Thanks go out to Remey74, Weird-O-Ville and EveryDayofarelives for taking the time to review, you guys rock!
Just a heads up that there's not many chapters of this story left, only 5 after this to be precise. Hope everyone who's reading is enjoying.
Cheers, Lise.
Chapter 32:
The Bullpen, 2:30pm:
"Grandma!" Jack yells at the top of his lungs, running at Martha. He starts talking a mile a minute, telling her all about the bully. Martha nods her head and utters small reassurances.
"Hi Martha, thanks for stopping by and grabbing the munchkins."
"Hi Lois, hey Clark. It's really no problem Lo; I was just going to head home anyway."
"Well thank you anyway. How'd lunch go?"
"Good, we've got pretty much everything sorted out. Just had to go over specifics with Bruce."
A young bike courier approaches me, "Hey Miss Lane, got another package for you from Detective Vince."
"Thanks Joey. How's your day been?" I ask as I sign the manifest.
"Yeah, you know. But good now that I've seen you." He winks.
"I have that effect on people." He hands me my file.
"I'll catch ya later then Miss Lane."
"Yeah, see you around Joey." I open the envelope to retrieve the manila folder within. There's a note from Vince attached;
'Lane,
Here's what we've got so far. Our hands are tied.
I know that you'll be able to get to the bottom of this, can't
Let Luthor get away with anymore.
V.'
My attention is caught by Lara as she tries to staple some paper to Clark's tie. He's completely oblivious. I know I should say something but it's just too funny. Martha is chatting away to Jimmy, also oblivious to my daughter's actions, Jack just sits quietly, watching her work her magic. Lara succeeds in stapling the pink piece of paper to Clark's tie and does a little jig. She looks up and grins at me. I can't help but smile back. Her grin gets wider as she shakes her head to indicate that I should watch, I nod in reply as she grabs a ruler. She carefully starts to jiggle the piece of paper around making Clark's tie move. Clark swats at his tie as he works, looking down surprised as his hand comes in contact with the piece of paper. Lara quickly comes to stand next to me. The look on Clark's face is priceless, I have no idea how Lara's not keeled over with laughter, I know I almost am.
"Ok, who did that? I like this tie." He looks around, his gaze coming to rest on Lara…
"You're too much like you're mother." He accuses as he tries to tug the piece of paper away.
I put my hand up for a high five and Lara slaps it. "Good job honey."
"Well, I'll get the kids and head home then." Martha interrupts before Clark can start on me.
"Ok, thanks Martha." I hand her my keys while Clark fusses over Jack and Lara. My need to laugh over Lara's antics long forgotten as emotion swells within me.
"Be good for Grandma you two." He gently says to them.
"We will." Lara answers, distracted.
"Love you two and no more fighting today, Aunt Chlo, Uncle Jimmy and Hannah are coming over for dinner tonight and I need you to clean your room."
"Oh Mom!" Jack whines.
"Come on, let's get going." Martha leads the two to the elevator.
I turn back to the file in my hand and sit slowly at my desk, my eyes never once leaving the file. Clark leaves me to read the file in silence for about forty minutes. "Anything in there Lois?"
I sigh and rub my eyes, "Nope, nothing we don't already have."
Clark sighs also; he begins tapping his pencil on the desk. "Hey Smallville, let's try something different."
"Ok?" he answers intrigued.
"I've seen this done a few times, I'm gonna close my eyes and you're going to read the description of the victim out to me. As you read the description I'll draw what I see on a piece of paper and then we'll look at what we got."
"I'm up for it if you are. This isn't a legit exercise though is it?"
"Nope."
"Didn't think so."
"Well come on Smallville. Start reading the victim's facial description." I demand.
I close my eyes and lean back, concentrating on the nagging feeling within, trying to call it up to help me with this task.
"Ok, she's early to mid twenties, caucasian, mid-shoulder length brown hair, grey eyes-"
The image in my minds eye is so clear that it frightens me. I see her bound and gagged, bruises and scabs adorning her features. I open my eyes, and start grabbing my belongings, "The bastard's got Lucy." I growl.
"He's got who?"
I glare at Clark. "Lex has my sister Clark; I have to go get her. Now."
"Lois?" he calls out. I ignore him. "Lois?" he calls again.
"What Smallville?" I turn around to him, there's a huge pressure on my chest and I get flashes of men completely decked out in black attacking someone… three someones. My knees buckle.
