Chapter 35:
Wayne Enterprises Medical Facility, 3 days later:
There's nothing but darkness, I can't see anything, I can't move. I'm vaguely aware of voices, of scents and sensations. Slowly, one by one my senses grow stronger. I hear the sound of rhythmic beeps and other sorts of machinery; I pick up Clark's voice, warm and soothing. He's telling me of a dream he had, it sounds eerily familiar to the nightmare I had. As Clark stops telling me of his dream I become aware of a pressure on my hand, soothing, and warm. I become aware of weight against my sides in the crook of my arms and pain in my abdomen.
"I love you Lo, I miss you. Please come back to us… to me." I desperately want to open my eyes and declare my love to Clark but can't. I tire myself out fighting consciousness and slip into darkness once again…
I tell Lois of my dream, leaving out the part where she and the kids were taken away from me. I hope for some kind of response and my hopes rise as I hear a change in her heartbeat. My hope once again ends in disappointment as her heartbeat returns to the same slow rhythm.
"I love you Lo, I miss you. Please come back to us… to me." I try pleading but to no avail. I look around the large room that is also occupied by my Mom, the twins, Lucy, Chloe, Jimmy, Hannah, the General, Perry and Bruce Wayne. Bruce had Lois, Lara, Lucy and Mom brought here after they were all stabilized, Dr Richards and his staff looking after them all.
Mom is in the far corner of the room; sound asleep with Lionel grasping her hand, asleep in the chair next to the bed. My gaze lingers on Lionel, he has turned out to be a good guy, I still don't forgive him for everything he did in the past but I accept him for who he is today. I feel sorry for him, for the loss of his son. He was distraught to begin with, tremendous guilt eating away at him for his failure as a father. But he soon focused his attention on being supportive for my mom. Only leaving her side for three hours yesterday for Lex's funeral. I mourned the loss of my friend even though I know I'd lost him a long time ago.
Lucy lays in a bed not far to Lois' right, the General in between his daughters although he is dozing lightly and facing Lucy. Bruce Wayne is asleep next to Lucy's bed, papers long forgotten in his hands while Lucy sleeps on herself. Behind me Chloe, Jimmy and their daughter sleep huddled together on a small couch, they won't go home, no matter how much I try to persuade them. They want to be here when Lois gains consciousness. Perry leans against a small book shelf, laptop blinking as he edits some late articles, not wanting to leave Lois, I've learnt that Perry considers her a daughter and the twins his grandchildren, although he's happy to be called 'Uncle Perry'. I return to look at Lois and our sleeping children, Lara, who gained consciousness yesterday, nestled in the crook of her right arm, not touching the wound. And Jack nestled into the crook of Lois' left arm. Both children wanting to be with their mommy. Lois' vitals had improved since the children had begun sharing a bed with her.
I feel my eyes grow hot and begin to sting with tears. I hold them back, not wanting to give in to the guilt I feel for letting this happen. If only I had paid more attention. I stop my thoughts as I imagine Lois telling me to "quit brooding Smallville, you're only one man and no matter how hard you try bad things are going to happen."
I feel the corners of my mouth tugging upwards into a small smile and I let the tears fall as I lay my head down next to our interlocked hands. My eyes become gritty and I can't keep them open any longer, worn out from 72 hours of sleep deprivation, worrying and flying out to save the day. I picture the happy scene from dinner a couple of nights ago and drift into a fitful sleep…
Slowly I open my eyes, the dim light from not too far away burning. I wince at the pain in my head and close my eyes again. I mentally count to three and slowly pry my eyelids open again, the pain not so bad this time. This being the third time I've woken from being out for a while. I lift my head slightly off the pillow to look at my babies, Jack's angelic face and Lara's beautiful features. Relief courses through me as I notice she doesn't have any bruises or marks on her face. I smile and watch Clark dozing, our hands intertwined, I grimace as I notice the IV and drip in the back of my hand. I lay my head back on the pillow, noticing Perry standing at a bookshelf opposite my bed. Our eyes lock and he smiles while nodding, I smile back as Perry wanders out the room.
I gently squeeze Clark's hand three times, he begins to stir. I watch with loving eyes as he slowly becomes aware of his surroundings, rubbing his spare hand over his face and scratching his head. I notice that he isn't wearing his glasses. Clark cocks his head to the side, listening to something, his eyes meeting mine as he looks surprised and then happy.
"Hey you." He says as he brings his spare hand to brush my hair back out of my face.
I squeeze his hand, "Hey back." I manage hoarsely.
"You scared me Lo. You scared all of us." He says softly, gesturing with his head the others in the room. I gently lift my head and scan the room, surprised that I hadn't noticed everyone here before. I notice the General by Lucy, so many emotions swelling within me.
"How long?" I scratch out.
Clark catches on to what I was saying, "Three, almost four days."
I nod and smile appreciatively, not as long as I had thought. Dr Richards enters the room, Perry close on his heels. "Hello Lois, how are you this morning?" he asks softly, smiling.
I lick my lips. "Feel like someone scrambled my intestines and smacked me in the head with a mallet." I rasp.
Dr Richards lets out a small chuckle, "I'm not used to you being so unresponsive, it's good to have your sense of humour back."
The good doctor starts checking my stats, fiddling with this and that. "How much does it hurt?" I shake my head and Clark rolls his eyes.
Clark glares at me. "Out of ten I'd say four." I supply conveying to Clark that he's going to be in a world of hurt when I'm up and about.
"Ten being the strongest I suppose?"
I nod my head and Doc scribbles something on the chart and then retrieves a vial and a needle from his pocket, "Is that necessary?" I ask, I really don't like needles and I don't need the warm and fuzzies, I've had enough rest.
"Yes Lois it is, right now you need to sleep to give your body the chance to repair itself properly." He slowly injects the medication into the drip.
I can already feel the warmth of the fluid as it begins making me feel woozy. Before I lose consciousness, "How's Lara?"
Both Clark and the Doc smile at me, I know Perry's grinning from the doorway as well… "Her wounds have completely healed, she's still a little ill from the effects of the kryptonite but she'll be as good as new in no time."
I nod my head, feeling the effects of the Doc's wonder drug. "Good." I struggle to kiss the tops of my babies' heads and lie back. Letting the abyss consume me as Clark once again takes my hand.
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