This Chapter is dedicated to Megasaurus Rex, who wrote a beautiful short story called, "Do You Love Him?" It was so heart-wrenching that I had to include a tiny part of her concept here.
CHAPTER SIX - PREY PROTECTED
Metropolis, September 2008
Pain.
Lois woke up a burning sensation in her side from the jeweler's taser.
Things had obviously not gone the way she'd planned. She took a deep breath and looked around, squinting to see in the dark of the basement. The whirring sounds were familiar as the figure of the jeweler moved from one of machine to another like some kind of crazed scientist.
Not again.
"Why are you here?" he asked her quietly.
Lois remained silent. This guy thrived on words, like some twisted truth seer, so she decided that she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of a response. Repeating the past could work in her favor this time. She just needed to think …
"I'm helping them, you know," the jeweler told her calmly; eerily. "These couples have no idea what they're getting themselves into and they need to know that their partner is being honest. It will save so much heartache down the road-"
Lois scoffed as the jeweler repeated the same mantra from three years ago. Yeah, lying was bad; she didn't need this guy to tell her that. She'd kept this investigation from Clark and look where it got her, chained to this chair, hooked up to wires and machines like some kind of human lightning rod.
"Even if they're not being honest that doesn't give you the right to kill them," she countered, unable to stay quiet for long, pulling at her chains. "You're certifiable."
"I need to know how you found me," the jeweler queried, ignoring Lois' remarks.
"I can' tell you that," Lois told him. If Clark couldn't get the truth out of her-
The click and whine of the device interrupted her thoughts and sent a chill through her body as it echoed in the cavernous basement.
"Do you know what will happen if you lie to me?"
Lois felt her body tense as she looked at the empty chair only a few feet across from hers. In her mind, she could see Clark sitting there and hear the echo of his screams. Her throat constricted and she couldn't answer.
The jeweler got close to her face.
"Yes, I know what you will do," Lois managed to get out, trying to head-butt the guy. "But I can't tell you."
He hit the button.
In a flash she was immobile; paralyzing pain was coursing through her, unavoidable and unstoppable.
Focus on something besides the pain.
As the General's words came to her through the anguish, Lois tried to concentrate on recent events and, of course, her mind went to one of her last interactions with Clark.
Sitting at the kitchen table in the Kent farmhouse, she had newspaper spread out in front of her. The sun shining through the window was warm but Lois felt chilled by the front page story, a reminder of events that only she could put together, that only she could stop.
Staring out the window, she tried to develop a strategy, one that didn't involve Clark. Their last encounter with the femme fatale from outer space was dangerous enough. In the past couple of weeks, they'd lived easily as friends, going back to their comfort zone as each tried to recover. Occasionally, Clark would look at her or start a conversation, only to run his hand through his hair in frustration, following his action with some innocuous topic. The man was the master of avoidance. Lois didn't push him because she didn't feel the need to talk about what happened. Clark wouldn't have kissed her but for his elevated endorphins - end of story.
Besides, there were more important things going on right now that didn't involve kissing Clark, as much as she might want to. Couples were being killed and, while the jeweler shouldn't be more than she could handle, he'd done something that hurt Clark last time-
"What are you reading?" Clark asked, voice near her ear interrupting her thoughts and sending a little shiver through her.
At her silence, he picked up the paper.
"The Inquisitor? Since when do you keep up with the Inquisitor?"
"Never hurts to check out the competition," Lois responded absentmindedly, sticking her tongue in her cheek to help her concentrate.
"Competition, what competition? Lois, the Inquisitor does not compare to the Daily Planet," Clark responded suspiciously, stepping around the table to pull out one of the kitchen chairs and sit down.
He waited, knowing that the silence would get to her … and it did.
"I'm fine Clark, just doing a little light reading, okay?" she said irritated when she saw Clark giving her one of those intent looks, like he was trying to read her mind or something. It was the same look he had after she mentioned the blue crystal – intense curiosity mixed with a little fear.
"What?" Lois asked him, impatiently. Ever since he'd rescued her from that harlot, he'd been watching her like he suspected she knew something, and it was pushing her over the edge. Why was he the only guy who could make her feel guilty?
"Uhm, nothing, just wondering what has your attention," he answered, looking down at the front page of the Inquisitor. "Aliens Abduct Engaged Couples," he read, a teasing smile on his face as he looked up. "Is this what you're reading?"
"Sure," Lois returned, watching his smile turn into a grin. "Don't you believe in life on other planets?"
Clark's grin faded when Lois snatched the paper away and she watched as an almost frightened look returned to his features. Before he could question her further, she took off at a fast clip up the stairs. That look on his face, like a frightened child, always bothered her but she couldn't let him know what she was really doing. Clark wouldn't get hurt again if she could help it, even if it meant scaring him into thinking that she knew about his origins.
When the machines stopped, the relief from the pain was so immediate that Lois almost cried out. Taking shallow breaths, she opened her eyes and spotted the jeweler making more adjustments. Was he increasing the power?
"Tell me the truth," the jeweler demanded quietly. "How did you find me?"
"Why are you doing this?" Lois responded with a question of her own and cringed at the shallow sound of her own voice.
"I told you-" he started to explain, stopping as he seemed to pick up on her ploy. "Just tell me the truth."
