You Half Wit – Chapter 4

"Lois, just give me the benefit of the doubt - I will tell you what I know. Look, you know if you write what you know on this story that I'll out do you again." Clark tried hard not to mention the night at the Awards or the night they were supposed to have dinner that still burned in his mind. Running up to her as she got in her car, "just at least give me a ride back into town." He did a half skip as Lois pointed reluctantly to the opposite side of the Jeep.

Driving back into town,"ok, Clark, let 'er rip. I want you tell me everything that you know."

"Not until you tell me why you played such a nasty trick on me that night when you asked me out?"

"You tell ME why you snuck in, looked at my appointment book, and showed up at the same place to eat the other night?" Clark could see this was going no where fast, so he decided to be quiet. Just then, Lois' phone rang.

"Clark, could you get..." Clark already had it in hand and she grabbed it away like a child.

"Hello? Ok, slow down Jimmy."

"Perry wants you back here at the Planet to share in some great news. If you can find Clark Kent, tell him to come by too."

"What? Ok, I hear you but can you tell me why this is...Jimmy? Damn." Lois turned the phone off and threw it in the back of the Jeep. "They want both of us at the Planet soon. I don't know why." Clark could swear that Lois pressed down on the gas pedal harder now. After a few minutes they arrived at the Planet building. "Come on..."

Lois got out of the Jeep and stared walking toward the elevator. They rode up on separate sides the elevator and arrived at the newsroom floor. When the doors opened, a bunch of new faces looked toward the elevator and Lois looked stunned. She saw Perry running up to her.

"Lois, I have some great news." He gave her a copy of the spread for the next day. She saw Clark had walked off to see Marilyn.

"What is she doing here?" Lois looked down at the paper cover and then looked at Clark. He was looking at a banner that was hung above their heads. He turned and looked at Lois. Both of them went into shock with their mouths open.

"Lois, what do you think? This is cool huh? The best two reporters are now working together."

Lois shoved the paper back into Jimmy's hands and walked down the stairs. She headed right for Clark and turned redder with every step. "Come with me." She took him by the arm and led him to a conference room. She slammed the door behind them and looked right at him. Clark still stunned by the news was completely shocked. "YOU DID THIS!"

"Lois I promise you that I have no idea what's going on. Marilyn told me she quit her job. What did you hear?"

He tried to act calm thinking that it would help Lois calm down, but he knew that was far fetched.

"WE'RE PARTNERS NOW YOU HALF-WIT!! ARE YOU HAPPY? GOT YOUR WISH?"

"Lois, I have no idea..." Clark paused as Perry walked in.

"So, what do you think Clark? Happy to be on our team?" Perry took Clark out of the room and showed him his new desk, conveniently located across from Lois. He then showed Clark the headline. Clark sat down in his new chair and stared blankly at the copy. "Looks like our country boy is a bit stunned. Clark, I know that you probably have some bad feelings toward me still hunkered down inside but I hope that you will forgive me and dive right into working on our team. We are truly proud to have you with us." Clark still sat blankly while Lois stood in the doorway of the conference room fuming about the apology that Perry just gave him.

"Clark, I got another job offer and this was the best way for all of the employees. I hope you understand." Clark looked at Marilyn with a puzzled look.

"Did you push for this," he held up the copy of the paper.

"I asked for you to be taken care of; I had no idea what he had planned. But I think you and Lois will work out fine. Besides, this way maybe you can finally get that date you've been wanting with her for so long." Marilyn just smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "I have to go." She started to walk off and Clark wanted to stop her but he let her go. He knew that he was home now.

"Now, I know that this is a big day for all of us, but we still have a paper to turn out. So, we all need to get back to work. I need my head reporters in my office in five minutes." Perry pointed at Lois and Clark and walked into his office.

Lois walked back and sat down at her desk. She flopped her head in her arms and Clark could hear her badmouthing him under her breath. He got up and walked into Perry's office.

"Mr. White, I don't think that is going to work out. She and I have been at each other's throats for a long time now and we can't give that up. I think that's what makes both of us great writers. Look at Lois."

"This is a business decision. I am in the business of selling papers. I feel that this was the best decision for you as a writer and for me as an editor." Lois walked in, having composed herself.

"Ok, what is the first assignment?"

"Lois and Clark, I want you both to cover the voter tampering that was suspected in last week's election. I want to know who's involved and who should really have the judge's spot. I know this is not a huge story right now, but the big story is having both of you on the same paper." They both nodded their heads and left his office. They went and sat at their desks; Clark fumbled through the drawers, looking to see what supplies he had while Lois sat and watched him. He looked over at her and she quickly looked down. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him get up.

"Should we be going?"

"What? Oh, sure; let's go." Lois started to get her things when Clark looked at her funny.

"I have to go..." He just walked off. Lois looked around and wondered where the man had disappeared to.

A few minutes later, Clark returned to the office and saw Lois fuming again.

"CAN WE GO NOW??" Clark looked at Lois and shrugged. They walked up, got up in the elevator, and took off for the city hall. While in the car, Clark could hear another emergency but had no choice but to remain with Lois. He started seeing the benefits of being at the other paper, no co-workers haggling him to stick around.

