Chapter Nine: Rise

'Whenever we had dinner at home...My dad would leave me and Lucy at the table...' Lois confessed, hoping Clark might see how it feels to have a loved one choose not to spend time with you.

Clark tore his gaze from the night sky at the barn window, he turned to face Lois, who had her hands in her jean pockets as she smiled at him.

'It's hard to take isn't it?' She asked.

'What?'

Lois smiled at him comfortingly as she walked over to the barn window, 'Chloe, moving on with her life.'

'I'm happy for her.' Clark lied, Lois gave him a look, he let out a defeated sigh, 'I don't understand it Lois...I mean, I'm not attracted to her, I don't love her in that way-but I don't wanna lose her.'

'Chloe's always been there for you Clark, it's normal for you to feel like this...but how much longer did you expect her to run in circles around you?'

Clark fell silent, Lois was right, Chloe deserved to be happy, she deserved to move on with her life.

'I've spent so many years of my life chasing the wrong things, Lois...' Lois studied him as he finally gave her an insight to what he was feeling.

'I spent so long looking straight past Chloe and chasing Lana, I spent so long staring at my own life to even care about what was happening in Chloe's...I just...I feel like I'm a bad friend.'

'Don't be ridiculous Clark, you're always there to save the day for her. You're the best friend anyone could wish for...you're loyal, you're protective, you're caring-'

'I'm selfish.'

'Clark.' Lois said firmly, giving him a look. 'You have every right to feel your own feelings.'

Her words made him pause for thought, his eyes drifted to her lips, Lois even seemed to notice for a split-second before he looked away.

Lois frowned and looked away, did they just share...a moment? She shook it off, no way, Clark wouldn't be interested her, any sparks between them were probably just her imagination.

Clark thought about the way things had been before, and how happy he was, even if it didn't last. Chloe as his bestfriend, his father still alive, Lana as his girlfriend...but now, it had all gone, it had all fallen apart. Even the memories felt emptier than they should have.

It was as if Lois had read his mind when she advised him, 'Look...Clark...you can't hold onto the past wherever you go in life...if you spend too long looking at what was, you'll miss what is,' Clark stared at her, wondering if she was referring to what they had between them, 'and you'll be left dreaming about what could have been...' she said with a small smile, and a familiar glint in her eyes, the one she got whenever she dished out her pearls of wisdom to him.



Clark gazed at her, 'I don't know what I'd do without you Lois.'

Lois laughed, 'You're just saying that, but it's sweet of you to say Smallville, we all know your heart holds a candle for Lana and no-one else.'

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, with each step she took, her heart sunk further into her chest, she wanted him to stop her, even if it was just for small-talk.

Clark peered at the empty barn doorway, it almost haunted him of what could happen if he didn't take Lois's advise, he would end up alone and wind up being one of those people who spent their lives watching their life, rather than living it.

In Metropolis:

Doomsday turned on his heel and walked off into the shadows, not bothering to even look at his latest victims, he hungered for energy, and had a lust for the destruction of it. He glanced at the night sky, he could see the sun peeking at the end of the horizon, it was almost dawn. He had to return to being a mere darkness within his human form for yet another day. Soon, he wouldn't need the rest, but for now, he wouldn't grow stronger without it.

Davis jolted awake, as broke into a cold sweat, he squinted as he saw ambulances speeding past the dark alley he had awoken in, he frowned. How did he get back out here?? He shook it off as he heard the ambulances come to a screeching halt nearby, someone must have needed help. On instinct, he ran out into the street, 'I'm a paramedic-' he told the paramedics who climbed out of the ambulance, they nodded as he crouched opposite the body.

'Body temperatures low...too low.' The girl was dead, the life seemed to have been sucked right out of her, her skin was as white as snow, he felt a shiver run down his spine.

'She's dead...' he said, a cold sensation creeping through him, death had made him uncomfortable since he was a child, but in his line of work, on bad days he'd come across it more often than he liked.

'Are you okay?' One of the paramedics asked Davis, Davis nodded.

'Yeah-I'm fine-'

'You're nose is bleeding-'

'Oh...' Davis replied with a confused expression, he lifted a hand to his nose and pulled it away to see the crimson colour seeping, he blinked at his blood for a moment, convinced he saw flecks of black. He shook it off; he needed to get to bed.

The Daily Planet:



Lois sat at her desk, she glanced up to see Clark stroll in with two mugs of coffee in his hands, she didn't realise she was smiling as her eyes drifted over him. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt, and black trousers. Needless to say, Lois was beginning to notice just how attractive the modest farm-boy really was. Earlier that morning she had made him change his outfit, if he expected to come to work with her, he needed to totally rearrange his wardrobe, maybe even burn some of it. But he didn't seem to happy when Lois suggested burning some of his wardrobe.

'Hey...' she said to him as he walked over to her, 'you're missing something.'

She pressed his Identity badge against his shirt, her hand lingered on his chest for a moment as she smiled at him, Clark smiled back at her, noticing how her eyes glinted in the dim-lit room.

'Clark Kent...' Tess Mercer's voice caused both Lois and Clark to jump slightly, Clark opened his mouth to greet her when she grabbed a coffee from his hand.

'That was for Lois-' Clark said aimlessly, Lois frowned at Tess who didn't seem to hear him.

'I'm glad to hear you've decided to join our team here.' She levelled him with a strange gaze, Clark felt unsettled, he remember her. She was the one Kal El had kissed when he went to find out where Chloe was.

'Who do you think you are?' Lois demanded.

'New Chief Editor of the Daily Planet.'

This silenced Lois immediately.

'Since Lex is missing, I'll be heading up his investigation, and also running his business. This happens to be one of them.' She said with a hint of disdain.

'So, Mr Kent. Amongst saving damsel's in distress, you enjoy journalism I take it?'

Clark laughed nervously, 'Uh, Yeah, I mean...'

Lois rolled her eyes as Clark tried not to gaze too adoringly at Tess.

He couldn't help but notice how attractive she was. And he was noticing it ALOT.

'You'll be paired with Miss Lane.'

'What??' Both of them exclaimed much to their horror and surprise.

'We're-' Clark started.

'-Partners??' Lois finished.

'Why not? ' Tess said with a shrug, knowing it seemed to cause Lois Lane some distress, she smiled to herself.

'Infact, if I remember correctly, don't you two have a story to cover?'



Lois raised an eyebrow at her, Tess simply switched on the T.V., A news reporter stood outside a dark alley as she spoke, 'This is the second mysterious death to hit Metropolis. Once again, there is no evidence of foul play...'

Lois frowned as she noticed the paramedic Chloe introduced her to in the background on the screen.

'Hey...I know him...'

Clark looked from Lois to the T.V., before he knew it, she was tugging at his arm, 'come on...!' Clark could only assume she was taking him with her to see the paramedic.

Tess watched Lois drag Clark away, she peered out of the window, down at the streets of Metropolis, her empire under Lex Luthor was on the rise...and still no sign of Lex...

End chapter nine: