Chapter 31:

The Bullpen, 10:30 am:

"Lane." I answer my phone.

"Miss Lane, I'm Melissa Ryan, there was a slight mishap at the school."

I panic at the slight mishap… "Are the twins alright?"

"They're both fine Miss Lane, I'd like to talk to you about the altercation in person, are you able to get to the school?"

"I'm on my way now."

"Thank you very much, good bye." The woman hangs up.

"I'll be back soon Smallville, cover for me." I grab my jacket and head for the elevator.

"Nuh-uh. I'm coming too Lois, they're my children as well." Clark gets up with me.

"Fine, just get a move on." I don't miss the startled looks on people's faces around the office. Things get messier as time rolls on.

"I'm coming, I'm coming." Clark says as he slides his coat on and follows me to the elevator.

"So what's going on?" he asks trying to look innocent.

"I know you were eavesdropping." I accuse.

"Was not." I glare at him. "Ok I was." He quickly concedes.

"See… don't you feel better once you admit I'm right."

"I do 'til you open your mouth afterwards."

"Careful Smallville… I might have to hurt you soon."

"Yeah and I know you can." He says as we step into the elevator…


St Michael's, 20 minutes later:

"This could have been so much faster if you would have of just done your 'Air Kent' thing." I mumble to Clark as we climb the steps to the entrance of the old building.

"Will you quit whining for like two seconds?"

"That's completely impossible… just like the Earth spinning in the other direction."

"Don't make jokes about that which you don't understand."

"Lighten up Smallville." I say as we enter the building, my words bouncing off the empty corridor.

"Fine, where to now?" Clark asks rather impatiently, I must have been more annoying in the car than I thought I was, well serves him right for not letting me drive.

"This way." I turn right, already knowing exactly where the principal's office is from my stint back here when I was in the fifth grade.

"You know you're way around here?"

"I used to go here once upon a time."

"Explains why you know where the principle's office is."

"Funny Smallville."

"I thought so." He says as we enter the reception area.

"Hi…" I smile the best I could manage, "I'm Lois Lane, I'm here to see Miss Ryan."

"You can have a seat over there." The elderly receptionist points to the seats outside Miss Ryan's office.

We sit. "I have a serious case of deja vu."

"We-"

I immediately cut Clark off, "Can it Smallville."

"You really shouldn't set yourself up if you don't want the criticism."

I'm about to reply when the door swings open. "Good afternoon…" the blonde woman looks shocked to see Clark with me.

"Hi, this is the twins' father, Clark." I offer my hand and she shakes it, Clark does the same.

"Pleased to meet you, I'm Melissa." She says to Clark.

"Hi."

I see the top of Lara's head and rush into the office. "Is everything alright sweetie?" I ask her and then see the bloody tissue pressed to Jack's nose.

"I'm fine Mommy; Jack was being picked on so I stopped them."

"Oh baby, did they hurt you?" I ask fussing over Jack.

"Nah… Mommy, I got this when I pulled Mark off Lara. I was helping." He beams, not looking the least bit upset. Lara looks a little sheepish that her little brother came to the rescue.

"I'm just glad you're both alright." I kiss them both on the foreheads.

"Daddy!" Lara cries as she launches at Clark who was deep in discussion with Melissa.

"Hey Angel, are you alright?" he asks as he picks her up.

"Yup… it was no big deal." Clark smiles at her.

Melissa addresses us both now, "It turns out that one of the fourth graders, Mark Mitchell and some of his friends have been giving the younger children problems. He happened to get caught out today because Lara here stepped in to help her little brother. However little lady, I need you to promise me that if there's a next time you'll get the teacher on duty instead of joining in the fight."

"Yes Miss Ryan." Lara says, I know she doesn't mean it… after all, she is my daughter. Whenever I saw someone picking on Lucy I was always in there, getting dirty and teaching the dumb schmuck a lesson, no one and I mean no one ever gave my sister a hard time.

"Ok then, the children aren't in any trouble but we are sending all the students involved home for the day. It's in my experience that after a situation like this they will be distracted for the rest of the day and can be a distraction to the rest of the class."

"Thank you very much Melissa." Clark starts to say bye but I cut in.

"Thank you but what's happening about the bullies?" I want to know what's going to happen to these kids and I want to make sure they leave mine alone.

"We've been in contact with these children's parents and have also instituted several long lunchtime detentions as well as rules that all children stay with their grade."

I nod my head, "Well, thank you for your time and hopefully the next time we meet it will be under better circumstances." I pick Jack up and walk out of the office. Memories of a rather harsh scolding because I broke a bully's nose hounding me.

"Like wise. It was nice to meet you too Clark." Melissa smiles flirtatiously at Clark. I'm not impressed but don't say anything, choosing to leave the reception area altogether.

"Mommy, we gotta get my bag."

"I know sweetie, I'm heading to your classroom now."

"Oh, yeah…"


Daily Planet, elevator heading to the bullpen, 45 minutes later:

"Are we there yet?" Lara asks. I grit my teeth with frustration; it's all she's said every two minutes for the last half hour.

"Not yet honey, but very VERY soon." I make sure my annoyance is clearly conveyed.

Jack tightens his grip on my hand and counts down as we near our floor. I look to Lara and Clark, Lara tightly holding on to him and Clark looking like he's the happiest man in the world. The elevator dings and my small family walks out into the bullpen, many turning to look at us. Clark appears to be completely oblivious. I plaster a smile on my face and walk on… I've got my family; I really don't care what anybody else thinks.

"So when's your Mom getting here Smallville?" I ask as we near our desks.

"As soon as she finishes her meeting with Bruce and Lionel. I thought you said they were… you know?"

"Are you trying to be obvious? Anyway, 'they' were having brunch and then meeting with Bruce for lunch to discuss details about a charity ball Wayne Enterprises is holding here."

"Oh." Clark says as he sits Lara on his desk.

Jack grabs a pen and starts drawing on a spare notepad. I watch Lara slide off Clark's desk and wander over to Jimmy. I watch her carefully until Jimmy gives me the thumbs up.

"Thanks for going with me Clark… you're much better suited to dealing with authority figures than I am."

"Was that a compliment?" he smirks.

"Don't start Smallville." I lift Jack onto my lap as I sit down. "So, we gonna continue with the kidnapping case or wait 'til the kids have gone?"

"I'll finish looking through the files; do you have anything that you have to wrap up for Perry?"

"Yeah, thanks Smallville." Clark continues to read the files while I start working around Jack and glancing at Lara with Jimmy…


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