Clark and Lois headed up on the one hour drive to the lake. It was a lovely starry night, warm for the time of year. Spring nights in Kansas could be quite cold but this was perfect.

"So did you have a good day with Kara. Has she remembered anything?" Clark asked trying to mask the fact he was nervous. All he had known for the past 7 years was Lana, in fact he never thought there would be anyone else for him but her.

"Not really. I think you should spend some time with her. You know her better than anyone." Lois suggested. "There must be something you know about her childhood. Did she never visit you when she was younger?"

"No...my father never got on with his brother." Clark replied.

Lois giggled. "That sounded so formal Clark. Since when have you started referring to your dad as father."

"I just miss him."

"So do I." Her hand never left his until they pulled up. Within 20 minutes Clark had a fire lit and some rugs down for them to sit on. "Are you hungry?" he asked Lois.

"Yeah, starving. What have you brought?" Lois tried to look in the basket he had brought.

"I have some salmon." He got it out and a bottle of champagne.

"You're pulling out all the stops. Some hotdogs and coke would have done." She laughed.
The next hour was spent swapping stories of camping trips both of them had done as children. Lois described how her father would make everything so regimented that the trips were not an enjoyable experience.

"So what shall we do now?" Lois asked as they lay cuddled looking at the stars.

"Why don't I give you Clark Kent's tour of the galaxy."

"Ok then, all that time spent looking through that telescope must have taught you something, although Chloe said you rarely looked at the stars." She smiled, actually feeling more comfortable with Clark's feelings for Lana.

"I would have been looking at you if you lived next door." He fixed on her eyes.

"Well, you didn't have to look very hard, since I lived with you."

"How could I have missed what was right in front of me all of this time." He moved his lips towards hers and started to massage her lips with his. She was soon joining in, increasing the intensity.

He knew they had agreed slow but their lips and now their hands were doing the talking. Clark pulled back.

"Lois, we can't. This isn't slow." He remarked.

"Forget slow, I lied." She smirked and pushed him back to the ground.

He had kept Lana at arm's length since she moved in, and now here he was on the precipice about to do something he said he never would with his powers. His resolve was diminishing with every piece of clothing that was being removed.

Soon they were down to the last layer of clothing, he rolled on top of her whilst still taking his weight with his arms. He kissed her deeply and then began to remove the remainder.

Just then his cell beeped. It was not the usual message tone, it was an important one from Chloe. He knew this was going to hurt Lois but he had to read it.

He rolled off her. "Sorry Lois, I have to get this." He reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out his phone.

Lex has just filed a flight plan to the Arctic...

Clark knew Lex was onto him but it would take him hours to reach the Arctic. It could wait. He turned his attention to Lois, but he came to face to face with a mad Lois. He did not even have time to anticipate the incoming hand until she made contact with his face.

"Lois, I'm sorry. I just got distracted. It is not important. You are." He said staring at her intently with his blue eyes. "Now where were we?"

She could never resist his gaze. She climbed on top of him. This time she would take control and he would be unable to get away.

Just then his cell bleeped again. It was a different ring tone than before, one that he could definitely not ignore. It was John. He looked.

Lana is in a coma in hospital – Brainiac...

His face collapsed with horror. "Lois, I'm sorry...Lana needs me."
"No, I'm sorry Clark. I should have known this was a bad idea." She ranted as she stood up grabbing her clothes. She ran back to the truck, and drove off leaving an almost naked Clark standing on the beach.

He got ready and sped back to Smallville. Lex was the least of his worries. He was responsible for Lana being in this mess.

Lois drove back to the farm, she needed to flee town but had to grab her stuff first. Her tightly wound bolt reflect had unwound and she was panicking. When she entered the house she could hear the sound of crying. It was Kara. Lois's own thoughts soon were put to the back of her mind.

"Kara, what's wrong."

"Lex has been. He said he knows how to get my memories back. When I refused to go with him, he became threatening and without meaning to I pushed him out of the way. He ended up 300 yards away on the other side of the pasture."

"My god, what happened next."

"He was frightened. He ran to his car and muttered something about dealing with me on his return. He drove off."

"We need to get you away from here. I have a plan. We need to catch a plane to Star City. I know someone who can help us."

