I feel the urge to write something cliché like, "When last we left our hero…"
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Clark tried to fly as fast as he could, but the combination of his fear for Lois' safety and his battered body slowed him considerably. He looked down at her motionless form in his arms. His stomach seized at the sight of her dress soaked in the blood she had collapsed in. Her face was ghostly pale. He tried to reassure himself by tuning his hearing into her heartbeat. It was slow and becoming erratic. This can't be happening. He gently laid his cheek on top of her head and started talking, not knowing what else to do. "Lois. Come on, you're the strongest person I know. You can't let a little thing like this stop you. That's not the Lois Lane I know." His voice broke, gravelly and desperate. "Lois! Please just open your eyes. Come back to me…please." He rubbed his cheek against her hair as he pleaded with her, heart breaking.
Lois felt wind buffeting her and the deep rumble of a voice. She tried to focus and decipher words, but her head felt like a swarm of angry bees had taken up residence. She attempted to open her eyes, but she felt as weak as a newborn and her lids felt like they were being held closed by led weights. On her second try she managed to get them half open. Her vision was blurry. She recognized Clark's profile despite the hazy image her eyes provided. She blinked to clear her sight; it shifted in and out of focus. During one of the clear spells, she noticed the thick line of blood drying on his face. Her heart clenched as the image of that monster hitting him and knocking him across the room flashed before her. He's okay? Relief flooded through her.
It took her several attempts before she was able to croak out, "C-Clark."
His eyes flashed to hers. "Lois? Thank god. I was so scared. Hang on, okay. We're almost there." He pulled her tighter against him protectively. His face set in determination, attempting to make everything okay by the sheer force of his will.
His eyes held so much concern and caring that her heart melted. He's worried about me? Why? She tried to raise her hand to stroke his cheek, but found herself unable to. Then she remembered that thing grabbing her arm and feeling a claw tear across it. That was right before something had hit her from behind. She moved her head experimentally and the buzzing in her head transformed into a lightning streak of pain that ripped a gasp from deep within her. She turned her focus back to her arm as she attempted to calm her pain induced panting. It felt like it was going numb, but she managed to feel Clark's hand grasping it and the liquid sensation of blood dripping down it.
Clark pushed himself for more speed as he watched her face grimace in pain and heard a gasp escape her. Lois was fighting to keep her eyes from crossing and rolling back in her head. It was becoming exceedingly more difficult as the seconds ticked by. She felt a coldness settling in her stomach. It was a sensation she had experienced before and that wasn't good – the last time was just after she had pulled a 12" blade out of her stomach. Am I dying? I can't go without telling him. Her mind was just so jumbled that words were eluding her. "Clark…elevator. Elevator…lied. It was…t-true," she fumbled and choked out. Damn it. Of all the times for words to escape me.
Clark was straining to hear her. She wasn't making any sense! Elevator? What was true and what was a lie? "What Lois? I don't understand. You shouldn't talk right now. Save your strength. We're here now. Everything is going to be okay," he said landing and rushing into the hospital.
She swallowed hard, ignoring his appeal that she not speak again, and tried to form a more coherent thought. "Clark." Her tongue felt so thick. "I...I...L-lo", but she couldn't finish as the ice in her stomach crept up her body and blackness consumed her.
Clark's heart raced as he saw her mouth open and close struggling around her words. Then her eyes slid shut and she became completely limp in his arms. His heart stopped. "No Lois! You stay with me! You hear me. You're going to be fine," his voice cracked and painful fear crashed over him in a heavy wave making breathing difficult. He strode through the emergency room. He couldn't think straight, his desperation forcing logical thought out of his head. "Help. We need some help over here," he yelled.
A nurse looked at him with annoyance that quickly morphed into shock. "Oh my god!" she yelled dropping the file in her hands and running towards the blood soaked couple. They made a grisly picture. Clark held a bloody Lois unconsciously draped in his arms, head rolled back against his shoulder. He didn't look any better. The back of his coat and shirt were split open and the wound there had not healed completely. The left sleeve of his jacket was nearly torn off, being held in place by only a few thin threads. His hair was a wild mess and blood ran down his face. The front of his shirt was coated in both his and Lois' blood. It was shredded at his stomach by the monster's sharp claws. Overall, it looked like they had been mauled by a large hungry Grizzly bear.
By the time the first nurse reached them several others were running in their direction pushing a gurney. He felt hands pawing at him as the medics looked him over. "Not me, damn it! Her! Look at her," he yelled angrily, motioning with his chin to Lois. It was a testament to how scared and distracted he was that the curse slipped out.
He placed her gently on the gurney and they began to wheel her away. The doctor was quickly calling out orders to the nurses as they rushed through the hospital hallway. Clark was mindlessly answering any medical questions he knew about Lois as he frantically followed beside the staff's hurried procession, never letting go of her hand.
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A nurse had stopped him from going in with Lois a few minutes ago, despite his protests. He looked down at himself and figured he had better change his clothes before someone took a closer look at him and realized there was blood and rips, but no wounds underneath. He super sped to the farm - it was still in chaos - and quickly changed his clothes. Jimmy informed him that an ambulance was on its way. Clark just nodded feeling numb from shock and fear.
"Where did you disappear to, CK?"
"I rushed Lois to the hospital. I came back to change clothes and am headed back to check on her. How is Chloe?" He walked through the tent looking for Lois' purse. It held her ID and her insurance card. He quickly found it, using his x-ray vision, under a broken table.
"I see. Chloe is a little beat up and totally freaked out. Her shoulder had a gash in it that will probably require stitches, and she got hit in the head; so, I'm worried she might have a concussion. How is Lois?"
Clark's face darkened. "I don't know. I'm going back to find out. I'll see you later." Clark walked to his truck, not feeling confident in his powers at the moment. His foot was heavy on the gas pedal all the way to the hospital. He tried unsuccessfully to see Lois or at least get more information about her condition. They need to tell me something before I go out of my mind here!
A nurse finally came into the waiting room and took pity on him. "Mr. Kent?"
He practically pounced on her, "How is she? Is she alright? When can I see her?" He didn't wait for answers, trying to walk through the door the nurse had just come through.
The nurse's eyebrows rose at his barrage of questions and grabbed his arm, stopping him from leaving the room. "You can't see her yet, Mr. Kent. As to how she is, she lost a lot of blood. The laceration on her arm opened up several important veins. We began a transfusion as soon as she got here, but we're also worried about a head injury. We're working as hard as we can to stabilize her so that she doesn't slip into a coma. She's very lucky that you got her here as fast as you did; if you had waited any longer, I wouldn't be very optimistic." Clark swallowed thickly as he absorbed the news and nodded his understanding to the nurse. "Just take a seat and relax, Mr. Kent. You've done what you can. Now it's up to Ms. Lane to pull through." When Clark's brows drew together and his face flashed alarm and anxiety, the nurse continued, "She's young and strong. She can do this."
"Thank you." Numbness once again settled over him. She patted his arm and disappeared behind the door again.
Clark ran the evening through his head over and over. Everything had been going great. He had asked Lois to dance and they had shared an intimate moment on the floor. It was rudely broken when he heard a scream come from the direction of his house, and he had moved in its direction to investigate. Then that monstrous thing had shown up and snatched Chloe. He hadn't thought fast enough and had taken a blow to the head for his hesitation before he could get Lois and Chloe to safety. I should have gotten her out of there or somehow protected her. I should have moved faster, thought quicker, been stronger .If I hadn't taken so long fighting she wouldn't have lost so much blood. He mentally kicked himself again and again for his failure. That was easier than facing the possibility that she wouldn't pull through. He avoided that thought like the plague. He forced himself to sit down, starring dejectedly at the floor. His thoughts turned to the bony monster. What was it? How had it manhandled him so easily? What was he going to do if he had to face it again?
Sometime later his thoughts were interrupted by Jimmy. "Hey CK. Did you find out anything about Lois?" He sat beside Clark, concerned.
"They're still trying to get her stable. She lost a lot of blood. No one can see her yet," he droned, never looking up. "How's Chloe?"