At the very thought, Lois started laughing softly. She couldn't and, even if she did he wouldn't believe her. Who would?
When she heard the whir of the machine and saw the jeweler with the button in his hand, her mind readily shifted back to recent events in preparation for the pain, this time focusing on her only hope for rescue, as escape seemed less likely with each jolt.
"Yes, get me Detective Jones. This is an emergency," Lois requested through the phone as she sat outside the jewelry store where she knew the couples were being held and tortured.
"J'onn Jones," a deep voice responded.
"J'onn, I have some information about the guy who's kidnapping the engaged couples in town."
"Well, hello to you too, Ms. Lane," he said.
Sitting alone in the car, Lois rolled her eyes. J'onn was as bad as Clark, always trying to teach her some manners.
"Look, all of these couples shopped at the same jewelry store," Lois told him. "I think the jeweler is involved."
"The store on Monroe?" J'onn questioned. "We've already checked it out. There was nothing there."
"Did you check in the basement?"
"No."
"Why not," Lois demanded.
"Because I'd need probable cause and a little thing called a search warrant," J'onn told her with a slightly exasperated tone.
Never one to be deterred, Lois weighed her options.
"So, if I get you the probable cause, you can look in the basement?" She asked eagerly.
"Wait, what are you thinking?" J'onn asked her. "Are you planning to get yourself in trouble again?"
"J'onn, would I do that?"
"I don't know you well Ms. Lane but yes, I believe you would," he replied.
Lois laughed. One of these days, she and her friend would have to have a long talk ... but not today.
"Look, J'onn," Lois sobered. "Promise me that whatever happens, you won't let Clark storm the place."
"What do you mean?" J'onn replied cautiously.
"I'm not an idiot. I live at the farm, after all," Lois told him. If she couldn't tell J'onn, her fellow Darkness fighter, who could she tell? "The jeweler has meteor rock on him. Don't let Clark go in there alone, okay?"
There was silence on the other line.
"Uhm, Ms. Lane-"
"J'onn, I know, okay? Just show up at the jewelers tonight after closing … and don't let Clark know that I know anything."
"Ms. Lane … Lois, wait-"
She hung up.
Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. Now she was waiting for a rescue that may not happen because J'onn probably thought she was crazy. A few more blasts of electricity and she might be.
The jeweler, always so calm, spoke again.
"Just tell me, tell me the truth and you might get out of here," he said.
Lois looked up through her lashes. She wasn't sure she could speak right now as this jolt left residual pain in its wake.
"I can't," she managed but it came out as a croak.
"I wonder ..." the jeweler continued, adjusting his devices, turning knobs and levers as he walked around the cords. "Do you have someone special in your life - boyfriend, fiancé, or a husband perhaps?"
When Lois didn't respond, he continued as if she had, "And are you this honest with him?"
Lois felt her heart beat faster. She didn't have any of those things but she did have a protector who would come looking for her. The problem was that if he busted in here right now, he would be hurting because of her. That couldn't happen again; she would protect him. Unfortunately, she hadn't given him any clues about where to look-
The jeweler stepped close, and Lois couldn't resist kicking out at him, furious that his comments were starting to make her feel guilty about keeping Clark in the dark. The jeweler didn't have the right question her relationships. He didn't know anything about her or about protecting people, only hurting them.
Even though she was weak, her foot connected with her captor's shin and caused him to stumble backwards.
"Don't you know actions speak louder than words?" She managed to spit out.
The jeweler hit the button again.
This time, the General's advice could not help as the pain seemed to penetrate every part of her body. Lois heard herself scream as her mind seemed to separate itself, blending her memories with reality.
Dark and cold permeated the basement, as Lois sat chained to the same chair, only this time she was waiting. Clark would come for her; she knew it.
The door burst off its hinges and she felt the sense of relief she always felt. Everything would be okay now …
Except it wasn't; somehow the crazy guy who captured her got the jump on Clark and knocked him unconscious. She hadn't noticed the green bracelet before but now in her memory it stood out against the jeweler's pale skin.
"Clark, wake up," Lois kept repeating. "Clark … Clark, wake up."
When he came to, Clark looked as stunned as Lois felt. In her memory, Lois saw him focus on the jeweler's wrist.
"I know who you are," Clark told the guy, obviously trying to get him talking. Lois blocked out the rest of the conversation when the jeweler revealed himself. They were dead.
"You must really care about her, storming in here," the jeweler directed toward Clark, seemingly impressed. "It's very gallant of you."
"Yeah, he's stupid that way," Lois told the jeweler, still astounded that the rescue had gone wrong. With her eyes she tried to let Clark know how sorry she was that she'd dragged him into this. After all, it was her idea to pose as a couple to track down Chloe and Jimmy after they were kidnapped.
"Let her go," Clark demanded, and Lois would have snorted if she hadn't been so scared … typical Clark, gallant and stupid.
"After her turn, you'll get yours," the jeweler replied.
"My turn?" Lois asked him. "What is this, some kind of game?"
With that question, the jeweler stopped and turned to face them.
"No, no; it's a test to reveal how much you two have been hiding from one another," the jeweler explained, while Lois watched her own panic being displayed on Clark's face. Her sense of dread started to take over and she didn't hear the rest of the jeweler's remarks.
The click and whine of the device penetrated her senses and echoed in her head.