"Lois, there is no need to catch a plane." Kara smiled as she picked Lois up and launched into the sky.

Oliver was surprised when he heard someone approaching on his penthouse balcony at Queen Towers.

"Ollie, we need your help." Lois exclaimed.

Meanwhile back in Smallville, Clark went to the hospital where John was waiting for him.

"What happened?"

"I went to check she was okay and she was unresponsive. It was obvious she had been infected by Brainiac."

"What do the doctors say?" Clark begged him to answer, the guilt enveloping him.

"They don't know what is wrong with her and can't do anything to help. You need to destroy Brainiac to release her."

He sped back to the Talon being careful in case Lois was there, but luckily she wasn't.

"Chloe." He screamed as he found her lying on the floor. It was Brainiac's work.

She came round and Clark helped her up. "Are you ok? How did you not end up in a coma."

"My powers must have counteracted his infection. He did leave an imprint on me though. I seem to have acquired his knowledge."

"Lana is in a coma. He infected her. I need to find him."

"I can tap into his thoughts but it will take a few minutes." Chloe explained. "Once you've dealt with him, you need to deal with Lex. If he finds out your secret, he will destroy you."

Clark sped to the location at a disused factory. It was almost as though Brainiac was expecting him.
"Kal-el, I warned you. If we had done things my way, no one would have gotten hurt... no one but you."

Clark fired back. " So this is all about revenge?"

Brainiac laughed. "This is a simple matter of self-preservation. When I couldn't kill you, I knew I had to control you."

" I'm in control now. You'll release Lana!"

"The only way to save her would be to kill me now, in cold blood, which goes against everything you stand for. You could never deliberately take another man's life."

"You're not a man. You're a machine." Clark pointed out

" You can kill me, Kal-El... but your end is near. And there's nothing you can do to stop it."

"You'll never hurt anyone else ever again. " he said as he pushed him into the electricity panel.

Lex would be on his way to the Arctic and Clark would intercept him but he needed to sort things out first.

He went to see Lois was okay. He needed to tell her everything. For the first time in his life, he had wanted to tell someone voluntarily.

He arrived back to an empty farm. He went upstairs to see all Lois's stuff was gone and some of Kara's. He decided to ring her, but when looking at his phone he had a message from Oliver.
Lois is here with me and Kara. Lex was after Kara. Explain everything later. Maybe this is my chance to repair the damage I did and show Lois what she means to me.

Those words cut into Clark's heart. It was not Oliver's fault. He did not know any better. He just hoped Lois would hang on for him and not go back to Oliver. This new revelation made him for determined than ever to defeat Lex and get Lois back as soon as he could.

He headed to the hospital where he found a nurse in Lana's room.
"Miss Lang had a full recovery. It's something of a miracle." The nurse explained.

" Where is she? Can I see her?" he wanted to make sure she was ok.

" Oh, she's already checked out, but she wanted me to give you this." The nurse gave him a DVD.

" I was going to, um, to talk to you in on. But I knew that if I looked into your eyes, I'd never be able to say it." He could see the anger in her eyes when he watched her goodbye message.

"We thought that we were meant to be together, Clark. But the truth is, we were fooling ourselves. I need you... but you are not the man I thought you were. And as long as I'm in your life, you will do nothing but destroy me. Please, don't come after me. I love you, Clark... more than you will ever know and I know you love me even though you are too blind and selfish to see it."

The guilt tore at him but he knew she was now free to lead her own life without the shackles which used to bind her to him. He had broken free of his the moment his feelings for Lois surfaced.

He knew he had to deal with his greatest nemesis. He headed up to the Fortress not realising the dangers that he would face...

"So Lois, what can I do for you and Kara?" he asked as he called for his butler to bring some coffee.

"This is nice, Ollie. You never brought me here." Lois was nervous.

"It's nice to meet you Kara. Clark has told me so much about you." Ollie put out his hand, she shook it almost taking it off it the process.

Oliver did not react verbally to the pain but his face said it all.

Kara pulled back in horror. "Mr Queen, I am so sorry. I don't know my own strength."

Lois stepped in. "That is our problem. It seems Kara has become meteor infected but she can't remember how and when. Clark seems to know nothing about it."