"They took her back for treatment and observation. I was just about to go find out when I could see her. I just wanted to check on you and see what you had found out about Lois." Clark's stare never left the floor and Jimmy felt the pull to comfort him. "I'm sure everything is fine, man. I mean, this is Lois we're talking about!" He patted Clark's shoulder and awkwardly rose quickly walking to the nurse's station, missing Clark's slow nod.
Clark spaced out and wasn't sure how much time passed before he felt a hand rub across his shoulder causing him to jump in surprise. He looked over and found Lana looking at him with concern. "Hey Lana. Are you okay?" His eyes ran over her searching for any injury.
"I'm fine. How are you doing," she asked gently. He just shrugged in response. She sighed and said, "I know you, Clark. Right now you're convincing yourself that this is all your fault somehow and are burying yourself in guilt."
Right on cue, guilt flashed in his eyes. "I should have done something, Lana. I should have prevented all this. I mean, what good are my powers if I can't even protect my friends. People got hurt tonight because I couldn't stop that thing," his voice rose as his anger and frustration bubbled to the surface.
"This is in no way your fault. You did everything you could, and the reason more people aren't hurt is because of YOU. You stopped it from carrying Chloe off, for god's sake! Everything is going to be all right. You'll see," she said and laid a comforting hand on his.
He gave her a tight closed mouth smile. He knew she was right, but he still felt guilty that he hadn't done more. "Thanks Lana. This is some welcome back to Smallville, isn't it?"
She giggled quietly, her nose scrunching in its signature fashion. "Yeah. I feel right at home. Just like old times. I guess it wouldn't feel right if some meteor infected person, or prehistoric looking guy in this case, didn't try to kill or kidnap one of us." she patted his hand and laughed softly, trying to lighten his mood and distract him from his self deprecating thoughts.
He smiled and shook his head. "Yeah, I guess not." He sounded halfhearted at best.
"Remember Ian Randall? He made a play for both me and Chloe all those years ago." Lana launched into the story, keeping Clark distracted. They talked on and on, swapping stories that only the town of Smallville could boast.
He chuckled at her last story and leaned back in the hospital chair. "I really missed this, Lana. Just being able to talk to you like this." He looked into her eyes and smiled.
She rubbed the back of his hand. "I know. Me too." Blue held brown and the moment extended.
Jimmy came back and announced, "They're releasing Chloe. She should be out in a few minutes." Their eyes snapped away from each other and landed on Jimmy. He joined them, sitting next to Clark. "She's trying to get more information about Lois. She figured she would have more luck than you Clark, considering she's family."
"Good. That's good," Clark said, feeling awkward.
The minutes ticked by in silence as they waited for Chloe to emerge. As they did a sheriff's deputy found them and took down their statements. "You know I would never believe this if everyone I've talked to didn't have the same story and description of the suspect. We had a sketching done of this guy and it looks like something straight out of a comic book, I swear," he said, sounding bewildered. "Anyway, thank you for your time." He held out his arm and shook their hands before turning on his heels and heading for the exit.
She finally appeared wearing a sling to immobilize her arm. Clark jumped up and enveloped her in a bear hug. "I'm so glad you're okay."
"Yeah. That wasn't my idea of fun. I don't remember sending an invitation to the incredible hulk. This may surprise you, I imagined all sorts of things going wrong tonight, but shockingly steroids boy trying to kidnap me on my wedding night was not among them. I don't know what would have happened to me tonight if it hadn't been for you, Clark. Thank you," she said sincerely hugging him closer. She felt the fear that had overcome her tonight evaporating, and she let it melt away in the safety of his arms.
He tightened his hold on her and she yelped in pain. He released her immediately. "I'm so sorry Chloe. Are you okay?"
She laughed lightly. "It's fine, Clark. My shoulder is just a little tender." She flashed him her brightest smile to disarm his concern.
Lana and Jimmy joined them and hugs were shared all around. "What did you find out about Lois," Clark asked, his concern shifting back to her.
Chloe took a deep breath and her face darkened. "The doctor says she has stabilized. They closed the cut on her arm and the bleeding is stopped. She still hasn't woken up. They're going to go ahead and medicate her to relax her and reduce the inflammation associated with the blow she took to the head. They said it was okay for family to see her, but only family-"
"What!" Clark interrupted her. "I want to see her. I've been here all night waiting, and I'm not taking no for an answer." He ran his hands roughly through his hair in frustration. He had to see for himself that she was going to be okay before the tightness in his chest could unwind and he could get rid of the image of her bleeding out in his arms.
Chloe looked at him mischievously. "Well then I guess it's a good thing that I told them you were her fiancé." Chloe rubbed his shoulder and felt it relax a little. "They bought it no argument. I think it had something to do with the way you've been trying to storm in and see her all night," Chloe chuckled.
He nodded and gave her a tight smile. "Thanks Chloe. I guess technically she did ask me to marry her," Clark said with a chuckle, relaxing even more.
"What," three voices echoed as one in surprise.
He held his hands up and motioned for them to calm down. "It was a cover we used to find Chloe and Jimmy. It's a long story. Don't worry about it."
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A male nurse led Chloe and Clark through the hospital's ICU. He stopped and pointed at Lois' door. "This is it. We'll be moving her out of ICU soon, but we're keeping her here for the tonight."
"Thank you," Chloe said and opened the door. She walked into the room and sat in Lois' bedside chair. Clark moved around to the other side and stood looking down at her. She looked small bundled under several hospital blankets. Her arm was bandaged and he could see a bruise peeking out from under the hair on the back of her neck. An IV was fed into the back of her good hand. His throat tightened as the sight of her like this broke through the numbness that had insulated him all night, and he was painfully aware of how close he had come to losing her. Never hearing her laugh again. Never being able to banter with her again. Never looking into her beautiful hazel eyes again, or seeing them dance with mischief as she was about to submarine him with something. Not being able to feel her lips on his or her tender embrace.
He had to look away to get his emotions under control as he realized just how much he would have missed her. All the little things that made her, her, brought a faint smile to his lips. Chloe was quietly saying something to Lois, but the words didn't register with him. His mind was too full of other things. The nurse poked his head in the door and announced, "The doctor wants her to rest now. You can come back tomorrow during regular visiting hours," and he closed the door behind him without waiting for a response.
Chloe stood and kissed Lois' forehead. "I love you, Lo. You work on getting better," she ordered her sleeping cousin and walked towards the door. She paused, "Are you coming?"
"I'll be out in a second." Chloe nodded and left, giving him a moment alone with her. He reached down and traced along her bandaged arm. His fingers wrapped around her wrist, confirming her steady pulse for himself. "I'm so sorry this happened to you. I should have been there for you. You really scared me tonight. You're never allowed to do that again. No more nearly getting killed!" He stared down at her a beat longer then turned and left.
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Clark lay tossing and turning in bed. The roller coaster his emotions had been on that day causing sleep to elude him. With all the excitement and chaos of the last two days he hadn't taken a moment to process Lana's return. She was back! What did that mean for him…for them? All that time she had spent in a coma had been a very low point in his life. He missed her and battled his suffocating guilt that Brainiac had hurt her to get to him. He had spent the miserable time in that work camp thinking about her, the ache of her leaving him magnifying his despair. After Oliver rescued him from Russia he returned home, but the house felt empty. He had followed Lois' advice and thrown himself into work and the business of saving people. It helped to distract him, but when he was home alone, her absence would come crashing back and weigh heavily on his mind. At first he thought about her every day, the emotional pain pressing him into depressed moods and sulks. But he found himself falling into a routine with Lois at the Planet, and every day it hurt a little less. Now, he found himself rarely thinking about Lana, and when he did, it didn't cause his mood to darken or his heart to clench. Well, he had had a momentary relapse when he had gone fake ring shopping with Lois. As he held that ring in his hand he couldn't stop himself from thinking about her…about a proposal that turned into disaster…about what he'd had and lost…about finally getting a second chance with his childhood love only to have it all end with her gone once again.
He rolled onto his back and stared at his ceiling, searching for clarity somewhere in its shadowed heights. When he'd seen her for the first time the day before, he had been completely shocked. His body had acted before his mind could think and he had her in his arms in a flash. Once his brain kicked in he hadn't known whether to be angry she had left or happy she was back. He had unconsciously settled somewhere in between and put off dealing with his feelings until…well now, he guessed. They had spent their time together simply catching up on each other's lives, not discussing the past.