"Have you ever cheated on your fiancé?" The jeweler asked her calmly.
Lois didn't remember her response. The whole situation was crazy. They weren't engaged; they were only pretending to be while trying to find Jimmy and Chloe's kidnapper. However, none of that mattered when the electricity hit Clark and he started screaming.
"What are you doing?" Lois cried in a panic. "You're killing him."
"No," the jeweler responded calmly. He was always so calm. "Your lies are."
"Okay, okay, I take it back then. I'm sorry." Lois cried, feeling the tears form. "Just don't hurt him again." Clark's pain was killing her. His gasps for breath felt like her own … it was as if she could feel the electricity herself, pain that continued on and on …
Pain.
"Deep down, underneath it all, do you love this man?" The jeweler asked her.
Lies … pain.
"Do you love him?"
Pain.
"Lois …"
"Lois, can you hear me?"
That voice, she knew it. He would always come for her.
"Yes," Lois sobbed in relief. "Yes, I love him."
Daily Planet, two days later
As Lois walked into the Bullpen, she felt her spirits lift. It was good to be back. Granted, she was still a little weak from her tussle with the jeweler, but most of that was emotional. Physically, she was ready to get back to work and she strode energetically over to her desk, coffee in hand.
She ignored Clark, who was sitting at his desk. After the rescue, Clark had visited her only two or three times at the hospital. Lois figured he was avoiding her. That was his usual reaction when she said or did something stupid like lying to him - he wouldn't like that - or clinging to him after making some vague declaration of love.
"Truth or Dare Murderer Attacks Couples," Clark announced before she could sit down. "When did you find time to write this?"
"I had Chloe bring me my laptop," Lois replied, shrugging. She turned on her computer, sat down and waited. "Not a lot to do in the hospital."
Crap.
She hadn't meant that the way it sounded. Sighing, she allowed her fingers to click soothingly over the keyboard, knowing that he was looking at her right now, guilt written all over his face. She kept her eyes on the computer. If he started feeling guilty, then she'd start feeling guilty, and she was working hard to control all of her emotions. Seeing Clark had re-opened old wounds and some new ones as well. She hadn't expected it because she'd spent so little time with him in the hospit-
"You could have been killed in that basement and no one would have known where to look for the body," Clark interrupted her thoughts, frustration in his voice.
"That's why I told J'onn about the investigation," she said, looking around the computer to smile at him. Her smile faded a little. Clark looked ragged. Maybe he was really busy, which would make sense since avoiding her seemed to be the last thing on his mind. Lois watched his jaw clench as he geared up for more lecturing.
"You could have told me what you were working on-"
"Look, Smallville, this guy was after couples. We would have been moving targets if we'd gone in there together," she explained, trying to end the lecture before she got irritated. Lois returned her focus to her computer. "I was trying to protect you."
"Protect me? This is the third time you've been in the hospital since July," Clark pointed out, standing up and walking around to tower over her desk. "You're the one who needs protection," he added his voice low and filled with agitation. Lois sighed deeply, looked up and found his clenched jaw just inches from her face.
Lois scowled back at him as she stood up, putting some distance between herself and Clark's stormy expression. Did he really think intimidation was going to work? Her hand started to reach for her throat but she dropped it. Control, she couldn't lose control. She was feeling too fragile in the aftermath of the jeweler's torture.
"Do we have to go over this again?" Lois asked, hoping that Clark would get the hint that she wasn't ready to argue with him. "I've told you, I can take care of myself."
"Yeah, you were doing a great job of it in that basement," he returned scornfully.
Lois' eyes slammed into his, her veneer cracking.
Lies … pain.
Do you love this man?
Damn him.
She watched as Clark flinched, aware that he had gone too far.
Why was he pushing her? Anger was bubbling to the surface. After the rescue, Clark had practically dumped her at the hospital, leaving her alone to face her nightmares and her confessions. Now, he was trying to start an argument at work, breaching the defenses she'd so carefully cultivated in the hospital. Her insecurities were at the forefront. Full-blown fury wasn't far behind and work was not the place for this.
Lois snatched up her purse, turned on her heel and walked briskly toward the elevator.
Control, keep your cool.
By the time she reached the doors Clark was beside her. She heard him sigh as she reached for the up button and he covered her hand with his own.
"I'm sorry, Lois," he said softly. "I didn't mean ¼ I just want ¼ you need to be safe," he finished in a rush.
At the simple contact, all her anger melted away and she closed her eyes. Her body was starting to crave his touch and the familiar warmth and awareness that went with it. She was tempted to turn and bury herself in him, in the safety of his arms, remembering those arms as the ones that released her from the electric chair and carried her from that torture chamber, but she couldn't. If she touched him any more she might break down and he would see how hurt she'd been.
Instead, Lois opened her eyes and looked at Clark. He winced, seeing the tears in hers and she knew he wasn't trying to tear her down. He just didn't understand why she would risk her life. She looked at his strong face and the concern reflected there.
"No one can guarantee my safety, Clark."
She watched as confusion replaced concern in his expression. Of course, Clark was sure he could keep her safe because he was nearly indestructible. Did he ever consider his own weaknesses? Probably not and, with that thought, she wondered if he'd charged in this time, busting down the door to save her.