"First of all...Kara, can we drop the formalities, it is Oliver." He smiled at her putting her at her ease.

"So what can I do to help." He asked realising this was going to be an awkward one as he knew all about her origins and powers.

"We thought with all the specialists and resources you have at your disposal you could help Kara get her memories back. Lex has offered but then threatened her."

"I will see what I can do. Why don't we have some dinner first?"

They were soon sat in a huge dining room being served some of the most delicious looking dishes. Lois wondered if it would have been like this if she had stayed with Ollie. Then it dawned on her how much she would hate this. Give her a movie and takeaway at the Kents over this anytime. Her mind wandered to Clark and what he was up to.

Deep down she knew he would run back to Lana, and it had happened. It was just devastating that one of the causalities in this mess had been her own heart. Clark had stolen it, played with it and then broken it. She did not know if she could ever forgive him for that. He had not even tried to call her to explain himself. What else did she expect from him.

Oliver's voice interrupted her thoughts. "So Kara, what can you remember?"

"Nothing at all, except...when I look at my bracelet, it seems familiar, or at least the symbol on it." She explained.

"I will talk to someone tomorrow. Don't worry he is a doctor. We can trust him, I have with my life quite a few times." Oliver reassured them.

"Why don't you two sleep on it."

"I have had bedroom 9 and 10 made up for you both."

"How many rooms does this have?" Lois asked.

"34 bedrooms.." he replied as though that was normal.

Kara headed off to bed, leaving Lois and Oliver sitting up having a glass of wine.

"Thanks for this Ollie. I did not know who else to turn to." Lois explained/
"It's fine Lo. Anytime...It gives me a chance to tell you how sorry I am about our break up and how I handled it."

"Don't worry about it...it's history." She replied.

"I don't see it that way. I made the biggest mistake when I let you walk out of my life. I need you Lois." He moved over and cupped her chin, bringing her lips to his.

She froze. This is not what she wanted. She wanted Clark, but she knew she could never have him.

Oliver kissed her more passionately then suddenly she pulled back. "Ollie, I can't."

"Lois, I understand. I hurt you but I will do anything to prove my feelings to you. Just give me a chance."

"Ollie, we are over. I do not want to talk about why, but please understand there will never be an 'us'."

"Lo, I beg you to reconsider. I love you. I always have since that day you sent me away at the Kent Farm. I will wait until you are ready."

Lois got up. She went to bed leaving a confused Ollie in her wake.

Next morning things were awkward with Oliver. Kara had picked up on things.

She was blunt as usual. "Look you two. Whatever is going on can you get over it. You would think you used to date."

The glances between Ollie and Lois said it all. Kara blushed. "Oh you did used to date."

"We broke up a while back but it was a bad decision." The reply was meant for Kara but he looked at Lois for a reaction.

"Well, Oliver..It is not like you two are going to get back together. I think Clark would have something to say about you stealing his girlfriend."

"Clark...girlfriend." he stuttered at Lois.

"Yeah, news flash... Lois and Clark are madly in love." Kara exaggerated so much that Lois just wished the ground would open up and swallow her up.

"Clark and me are not happening Kara." Lois tried to sound convincing.

"I've opened a can of worms haven't I. I think I will just go and have a shower." Kara excused herself.

Oliver was left staring in disbelief at Lois. "So Clark made his move did he? I always knew he had a thing for you...nothing he said really...just the way he acted around you."

"What happened if you don't mind me asking."

"Oliver, I do mind. But it is safe to say Clark and I aren't ever going to happen. I tried but then he ran back to Lana at the first click of her fingers. So if you would prefer I would like to move on and forget about that chapter of my life. Less said the better."

"Ok.."

"But..." she announced. "if you think that means we are getting back together, it doesn't. I only came here to get help for Kara. When are we meeting this doctor?"

"He is coming at 11am. Lois, I appreciate your honesty, but I think you are wrong about Clark and Lana. He told me it was over and I believed him, not that he mentioned the other little detail about you and him."

Oliver knew he had to be careful talking about Kara. As much as he wanted to tell Clark and let him know what was going on, he knew Kara could pick up any conversations with her super-hearing. He decided to leave it a few days to see how things would pan out.