This Chapter is dedicated to Briee, my friend and inspiration, because everything she writes comes from the heart.
CHAPTER EIGHT - COMMITTED COMPLETE
Daily Planet, October 2008
"Lois ... Lois, wake up!" Clark whispered loudly in her ear.
Lois started and almost fell out of her seat as Clark reached out to steady her.
"Are you all right?"
"Fine," Lois mumbled. "Don't have to scare a girl. I was just, uhm, thinking." Rubbing her eyes, she tried to focus on Clark's concerned face.
"This is the fourth time in the last couple weeks that you've been thinking with your eyes closed," Clark told her sarcastically, raising his brows and leaning forward to look more closely at her face. Having looked in the mirror that morning, she knew what he saw - tired eyes with dark circles around them, strained expression, wrinkles between the brow.
Lois simply returned his look, raising her own brows. Like she didn't know that?
"Uhm, maybe if you went to bed earlier …" Clark said knowingly, looking directly into her eyes to find the answers.
Trying to avoid his scrutiny, Lois turned quickly to her computer screen. She didn't need another lecture from Clark. What she needed were Clark's arms around her … like last night. Her face reddened at the memory. She must have dreamt the whole thing.
Lois had fallen asleep on the couch with the computer in her lap. It seems that lately she never had a set bedtime, as least not since she'd started taking an online class at Met U. She'd always regretted not finishing her degree and so she'd decided to take advantage of this second chance to get it done. Even so, she might not have bothered if she hadn't discovered that Clark was the Blur. Something about that inspired her. Funny how she was supposed to "challenge" Clark but he was the one making her want to be better.
"… Make a new future." Garth's words were a reminder of why she was here.
Awareness came slowly as she felt a shift in her position. It wasn't until she was jostled that she realized she was being carried. Opening her eyes slightly, she peeked up to see Clark's face above hers. There was faint odor of smoke around him and wondered if he'd responded to a fire.
"What are you doing?" Lois asked sleepily, mumbling against his shoulder.
"Shh," Clark responded. "I'm taking you to bed. You need your sleep."
"Mmm, this must be a dream …" Lois said sleepily.
"Why do you say that?" Clark asked, laying her down on the bed.
"Because," Lois yawned as she rolled over, "if you were really taking me to bed, I'd be thinking about something besides sleeping …"
This morning, awake in her own bed, she'd convinced herself that the whole thing was a dream. Now she wasn't so sure - Clark was still standing next to the desk, wearing that concerned but knowing look.
Closing her eyes to block his gaze, Lois started praying that last night had been a dream.
She jumped when she heard Clark's whisper in her ear, "Lois, are you blushing?"
Self-conscious, and frustrated now that Clark had commented on it, Lois opened her eyes and fired back without thinking, ""Look, Clark I already share a bathroom with you, I'm not going to share my sleeping habits."
Lois heard her co-workers chuckling nearby as her words came out louder than she intended.
Her eyes narrowed at Clark but he didn't smirk. Instead he was wearing that innocent expression she knew so well, the one that told her he knew more than he was letting on.
"Is there something … bothering you?" Clark asked hesitantly, watching as Lois directed her stare toward their chuckling co-workers.
"Let it go, Smallville; I'm fine. Everyone gets a little tired now and then."
Clark reached up and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "Not you," he muttered.
Lois felt her heart start hammering as she realized he was not going to let this go and she felt herself start to give in at his worried look. Jumping up, she grabbed Clark's hand and dragged him to the supply room to even louder chuckling. Ignoring her co-workers and closing the door, she turned to face him. At least she could give him the partial truth.
Why hadn't she told him before that she started back to school? It took a few minutes for Lois realized she was embarrassed and simply too independent for her good.
The minute she looked at Clark's concerned face she knew that there was nothing to be embarrassed about. Clark would be proud of her. Besides, she needed to learn to share things with him.
"A couple of weeks ago, I started a class at Met U," she blurted out. "I'm taking an online journalism class at night and I plan to finish my degree."
For a minute, Clark looked shocked, like he was expecting another answer, and then a grin split his face.
"That's wonderful, Lois," he exclaimed, walking forward quickly and embracing her.
Lois closed her eyes when she felt Clark's arms around her and fought the urge to lean against him. Seemingly unfazed, Clark pulled back and continued to praise her decision. His reaction was so supportive and he looked so relieved that she had to bite her lip to keep from telling him everything.