Gallant and stupid …
"You know I won't be smothered," Lois lowered her voice and her eyes. "Tell Randall I'm taking a break."
"Lois," he said and the way he said it was enough to make the tears fall. Only he could make her name sound like a plea for forgiveness.
When the elevator doors opened, Lois removed her fingers from Clark's and stepped inside. He moved as if to follow her but she held up her hand, sticking it out as a signal to stop, and kept her head lowered. It was time for a tactical retreat.
She watched through heavy lashes as the doors to the elevator closed in front of Clark. Tears were threatening to fall as the pressure from the last few months weighed down upon her. It seemed the more she tried to fix things the worse they became. Events were unraveling in a way she hadn't imagined, with Davis still in the picture, Oliver out of the picture, and Clark hurling accusations and picking fights. If she was making a difference, it wasn't in a good way.
The doors opened and closed on every floor but Lois stayed inside her sanctuary. Where else was she going to go? Chloe wasn't at work yet. The farm was too quiet, J'onn was working, and Oliver, based on the latest tabloid reports, was visiting Monte Carlo with "friends." She hadn't seen him since her birthday party.
At the various stops, Lois kept her head down and ignored the curious glances of co-workers who weren't used to her being so quiet. At the top floor, when the elevator was emptied, she exited and headed for the stairs.
On the roof she leaned against the concrete half-wall and looked out over the city. Generally, Lois was not the reflective type. Instead, she was all talk and go, without regard to the feelings of others, relying on her gut to tell her when to back off or plow forward. Now, thanks to the Legion, she couldn't just go … and keep going.
How was she going to handle being restricted, being tied to one man, the same man who was rescuing her one minute, abandoning her at the hospital the next and then blaming her? Running was her first instinct in every emotionally charged situation.
Strike first, as the General used to say.
Great, she must be really stressed to be quoting the General twice in one week. Of all his mottos and sayings, that was one she followed regularly, usually right before she ended a relationship by leaving. At the thought, she gripped the concrete tightly in her hands, feeling the roughness scrape her fingers, battling the impulse to run, to flee to Star City now before history could repeat itself, before she could fall …
Too late.
Once again, at the jeweler's hand, she'd been forced to face her true feelings.
Do you love this man?
Three years ago the jeweler had tortured Clark until Lois broke down. This time, her admission had been less obvious but it was still just as true. She loved Clark. In fact, she loved him now more than she had years before. She'd seen it all, his weaknesses, vulnerabilities, insecurities and yet she needed him. In the hospital, she'd felt … incomplete without him.
Of course, she couldn't face her feelings and Clark in the span of a few short days, so she'd run from him, from his lecture. It was the last thing she needed, a lecture from him. Instead, she yearned for an acknowledgement of her confession. Being Clark, even if he'd heard her he probably wouldn't say anything. The man was oblivious.
Strike first.
Suddenly her heart started racing as her mind considered another, very different interpretation for the General's adage. Maybe she needed to take a more direct approach. Looking over the city she considered the ramifications briefly but, before she could chicken out she ran to the stairs, racing all the way down to the Bullpen. There wasn't time for the elevator. If she was going to do this, it needed to happen now, before she lost her nerve. Breathing heavily, she exited, looking for Clark, asking around, ready to tell him …
After looking everywhere and talking to everyone, Lois gave up. Figures, when she was finally ready to launch, Clark was nowhere to be found.
Ace of Clubs, one week later
The inside of the club was in chaos. Bodies were everywhere. The smell of blood was so strong that Lois had to pause and take deep breaths before she could go any farther. The last time she'd seen anything like this was during her battles with the Darkness. At that thought, she stopped when her vision started to fade, using the bar to support herself. She looked around for something to distract her and spotted J'onn in the middle of the room. He looked so different wearing his detective clothes …
This is not the invasion; get a grip, Lane.
Lois closed her eyes and when she opened them, she was able to focus on J'onn. With a clearer head, she walked over to her former battle ally.
"What happened here?" Lois asked, still shocked by the level of carnage.
"Why don't you ask your partner?" J'onn responded, pointing toward the terrace, while giving directions to one of his officers.
"Clark's here?" Lois asked him, looking across the room to the balcony doors. Sure enough, there he stood on the terrace holding on to the railing and looking out over the city.
"He came in just a few minutes ago," J'onn told her. "I assumed you were together."
"No, but I can remedy that." Lois said, catching J'onn's satisfied nod before she crossed the bar quickly to get outside. On the balcony, she breathed deeply trying to clear the smell of blood from her nostrils.
Clark didn't move as she approached, so Lois took the opportunity to study him. She hadn't really seen him since their argument. She'd searched high and low for him after making her decision to strike first, but he'd disappeared. After that, she'd been caught up with Chloe's wedding plans. As more time went by, Lois' resolve weakened until she'd convinced herself to wait. Her gut was telling her that now was not the right time.
As for Clark, he was never around, taking avoidance to a whole new level. He was gone from the farm when Lois went to bed and he was at work by the time Lois got up in the morning. His hours at the Planet were making Lois look like a slacker, and his desk was a mess. He'd also taken to keeping an emergency scanner near his computer and running off at odd hours of the day, usually any time she was trying to have a conversation with him. To top it off, all of his assignments had been solo lately.
Right now, he looked like a man on the edge.
