Getting Closer – Chapter 2

"Perry!" Lois ran into his office and saw him with the paper's owner. "I got the interview."

"So did someone else," Perry threw the Herald at her.

--Superman's My Name--

"It's that kid - came in yesterday. Now he's working for the little paper giving them big headlines. Lois, I want you to track him. Find out how he got it before us. I don't want this to happen AGAIN!" Perry was yelling at her and the owner shook his head.

"How is this my fault! YOU turned him down."

"Just find him and his source! GO!" Lois ran back to her desk, picked up her stuff, and stomped out the door.

"Blasted traffic - Perry - this stupid reporter - what's he got anyway?" She pulled up in front of the Herald.

"Lois Lane, what an honor..."

"Outta my way - where's the reporter that took my story?"

"Oh Clark, he's back there, he's working - like others of us should," shooting a look at Lois. She didn't care, walking over to his desk. Picking up his new name plate, "Clark Kent - more like story stealer."

Not looking up, "Had it first, but you can print your date with Superman in the Planet tomorrow." He kept typing with a smile on his face.

"How did you know that?"

"Let's just say - he confides in me." Looking at her and standing, "I understand that the Herald got more readership today. Hmm. Ms. Lane, don't you have to work or something." he passed her up for the door.

"Wait," she stepped in front of him. "Just tell me how you met him."

"Ms. Lane, I have a job to do," Clark left the building. Lois tried to follow him, but he just disappeared. She walked back and got into her car.

"Jimmy, I need you to meet me around the corner from the Herald office." Lois called him on the phone; she was going to figure this guy out.

"Lois, there's a chemical fire in Industrial Park - we should get down there and see if Superman is there." 'Blasted,' she thought. 'He already knew about it while I was blowing my top, he's going to get another story.'

"Meet you there Jimmy."

Lois squeeled into the reporter area for the plant.

"I'm looking for Clark Kent, have you seen him?" Everyone answered no. Did no one read the papers this morning. Just then Superman came back out of the plant with another round of survivors.

"Lois, I got some great pictures. Whoever that is really is a savior for Metropolis."

"He's been around the world," she told Jimmy not really paying attention to what she said.

"What? Lois how do you know?"

"I interviewed him last night, but someone else already had the story. What's the story here?"

"Nothing much - just an explosion, no one was hurt with Superman here." Lois was listening in on the fire department's explanation while Jimmy babbled on. 'Ok, Clark Kent, where are you?' Just then cameras started clicking as Superman flew overhead and waved and took off.

"Boo. Get the story this time?" He walked up behind her but had no paper, pen, nothing. Lois was furious.

"I was looking for you. You just got here?"

"Nope, got in the gates before the cops got here. Great exclusive..." He smiled at her with his hands in his pockets. Clark started to walk off when Lois ran up in front of him. "You have this thing for cutting me off?"

"I just want to know how you do it? You waltz into town and suddenly take over. Look, this is MY territory, so if you don't want to be buried, you better go back to your little country paper - that's where I think you came from anyway." Clark just stood there and continued to smile at her. He really liked this woman. He just wished inside that he could find the way to be sincere to her, but she was doing the pushing.

"Got to go, but I'm sure we'll see each other again." He couldn't get the courage to say any more. He heard Lois 'HHmmph' at his walking away. He was wearing her down.

Clark kept walking away from the explosion where he could watch Lois drive away. He hoped that someday that he could actually be in the seat next to her. Outside of the factory, Clark caught a cab for home; he decided that he could write the article faster than Lois regardless of his superpowers. Besides, he had the inside scoop. He arrived at his apartment and turned on the radio. He laid down on the couch and could picture Lois there in front of him and fell asleep.

"I stop and I stare too much...

Afraid that I care too much...

And I hardly dare to touch...

For fear that the spell may be broken..."

RING

"Hello?" Clark answers the phone tiredly.

"Clark, how are you doing?"

"Mom, I'm fine. Just resting."

"Are you 'tired'? Honey, what's wrong?"

"I'm fine mom. I've just had a lot on my mind. I think I've met someone, but I don't think she likes me much."

"Why's that?" Clark went and got a drink in the kitchen.

"She and I are rivals for the newspapers, and she's upset that I can get the story before her. I don't know how I can impress her when we're competing. Besides, she's got a thing for Superman."

"So, she still does like you in a fashion. I think you are making a good decision by waiting for her as Clark. Honey, she's going to have to decide for herself what she wants. You can't force her. As much as I would like you to find someone, you need to remember your place."

"I know that. I can just hope. Well, I hate to cut you off but I need to write a story before the night's over. I love you mom."

"Ok honey, you take care." Clark hung up the phone and stood in front of the mirror. He took his glasses off and then put them back on and sighs. 'Oh Lois.' he sighed again and then got ready to return to work.

Over the next several weeks, the readership of the Herald began to soar as the Daily Planet was slowy starting to hurt. Clark Kent was now the focus of several local shows in trying to pinpoint how he got his stories. Of course, there were always lies that had to be made up about that. Lois and Perry watched the latest one on the morning show at the Planet.

