Disclaimer: DC Comics/Warner Brothers owns these characters. No profit is being made from this story. This is strictly for my own amusement.

Author's Notes: In this next chapter, Clark and Lois have no choice but to accept Tess's help, Lois investigates her late husband's affairs, with disturbing results, and later, Clark's past comes back to haunt him. Please read and review. Thanks, everyone! :D

~o~o~

Chapter 7: Knocked Down

The Kent farm, minutes later:

The tension in the room could be cut with a knife, but it was Lois again who found something to say.

"What the hell is she doing back here?" Lois was shocked to see Tess. "Didn't Clark tell you that it was over, and he wanted nothing to do with you?"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple," Tess replied.

"What do you mean Tess? There's nothing you could say that would make me change my mind. I'm not leaving here, not ever," Clark reminded her.

"Son, Ms. Luthor came here to warn you," Martha interrupted them.

"Just let her speak, Clark. We believed her." Jonathan said. "Let's all go into the living room and talk." Clark was reluctant. "It's crucial. You have to listen to what she has to say."

Now Clark was worried. "Alright, we'll listen."

They went into the living room. Everyone sat down except Tess. She paced for a moment then began her shocking and horrific story.

After she had stopped speaking, Clark was upset and agitated as he too began to pace. "I knew they hated me, but I never imagined that they would go this far."

"Explain again about this … Doomsday Project?" Lois asked, becoming suspicious of her deceased husband's involvement in all of this.

"Apparently, years ago, from what I can tell, Lex and Lionel put a brilliant team of scientists together specializing in genetic research, built a lab in Metropolis and began multiple projects either to destroy you, Clark, or to protect the human race. You see, they never trusted you, because deep down they knew you could kill them at any moment." Tess let that sink in as she watched their horrified faces.

"There must be a way to stop this, to destroy the lab, or something that we can do?" Martha was so worried for her son.

Jonathan took his wife's hand. "Since Lionel and Lex are both dead, are these projects still going forward?"

"As far as I can tell, yes they are," Tess replied as she glanced at Lois. "Lois, you should know that Oliver Queen's name came up on a lot of paperwork in my Father's office."

Lois's back went up. "What are you trying to say?"

"I found proof that your husband was in bed with them and that he supplied them with kryptonite, enough of it to put Clark in his grave." At her shocked expression, she continued. "Don't look so shocked. Surely, you knew about the mining."

"Yes, I knew about the mining, but I had no idea he was working with the Luthors." She glanced at Clark then she came over to him. "You believe me, don't you Clark?"

He didn't hesitate. "Yes, I believe you," Clark replied. He took her hand.

Tess's lips thinned as she realized they were truly together. "Clark, we have to locate the rest of the kryptonite and destroy it then we have to go to the lab, destroy that as well."

"I may be able to help with that," Lois began.

"How, Lois?" Clark asked.

"Well, Oliver did have an office at his house just outside of town, and I could search there and maybe find out where he stored it. It's worth a try."

"Thank you, Lois, but it may be too dangerous for you go there alone. I'll have one of my friends go with you."

"Friends, Clark, and who might they be?" Jonathan asked.

"I was going to tell you about them earlier at dinner. I met a few vigilantes in Metropolis, and as I said, one of them rescued me when one of the bank robbers had green kryptonite."

"And they'll help us with this?" Martha asked.

"Yes, I believe they will," Clark replied.

"It looks as if we have a plan," Tess said.

"First, I want to visit my Kryptonian Father. He spoke to me about a dark force coming and that I should be ready. This could be what he was referring to," Clark thoughtfully said.

"I'm still finding all of this pretty amazing. Your Kryptonian Father actually speaks to you as if he were truly here," Lois said still in awe at what she had seen at the Fortress.

Tess had to say it. "Clark, I … I am happy about that. I truly am," she said, happy for him.

Clark watched her closely. "You mean that, don't you?" He was still worried about her motives.

"Yes, I mean it," Tess told him sincerely.

"I truly hope you mean that, Tess because it appears we will need your help, and we can't be looking over our shoulders wondering if you'll turn against us like Lex and Lionel did." Lois stressed her point.

"I'm not like them. I'll prove you can trust me," Tess told them sternly.

"Alright, first thing tomorrow morning, we'll put our plans into action," Clark said as everyone turned to him. "Don't look so worried. Everything is going to be alright, you'll see."