"Hey, Smallville, what happened here?" Lois asked, leaning against the railing and watching his profile. When he didn't turn to look at her, Lois started to worry.
"A lot of people died," he responded and his voice was flat, emotionless. Lois felt her worry turn to fear. Was this it? Her assumption was that Clark was simply engaged in a form of busy brooding after their fight but what if it was more? If this was a trigger of some sort for the dark and she'd left him alone for too long …
Pushing down the fear, she tilted her head and considered him more closely. His voice was in direct contrast to his body language, muscles coiled and hands gripping the railing. The show of emotion was there, just not in his voice.
"I can see that for myself," she told him, trying to keep a neutral tone. "Any suspects?"
"No," he answered tersely. Without moving his hands on the rail, he pushed back on his heels and rocked forward again in a move Lois hadn't seen since Lana left.
"Any leads?" She asked, her concern lessening a little as she recognized the signs of an extremely stressed Clark.
He looked down at his hands and Lois saw the clear plastic evidence bag clutched in his fingers. Inside was a cell phone.
"Okay, taking evidence from a crime scene is really more my style …" Lois trailed off, equally concerned and impressed.
He turned to look at her and she could see the storm of distress, anxiety, and frustration in his eyes. Had he tried to save all these people? Surely not, he had powers but this … this was a disaster. Even he must have limits. What was driving him so close to reaching them?
"We need to get that back to the Planet and take a look," she told him, moving to take the bag from his hand. He didn't resist. Letting her purse slip down her shoulder, Lois carefully dropped the evidence inside. Sighing, she grabbed his arm and led him away from the crime scene, feeling the tension in his body ease after she touched him.
Just like Night.
Where had that thought come from?
Night hadn't crossed her mind in weeks. With thoughts of the future, she might have expected the memories, but she wasn't ready when the sharp pain hit. Rubbing her temples, she kept walking and then, just like that, she was in the future.
Lois was testing Night, pushing him to the limit with every escape attempt, and she knew it. It was her job to try despite the odds. She would not be anyone's prisoner voluntarily. Of course, with his abilities, Night always found her and brought her back to the penthouse.
In some weird, twisted way, escape and capture had become a game between them, with Lois increasing her efforts and the risk level in every attempt. She did it in part because she was Lois Lane and that's how she did things but also in an attempt to bring Clark back. He was in there; she'd caught glimpses of him after the first couple of escapes and she couldn't suppress the little thrill that went through her with every show of irritation, annoyance or concern.
Hanging by Oliver's silk sheets at forty stories up was her riskiest effort so far, especially now that she'd run out of sheet and still wasn't close to the balcony below. Trying to climb back up hand over hand hadn't worked. Her arms were too tired. When she felt herself slip, she couldn't suppress a scream. Night was there in an instant.
His reaction was better than she expected. By the time he lowered her feet to the floor of the bedroom, he was furious and it showed. His eyes had turned dark blue, his brows were furrowed, his lips thin and pressed firmly together. In response, she smiled and raised one eyebrow, taunting him.
He grabbed her by the arms, the cold not as shocking to her senses any more, and shook her like he was trying to shake some sense into her. All Lois could do was stare back at him in wonder as each reaction – anger, frustration, concern - crossed his face and color returned to his complexion. Soon, the cold in his hands lessened as he fought to slow his breathing-
"Lois, Lois, answer me," Clark was demanding, concern in his voice. He continued shaking her lightly as she stared at him. He was talking and she marveled at the words coming forth.
"Lois, are you all right?" His brow was wrinkled his lips pressed firmly together.
Smiling, she touched a tentative finger to his lips, reveling in her success. It had worked and the outcome was better than she expected. Clark was back, he was talking, and his lips were warm.
Wait … warm.
It was the warmth that penetrated her memories as Clark started rubbing her arms while calling out to her. Soon she could hear the shouting of medical personnel and see the catastrophe inside the club.
Clark must have seen the awareness return to her face as she dropped her hand because he practically pushed her out the door. In the quiet of the hall, he turned her back to face him.
"Lois, what's going on? Are you all right?" His eyes continued to widen in alarm when she didn't respond.
"I'm taking you to the hospital."
"No … no, I'm okay," Lois managed to get out, still reeling slightly from the memory, "Just zoned out for a minute. Uhm, it's pretty bad in there," she told him, looking over her shoulder toward the club.
He sobered immediately, looking past her to the entrance.
"Yea, it is," he responded, the haunted expression returning to his features.
"Let's get out of here," Lois said, pulling him by the elbow. When he followed, she let out a sigh of relief. If these memories continued, Clark was going to get suspicious and, if he became worried, he'd put her in the hospital in a heartbeat. Since she didn't know how to stop them, she'd have to come up with some creative ways to distract him ... and soon.
The walk back to the Planet was done in silence, Lois trying to put her earlier memory from her mind while Clark kept stealing glances at her out of the corner of his eyes. Lois ignored him, knowing she'd get another safety lecture if she gave him any kind of opening.
In the basement, after they played the phone recording of the attack, Clark tensed up even more, certain that one of the meteor infected was involved. Lois agreed with him and, while Clark took off to follow up with Chloe, Lois looked up any recent police records that mentioned unusual abilities. Despite everything that happened, it felt right to be working as a team again.
