into the bowl. "I don't know."

"Lois, you're not making any sense."

Lois threw her arms up in frustration. "When has anything dealing with Clark made sense?"

"But Lois, you love him." Chloe spoke out then stopped suddenly when Lois glared at her.

"Can you at least hold back my feelings so that I can experience them without being told them."

Chloe bit her lip. "I'm sorry."

"No...That was harsh." Lois hung her head.

"Ya'think?"

"Hey, I'm trying to apologize. These are like golden tickets, okay?" Lois stood up, her eyes focused as she started to pace again.

"If it makes you feel any better, I know-"

"Don't." Lois warned, a hand held up. "Don't. I can my feelings with complete disaster but I can't handle his so whatever it is...Don't."

Chloe shook her head. "Fair enough." Her pocket vibrated and she pulled her phone out.

"Hello?"

"Chloe?" Clark's voice came through static.

"Clark? Where are you? I can barely understand you."

Lois rolled her eyes and continued picking at the ice cream all while trying to hear the conversation.

"I need you to meet me at the Wayne Mansion."

"Why?" Chloe turned to the side a bit, putting her back slightly to Lois.

"Just come. It'll all make sense later." Suddenly there was silence as Clark hung up and Chloe glanced her phone with confusion.

"I...have to go." She said, grabbing her purse and heading for the door. She gasped and turned to Lois, who sat looking at Chloe.

"I'm sorry! It's just...it's Clark...and...maybe he want's to talk...and I'll be right back!" She ran out the door, trying very hard to ignore Lois.

Lois glanced down into her lap where the bowl of ice cream laid melting. "Tonight is not my night..."

Her eyes slid to the door, a small mischievous smile creeping up slowly on her face. Rushing to the closet, she grabbed her coat, a pair of sneakers and rushed after Chloe.

"Is something bothering you?" Oliver asked Chloe, who sat in his passenger seat. She seemed distracted and keep turning around to look back behind them. Besides the heavy coat of darkness and the disappearing winding roads they drove over, Chloe could see nothing. Maybe she was just being paranoid about being whisked off into the night to some far off mansion but it still didn't help the itch that she felt at the back of her head.

"No...I just can't help but..." She glanced back at Oliver and shook her head. "Nothing."

"That doesn't look like nothing."

"Why are we going to back to Wayne Mansion?" Chloe changed the subject.

"Don't know. I just got a cryptic call from Clark that told me to pick you up and come over here." He said as he turned into another dusty road.

"Where is here exactly?" Chloe asked as she peered out the windows. "This isn't how we got to Wayne Manor before?"

Trees and more trees lined the roads they now drove on. They stood tall and high, masking the moonlight and creating a eerie aura of security that greatly confused Chloe. There were no signs or signs of life that Chloe could see as Oliver pushed down on the pedal, his car roaring to life as they turned around another deep bend, this one ending in a wall of rocks. Oliver immediately slowed down.

"What the hell?" Oliver gaped at the huge wall that rose from the ground. They were in a clearing where the dirt road didn't end but continued into the rock wall. Even with the windows up, Chloe could detect the slight roar of a waterfall not to far off.

"Are you sure this is right?"

Oliver opened the door, roughly. "If it isn't then I'm killing Clark. These were the directions he gave me!"

Chloe silently exited the car, her eyes wide with curiosity as she gaze at their surroundings.

"Maybe this where we are supposed to be." She said very uncertain of her theory.

"Unless we're all going out for a moonlight picnic..." Oliver muttered, rummaging around in his trunk for a flashlight. He flicked it on, pointing it to the rock wall. He ran his over the cold hard surface, the jagged endings of the rocks digging into his palms.

"I have no service." Chloe groaned, swinging her phone around in the air. She turned to Oliver, who was watching her movements. "What?"

"Nothing." He said after awhile before pulling his phone out and checking too. "Still nothing."

"Well, now what?" Chloe shivered beneath her thin coat. She was still wearing her dress and the cold stung her legs.