Feelings he thought he had shut away to die had sprung to life on their own accord. He would always care for her, that he knew, but did he still love her? Should the fact that he had to ask that question be a sign?
Putting emotions aside, he tried to take in the whole picture of Lana Lang. He was honest with himself and admitted that she wasn't the same girl he had fallen in love with all those years ago. It was the natural way of things, he pointed out to himself, people grew up and change occurred, but the important question was, 'through all that change did he still feel the same way about her or had he been lying to himself and stubbornly been seeing her through glasses that made her appear as if nothing had changed'? He hadn't been able to come to terms with the differences in her when she was living with him last year. His joy that they were finally together had blinded him, and he had pushed his increasing reservations about several of her choices under the rug; but now he was determined to look at them closely and honestly.
It frightened him that he saw flashes of Lex in her. She had played the Luther's game and it had in turn taken root in her. She could now wield manipulation, secrets, and lies as play things. He had watched as Lex became her obsession, and was astonished at the lines she was willing to cross to bring him down.
And then he came to a point that he had always tripped over. First, she had fallen in love with Lex and then turned around and fallen for a phantom who was a cold blooded killer. By her own admission, she had enjoyed her time with the phantom…it had been 'easier' than being with him. How could the one person that was supposed to know him better than anyone not realize that Bizarro wasn't him? Clark still remembered the chill that went down his spine when he realized she had been living with him for weeks…sleeping with him for weeks. His skin involuntarily prickled even now at the thought.
Could he push all this aside? Was she what he wanted anymore? Did any of this matter…she might not even be considering a 'them' again. He sighed heavily into the stillness of his room, and ran tired hands over his face in frustration. If he didn't have enough issues surrounding Lana, one word complicated the situation almost beyond recognition…Lois.
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Clark hadn't managed much sleep the night before. He just couldn't shut his mind off and his thoughts bounced from subject to subject all night. He had gotten up early and gotten to the hospital as visiting hours opened. He was worried when nurse Roberts informed him that Lois still hadn't regained consciousness. He sat watching over her for an hour and a half, and attempting to wade through confusing thoughts and emotions. Tess had informed him in no uncertain terms that he was expected at work while Lois was out recuperating. She couldn't lose both members of the Lane-Kent writing team during such a hot news week. Clark promised Lois' sleeping form that he would be back after work as he got up and headed to the Planet.
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Lois had been in limbo between wakefulness and sleep for what seemed like forever. She had heard ambiguous voices and noises floating around her, but she couldn't seem to concentrate on any of them. The same voice had been keeping up a constant stream of conversation for some time. She pushed herself towards complete consciousness, and her efforts were rewarded when she identified the voice's owner as Clark. He was talking about something that had happened at the Planet. It seemed like he was in the middle of the story, so she was a bit lost. "So, I put the finishing touches on the proof and rushed out before someone else could dump another story on me," he finished sounding a little hoarse. Her heart skipped at the unexpected feel of his hand brushing a hair away from her face.
She was slowly able to drag herself out of her cloudy haze, and after a lot of effort her eyes cracked open. She looked around and easily identified that she was in a hospital bed at the Smallville Medical Center. She looked over and saw Clark walking away from her and through her door. She tried to clear her throat, but it was dry and it came out more as a hiss. Next she tried her voice, taking a crack at saying his name, but that was met with complete failure. She huffed in frustration as he closed the door and started to walk away, but suddenly he stopped. Had he noticed her?
It looked like he was talking to someone and he began shifting on his feet nervously. Soon enough, his mystery companion showed herself. Lana walked up to Clark and cupped his cheek in her palm. They stood there gazing into each other's eyes, and then Lois' heart sunk as they came together in what was obviously a kiss. She couldn't see very well because Clark was now blocking Lana from view. They stayed like that for what seemed like an eternity to Lois. "Geez, come up for air already," she said, biting her lip. Look away. Come on look away, Lois, but no matter how many times she told her eyes to look away, they staunchly ignored her. They stubbornly remained fixed on the scene before her, which make her stomach clench. Well this is some way to wake up. Couldn't have stayed knocked out for another hour or two, she thought bitterly.
