A/N: Thank you to Elicia1 for pointing out my tenses issue, this chapter has been fixed.

Chapter Three: Purgatory

The subdued gray hues of the concrete façade that was Metropolis' old city center was dwarfed by the cold industrial steel-framed and glass clad edifices reaching up as if to pierce the brilliant cerulean sky. Weaving between the structures and washing away the ominous darkness before it, the light burned away the drab exteriors and set aflame the colors of signage, islands of nature, and streams of the city's denizens. Splashes of an artist's palette flickered by as people and cars jockey to move across the wide ribbons of cement and asphalt. A cacophony of sound embattled the city with voices raised, engines roaring, horns blaring, punctuated by the occasional police sirens screaming.

In the midst of the controlled chaos, stood a man who half turned to take in the images, scents, sounds and textures around him, filling his superior senses. His blue eyes flickered searchingly throughout the crowd; he turned his head slightly as he listened closely. A smile soon pulled on the corners of his mouth as he strode forward clad in a dark gray suit, white shirt and red tie. Moving through the crowd, almost oblivious to those around him as if they were nothing more than obstacles he takes care not to damage. His eyes were drawn upward to see the shining golden globe, the symbol of the Daily Planet newspaper. As his eyes were pulled back down, he saw her…. Lois. Her eyes seemed to find his soon after and a bright wide smile filled her face as she lifted one of the two cups of coffee she was holding towards him. He took the offered cup and raised a small white bag with a teasing raise of his eyebrow.

"Smallville…" Lois chided as she raised her eyes to capture his after glancing at the bag. "It better be what I think it is and there better be enough in there for the both of us or you are going without." She took the proffered bag curiously like a child opening a Christmas present and peeked in with a knowing smile then glanced back up at Clark Kent. She nodded towards the row of art deco designed doors. "You know the way to my heart … maple donuts." She swung around heading to entrance to the building; Clark strode closely next to her. From time to time he felt her arm brush his and as they entered the elevator. She always stood close to him, or was he the one who had moved closer to her? He listened to her rant about the subject of their latest investigative story. Her strong voice resonated as though it was siren's song. A smile crested his lips unbidden, her words losing any meaning beyond a reminder of her there with him. His eyes followed the movements of her body as he let her lead. Then he frowned as she stopped and turned around, her dark eyes searching his, an eyebrow raised in mock irritation, betrayed by her smirk. "Enjoying the view Smallville?" Her whisper seemed like a shout as she moved into his personal space. "Open your ears, close your mouth, and walk in front of me." She grinned as she leered. "It's my turn to take the scenic route."

Clark blushed, feeling the heat in his cheeks especially as she leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Anytime you're ready farm boy."

He ducked his head as her laughter, velvet and smooth, sounded behind and seem to follow him. He could hear the rustle of her dress, the sound of her breath and the tempo of her heart. His sensitive hearing cued in on her especially when she was out of his line of sight. His lips curved into a slight smile as he listened to the quickening of her heart matched by her breathing. He caught sight of her in the reflection of the bullpen's glass walls moving behind him … hunting him. As they crossed the threshold of the room Clark moved to their desks. Mahogany stained hardwood that had seen better days decades ago and now collected sheets of paper and warred with the computer monitor, mouse and keyboard for space. The ivory-like carved letters stood out in stark difference to the plastic ebony backed name plates that sat almost side to side.

Clark reached out to pull out his chair to sit down as he looked towards Lois. Her hair was pulled up as if to contain the dynamo that she was, and the business suit and pencil skirt combination in a dark navy that didn't seem to shout out "conservative!" as much as it did "unwrap me" to Clark. The cut of her jacket and the blouse's two open buttons allow him just a glimpse of her…. His eyes soon found hers and the game was up. A sensual arched eyebrow met his gaze. Lois' eyes were filled with something intense; Clark wasn't sure if it was passion or irritation, and not taking chances, he cast his gaze away to his computer screen. They were taking a break. Clark sighed as he remembered that no, she's taking a break from him, and he can't blame her. The half-truths he offered her for his disappearances were not sufficient and he knew she sensed the lies.

"Why such a large sigh, Smallville? Someone tip your cow?" Lois teased him as she stood up and moved closer.

Her delicious scent filled his personal space as she leaned against his desk. His eyes immediately snapped up to hers and his hands yearned to pull her through the last remaining space between them. He could see the worry there in her eyes; it was there whenever she looked at him lately. What she didn't understand was that he was fighting an urge within him: the man that raged for the woman within arm's reach but just out of the bounds she had established for them…. For him. His eyes dropped away from hers and he shook his head, not trusting his own voice to say the words without trembling. He could feel the pain that seemed to hammer his heart, a sense of loss he had never had with Lana Lang. With Lana it was the frustration of getting the picture perfect life, the kind as seen on television with the promise of proving how normal he was. Instead television rarely mimicked reality, and in the end he knew that his desperation was for something that never existed and that Lana had, over the years, grown into a perfect stranger. Clark wasn't sure now if he had actually seen Lana for her real self at all. Instead he had been locked in the fantasy of a young boy looking for a life that wouldn't set him apart from others. Now his life had come full circle with the truth and he was apart from others – even those like Oliver and the rest of the hero team. Then there was Lois, the woman who seemed to have been there from the beginning, yet in the almost six years he'd known her she'd managed to intertwine herself into every aspect of his life….