"Lois, what are we going to do?" Perry walked around his office with his hands on his head.

"Perry, I have really tried to figure how he has beaten me to every single story. He knows Superman like no one else. Actually, though, I don't really see him at the disaster sites ever. Then again, I barely get there after Superman has left too."

"I have a thought."

"Shoot. I would be willing to do anything."

"I want to hire this kid and I want you to offer him the job."

Lois started to walk out of the office and waved off Perry, "anything but that."

Perry walked out behind her, "Lois, if not that then you better figure a way to get the story. I refuse to become the second best paper in town."

"Lois, get down to the courthouse, there was a bomb threat."

"On my way," Lois yelled as she ran out the door. A few minutes later, she arrived at the courthouse where Superman was X-raying the building walls. He found nothing. Lois could see him looking up in a strange way and then he flew off. Seconds later, the crowd was forced to the ground by a blast in the sky. When everyone recovered, they could see Superman coming around the side of the building with two men.

"Officers, if you would please..." The police officers took both men and put them into cars as Superman started answering questions.

"Superman, how are you enjoying your time in Metropolis?"

With arms crossed, "I have honestly not had time to experience the city, I work most of the time."

"Superman, do you have a place of residence?

"That is a bit personal, but I do have a place that I do stay when I am not busy. Excuse me, but I need to be going now."

As the crowd still pushed for questions, he spotted Lois as he was flying away. He could see her following him with her eyes but different like the others. Superman turned away and flew off.

That night, he sat quietly at the top of Lois' apartment building and waited for her to get home. He had to leave to help with a train wreck in Europe but returned in time to see her getting out of her car. Not wanting to be seen, he flew in behind the building and watched to see if she would open the window. She had left it open before but he had never taken the opportunity to visit. Perhaps because he was nervous, perhaps because it wasn't right. Either way, tonight was different.

He pushed the window just slightly to peek in and then knocked. "Lois?"

"Superman," she turned around to face the man of her dreams, who almost glowed with the help of the light outside the window. He still had the stance he had at the interview, but quickly loosened up when Lois smiled. "I didn't expect you tonight; that is I haven't expected you since you never have come since that night."

She could see his mind wander, "That night, I remember. Speaking of that night..." Lois walked up to him and kissed him before she realized what she had done.

"I'm so sorry...I didn't mean..." She backed up, but saw him move toward her.

"That's more than alright," Superman took Lois in his arms and kissed her deeply as he lifted her off the ground. He could tell she was almost unconscious. He almost had to giggle at her standing in the middle of the room with her arms still outreached.

"What happened? What am I doing?" She woke up.

"You fazed out; I kissed you"

"Oh yeah, " walking into the kitchen, "You want anything?"

"No thank you. I just really wanted to see you tonight. I saw you at the bomb threat and..." Lois had already made it back to the couch and was kissing him again. Pushing her away, "I haven't come by that often because I'm curious where you think this is going for us."

Turning to face him, Lois acted nervous, "I just thought that we could...you know...I was hoping...but you probably think that I'm...this is stupid."

Superman took her hand, "Lois, this is not stupid. I am very attracted to you Lois, but I want you to keep your options open." Lois looked at him puzzled.

"Are you pushing me away?"

"No Lois...Yes...I just don't want you to be hurt, that's all." Superman got up and walked toward the window. "I have to go." Lois ran over and kissed him again but he pulled away before she could really touch his lips. Again, he was gone.

"Lois, how is that story on the bomb yesterday coming?" Perry was still worried about his paper slowly going down the tubes.

"Perry, I have an amazing scoop on the story and I saw Superman again last night." Perry raised an eyebrow at Lois.

"Business or pleasure?" Lois just smiled as she laid her story down on the desk and walked out of the room. He could swear that he saw her skipping just a little. When she got to her desk, she nearly let out a scream.

"Lois Lane, how are you today?"

"What are YOU doing in HERE?" She slapped a folder down on her desk but he wouldn't budge, just smiled.

"Just wondered if you would want to goto lunch and discuss a story that I'm working on. I promise to share the byline with you." He kept smiling at her whimsically.

"I would not give you the pleasure to share my name on anything. And I don't need lunch." He still sat in her chair and just shook his head. 'Liar, you're stomach's in knots,' he thought. He got up and started to walk off.

"You're sure?"

Lois pointed at the elevator, "Just leave," she began to sit down but missed the chair and fell. Clark walked back and helped her up. Lois tried to fight his help but didn't.

"Kids play games when they like each other..." Clark whispered to her before he walked out to the elevator. When he got back to the Herald, he decided to ask Marilyn to dinner that night. He hated the idea of using her to get to Lois but there wasn't any other way.

He leaned into her office, "Want to goto dinner tonight?"

"Sure Clark, what's the occasion?"

"A break...that's all." He walked back to his desk to make the official call.

"Yes, this is Clark Kent. I need a reservation for tonight. Do you have a time around 8:00? Super. Thank you." he leaned over his desk. "Marilyn, how about 8?"

"Great..." They both continued to work until around eight.