Chapter5:

The Fortress of Solitude:

Kal places me down within a crystal palace. "Wow!"

"This is my Fortress of Solitude. It's my last link to my parents. He wanders over to a control panel and begins shifting crystals about. For the first time I notice the shining red stones in a gold bracelet on his right wrist. I'm amazed I didn't notice it before now.

Before I realize it there's an image before me, an almost exact replica of Clark except graying and beside him a raven haired beauty with the most glowing smile I've ever seen. "That's my mom and dad. Lara and Jor-El."

"She's beautiful." His smile is soft, almost, almost exactly like Clark's.

"I wish I'd have had the chance to know her."

I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his torso. His arms wrap around me, his chin resting on my head. I hear his heart beating, so steady, so strong. I wonder if Clark's heartbeat sounds the same. I look up as he looks down, his eyes conveying conflicting emotions as he leans down and tentatively kisses me. I open my mouth and let his tongue enter. Fighting to control all logical thought, I deepen the kiss and try to reach for the bracelet but he lifts me into his arms and carries me into another room containing a huge bed. At war with myself, knowing that what's going to happen next is so wrong but all the while convincing myself that it has to be done. It has to be done to save Clark Kent.

Clark wishes he knew what was going on inside Lois' head. Had she given up on him? Did she have a plan? Did she even care about him? Did she like Kal more than him? Why was she here? He had no answers to any of these questions but wished for all he was worth that he was the one with Lois Lane right now, not some sick, psychopathic alien. With all his strength Clark begins to bombard Kal's presence, trying to loosen his control so he could save Lois from this monster.

I'm lost in Kal's eyes as he gently lowers me to the bed, he unzips my jacket. I run my hands over his hard chest. He captures my lips with his own, a kiss full of burning passion, all my reservations long forgotten as his hands expertly wander over my body. We break apart as he lifts my shirt over my head. He reclaims my lips and I begin to undo the buttons on his shirt. I push the offending material off his body, never breaking the kiss. He unclasps my bra, I let it slide off. Kal looks down at me; something in his eyes briefly flickers. He shakes his head and leans down. I nod my head. He grins and I pull him down to me for a mind blowing kiss. All common sense long ago out the window.

Clark wishes he could close his eyes and place his hands over his ears as his heart shatters into a million different pieces. A million questions running through his brain. He feels betrayed by Lois; even though he knows he has no claim over her. He only prays that Kal takes good care of her. Accepting defeat Clark lets himself fall into the background, not completely gone, but not completely there.


An unknown amount of time later, the Fortress of Solitude:

I awake between silky sheets with a warm body beside me, not yet willing to open my eyes; I try to recall the last day or so. I bolt up, looking around me, taking in the beauty of the crystal wonderland and finally the beautiful man beside me. My heart aches as I remember that I spent last night with Kal and not Clark.

"I love you Smallville." I whisper into the deafening silence. I watch the man beside me sleep peacefully, I get out of the bed and quickly redress.

I sit on the edge of the bed, contemplating my next move. Wishing for Kal to roll over so I can get to the bracelet. As if on cue Kal rolls onto his back. I take my chance and gently reach for the bracelet on his wrist. My fingers wrap around the delicate chain as I fumble with the clasp. Kal begins to stir, my fumbling increases. His eyes snap open, fury clearly evident. "You b---h!" He roars as he backhands me with his left hand.

I fly across the room in a blur, bracelet firmly clasped in my hands. I see Kal go limp as my head impacts with a crystal wall. The bracelet slips out of my hand as my vision blurs. I try to hold on, hoping to see Clark's caring face.

My vision begins to fade. "Oh God, Lois!" I think I'm hearing things. "No." his voice almost overcome with fear. I try to hold on to consciousness a little longer but lose as I feel warm hands on my cold body.


Fortress of Solitude, Clarks POV:

My head hurts and my chest aches. I feel as if I've gone 20 rounds with a couple of Zod's cronies. I open my eyes to find I'm in the Fortress of Solitude, the memories of the last 8 ½ months hitting me full force.

"Oh God, Lois!" I literally jump out of the bed, only just realizing my state of undress. "No." my voice conveying all my pain and fear.

I dress in super-speed and come to rest by Lois' side. There's blood coming from the back of her head, a gash over her right eye begins to bleed. I want to pull her into my arms and hold her close but hesitate, feeling incredibly guilty for harming her. My heart wins the battle as I gently draw her into my arms. For the first time I see how frail and vulnerable Lois Lane really is. With this realization I fly back to Fairbanks, leaving Lois in an emergency room.

"I love you with all my heart." I whisper into her ear and super-speed out of the hospital, not a single person seeing me. I hear doctors and nurses lurch into a frenzy with the sudden appearance of Lois.

I stop atop a 3 story building, watching the doctors taking care of the woman I love. I rub my face with my hands and for the first time notice the amount of blood covering me. I fall to my knees, sobs violently shaking my body, my world crumbling around me. I sob for hours, feeling anguish for all the pain and heartache Kal caused in my body. As I cry and let out all of my anguish, my thoughts fall back to Lois. I can't quite pinpoint when I began to have feelings for her, I've been in denial since the first time I met her. Focusing my attention on the wrong girl. I do know that it has been since Kal once again took control of my body that I've stopped denying my feelings. And look where that got me. I only end up hurting the people I care about.

Finally I suck it all in. I stand once again and with my x-ray vision I search the hospital for Lois. As my eyes rest upon her bruised face, I make my decision.

"I love you too much to cause you anymore pain." The statement is left hanging in the cold night air as its owner vanishes in the speed of light.


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