Clark finally stepped back and she saw them once again talking. Clark was twisting from side to side and his eyes bounced off every surface but Lana. Lois swallowed a thick lump in her throat when Lana closed the distance between them and ran her hand across his chest. Clark's hand moved to rest over hers. "Oh for Christ's sake, get a room," she cursed through her teeth, the familiar feeling of jealousy dripping down her to simmer in stomach.
Lana was looking at him hopefully and Lois watched with new interest as her face slowly transformed into contemplativeness. Clark continued to talk to Lana and her eyes fell to the floor for a moment before returning to his. Lois used her minimal strength to push herself up straighter in the bed. This could be good, she couldn't stop the thought from bubbling up from her subconscious. God I wish I knew what they're saying. Does Lana look a little sad? She wondered, completely absorbed in watching them. Clark turned towards her door again and she quickly slouched down not wanting to get caught in her observation of them. When she didn't hear the door open she looked up again to see Lana hugging him, right before she stretched up and kissed his cheek. Well shit, was all that came to mind. The simmering in her stomach returned to a boil, and she laid back and got settled back in her bed.
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Clark had had that kind of day. The kind of day fate seems to always toss at you after a sleepless night. The day you end up doing everyone else's job as well as your own, everything you need breaks, and Murphy's Law applies to everything you touch. He had to stay late to finish all that had gotten shoved on him, but he had finally drug himself out of the Planet and was now walking slowly through the hospital towards Lois' new room.
He stopped in front of the door and looked through the glass at her stationary shape propped against a stack of pillows. He turned the doorknob and stepped quietly into the room closing the door behind him without a sound. He just stared down at her as the clock counted off the seconds. She just lay there, chest rising and falling in a slow steady rhythm. She looked so peaceful, lids closed, lips slightly parted. He watched her and a new wave of relief that she was okay washed over him, and he felt the tension from the day loosening in his shoulders. He smiled and sat beside her. You're supposed to talk to people when they're like this, right? Something about them sometimes hearing you.
"You had the right idea taking the day off, Lois," Clark teased lightheartedly in a low gentle tone. "Anderson was in fine form. I know I usually tell you to take it easy on him and be nice, but today I would have wholeheartedly agreed with your speeches about his screws being loose." He couldn't help the smile that appeared as he thought how Lois would have verbally taken Anderson apart if she had been there today. "First, I come in and my in box mysteriously transformed into Mt Everest over night," he launched into telling her about his day.
"So, I put the finishing touches on the proof and rushed out before someone else could dump another story on me," he finished looking at his watch. He had been talking for almost an hour. His throat felt dry. He needed something to drink. He got up, pausing to brush a rebel strand of hair away from her face, and then let himself out of her room.
Outside her door he took a step and then stopped abruptly. "Hey Lana. What are you doing here?"
"I came with Chloe to see Lois. She is talking to the doctor. How is Lois?"
His brows drew together and he said softly, "She's still unconscious. I really hoped she would have woken up by now." He shifted on his feet, demonstrating his nerves. "I'm starting to get worried again," he confessed, eyes dropping. "I can't help but wonder if it means something more serious is wrong."
Lana moved to his side and lifted his chin with her small hand, eyes connecting with his. She wanted to comfort him, to take that pained look off his face. She looked deeply into his clear blue eyes, all the reasons she loved him hitting her all at once, and without thinking she rose on her toes and pressed her lips against his in a chaste kiss that lasted only a second. She pulled back a hair's breadth for a moment before moving in to initiate a deeper kiss, but she felt him pull away just out of her reach and pause. He looked deeply into her eyes. A contemplative frown creased his forehead and his eyes were unreadable.
He had been surprised by her kiss and pulled back as soon as his wits returned. Clark kept himself just out of her reach as he searched her eyes and considered how to proceed. He swallowed thickly. "Lana we need to talk," he finally said and took a step back.
"You're right." Lana relaxed, her heels dropping to the white linoleum tiles.