Clark rushes forwards and holds me up… "Lois, what's wrong?"
I feel eyes on me but I shake my head as panic sets in further, "Oh my God Clark, something's wrong with the children."
"What are you talking about Lois?" Clark looks concerned and clearly confused.
"I… just… someone's hurting my babies Clark, we've got to go now!"
"Lois, how do you know that? Are you alright? Look why don't you just call my Mom?"
"Clark, we gotta go now… you're wasting time asking questions, I'll explain everything later." I try to walk away towards the elevator but Clark holds me firmly in place.
"What about calling my Mom?"
"I know she won't answer so I'm not gonna waste my time." I try to tug away from him again…
"Smallville. Let. Go. Now." Clark looks deep into my eyes. I try to convey how sure I am and how much I need to go to my babies.
"You're convinced that something's really happened aren't you?"
"I'm really convinced because something really has happened. Now either you come with me or I go by myself but I have to go home now!"
Clark lets go of me and nods his head, he follows me to the elevator and we walk straight in as Kat gets off the elevator. She makes some sort of a snarky comment but I don't catch it, I'm too worried about my children. As soon as the doors close Clark turns to me.
"Look, once we're out of the lobby, we'll walk into the alley across the road and I'll fly us back to your apartment. Ok?" I nod, fearing that I'm unable to talk.
Going from the elevator with Clark to soaring above the Earth with Superman is all a blur. Panic and fear completely overwhelm me and for the second time in my life I'm paralyzed by my fear. I'm brought out of my reverie as we land softly on the balcony, my heart stills at the sight before me…
Outskirts of Metropolis, abandoned warehouse:
"You're nothing but a monster, you bastard!" Lucy spits at Lex. He smiles evilly as he's just told her his master plan. He wipes away the spit, still smiling.
"Not very ladylike are you?" he violently pulls her head back and kisses her roughly. Lucy bites his lip; he smiles as he licks his blood and then slaps her, sending her head flying back.
"My sister will hunt you down and kill you."
"Not if I kill her first." Lucy is visibly slapped by Lex's words; they hurt her more than any of the physical pain he has caused her so far.
"Looks like I found a way to weaken the tough Lucy Lane."
"You won't get away with this Lex… I pity you and not for any one thing but for the fact that you are Lex Luthor."
Lex loses control of his calm and domineering façade, he strikes her hard almost knocking her unconscious. "Shut up!"
"No matter what happens to me, my sister will stop you. She's always been the strong one and she's got something neither of us has."
"And what's that?" Lex sneers.
"People who love her and friends."
Lex strikes her again, "You have no idea what you're talking about."
Lucy smiles a small defiant smile, "Looks like I found a way to weaken the heartless Lex Luthor."
He goes to strike her again when there's a knock on the door. He sneers at her and steps out. Lucy struggles against her bonds, her arms aching from the days spent with them bound together, only being in two positions the whole time; hanging from her arms or having them chained behind her. Lucy whimpers as the rope rubs against the tender wounds from her previous struggles.
Lex steps back in; the swinging over head light casting eerie shadows across his face. "I've got some company for you." He indicates behind him for something to be brought in.
Lucy gasps as two young children are roughly dumped on the ground, one of them, a young boy scrambling to the other's side. "You two watch her while you untie her." Lex points at three goons and then walks out.
Two of the goons keep their weapons trained on Lucy while the smallest of the three cuts the ropes holding her in place. The three walk out backwards, wary of Lucy as if she were a rabid dog. Lucy rubs the circulation back into her legs and approaches the children. The boy doesn't even flinch as she comes to rest beside him; he's trying desperately to undo a knot holding a piece of green rock to the little girl's body.
"Hey there little guy, let me help." He pulls his sister away from her. "I won't hurt you, promise. See, I'm trapped in here like you are." He looks at Lucy's face, he looks so familiar and his blue eyes convey so much emotion. He nods warily and lets Lucy get close.
"You look kinda like my Mommy." He says in a small voice.
"I'm Lucy, what's your name?"
"I'm Jack and that's my sister Lara. You need to get the rock away from her."
Lucy nods and wills her numb fingers to undo the tight knot. After fumbling for a few minutes the knot is undone, Jack scrambles for the green rock and throws it to the opposite side of the small room. Lara begins to stir and Jack visibly relaxes. Lucy gasps as the girl's hair falls away from her face; she's looking at a replica of her sister from twenty years ago…
Please be kind and review...
