Chapter 5 - Decisions

Lois hadn't slept well. It had taken a while to get all cylinders to fire this morning which was why it was mid morning before she arrived at the office of Dr Crane. It seemed she wasn't the first one here looking into where the Psychiatrist had disappeared to. A tall, well built man was already interviewing the receptionist at the clinic. A cop? Lois pushed her way forwards and interrupted the conversation.

"Lois Lane, Daily Planet. Can you answer some questions about Dr Crane please?"

"Miss," the man turned round, "you will have to wait your turn."

Lois was a little taken aback. Not many people were that blunt with her. She stepped back a few paces and listened in to the questions being asked. She managed to find out that the Doctor had failed to turn up for work two days ago, that he was currently working on a PhD in the Psychology of Phobias and that his office had been burgled. Just like Dr D. Whoever is taking these Scientists is looking for something in their work.

The interview seemed to be coming to an end. "Thank you for your assistance," said the man.

"My pleasure Mr Free," replied the receptionist.

"It's Scott, and thank you again." He turned and left.

Lois was about to approach the receptionist after the cop left but a sudden instinct led her to follow Scott instead. "Hey." Jogging to catch up she shouted a little louder. "Hey, mister."

He stopped and turned around. "Miss ... Lane, was it?" he asked.

"Yes, I'm looking into some disappearing scientists. What can you tell me about the police investigation?" she asked.

"I ... I'm not at liberty to talk about that," he replied. Lois wondered why he had hesitated.

"Well, what are you doing about looking for them, or protecting any others who may be at risk?"

"I can assure you I am taking these disappearances more seriously than you could ever imagine." He frowned at her. "I am working night and day to free them but I would suggest that you keep your investigation simple. This mystery is far beyond your understanding Miss Lane, far beyond your world." He turned away again and strode off at an incredibly fast pace. Trying to catch him again Lois turned a corner to be confronted by a completely empty alleyway. Where's he gone?

Lois' investigation hit a brick wall later that afternoon so she headed back to the bull pen to do more research. Glancing at today's edition on the way in, she noticed that her teaser article had made print already. Hmmm, better get something to follow that up with soon, she thought.

Making her way to her desk she slowed her stride as she reached the last few steps. He's there. I can see his shadow. Oh, what am I going to say? I can't tell him how awful my night was. I can't tell him how I pulled his coat out of the wardrobe and slept with it next to me. Oh Clark, what happened to us?

She bravely strode to her desk and sat down.

"Hey Smallville," she said casually then turned on her computer and pretended to be ignoring him immediately. Truthfully she was more focused on him than anything else. She stared at her screen as it loaded up. It had been three days since the night that changed her life, since the kiss that rocked her world, and it seemed he was ignoring that it ever happened. Was he regretting it? Maybe he truly was done with her. Well, maybe she deserved it. She had betrayed him to the enemy and also, bluntly, told him that he was the second most important thing in her life. That was wrong; he was THE most important, but how to make him see that? How to make him understand what he meant to her?

Yesterday's conversation had been difficult. There was little more than simple friendship in his words. Maybe he truly meant what he had said in the barn. Did he really think that she should go to Africa? No, she knew there was more to it. There was some reason behind his coolness. She knew in her heart how he really felt because she felt the same. It was time: time to confront him with the truth. Tonight, after work with no disruption, she would go to the farm. Everything would be said, everything.

"Lois!" She looked up at her name. "Lois?" he said.

"What, Smallville?" she asked. She had been lost in her thoughts.

"Your phone," he tipped his head in the direction of her ringing phone.

"Oh!" She jumped out of her reverie to answer. "Lois Lane."

"Are you ...," the voice faltered and then coughed nervously. "Are you the one writing about the missing scientists?"

"Yes," replied Lois

"I need to see you."

"What is this about, mister?" Lois asked impatiently. The voice sounded strange, Lois didn't trust the tone.

"I have information on who is taking them," came the reply.

Lois forced away the distrust, this could be a massive scoop. She turned in her chair slightly, dipped her and head and lowered her voice to give the impression of privacy in her conversation. "I can meet you," she said, "...where?"

The gruff voice gained confidence, even arrogance as it gave a location. How strange, Lois thought, as she gathered her bag and put on her coat. How strange that I should be visiting that particular place just as I decide to tell Clark everything.

Clark felt himself relax once Lois left the bullpen. He had spent every moment last night thinking of her. Even when stood in front of his wardrobe trying to decide what to wear on patrol his thoughts had wandered back to her. He had opened the wardrobe door and stared down at the box hiding in the corner. Closing the door after what seemed like an age he had opted for a blue t-shirt, instead, to go with his black trousers. It needed a little ... symbolic adjustment ... and then he was off out but his mind was not fully on the job. He had nearly made terrible mistakes and he couldn't afford that. People's lives were on the line if he was irresponsible.

Maybe he should bring this stalemate to an end. He hated remembering the lukewarm conversation from the previous day.

Tonight, after his rounds, he would visit her. Maybe it was time for everything to be said, everything.

His heart sped up a notch. Telling her how he felt, what if she replied as he suspected? After that kiss three nights ago it was obvious who she really wanted. Stupid. Why did he kiss her like that? Lois probably though the Blur was in love with her now. And she, obviously, was in love with the Blur. She would choose the Blur over Clark. He knew that would be the result of telling her his feelings tonight, but at least he wouldn't feel this suspenseful tension any longer. Tonight, he would do it tonight.

Lois approached the corner, that corner, with caution.

"Hello, I'm here," she called out. "Lois Lane, Daily Planet, I'm here," she repeated. A shadow moved on the edge of her peripheral vision. She swivelled to look at that point. "Who's there?" The mistrust she had experienced earlier on the phone returned. This doesn't feel right, she thought. A figure stepped forwards. "You said you had information about who was taking the scientists," Lois stated, but it was really a question.

"Yes, I do," came the blank reply. Lois waited for him to continue but no further conversation came. He obviously needed prompting.

"So ..." she started.

"Someone is looking for a formula. A mixture of all sciences: mathematical, chemical ..." he paused, "biological."

That explains why different scientists have gone missing: statistics analysts, chemical engineers, physics professors, pharmacologists, and also medical researchers but why the psychiatrist?

"What does he want from these people?"

"He thinks they can decipher the code."

"What code?"

"That doesn't matter Miss Lane. Just know that he is close."

Lois felt uncomfortable at his last words. They were obviously a threat but the tone indicated pride in the threat, rather than worry it that it would happen.

"Er ... who are you?" Lois asked quietly.

"I'm the one who's been taking them," came the reply just before the figure leapt into the air and attacked.