Chapter Thirteen

Cassie sat in her armchair not moving as if afraid of shattering if she did. The door of her apartment burst open and she saw Clark walk in and stop when he saw her.

"How long have you known?" He asked hoarsely.

"Known what?" Cassie asked standing and moving over to him. He looked scared, really scared, more scared then Cassie had ever seen him. He ran into buildings that were about to collapse, faced dangerous insane people everyday, risked his life, and now he looked scared.

"Don't!" He said rather harshly. His tone made Cassie jump.

"Clark, what's…?"

"Don't pretend like you don't know what I am talking about Cassie. I know you know you said so on the street."

Cassie wanted nothing more to say she knew what he was talking about but she wouldn't let her self, she was afraid of the consequences if she did. "Clark I don't know what you are talking-

"Yes you do! I heard you! I heard you on the street, it was… it was like you were in my head!" Clark was yelling now but that didn't make Cassie back down. Clark stood staring at her before sighing and looking around the apartment as if looking for something to distract him, when nothing did he looked back at Cassie, "How long have you known I was Superman." He asked quietly.

Cassie considered pretending to not know what he was talking about but it seemed pointless at this point. "Since the first time I cancelled our dinner with Lois and Richard." Cassie said in no more then a whisper.

Clark looked at her and his whole body seemed to sag as if under some enormous weight. "How?" He asked quietly.

Cassie was looking at the floor, she felt like a little girl who had been caught doing something bad, "I saw you on the news,"

"And you recognized me?" He actually sounded surprised. Cassie looked at him.

"Come on Clark, it isn't that good a disguise." He looked at her and gave a half smile.

"No one noticed in the past." Clark sighed and leaned on the back of her couch and looked at the floor. Cassie watched him slightly scared of what he was going to do. "I am sorry Cassie," He said quietly.

Cassie stared at him, "Sorry? Sorry for what?" She asked.

Clark looked at her, he looked sad. He stood up. "We can't see each other any more." He went for the door but Cassie moved quicker grabbing his arm and making him turn and face her.

"What? No!" She said staring up into his blue eyes.

"You don't understand Cassie; I can't be seen with you it is too dangerous." Cassie stared at him.

"I don't think so considering I am the only one who knows." She said suddenly breathlessly.

Clark looked at the ground took a deep breath and held Cassie by the arms, "I can't take that risk, I won't gamble with your life."

Cassie stared at him, "It's my life, I think I can decide what is dangerous and what isn't, nothing has happened to me so far."

"Cassie," Clark's hands dropped away from her arms, He turned around and started pacing around the apartment, he looked frustrated, "That isn't the point, if anyone, if one of my enemies found out who I was and that I loved you, you would be a target."

Cassie crossed her arms getting upset, "But you would be there to save me." She said simply.

"What if I am not, what if I can't? You would be gone and it would be my fault." He stared at her as if drilling into her very soul.

Cassie walked over to him and stood in front of him she put both her hands on either sides of his face, "I fell in love with you Clark, not Superman, and you are all I want and I will be damned if I am going to let you take…yourself away if that makes sense."

Clark smiled down at her. He took her into a strong hug. She wrapped her arms around him clutching his tee shirt.

"I am sorry," He whispered before letting her go and walking swiftly from the apartment.

Cassie turned and ran after him, tears filling her eyes. She stopped at the end of the hall and saw him about to disappear into the stairwell.

"Please, Clark, please don't do this." She asked him quietly. He stopped with his hand on the door handle. He turned and looked at her.

"This is the only way Cassie," He said a sad look in his eye.

Cassie walked over to him and bit her lip unsure of what to say next, "Clark, something happened to me on the street, I didn't say those words out loud…." She looked him square in the eye, "I need you now more then ever,"

She took a step closer and he looked at her with an unsure look in his eyes, it was as if he was afraid to break her, like she was some delicate china ornament.

"If anything happened to you…"

"Clark," She interrupted, placing a hand gently on his cheek, "I would rather spend a day with you in mortal danger then an eternity in perfect safety. I have known for a long time and I could have walked away but I didn't, doesn't that count for something." He stared at her as if unsure of what to do next. "Please Clark, please don't break my heart."

He looked at her for a few seconds before engulfing her in a hug. "I am sorry Cassie,"

"Don't be, it isn't your fault." Cassie whispered into his chest, "Just known that I am here beside you."