Disclaimer: Remember, I don't own any of these characters.

Clark Kent, dressed as Superman, desperately wanted his parents by his side as he lay in his bed at the Metropolis General Hospital. He knew that they'd make their way to Metropolis, but what would ask the doctors for? I want Mr. and Mrs. Kent to be allowed to visit me in the hospital, because they helped me out so much in Smallville, and I know they're concerned? That sounded downright silly.

The doctors had kept Clark in his Superman suit, simply slipping a hospital gown over him. They had bundled him up in blankets to try to break his fever, and drawing his blood had been easier than anticipated because he was so weak. Clark had had to throw up a few times, and the doctors had responded by sticking an IV needle in his arm to try and stop his nausea. So far it wasn't working, but it probably took a while to help.

I'm going to be away from the office for weeks, Clark thought miserably as a nurse took his blood pressure. I hope Lois and the Chief can believe that I've caught the flu. Does it usually last for several weeks?

"Superman, we're flying in some of the best biologists in the country to help analyze your blood," the nurse assured him, squeezing his hand. "Hopefully, we'll know what's wrong with you very quickly. You'll be your old self again in no time."

Another nurse placed a glass of water beside his hospital bed, turned out the lights in his room, and told him to get some sleep. Clark lay back in his hospital bed, still sweaty from a fever and nauseous from stomach pains. Whenever he was emotionally upset, Clark always had the same dream: a beautiful woman with long wavy hair rocking him to sleep. He took it as a sign from his late parents on Krypton, assuring him that everything would be all right.

Clark hoped for the dream again as he was settled in his hospital bed.

"Superman is fast asleep," Dr. Miller, head of the infectious diseases department at the Metropolis General Hospital, announced as he addressed the press. "He has arrived here at the hospital, and preliminary tests have been completed. He is now resting in his private room."

"What symptoms is he suffering from?" a reporter from a local television station yelled out.

"Superman is suffering from a high fever, nausea and vomiting, body aches, and cold symptoms. Also, he can't fly, and his super strength seems to be gone. We're almost certain it's a viral infection, but his only his bloodwork will be able to tell us that for sure," Dr. Miller replied.

Lois raised her hand. "When will Superman be released from the hospital?" she asked.

"He will be released as soon as we know what's causing his symptoms and he feels better enough to fly home."

"Who called in and told you that Superman was sick?" a reporter from a rival newspaper asked.

Yeah? Lois asked. Knowing information like that could help her readers find out more about Superman's home life.

"Superman was apparently flying around Smallville when he fell sick at the home of Jonathan and Martha Kent," Dr. Miller told his audience. "Mr. and Mrs. Kent called the hospital at once."

Jonathan and Martha? Clark's parents? Lois thought, alarmed. Immediately, she turned around and tried to scope out the nearest payphone, but there wasn't one to be found.

She hoped this conference would hurry up and end soon. She had an important phone call to make.

Lex had a horrible, awful idea.

He knew that Superman could never resist a rescue. If a cat was stuck in a tree, the man dropped everything he was doing to help out. Additionally, he also knew that Superman was very sick.

"If I stage some sort of crisis," he thought aloud, "and he can't resist…and it takes a lot of strength out of him, when he's weak enough already…bye-bye, Superman!" he exclaimed gleefully.

"What am I going to stage?" he wondered, looking frantically down at his desk. What did Superman love the most?

Then he saw it. It was on the corner of his desk: yesterday's edition of the Planet. The banner headline read, LEXCORP TO ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR NEW POWER PLANT, by Lois Lane.

Lois Lane. Superman could never resist a woman in trouble. But how was he going to place her in trouble?

Lex picked up the phone beside his desk and started to dial.

"Martha, what happened?" Lois asked. She couldn't help the panic in her voice as she spoke to Clark's parents over the phone back at the office.

"Everything's going to be okay, Lois. We hope," Martha added. "Jonathan and I were getting ready to go to Metropolis to see Clark when Superman stopped by—he recognized us from the time he stopped that awful government man from burning our barn down—and he asked us if he could lie down for a while, because he wasn't feeling well. Then he got very sick, and we needed to call for help."

Trask, thought Lois angrily as she remembered the entire brouhaha that had taken place at the Kents' farm weeks earlier. "Do you think Superman's going to be all right?"

"I think so. He probably just caught some virus from his home planet when he was flying around in space last week."

Lois paused. "Martha, Have you spoken to Clark at all? I haven't talked to him. I was just told by Perry that he called in sick this morning."

"Clark's going to be fine. He's just sick with a case of the flu," Martha assured her, even though Martha felt terrible for not telling the entire truth. "But he does live alone, and he does need some help taking care of himself. Jonathan and I have to leave for the train station pretty soon."

"Would you like me to stop by and check on him?"

"Heavens no, Lois!" Martha was appalled at the very idea. "If you caught Clark's flu, I'd never forgive myself!"

"Well, does he need anything? Would he feel better if I brought him some soup?"

"Thanks, honey, but I don't think he's keeping much down. Maybe you can stop by in a few days. I think he'll be out all week."

Even though Martha couldn't see her, Lois nodded. "Okay. Well, Martha, if Clark needs anything, or if you hear any news about Superman, just call me, okay?"

"Of course, Lois. You just take care of yourself. We don't want you getting sick."

Lois said goodbye to Clark's parents and hung up the phone. She had barely placed the receiver back on her desk when the phone rang again. "Hello?"

"Hello, Lois? This is Lex Luthor. You still owe me that date." Lois had postponed a date with Lex several weeks earlier, and they had never rescheduled. "Are you busy this weekend?"