"Come home right now Sarah" Vicky said over the phone, "I need you on this story"

Sarah looked down at her feet ass she leaned against the wall. "You told me to come out here and find out who Superman is" she said almost condescendingly

"You think that matters right now Gordon? We had this story a year ago, John Blake was Batman all along and you decided to scrap the story. Now we look like a bunch of armatures when the Times broke the news of his death first"

"I can't come home" Sarah said simply. She slid down the wall to the fall trying to hold it together. "I'm sorry I can't, and I give you the story I wrote a year ago. I'm not having anything to do with it"

Sarah could hear Vicky fuming over the phone. "Fine" she said harshly, "But if you don't come back with an answer of who Superman is I'll see to it you'll never write again, do you hear me"

Vicky didn't wait for Sarah to answer before she hung up. Sarah chucked the phone and buried her head in her hands beginning to sob. The tv in the background began reporting Gotham's news, that John Blake was Batman, and that he was dead.

Lois Lane sat at the other end of the table in the bar. Her stone cold expression was intimidating; Sarah admired her talent and modeled her writing after hers while in University. But she looked down at her notes trying to keep her cool. Exhaustion hit her hard, the entire night Sarah laid awake, thinking about John. But today was a new day and she thought best she focus on work in order to keep it together, because if she didn't she'd lose it.

Her red hair was twisted up, while she stared blankly back at Sarah. She couldn't believe she was meeting with another reporter. But it was a little surprising this was her first meeting with a Gotham reporter. Lois figured they had their own caped crusader to write about, they wouldn't bother her here. But she sat proven wrong she figured the timing was a little ironic though.

"Please don't take this personally Sarah," Lois leaned closer to the table hoping this would be a short meeting, and that Sarah would go home empty handed

"I think you are a great writer" she continued trying to force a kind smile "but you're wasting your time here. Since last year there have been countless reporters coming up here trying to uncover just who Superman is and everyone leaves empty handed. If he wanted the world to know, he would tell them"

"I get it Lois" Sarah nodded understanding, "But you can't expect the world to sit by after everything that happened and just let Superman fly around while he just accept his desire to stay anonymous"

Sarah studied Lois, "You sure didn't when Batman started protecting Gotham" she said trying to steady her emotions, "You came and asked the same questions I'm here asking you"

Sarah smiled knowing she was on a roll, "You dug hard enough and ended up finding out, just like I'm here doing now"

Lois tried to hide her expression, Clark trusted her with his secret and she wouldn't let him down. She respected Sarah but her relationship with Superman was too important and complicated to explain to someone who was coming out here simply to exploit Clark.

"Like the reports stated, Glen Woodburn falsified that story, the FBI cleared my name citing that I had no idea of Superman's identity" She defended, Lois had General Swanick to thank for that. If it hadn't been for his help Lois wouldn't have been safe. They tried to cover her tracks as much as possible, but there were the few who knew, like Perry White, her editor at the Daily Planet.

Sarah didn't believe the reports, or the retraction letter Woodburn wrote.

"Lois, your writing is what made me want to be a journalist, that undeniable urge to uncover the truth is in me as much as it is you, don't you think the world deserves to know who this guy is I mean you must of to dig around" Sarah explained trying her hardest not to plea.

Lois nodded, "I thought I did" she started, "And maybe one day the world will be ready but now isn't the time" she said simply meaning more than she was letting on.

It was painful for Lois. Knowing Clarks secret, loving him the way she did, and knowing they couldn't be together because it was too dangerous. She tried to move on, as did Clark, but with them working together, there would always be a connection the two of them couldn't ignore.

"I feel like it's more than just you trying to protect him" Sarah said "There's more to it isn't there Lois"

Lois didn't respond. She stared at the glass. She was protecting him. She'd do anything to protect him, even if they couldn't be together; she still cared for him and wanted to keep his secret.

"Something else changed your mind, didn't it?" Sarah asked, "It seems like you care for him deeply. Every article you've written about him seems more vague than the previous, but full of praise and adoration for the guy"

Sarah wasn't trying to be malicious, she understood. But she needed to find a lead to make up for loosing Pete Ross and she felt like she was close to something.

Lois looked up at Sarah a little stung; she had hit a sore spot. Sarah was relived to see the change in Lois' expression.

Lois tilted her head; "I'm actually surprised you're still in Gotham after the news of John Blake's death" She watched Sarah sit back, "Who would have thought he was Batman all along"

This was Lois' way of fighting fire with fire. Sarah was starting to get to Lois. She thought she could come in and stonewall the meeting just as she did with all the other reporters, but Sarah reminded Lois a lot of herself. She worked like her.

Sarah pushed ignoring Lois' comment but it hurt. She held back her tears, "I've talked to every person that has a recounted experience with this man from oil rig workers who were saved, fishing boat captains, waitresses, all have validated your original story, but one lead I can't seem to find is a Pete Ross"

Lois pulled out a bill from her purse and put it on the table, "I'm sorry but you're not going to find anything" she said walking out.

Sarah sighed rubbing her temples while resting her elbows on the table. She wanted nothing more than to get on a plane and go back home where she could try and find some sort of solace in John's death. But she knew it wasn't possible, not with everything going on. If Sarah went back to Gotham empty handed, Vicky would follow through with her promise, and Sarah would never write again. She sighed knowing it was a loose loose situation for her. It only made her more determined to figure out who Superman was.

"Don't let Miss Lane get you down honey, she's one tough broad" The bartender said with a kind smile.

Sarah nodded appreciative of the remark while gathering her things and left.