"Since you got back we have avoided the topic of 'us'." She nodded, agreeing along with him. He wondered if there was an easy way to say what he needed to, but his mind drew a blank. "You left me, Lana, and you used a dvd to do the leaving." He looked like a hurt puppy as he spoke.
"I know, Clark, and I'm sorry…I told you I was, but I couldn't look into your eyes and say what I thought I had to." When he remained silent she went on. "I missed you so much while I was gone. I ran scared after the ordeal with Brainiac, I admit that, but you have no idea what that experience was like."
Clark looked down and pinched his nose as a fresh string of guilt hit him. "I never got to apologize for getting you involved in that, but I promise you that I was doing everything in my power to return you to normal."
"I never doubted that you were. I needed some time and space away from the situation, and I came to the conclusion that I couldn't just walk away from you. Then I come back and see how you've embraced your abilities and are still able to live a normal life, and I can't help but think that maybe we have a chance after all." Her brows rose and she smiled at him hopefully.
He looked thoughtfully around the room, forehead scrunched as pivoted from side to side on the balls of his feet. She took that as a sign he was considering it and moved closer placing her hand on his chest. She started to run it up towards his neck, but his hand instantly flashed over hers, stopping its journey. His eyes hardened around resolve. "You're forgetting that we were having problems before Brainiac put you in that coma. You were staying with Chloe to give us space. All the issues that were on the table haven't gone anywhere, and I've had a lot of time to think about them."
Lana dropped her eyes to the floor, took a deep breath to brace herself, and looked back into his eyes. "And?"
Clark's hand dropped from over hers. He had gone over this again and again last night. Her kiss had solidified his decision. Unwittingly she had convinced him that what he had decided was the right choice. There was no flutter in his stomach and no chemistry induced tingle when they kissed now. It didn't help her cause that he had several hot kisses from Lois to hold it up against. Lois. His mind drifted to her. What am I going to do about Lois? One girl at a time, Clark...geez. He reprimanded himself and brought his focus back to Lana, who was still staring expectantly into his eyes.
Clark sighed. "And…I think that somewhere along the line we've grown in different directions. I will always care for you, Lana, and I'll be here for you if you need me, but how many more times will we get together just to break up before we admit that for whatever reason we can't make it work?" She took a step back letting her hand slip down his front and she tried to compose herself. "I'm sorry, but I think with time you'll agree with me."
She just nodded, finally looking up again. "I'll always care for you too, Clark."
He nodded and flashed her a smile. He moved to return to Lois' room, his search for a drink forgotten, when he felt Lana's hand on his arm turning him back to face her. She had him in a hug a moment later. She whispered in his ear, "Lois is a very lucky girl, Clark." She kissed him on the cheek and walked towards the exit without looking back.
Hmm. He'd think about that last comment later. He pivoted and walked through Lois' door. Glancing over his shoulder in the direction Lana had left one more time before sitting down with a shake of the head. He looked over and jumped to his feet as he was met by a set of hazel eyes. "Lois! You're awake," he exclaimed and sat on the edge of her bed drawing her into a warm embrace. "We were so worried. You've been out for more than a day. How do you feel? Are you all right? You're never allowed to bleed again." He was rambling.
"Easy there, Smallville," she croaked through her parched throat. "You think you could whip up some water in this place?"
He pulled back with a big bright smile. "Water? Yeah, I think I can handle water." He was so excited that he tripped over the chair in his hurry complete her simple request.
He stumbled out of the room and she took the opportunity to check herself out. Her left arm ached a little, but she found that she could handle the pain. A large clean bandage covered her forearm. She flexed her right hand, feeling the IV there. She hated IV's. She had needed them a few too many times. Her head pounded and the back of her shoulders to her scalp felt tender.
Clark returned with Chloe and a nurse a few minutes later. They fussed and over her as if she were some invalid…okay maybe she was. When everyone else was distracted, she stole a wistful glance at Clark. Why did I have to wake up at just that moment, she thought again.
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Thank you all for the reviews. After I upload and I log into my profile it feels like Christmas morning and I'm a giddy eight year old. So, keep them coming and restore my youth!