Daily Planet, next day
"I'm talking about obsession, Clark. You can't save everyone," J'onn was saying as he stood next to Clark's work chair. Lois watched as J'onn looked pointedly at the fast food wrappers and empty coffee cups that littered Clark's desk surface. She softened her footsteps as she walked closer.
"The minute I believe that is the minute I stop trying," Clark said, clearly agitated.
It was just as Lois feared; Clark had tried to save all of those people at the club. No wonder he was ragged looking.
"What happened to Lois was not your fault," J'onn continued sympathetically.
What? Surely Clark wasn't blaming himself for what happened at the jeweler's. That was taking his guilt complex a little far. Lois had kept the entire investigation from him on purpose. How could he have known she'd get kidnapped?
"Lois almost died," Clark said sounding distressed at the idea. "If I hadn't been so worried about her learning my secret … Anyway, I thought you'd be happy I'm finally embracing my destiny-" Clark said, lowering his voice with every word. Suddenly his stopped and turned to look at Lois approaching from behind. There was a look of desperation in his eyes before it was replaced with suspicion.
Lois straightened and walked briskly to her desk, nodding at J'onn, while acting oblivious. As the men casually made their way over to the file cabinets, she wondered if she'd heard them wrong. It simply wasn't possible that Clark was trying to save everyone because of what happened to her. Evidently, he was also afraid that she knew about him. Which one was fueling his frustration? If she was going to be supportive, she needed to know.
Her eyes wandered to Clark's desk and, making a quick decision, she grabbed her trash can to clean off the debris, inching closer to the men's conversation.
"Until I messed up … " Clark was saying.
Really need to work on that guilt complex.
"… Similar murders," according to J'onn.
More bodies - scary thought.
"Bones are crushed … Killer gets away without a trace," Clark told him, bitterness creeping back into his voice.
Already know that.
"… Davis Bloome," J'onn referenced.
Lois felt her mind go blank and her head snap up at the name.
"What about Davis Bloome?" She asked, dropping all pretenses, along with the trash can, and walking over to join them. "Do you think he's involved?"
"It's just a theory," Clark told her in his don't go off half cocked, Lane voice. "He's been the first paramedic to arrive at some of the crime scenes."
"It's certainly nothing conclusive, Ms. Lane," J'onn told her calmly.
"Fine, I still think I'd like to have a little chat with him," Lois said, turning to walk briskly back to her desk.
"Whoa," Clark said, grabbing her arm. "I thought I would interview Davis while you follow up with Chloe on the meteor infected angle."
"Why, so she can shut me down, too?" Lois asked, looking pointedly at her arm, which he released immediately. Clark had already filled her in on the results of his talk with Chloe last night. It was a complete bust given Chloe's views on confidentiality with her counseling patients. "If you couldn't get the names of the meteor infected out of her, what makes you think I can?"
"Well, you're her cousin," Clark said slowly as he turned and walked back to his desk, surveying the tidy desktop with suspicion.
"Well, you're her best friend," Lois countered.
"I thought we already had some names?" J'onn interjected, holding up a folded piece of paper.
"Let me see that," Lois said, grabbing the paper from his hand. It was a list of several first and last names written in Clark's handwriting.
"Smallville!" she called, only to look up and find him gone.
Lois eyed J'onn, and she could see his questioning look mirroring the one on her own face.
"What just happened?" She asked.
"I'm afraid he's taken off on his own again," J'onn responded, concern showing.
"He's been doing that a lot lately, huh?"
"You heard our conversation?" J'onn pointed out. It was more of a statement than a question.
"Hello, nosy reporter," Lois replied pointing to herself and shrugging.
"Are you going to tell him that you know?" J'onn stepped closer and asked her quietly.
Lois stopped and considered the question, "Is he going to tell me?"
"Probably not," J'onn sighed and his tone reflected his concern. "I've watched Clark for a long time now. He's been taught never to reveal himself to anyone and, when his friends find out, they're constantly in danger …"
"I guess it's a good thing I'm always in danger anyway, huh?" Lois raised her brow and bumped J'onn in the shoulder the way she used to when they were in the trenches.
He shook his head, "I can tell you that Clark does not see that as a good thing."
"Well, he can't blame himself for all the trouble I get into …" Lois let her words trail off as she saw J'onn's doubtful expression. Suddenly she was struck by an idea. "How about we give Clark some help by doing some surveillance at the Isis Foundation?"
"Do I have any choice?" J'onn questioned, ruefully shaking his head. "Clark would never forgive me if I let anything happen. Besides, I took an oath to protect the citizens of Metropolis, even the reckless ones."
Lois laughed. J'onn was getting to know her well.
Daily Planet, same night
"Clark, did you give the police the names of my Isis group?"
Lois could hear Chloe by the glass doors near her desk. She paused. It was rare that Chloe sounded this hostile, especially with Clark. Dropping the papers she was copying, Lois walked out of the copy room to see what was going on.
"How could you betray me and my confidentiality with these kids?" Chloe demanded, voice rising as she marched up to his desk.
Lois walked over to her own desk and cleared her throat loudly. Clark was looking at Chloe with a vague expression, still trying to shift his focus from his computer to Chloe's questioning. Chloe leaned forward, growing angrier with Clark's lack of response. In spite of Clark's distant attitude toward her since the fight, Lois couldn't let Clark take the blame.