"Here." Oliver walked up to her, placing his coat over her. Unaware of what she was doing she place her body against his, the smell of his cologne and body sweat more warmth to her then his body itself. She felt his hands rub up and down her back and she closed her eyes.

"Oliver..." She murmured into his chest.

"Hmm?"

Chloe lifted her head, Oliver's nose just skimming her forehead. "Thank you for the earrings."

He smiled softly. She could feel his lips brush away from her skin as it widened.

"Thought I was being sneaky."

"Nope." He lowered his head, his silver aura radiating off him until his entire head was haloed by it.

"Guess I'll have to try harder next time." He whispered.

Before Chloe could inch forward just the inch that was needed, a hard thud reverberated through the clearing. They both snapped around, Oliver shoving Chloe behind him.

"That wasn't there before...Was it?" Chloe asked as they both stared at the gaping hole in the rock wall.

"I think I would have remembered it." Oliver walked to it cautiously. It was seemed to appear out of nowhere. Oliver could see nothing that gave evidence that it hadn't been there before.

"It leads somewhere...Like a cave..." He said as he walked back to the car. "Get in." He called after Chloe, who stood bemused before she made her way back to the car.

"Listen lady, I don't see nothing but a bunch of trees."

"Well, I'm paying you good money so just drive." Lois seethed in the back. Lois had followed Chloe out into the lobby, keeping good distance so Chloe couldn't detect her but not far enough away that Lois couldn't lose her. She had thought this might lead to nowhere but a coffee house and a rather, and she had hoped here, ashamed Clark but Lois was shocked to find Chloe getting into Oliver's car. She immediately hailed a cab as soon as Oliver sped away and took a rather thrill in telling the cab driver to "Follow that car!" but now all excitement had disappeared...along with Oliver and Chloe.

"I ain't got all night, lady!" He shouted back to her.

"Fine! Drop me off right here." She pointed to a random part of the road covered by trees and bushes that overflowed on to the path.

"Yah sure?"

"Listen man, don't get all concerned now." She gave him the money and grumbled her way out. She hesitated a bit before closing the door and wondered as she watched the receding headlights if this was such a smart idea.

"Well, too late now." She mumbled to herself, pulling the jacket tighter around herself. She started walking, the hard cold stinging her face until her eyes watered.

"Why the sad face?"

Lois stopped in her tracks, unsure if she had really heard the voice or if she had just imagined it.

"Excuse me?" She called out and was surprised when a strong shadow appeared before her.

"Hello Miss. Lane." Whoever it was had a light voice that carried a dark edge that cut through Lois. She straighten herself, not willing to show whoever how effecting his voice was.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Ahhh. I have been told about that mouth of yours." It took in a shuddering breath before it pitched out a cackling laugh that made Lois jump. "The things I would do to that mouth."

"Yeah, well get in line behind all the other psychopaths." She taunted, stepping back. She jumped as a rough hand grabbed her from behind.

"Hey!" She screamed as she spun around and gave her assailant a hard front kick to the chest. She spun around but was faced with two more opponents that creeped over to her.

"You're messing with the wrong girl." She warned as she jabbed a fist out that caught one in the nose. The other came at her hard, tackling her to the ground where her head slammed hard into the pavement. She groaned as spots appeared before her and her head felt heavy with pain but she regained herself fast and kneed her assailant hard.

"I'm messing with the right girl." He cackled as grabbed her hard, ducking away from her swinging fist and landing one hard in her stomach. He held her up as bent over in pain. "I like you." He hissed another laugh before pulling something from his pocket. Lois could hear the flick and saw the glitter of the blade as it hit moonlight.

"I've had fun but now I gotta kill you." He breathed and slowly brought the knife down hard.

Suddenly a strong hand caught the blade. "I wouldn't do that." Her voice was hard and familiar and Lois gaped as her eyes connected with a pair of green ones.

"Lana?"

"Are those...bats?" Chloe followed Oliver's gaze which lead to the vast ceiling of the dark and damp cave they now sat in.

"Yes." Bruce emerged from the darkness, costume gone and instead donning a simple black suit and tie.