"I hope so," Martha murmured, but inside she was so worried, her heart was beating double time imagining the worst.

~o~o~

Early the next morning, at the tower:

"That's some plan, Clark," Bruce murmured, after listening to his plan to put a stop to the Doomsday Project and any other research that was going on inside Cadmus Labs.

"Yes, it's a desperate plan. I'm not sure what we'll find when we get there, and that's why I wanted your help. Kryptonite may be in abundance there, I can't be sure. The same goes for Lois and her plan to search her deceased husband's residence."

"We'll meet her there later this morning like we planned." That was Carter.

"I'm curious about this Tess Luthor person. Who is she truly and can we trust her?" That was Shiera.

Clark sighed as she thought about Tess and their unusual history. He cleared his throat. He had no choice but to be honest with them. He wanted and needed their trust. "We were lovers."

Everyone glanced around, a few intrigued and amused after that statement.

"It's over between us," he explained. "She knows it too."

"And Ms. Lane, where does she fit into this … ummm … scenario?" Bruce asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"If you must know, Lois and I, well, we … ummm …" He hesitated, not sure what to say.

Carter put him out of his misery. "We get it. It's time to go. Are you coming Shiera?"

"I'm right behind you. We'll be in touch once we search the Queen residence."

As they headed out, Clark breathed a sigh of relief. Why am I so tongue-tied when I think about Lois? We haven't known each other very long. The sex is unbelievable but what did they really have in common?

"Clark, Clark?!" That was Bruce.

"Oh, sorry, what did you say?"

Bruce smiled indulgently at him. "Tell us what happened at the Fortress. We need to know. How can we stop this … dark force? Is that what he called it?"

"Yes, but my Father wasn't much help."

"Really, but he seems to know all about your life."

"Yes, he does, but as far as the future or what could happen, he doesn't have all the answers."

"I see, but I guess it was worth a shot at least," Bruce murmured as he started to worry. "You know, Clark, I'm not unfamiliar with the Luthors."

"Really?" Clark was surprised.

"Although I haven't done any business with them personally, I am impressed at the empire that they built. Actually, I wouldn't mind taking the company off your hands. You and your … sister could be exceedingly rich."

Clark frowned. "I'll think about it," he said as he began to wonder about his life outside of being a superhero.

~o~o~

Meanwhile, at the Queen mansion:

Lois, Carter, and Shiera walked up to the massive mansion located on the outskirts of town. The 'for sale' sign was still there. The realtor was not optimistic about a sale, but he told Lois the market could turn around.

Lois had only been there a few times. Thinking about it now, Oliver always seemed reluctant for her to come there. Sighing at how little she actually knew about her deceased husband, they entered the house.

After checking the house from top to bottom, Carter said it was clear and so they began their search of Oliver's office and his files. His office was massive, and dusk was beginning to settle. Carter and Shiera also checked the paintings on all the walls for a safe. There were none.

Lois had not found the strength or the need to come there. There truly was no need. His office at Queen Industries contained his last will and only a few personal papers plus the house was being sold as is, furniture included. Now, it appeared she would have to take care of this. Sighing, she sat down at his desk and tried to open the top drawer, but it was locked.

"Carter, could you …?" She pointed to the desk. "Wait, I can take care of this." Lois hadn't done this in a while. Pulling out her lock-pick, she opened the drawer without too much trouble.

Carter raised an eyebrow. "Comes in handy," Lois whispered at his look. Inside were multiple folders with names of a few companies that she knew. The side drawers were not locked, so she opened them and found more folders with more names that she did not recognize. Then she found a folder with the Luthor name. Shocked, she pulled it out and laid it on the desk. "I think I found something."

Carter and Shiera came over to her. "What is it?"

"It's a file marked Luthor."

"Open it," Shiera instructed then she glanced at Carter.

Lois slowly opened the folder and there it was. There were copies of checks and invoices for purchases of mineral rock, a lot of mineral rock by the Luthors, but Lois knew exactly what it was, rock that could kill Clark.

"Is there anything in there about where he kept his stock of the mineral rock?" Carter asked.

"No, there's nothing here," Lois replied. "Wait, what's this?"

"What is it?" Shiera asked.

She pulled out a map of the surrounding area. "It says here that there's a mine not far from Metropolis. It also says here in these invoices that the mineral rock would be stored there and that it would be covered in lead." The spot was marked with an 'X' and a circle surrounding it.

"Superman cannot see through lead; everyone knows that." Carter was beginning to worry now.