"We're here. You go check out the public records office; I'm going to try to push the mayor for answers. Meet back here in an hour." Lois was definitely not any fun when she was working.

"Ok." He looked at her walking off. 'I can't believe I'm attracted so much to her yet she ticks me off with every word she speaks. An hour; time to go to work.' Clark thought and took off as Superman.

"Where have you been - I said an hour." Lois was sitting on the steps in an almost unladylike fashion.

"I got sidetracked." She got up and passed him going down the steps. He turned around and tried to catch up.

"You just better have something good." They returned to the office and told Perry about what information they were able to dig up.

"Clark, this is incredible. How do you get this stuff? I haven't seen research like this since Lois first started."

He looked at Lois, "Lois, your interview does give the stats some substance but most of this has been already said. Ok, put it together and I'll have it out in tomorrow's paper." He handed their research back to them and continued on with his work as they walked out. They didn't look at each other; they just went to their respective corners like fighters in a boxing match. They continued this for weeks, shared bylines but no words.

Clark passed Lois' desk and sat her coffee cup down; he had learned her idiosyncrasies and decided to at least be civil. He also looked over her shoulder and read an article that she was looking at. He heard something and left.

"Lois, where's Clark?"

"I don't know Perry."

"Get down to the airport, we have a hostage situation. I want full coverage. I'll send Clark when I see him." Lois was already out the door before Perry finished his sentence. She arrived at the hostage crisis moments before Superman did. As with all the media, she watched intently on his movements of scanning the plane.

'Two men; no guns on people directly. Handable.' With that thought, Superman blew through the top of the plane and came out seconds later with two men scared out of their wits. He set them down in front of the police and returned to rescue the passengers.

"Superman, it's Lois Lane..." He flew down to her, but was scared to say something, knowing that he was still hurt inside.

"Lois, I have to go."

"But..."

"Lois." He touched her shoulder and then flew off again. She stood there numb while the other reporters were getting the story from the passengers. She woke from her trance and figured she needed to get a story too.

"Perry, I got it. I have an interview with the pilot of the plane."

"Great Lois, set it on my desk. I'll put it with Clark's piece."

"Clark's piece?! He wasn't even there!" Perry turned around to Lois.

"Yes, he got the story. The reason for the hijacking in the first place. It's very impressive - you should read the copy that he put on your desk." Lois walked out of Perry's office and sat at her desk. Clark wasn't at his desk, again.

She pulled out his piece under several other things and began to read. Little did she know that Clark was watching her from around the corner. He could see the lines around her eyes crinkle up as her face became drawn.

RIP

At that, Clark left.

"Today on Ruthie - Men Who Can Move Things With Their Minds..." the TV went on. Clark sat rubbing down his 'boots' and laughing at the ridiculous TV.

KNOCK

He looked up at the door and gasped. "Just a minute." He raced around the apartment, cleaning up all the suits and his boots that were out. He opened the door.

"Lois, what are..." She pushed past him and into his place.

"OK! THIS IS IT!!" She threw her purse at Clark. He put his arms up, trying to keep from being hit in the face.

"What?" He followed her down the steps.

"Look - I don't know where in the hell you get your information, but we are now - not that I want to be - a TEAM. That usually means that we share information and don't go around impressing bosses behind each other's back."

"Lois I just finished up early and decided to come home."

"I want to know how you got the story. I was there and you weren't."

"I just have sources - that's it. I can't tell you." He realized that he and Lois were now yelling at each other. She was turning red in every part of her body. "Lois, I'm sorry." He tried to act calm and lower his voice.

"DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE SORRY!!!!" Lois lunged at him and started beating on his chest in a panic. "I have always been the best and I don't understand what's happening. I HATE YOU CLARK KENT - YOU HEAR ME - I HATE YOU!!!!!!"

Clark grabbed both her wrists in his hands where she couldn't hit him anymore. It didn't hurt; it was just becoming annoying. She kept repeating it over and over. "I HATE YOU I HATE CLARK I HATE YOU" He had had enough. Clark pushed Lois up against the bookshelf and held both of her hands with one of his. He covered her mouth with the other hand - she bit him. He acted like it hurt. He pointed at her. "CLARK KENT I HATE..." He locked his lips on hers and kissed her hard. She fought him for a few seconds but he felt her loosen up, so he decided to take a chance and released her.

SLAP

"What was that for?"

"You are the worst...worst...UURGHH!" Lois started to pick up her stuff and sat down in the middle of the floor.

"Lois? I'm sorry about that Lois, but ever since I first saw you I..."

She turned and looked at him sitting on the floor next to her, "Clark, I really am not the bad person you think I am. You just...your work just...Clark are you listening to me?" She looked up at him.

"Lois, I have to go." He got up and started for the door.

"NO! Not this time. Take me with you."

"Lois, this isn't the time."

"Clark." He shrugged, took her hand and her car keys. How he hated to drive. "Where are we going?"

"Got a tip and I don't want to lose it." Lois just looked at Clark driving and shook her head. 'So this is how your world works Clark Kent,' she thought.