A small slap hit the back of Clark's head and he looked up, an eyebrow raised in askance.

Lois had waited for a response from Clark Kent as she sat on his desk's edge. His dark black hair that caused her fingers to flex wanting to run them through the strands. She cocked her head to the side as she contemplated the man before her. Like the blue-white bolt of lightning that had caused her to turn her car into the cornfield where she had found him, he had blown his way into her life. In the five years, eight months, and some odd time she had been here or been drawn back to the Kents', but always to him. Even when she had stayed with Chloe's family she had to first see him. To be honest it kind of irritated her but it also scared her because whenever he looked at her it was as if Clark has the ability to see her, the vulnerable Lois. So for a child whose father commanded brigades, Lois learned early on that the best defense was a good offense. She had used it with others; keeping them at bay and giving herself a level of control. The problem was her farm-boy gave as good as he got and that seemed to escalate it even more. Not to mention he drove her crazy with his brooding over Lana Lang who seemed to trampled over him regularly and brutally. She just wanted to throttle someone…. Her eyes widened at the realization at her thoughts – her farm-boy…. Damn that not again. Lois looked at Clark then just slapped the back of his head. His eyes flickered to her questioningly.

"Your reset button needed to be hit." She softly smirked at him while inside she felt a little sorry for hitting him. She stood up needing to put space between them and she schooled her features, hiding a slightly wistful look. She already missing his scent. He still wore the brand of cologne she had got him that Christmas so long ago. Of course it helped that she kept buying it for him under one guise or another. Damn he smelled good. She fought her sigh successfully as she sat down in front of her computer. She knew she was responsible for this current situation … well, challenge. Dumb tractor-fixing, dog-loving... Wait – she loved Shelby too. Dumb tractor-fixing, cow-milking, egg-picking, son of a…. Wait – she loved his parents almost as if they were hers. So she settled for one word: "Idiot."

She could hear him shifting in his chair to see if she was looking at him. Instead she stared at her screen and didn't even look up to see his expression. She quietly dared him to say anything; then again she'd been daring him to not just accept the pause in their relationship but to demand his place in her life. Sure she had questions about the Blur and for some reason that pulled at her to protect the protectors. Lois knew why; it was the attributes of the Blur she liked that she saw in the man she loved … er … had feelings for. She did sigh now – yes, she loved Clark but did he love her or would he leave her when Lana came back? She closed her eyes as she remembered Chloe's wedding, the way he walked to Lana and the pain she'd felt in her chest. She had even left him standing in that white, sterilized hall of the hospital without a word. He had Lana and Chloe had needed her with Jimmy. She still felt the deep pain at the realization she'd had as she'd walked to board the medical transport helicopter, that the only person she fooled was herself. She'd not planned on returning, but she had and she knew why. Would she be like Clark, chasing after that one elusive person?

Lois' thoughts turned to the memories of how she felt intertwined with him, just being there for each other. She glanced away from her computer screen and watched Clark. Her eyes narrowed as she followed the lines of his face as he concentrated on typing up a story. The clicking of his keyboard seemed to entrance her as the noise of the rest of the bullpen fell away. She leaned forward. Her mind played back to the surprise attack kiss by Clark in this very same bullpen. She could feel his lips against hers and his tongue caressing… Lois sat back blinking, still looking at Clark. She could hear her name, but his lips weren't moving. She blinked again as he looked at her perplexed.

"Lois?" Robert's voice filled the silence as soon the sounds of the bullpen flooded back into her awareness. "Have you been listening to me?" The man was thin-faced, thin-lipped, and on thin ice with Lois. She swiveled in her chair to face the intern.

"Robert, you need to stop mumbling." Lois spoke coolly. Ignoring the intern's glare, she turned back to her computer and looked at Clark, who in spite of himself, was smiling. Lois returned the smile then looked at the aggravated young man. "So what were you trying to tell me?"

"The boss wants you and Kent to cover the opening ceremony of the Huddleston Bridge this afternoon," Robert answered her and silently counted to ten.

"What! A bridge, Robert?" She turned to Clark exasperated. "I mean what could possibly be newsworthy there?"

"Three – a new record." Robert rolled his eyes and ignored her rant as he walked off. Clark shook his head not understanding what the intern meant.

"Well, Lois," he added warily, "the opening ceremony is certainly newsworthy." When Lois looked at him Clark winced. "That was a rhetorical question wasn't it?" Lois just stared at him, crossing her arms across her chest and raising an eyebrow, still silent. "Yes, Smallville, it was," Clark answered his question for her.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her mouth that soon broke into an open grin as she waggled her finger at him. "Just for that Clark, you're buying lunch." She glanced at the clock then looked over to her partner. "Let's get our stories in, then we have a date with a bridge." Lois looked up at Clark's shocked look. "Well after a suitable lunch, and remember your nickname is Smallville and not cheapskate," she added in a mock warning tone. Then she smiled, looking forward to an afternoon with Clark. Date…. Her eyes widened. "You know this isn't an official date, right?" She wasn't going to give him an easy out; he still had to make the choice to come after her.

Clark frowned thoughtfully.

"Is this another rhetorical question?"

-TBC-