Lois was thoughtful. "This was way too easy."

"I agree, but it's obvious Queen wasn't worried about getting caught. It's all legal. He wasn't breaking the law. He legally mined the mineral rock, sold it and made a fortune," Carter said.

"I realize that, but I'm worried about what we may find out there … besides the mineral rock," Lois thoughtfully said.

"What else could be out there?" Shiera asked.

"I don't know, but I do not like this. We should tell everyone what we found here," Lois said, and after gathering up everything related to the 'k' mine and Oliver's part in it, they left the mansion.

~o~o~

A few minutes later, at the tower:

All during their brief trip to the tower, Lois was terribly worried. Clark is going to be upset by all of this. He knew about the mining, but not about how far Oliver and the Luthors had gone in their efforts to hurt and control him.

The more she thought about Oliver's part in all of this, she wanted to strangle him. If he were alive and standing right in front of me, I would divorce him on the spot.

Once they were in the tower's main control center, Lois was in awe of the place. It was enormous. Then Clark began the introductions.

"Batman?" Lois asked and tried not to burst out laughing.

"It's nice to meet you, Ms. Lane," Bruce said in his Batman voice.

"I'm Wally," he introduced himself and tried not stare at her. She was lovely.

"Hi, Wally." Lois recognized him by Clark's description. "Nice costume."

Wally beamed. He stood up a little straighter. "Thanks!"

"And who might you be?" Lois asked as she walked over to an extremely shy young man.

He stood up and held out his hand. "I'm Cyborg."

"Hello, Cyborg," Lois said and shook his hand. Lois then turned to face Clark's friends.

After all the introductions were completed, she said, "I understand your need for secrecy. I would never betray your trust."

"Thank you, Ms. Lane. Now, can you tell us what you found at the Queen estate?" Bruce asked, hoping to get down to business.

Lois understood. "Well, as you probably know there is far too much kryptonite in this town."

"They know that, Lois," Clark reminded her.

"Well, there's more of it, but we may have found Oliver's hiding place for it, but I'm worried about what we may find out there."

She placed the map on a large work table adjacent to the master computer. "'X' marks the spot," she said.

"But why are you worried? Did you find anything else that would lead you to believe anything else could be out there?" Bruce asked, trusting her instincts.

"The papers that I found were not locked up or secured. Oliver was meticulous about his files, at least at the office, but apparently, he wasn't worried about anything coming out into the open."

"Well, he should have been," Clark said furious about Oliver's part in this. "It was obvious he wasn't afraid of me or anyone else. He had the resources and the means to destroy me, just as the Luthors did."

"It appears that's true Clark, and I … I'm sorry I never found this out sooner."

"And what would you have done? Everyone hated Ultra-Man. He was a lying, cheating, disgusting person." He paused for a moment, getting upset. "You hated him too, didn't you?" Clark was letting his jealousies rule his head.

Everyone was becoming uncomfortable with their conversation.

"Clark, we can talk about this later," Lois said not looking at him.

After a minute of awkward silence, Bruce spoke up, "Ultra-Man is gone now. We don't have to worry about him, but we do need to checkout Cadmus Labs and that hidden mine, the sooner the better," he said, hoping to steer the conversation away from Ultra-Man.

Everyone got busy, but Lois and Clark just stood there staring at each other.

"Ummm, why don't you two take this over there, while we checkout this map and plan our strategy for tomorrow?" Bruce asked the quiet couple.

Lois sighed and walked over to an area apparently set up for eating and relaxing. She walked over to the window. She didn't look back but heard his footsteps behind her. After turning to face him, she tried to make him understand. "Clark … I feel awful about all of this. I married him. I had no idea what he was capable of."

Sighing to himself, he walked over to her, but he couldn't look at her and looked out the window instead. "I guess we can't truly know a person, not really until it's too late."

Lois frowned. "Are we talking about Oliver and me, or you and me?"

He turned to her. "You and me, Lois," he sadly replied.

TBC!

~o~o~

Song Inspiration: Turning Tables, Adele.

A/N: Sorry to end it there, but Clark needs to rein in his jealousies. Earth-2 Clark was not known for being delicate. Earth-1 Clark was more subtle. More hurtles for our Earth-2 couple, but they'll work this out. The question is when!? Update coming in a week. Thanks for reading, everyone. Reviews would be so awesome! Please tell me what your're thinking and thank you.