Simple Changes in Attitude – Chapter 5

"Where are we?" She turned and looked at him still leading her by the hand.

"Shhh. Stay here." He wanted to lose her somewhere safe where he could 'change'.

"No."

"Quietly then..." He took her hand and led her around a corner. Not being able to look over his glasses caused great problems in seeing what was ahead, but he couldn't hear anything. Lois had let go of his hand and he turned around. "Lois?"

"Clark?" he turned around and saw why she had let go of his hand.

"Come on..." He joined Lois in being held at gunpoint. "Let's go you two." The gunman led them into a steel warehouse where two other men were.

"Clark, would this be a good time for Superman?"

"I don't think he would get here before they could shoot us." He saw Lois shake her head in agreement. The men had since tied Lois up and started to tie up Clark. Clark flipped the man approaching him.

"CLARK..." Lois closed her eyes as the man next to her turned the gun on him.

"Hey, come on...this isn't the way...tell us what you want."

"I want this woman," he grabbed Lois, "and I want you out of the picture...you're too dangerous to the mayor's plan. Say goodbye Lois...I forgot, you don't like him anyway." The man shot at Clark and he fell.

"Clark!!" The man dropped Lois on the ground as sirens started up around the warehouse. The man took off and Lois crawled over to him.

"Are you ok? Clark?"

"Lois, I'm fine."

"But you were hit...look." She looked down at his shirt where there was definitely a hole through the sleeve of his shirt.

"Let me just get you free." He started to untie her as the police came to assist. "We're ok, did you get all three of the men?"

"Yes, Mr. Kent. What about this?" He helped Lois up.

"Something about the mayor. I think its has something to do with the story that I wrote." The police officer walked off. Lois and Clark stood there alone.

"Clark, I'm sorry about all this. I just have a real jealousy problem. I just really feel stupid about this whole situation." Clark took her and hugged her without saying anything. He could feel her playing with hole in his shirt.

"Let's go Lois." Clark walked her home where they finished writing up the story about their adventure. Lois couldn't quit apologizing nor asking why Superman wouldn't show up for something like that. Clark just reminded her that they had handled just as well.

"I'll see you at work tomorrow Lois. I have to go." Clark was going to let himself out.

"Wait," Lois ran up and kissed him goodnight to his surprise. "Thank you Clark Kent. I don't hate you. Actually, I..." He just kissed her because he didn't want to know what she was going to say.

"Lois, coffee like you like it." Clark brought her coffee every morning but now always had a kind word, smile, or a kiss for her each morning. They had been officially dating now for one month. "So, what are we going to do tonight?"

"I don't know...how about I just fix us some dinner at my place and watch a movie or talk."

"Sounds good." She kissed him back and walked back toward the copy room. She had acted so differently since that evening. She always smiled at him differently from before - she smiled at him like she did when she was with Superman. That night, Lois and he sat and had some incredible dish that Clark had cooked. Lois wasn't sure what it was, but it was good.

"Where did you learn to cook?" Clark put his arm around Lois.

"I don't know. My mother was a great cook. I guess I just have the knack, but Lois - I want to talk to you about something else." She turned and looked at him.

"This is real hard for me - I haven't had reason or a person to tell this to."

"Just say it."

"Lois," he took her hand, "I love you." He searched her face for something - she was just a blank.

"Clark, I..."

"Don't say anything, please."

"I love you too. You were right. You were right about us. That comment about the kids - you were right." She kissed him so deeply they fell back on the couch where they stayed until she had fallen asleep. He snuck off for his nightly duties.