"Figures." Oliver said as a big drop of bat excrement fell to the floor next to him.

"Where's Clark?" Chloe asked, turning around to the shadows as if Clark would easily appear as Bruce did.

"Right here." Clark appeared behind Chloe still in his Blur outfit but carrying a new accessory.

"What's with the glasses?" Oliver jumped up and grabbed them off Clark's face before he could even react.

"Hey! Give those..." He snatched them back, placing them in his pocket. "They're just an idea."

"So...you're The Batman." Chloe remarked. She gazed at his dark aura that she had grown accustomed to something dark and sinister about someone when really it was just who he was. The mask he presented to everyone.

"I am. And you are The Watchtower. Superhero information broker as well as a top-notch hacker that can bring down any firewall with just a flick of her hand."

Chloe wasn't impressed. In fact, it made her feel exposed that someone knew so much about her even if it was Batman. "We didn't come here to compare how well we know everyone, did we?"

Bruce slid a file across the black table Chloe was seated at. As it spun to her, it flipped open revealing an intricate diagram of the body suits Oliver had told her about. Clark hovered over her shoulder as she flipped through the papers, countless pages filled with countless details of the suits.

Oliver whistled beside her. "What were these suits created for? Fun?" He asked, his eyes widening at a particular picture of the suits masked weapons.

"No. Those drawings weren't even meant for the light of day but someone got a hold of them and distributed them to every government program until I was left to take complete control over them. They were just continuation drawings for my suit. Add-on ideas."

"Yeah, well whoever got their hands on them decided to add a few add-ons of their own." Oliver commented. "They've included Kryptonite."

Bruce gazed off for a moment, leaving the trio to watch as he paced around the table. "That's not good." He admitted after awhile.

"No, it isn't." Clark grunted from behind Chloe. "And now we think Lex might be in on this too."

Bruce gazed up from his thoughts, his eyes raised in surprise. "Lex?"

"Yes. In our part of the world, Kryptonite tends to give people big boosts but with homicidal results." Chloe remarked.

Bruce gazed at her softly, his blue eyes hooded beneath a patch pf darkness. "Strange, Miss. Sullivan but you seem far from homicidal."

The cave grow silent, except for the occasional flap of wings and squeak from up above there was no noise though Chloe could feel her heart thumping loudly in her ears. Bruce walked over to the large wall of monitors and gadgets. He pressed a series of buttons and suddenly the room was filled with the voices of Chloe, Lois and Clark, the scene from the party played wide on one of the many screens.

"Chloe!"

"What?!"

"You could find Bruce!"

"What do you me-Oh no! I'm not a bloodhound."

"Then don't think of it like that. Think of it as a way to expand your powers. If you can sense people's emotions around you, why not pick out a certain emotion and hold on to it."

Chloe turned from the screen, anger raising uncontrollably from beneath her skin. A soft swoosh rushed past Chloe's ears and suddenly the image of themselves were interrupted by a small green arrow protruding from the screen which flickered for a moment before turning black. Chloe, Clark and Bruce turned to Oliver who sat indifferent to the fact that he was holding to a small bow in his hand.

"I have no idea what just happen." He said, confused as he gently placed the bow back in his jacket, where it completely disappeared. "I just got suddenly very angry." He gave Chloe a hard look.

She snapped her head forward. "Uh oh."

Clark stared down t her, shocked. "Chloe did you just-" A small beeping interrupted him which Chloe didn't mind at all. She hadn't wanted him to even finish that sentence. Bruce rushed over to another series of monitors that sprung up on another wall.

"We have a problem down at road." He turned to Oliver and Chloe. "Did anyone follow you?'

"No." Oliver argued, standing up.

Chloe turned to Clark, who had his head tilted to the side, his eyes focused as he sent his hearing out. Suddenly his head snapped up, his eyes wide with panic.

"Lois."

"Lana?" Lois asked again as the raven haired woman dodged another swipe from the knife wielding maniac.

