Time for another chapter! Typing madly here (Yes I have basically finished the story but I'm proofreading and rewriting and polishing it up for you) I hope you all like it… Feedback would be lovely!

Stars and Water

Chapter 13

Clark called Maria to see when he should pick her up for their date and then he showed up promptly at 7:00 with a bouquet of wild flowers he had picked just before he left.

Maria restrained herself from leaping into his arms when she saw him at the door and simply said "Clark, thank you, they're beautiful." as she accepted the flowers and kissed his cheek, "Come inside while I put them in water and then we can go. Mom's already on her way to Star City and Nicky is in Eugene so this time we are guaranteed to at least get out the door."

For dinner they went to a local Diner and ate some of the best burgers Maria had ever tasted. She also discovered that you simply cannot steal French fries from a man with super speed. Then they walked over to the theater for a movie. "Oceans"… something or other. She had been too focused on Clark and how he held her hand, slipped his arm around her, then moved in for a kiss to pay much attention to what was on the screen. She supposed Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and George Clooney were good looking in their way but they didn't hold a candle to the man sitting next to her.

After the movie Clark asked her to come to his house. "The moon is just a sliver tonight and the sky is clear. There's something I'd like to show you." He said, looking into her eyes and stroking the hair out of her face with gentle fingers.

As they got out of the truck at the Kent's farm Clark's cell phone rang. "I have to take this, it's Chloe." said Clark with regret. Maria nodded and they walked into his house together but separate, with Clark on the phone.

"Chloe, calm down, where are you? Okay, I'll be right there." Clark snapped the phone shut, turned to run and then looked at Maria. "I have to go, wait for me, I'll be right back." And Clark disappeared into the night, all that was left was a light breeze that faded into nothing.

Maria wandered into the living room and sat down on the couch. Shelby promptly climbed up next to her and put his head in her lap. "Something tells me you're used to sitting this way with Clark." Maria said, scratching the dog lightly on the head. At the sound of Clark's name Shelby lifted his head and looked at the door, then huffed out a sigh and dropped his head back on her lap. "I know how you feel boy. I wish he were here too." Maria patted the dog, listened to the peaceful sound of the crickets and tried to relax. She was worried about Clark and Chloe. Clark can handle it, she told herself, if anyone can be counted on to always come back it would be Clark.

Clark showed up at the warehouse just in time to see the building burst into flames. Chloe came running up to him. "Clark! Oh My God. Jimmy is inside." Clark quickly scanned the building using his x-ray vision, found Jimmy lying slumped by a door on the second floor and blurred into the building. He ignored the flames and heat as he plowed a hole through the wall to go directly to him. Holding his unconscious body close he sped back out to Chloe.

"Is he okay? Is he okay? Oh God Clark…" Chloe looked at Jimmy's pale face in terror but then relaxed a little when he moaned. "We need to get him to a hospital." said Clark. Right then an ambulance came flying up the road, closely followed by two police cars and a fire truck.

Clark looked at Chloe in surprise. "I called 911 right after I called you." She said, bent down over Jimmy now, stroking his face and patting his cheek.

"Good thinking Chloe. What happened?" asked Clark, staring at the burning building.

"I was following a lead on a story about a drug dealer who we thought used this warehouse. I was going to meet someone here but Jimmy didn't want me to and he came down on his own instead. I showed up here and I could hear him calling for help." The ambulance was coming to a stop. "The building was locked and I could smell gasoline. I couldn't get to him." Chloe fought back sobs, "So I called you. Thank you Clark."

Clark patted Chloe's shoulder awkwardly; he hated to see her cry. "I'm sure he'll be okay Chloe."

She smiled up at him, "Thanks to you. Now you have another person on your list of saves, Jimmy Olsen."

"If he hangs around you and Lois much this probably won't be the last time." said Clark. "You okay? I should probably go." he looked nervously at the police car pulling up, picturing the gapping hole he had made in the building and hoping the thing burned down before they noticed it.

"I'm fine," she responded, "Go Clark, Thank you again." And she watched him step back into the darkness and disappear.

Maria looked up from the couch at the sound of the door. A strong smell of smoke wafted in along with Clark, wearing ragged, smoldering clothes. Smears of black soot were on his face but he was grinning at her reassuringly. "It's not as bad as it looks, honest." He said, looking at his red jacket for the first time. "Darn, that was my favorite Jacket."

Before Clark had time to say anything else he had his arms full of Maria. She kissed him and then she calmed down enough to ask "Is Chloe okay?"

"Yes, it was actually Jimmy who was in trouble. He was trying to protect Chloe and in true Jimmy form he got himself into a mess." Clark shook his head grinning. He couldn't help but like Jimmy, he made Chloe happier than he'd seen her in a long time. Clark went on to describe what had happened. Maria listened with wide eyes as she fingered the scorched rags of his clothes and checked him for burns.

"So you walked into an inferno and all you got was burned clothes?" She smiled at Clark but there was also a look of awe in her eyes.

Clark wasn't sure he liked the look she was giving him; he didn't feel like he was heroic for doing something that came so easily. "It wasn't brave or anything Maria, there's not much that can hurt me."

Something can, she thought, remembering the day on the river. She started to ask about that when she sneezed. "Wow, Clark that smoke smell is really strong." She sneezed again.

"I guess I better take a shower and change. I'll be right back." Before he could superspeed away she caught his hand.

Maria didn't want to let him out of her sight again, it had been awful waiting for him and worrying and now that he was back she needed to be close to him. "Clark, um," Maria turned red all the way to her ears; she couldn't believe she was doing this but she jumped in anyway. "How about we, I mean we could…I want to be with you, could I…" this was awful, spit it out girl, she thought.

"Maria, are you trying to suggest we take a shower together?" asked Clark, now blushing just as much, but along with the embarrassment Maria saw something else in his eyes and it made her lose the capacity for speech altogether. She just nodded weakly.

They held hands on the way to the shower and Maria rested her head against his arm, sneezing, up the stairs.

Lex was pacing in his study. There was a fire in the fireplace even though the evening was warm. Watching the fire usually relaxed him but nothing was helping tonight. Lex had already sent home the girl he'd picked up at a nightclub. That attempt to relax had gone nowhere because he was so distracted he hadn't been able to respond to her ministrations.

He poured himself another brandy, took a large drink and swore. He was not going to let some stupid woman get the best of him. Dr. Katherine Desantis had made a mistake when she'd threatened a Luthor.

He paced more and then flipped open his laptop. After a little searching he found what he wanted, all his records on the scientist and her family.

You threaten to hurt what's precious to me and I'll destroy what's most precious to you, he thought, looking at the picture on the screen.

Maria smiled innocently back at him, teeth flashing white and dimples peeking. "I'll find a way to hurt you somehow." he growled and he took another massive drink. He was getting drunk, a rarity for Lex who preferred to be in control at all times. She's so pretty and sweet looking, he thought, a wistful expression flitting across his face before he laughed bitterly at his weakness and banished it with a burst of anger. "Too bad your Mom's a b." He snarled.

To be continued…