"Actually, Chloe," Lois said, choosing her words carefully. "The police didn't rely on any names; they performed surveillance outside the Isis Foundation-"
"How do you know that?" Chloe turned and confronted Lois.
"Because I was with them," Lois told her, taking a sip of her coffee and looking at Clark. He raised his brows in question. She smiled, telling him silently it was her idea.
"Lois, how could you?" Chloe asked, seemingly stunned.
"Well, they are potential suspects in the recent murders. I was checking them out without breaching your code of confidentiality, or whatever you call it," Lois said raising her brows in Clark's direction as he frowned. Clark was beginning to understand and, as usual, he didn't like it. Too bad; she was saving his bacon with his best friend.
"Why is everyone assuming that a member of my group is the killer?" Chloe said, outraged. She turned to Clark, "I can't believe you, of all people, are a member of this witch hunt …" Chloe trailed off when she realized what that statement may have revealed.
"Witch hunt seems a little strong when the victims all ended up with their bones crushed. I know we're not doctors, but I think we can all agree that's not normal," Lois responded, getting annoyed with Chloe's attitude. No one was condemning her group but they couldn't be ignored either.
"And how am I supposed to convince my group that it's safe to come back now, Lois? The Foundation is supposed to be a refuge, a safe-haven …" Chloe trailed off again, clearly nonplussed by either Lois' response or Clark's lack of one.
"We could find the real killer," Clark suggested. "There is another potential suspect." He glanced over at Lois, tightening his brows and frowning. Lois closed her mouth. His eyes were telling her that he was upset that she'd kept something from him … again. Lois sighed. She hadn't meant to, exactly. There just wasn't time to get him up to speed before tornado Chloe blew in.
Crap. She'd wanted to help Clark and instead she'd made him more upset.
"Here are the results of some tests that Davis Bloome was trying to hide from me today." Clark handed Chloe the lab results. "Can you make sense of them?" he asked with a knowing look.
Lois mentally kicked herself when she saw Chloe's eyes widen. It was clear that Chloe understood the complex results immediately. Whatever this Brainiac had done was still affecting her and Lois needed to get to the bottom of it. Problem was, traditional research wasn't working.
"Oh, no," Chloe said. "According to the lab, the skin under this victim's fingernails is Davis'."
"We need to track him down, then," Lois said, grabbing her phone to call the hospital. Chloe sat down at Clark's computer and, at the same time, his emergency scanner picked up a distress call. It was Jimmy's voice.
Clark looked at Chloe, his face reflecting the concern in hers.
"Go," Chloe and Lois said at the same time. They looked at each other and then back at Clark. Everyone froze for a second.
Chloe was the first to recover.
"You go ahead, Clark and we'll call the authorities," she said looking at Lois, who schooled her features and nodded, dialing 911. By the time she finished the call, Clark was gone.
For the next ten minutes, Chloe paced the floor and Lois couldn't tell if she was more concerned about Jimmy or, as Lois suspected, Davis. There was something about that guy. Either way, Lois couldn't take it anymore.
"Chloe, you can sit down any time now. Clark's seat isn't restricted or anything," she told her, trying to add some levity to the irritation in her voice.
Chloe stopped and looked at Lois, rolling her eyes at her cousin.
"Fine, I'll sit down when you stop chewing your thumbnail," she responded.
Lois immediately dropped her hand and watched as Chloe sat down in Clark's desk chair with a knowing smile. Since they were kids, Chloe always called Lois on the carpet for her nail biting.
A few more minutes went by as the two sat in thinking and worrying in silence and then Lois looked up to see her cousin's face at the desk across from hers. Her heart skipped a beat at the view and she wondered if there might be some advantages to re-living the past ... like saying the things you always wanted to the first time around.
"You know, I always pictured the two of us like this," Lois said motioning to the two desks pushed against each other, unable to resist smiling at her cousin.
Chloe's responsive smile was laced with sadness. "So did I."
"Do you miss it?" Lois asked, curious as to her cousin's response. Lately it was as if Lois didn't relate to her cousin as much, questioning her decision-making in several areas, including work and this sudden marriage.
"Sometimes," Chloe said after some reflection. She looked at Lois curiously.
"Come back, then," Lois invited, and at Chloe's shocked expression, added, "Luthorcorp still owns the place, but Lex isn't running things any more. Get back in the game."
Chloe's look of surprise turned to one of gratitude. "Thanks, Lois. That means a lot, but I think I'll stay where I-"
Chloe's phone rang, interrupting the moment. She held up one finger and turned away for a private conversation, while Lois picked up her own phone. Her conversation with Chloe had been short but it eased a large part of the tension in her heart since she'd started working at the Daily Planet. Lois could sense the gratitude from Chloe as well. No matter what, she was glad she'd asked Chloe to come back.
Now she had a rift to mend with Clark. After all this time, he hadn't come around. It was time for Lois to take action and get her partner back.
Daily Planet, next day
Like a thief, Lois snuck into the Bullpen at dinner time, evening edition in one hand, surprises in the other. She looked all around but everyone seemed to be out to dinner. She heard voices coming down the stairs and quickly placed the items on Clark's desk. He hadn't spoken to her once since the capture of the Club Killer and she was convinced he was still mad about her keeping things from him. After careful, and lonely, consideration last night, she'd come up with a plan.