"Lois, look out!" Lois snapped around, her leg shooting out to kick her attacker. He fell to the ground where she easily slammed her foot onto his arm, breaking it. She turned around to Lana, who fell to the ground, blood gushing from her cheek.

"Hey! Freakazoid." She shouted. He spun to her, his mouth wide in a leering grin. "And here I was thinking we had something special!" She taunted, slamming a punch into his gut. He doubled over but sprung back up with a elbow to her face. She flew back, tangling herself in a mass of bushes.

"Lois!" Clark's voice rang out through the scuffle.

"Clark!" She breathed out heavily, as she slammed into the ground. Headlights shined into her face and she groaned in surprise as the heavy roar of an engine filled her ears.

"Clark! Get away from her!" Chloe shouted but it was too late. Clark reached Lana, who turned to him, her face in shock as he slammed into the ground, his voice cut off as his skin took on the hueish green of Lana's.
"Oh god!" She cried as she backed away from his writhing form but it didn't matter how far she went from him, he still cried out on pain.

He saw her, outlined in Kryptonite radiation but all he could think about was getting to Lois. Even through the pain, he turned his head to find her, his mouth calling her name in short breaths.

"Lois..."

"I'm here. I'm here." Lois ran to him, falling to the ground beside him. She grabbed his head in her hands softly, placing it in her lap as she gazed down at him, tears welling up as she saw how much pain he was in.

"It's going to be okay. You're going to be fine. You hear me? You're going to be okay." She cried into his ears. She rubbed her hand up and down his chest and it was then that she noticed it. The smooth fabric of the shirt and then rough texture beneath her hands as it traced the 'S' on his shirt.

"Oh my god."

Chloe ran up behind her, her breath coming out fast. "Lana! You have to get back!"

Oliver's voice rang out next but Lois still stared at Clark, her finger trailing his clenched jaw as he stared into her eyes."Chloe, she's far enough away. It shouldn't be this bad."

"Chloe..." Lois turned to her cousin. "Do something. Anything." She pleaded as Clark started to shake in her arms.

"Lois...I-" Chloe started but Lois shook her head.

"Do. Something." She repeated.

Chloe watched her cousin look at her with pleading eyes. She gasped as Lois' pain filled her.

Softly she nodded her head, "Okay." She bent down to Clark, who's entire face was dripping in sweat. She slowly placed her hands in his.

"I'm going to make you better, Clark." She whispered into his ear. "I'm going to make it go away. Closing her eyes, she slowly felt around for Clark in the darkness; past Lois' worry, Lana's shame, Bruce's concern, she felt for that familiar feeling. Suddenly he was there, flickering in her mind and as she slowly touched him she screamed in pain as the pulsing hum of Kryptonite entered her. She felt Clark's deformed home pierce her body, millions of explosions bursting inside her, ripping her very being in pieces.

"Chloe!" Oliver's voice broke through the pain, soothing it until Chloe could regain some semblance of herself. Slowly she trickled into Clark, the pain intensifying as she dug herself deeper into him. Flashes of memories flooding past her in a current of emotions. Parts of people stronger then feelings slammed into her. Lana' eyes. Johnathan's smile. Chloe's blonde hair. Lois' face.

Lois.

That's where she would find him. Wherever Lois was in Clark, that's where he would be. She slowly maneuvered her way into him, finding that aura that she knew and suddenly it was there. A bright light in the pain of darkness. She went to it and using every strength she had left she brought it forth, bringing it to the surface but suddenly something blocked her. A dark force that slammed into her causing her to lose her grip on the golden light. The cold force maneuvered itself into her and she screamed as she realized that it was bubbling to the surface along with her. She gasped as her body was thrown from Clark's into the arms of Bruce.

"Chloe!" Oliver ran to her but she pushed herself off them both, her eyes glued to Clark and Lois. He was moving, pushing himself away from Lois.

"Clark?" Lois called after him as he stared off into the distance. "Clark?" She grabbed his hand and he pushed it away, turning his cold eyes to her.

"Clark Kent is dead."

Lois gasped.

"I am Kal-El of Krypton."