Lois sat down in her chair and picked up the paper. Just in time, too. It was Clark and Jimmy. Peeking around the front page of the city section, she spoke up to get Jimmy's attention.
"Damn good photo, Olsen, I didn't know you had it in you," she said, turning the city section so that Jimmy's photo of the killer was visible. He beamed. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched as Clark looked at the flowers and candy sitting on his desk. He picked up the card.
"Yeah, I can't believe that after all our investigating, the killer turned out to be a member of Chloe's group," Jimmy told Lois, abashedly. "Evidently, he confessed to everything, including the killings at the club."
As Clark read the card, Lois could see his confused frown turn to a small smile. When he looked toward Lois, she quickly turned her gaze back to Jimmy.
"I know," Lois told Jimmy. "He was right under our noses and we missed it."
Lois glanced over again and watched as Clark place the card in his pocket and pick up the flowers. He caught her eye and raised his brows, his smile broadening. She didn't need to read the card to know what it said.
To "Oliver," from Clark
P.S. Since you didn't take my advice, I decided to follow it myself.
Love, Lois
The look in Clark's eyes was captivating, a mix of understanding, appreciation and some emotions Lois couldn't identify. Jimmy prattled on while Clark continued to hold her gaze with the warmth of his. Evidently, she'd done well, at least his expression was telling her she had. After a minute, Lois felt her face flush.
It was J'onn who broke the connection.
"Ahem," J'onn cleared his throat looking between the two of them. "Clark, I need to talk to you."
""Wait, are you a detective?" Jimmy asked, looking at the badge on J'onn's belt. "You look like a thinking-outside-the-box kind of guy. Look, I'm pretty sure there's a Good Samaritan running around saving people in the city but I can't convince anyone in your department that he's real."
"Really …" J'onn said, at the same time that Clark warned, "Jimmy …" Lois looked between the three of them. What was this about?
J'onn continued, raising his eyebrows. "We could certainly use the help, but do you have any proof?"
"Oh, I'll get the proof," Jimmy continued, holding up his camera, and rocking on his heels enthusiastically. J'onn smiled at Jimmy's excitement but Lois didn't pay attention to his response.
She was caught up in the name Good Samaritan. Where had she heard that before?
The Blur …
Butterflies stirred at the name. That's who Jimmy's Samaritan turned out to be. She'd almost forgotten about him with her mission and everything else. Of course, after Oliver told her the Blur was dead she'd buried him in her memories and put all that hero worship stuff behind her.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lois saw Jimmy bounce away toward the elevator. Acting on impulse, she turned to follow. This time, she was getting in on the ground floor.
"Lois!" the tone of Clark's voice stopped her and she turned. Evidently, he'd been trying to get her attention. He had that look on his face. So did J'onn. She realized that they'd been talking while she was thinking.
"What? Spit it out, Smallville. I want to catch up to our ace photographer."
"J'onn came by to talk to you, too, Lois," Clark said, slowly walking toward her, a combination of fear and sympathy on his face. Lois fought her initial impulse to take a step back. Her eyes darted between them as she straightened and held her ground.
"As you know, today was the day the jeweler was being transported to Belle Reve …" J'onn began, trailing off.
"He escaped," Clark finished, knowing how she hated uncomfortable silences.
The whir of the lie detector filled Lois' head like static. Clark continued moving his mouth but she couldn't hear the words. Black started filling the edges of her vision and she knew what was coming.
Without a word, she nodded her head to both men, turned on her heel and walked away. It was Clark who found her in the copy room, leaning over the sorting table taking deep steady breaths.
"Lois?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Lois battled the dark at the edge of her vision.
Breathe in … out … in …
"We'll catch him," he continued softly.
Nodding, Lois continued … in, out, in …
"Do you want to talk about it?" Clark asked quietly, uncertainly.
It was the uncertainty in his voice that fortified Lois. She knew what was coming, so she shook her head and straightened, facing Clark. With his hand on her shoulder, Lois could feel the warmth starting to spread.
"I won't live like a prisoner," she told him, trying to convey her determination through her stance.
Resigned, Clark sighed, "I know."
"And I don't need any twenty-four hour protection, or whatever," Lois added, waving her hand for emphasis.
"Right," Clark replied, with just a hint of a smile.
Lois narrowed her eyes, "Are you making fun of me?" She felt Clark squeeze her shoulder.
"Of course not," he repeated, leaning forward until his nose was almost touching hers. "There's only one solution to this problem," he told her.
"What's that?" She asked, hating the breathless quality of her voice. She swallowed again and licked her lips, suddenly mesmerized by the green flecks in his blue eyes.
She watched as those eyes darted to her mouth and his pupils dilated. Before she could react, Clark shook his head slightly and pulled back.
"I'm going to have to stick to you like glue," he said, pulling Lois gently against his chest. A sigh escaped her at the feeling of warmth and security.
"Think you can handle that?" Clark asked her.
She knew what he was doing, trying to forestall her objections with a challenge. Right now, she was too content to argue. Lois smiled against his chest.
"Oh, I can handle it, Kent," she told him. "I'm counting on the fact that you can't."
His laugh vibrated in her ear and she realized that it felt good to be honest with him.