The truth was that while online classes were taking up a lot of time, Lois was spending most of her sleepless nights keeping an ear out for Clark's comings and goings as the Blur. Working in her room, she would count the number of times Clark left the house. The next day, she'd compare her notes with reported Blur rescues. By now, the Blur was up to thirty saves in the past couple of weeks and that was only at night. With every rescue, she was finding it harder and harder to keep the knowledge to herself.
Knowing Clark was the Blur hadn't changed her feelings as much as it amplified them. Everything she felt for the Blur had simply transferred itself to Clark. Now Lois was craving the same connection with Clark that she'd experienced with the Blur in her past. Keeping track of his saves was just one way of building that connection, at least for Lois.
Last night was the first time she'd fallen asleep on the couch waiting for him and, of course, he'd tried to help. Clearly, if he kept that up, Lois was likely to tell him everything. Sleepy Lois was just a little too chatty-
"Lois," Clark said getting her attention with a smile, "let me take you out to lunch to celebrate."
Before she could agree, Clark's smile was replaced by the distracted expression that told her his super hearing had picked up someone in trouble.
"Actually, I'll take a rain check," Lois told him as soon as she caught that look. "I need to make up some work. Why don't you just get me some of my favorite coffee from down the street instead?" Lois requested. Turning, she left the room without looking back.
Clark had blurred out of the building before Lois could make it to her desk. Looking at the notes for her next few stories scattered around her computer, Lois sighed. There were times, like today, when she wished she could blur out of the building rather than thinking of excuses for Clark. At least she was good at them; Clark's reasons for disappearing left something to be desired. How many times could someone leave the oven on after all? Still, Clark didn't seem overly suspicious, grinning like an idiot every time she justified one of his disappearances with one of her assumptions.
Listening to Clark's police scanner, she tried to get information on what the Blur might be doing but, before she could get the details, her own desk turned into Grand Central Station.
Her first visitor was Chloe, who stopped by to talk about the upcoming engagement party. She was on her way to pick out the cake and wanted Lois' advice about copying their announcement photo onto the top of it. After that, she described the location for the party and complained continuously for two straight minutes about the owner's one condition that she and Jimmy arrange for set-up beforehand and clean up afterward.
Finally Lois interrupted, "Whoa, cousin, take a breath," she said, holding up her hand. "If you need someone to stay and clean up, I'm your maid," Lois told her.
"Really?" Chloe asked excitedly. "Oh, Lois if you could I know Jimmy would be so grateful. He says he's got some sort of surprise for me after the party-"
"No problem," Lois interrupted again, not sure she wanted to hear about Jimmy's surprise.
Still, she couldn't help but laugh when Chloe jumped up and gave her a big hug. "You're the best maid of honor ever."
"Naturally," Lois told her, smiling at her cousin's happy face.
Chloe sobered as she pulled away from the hug. "Hey, are you okay? You look a little tired … actually, more than a little tired," Chloe commented, looking closely at Lois' face.
"I'm fine," Lois waved her off. "I've just been busy. Actually, Chloe, I've been meaning to tell you that I started back to-"
Just then Chloe's phone interrupted. "I'm sorry, Lois," Chloe said after checking the ID. "I need to take this call."
"That's okay, I'll talk to you later."
Lois waved after her cousin as she left the Bullpen, phone to her ear. Taking out her calendar, Lois took a moment to pencil in her latest pre-wedding obligation, wincing at the number of entries for the next few weeks.
Just as she was turning back to her computer to finish her latest story, her desk phone rang. Lois took a calming breath before answering. It was J'onn.
"J'onn, what can I do for you?"
He chuckled. "You've been hanging around Clark too long. You're starting to pick up some manners."
"Ha, ha, very funny."
"Is Clark there? I've been trying to reach him," J'onn told her.
"No, he's out right now," Lois told him. "Any message you want me to give him?"
"This is nothing you need to know, Lieutenant."
"Oh, come on, J'onn-"
"Just tell him I called, will you."
Before Lois could respond, J'onn hung up.
"Huh, he's obviously been hanging around me too long," she muttered under her breath, picking up her notes for her next story. If she couldn't finish the first she could at least start on the next-
"Hey, Lois, have you seen Clark around?"
With that, Lois' notes went flying.
"Ollie, you scared the crap out of me! What are you doing here?" Lois asked him, picking up her papers as he walked around the side of her desk. He looked over at Clark's empty chair.
"I need to find Clark, have you seen him?"
"He stepped out," Lois responded, narrowing her eyes in Oliver's direction. "Why do you need to see him?"
"Something's come up that I need to talk to him about, that's all," Oliver answered, sitting on the edge of her desk and absentmindedly picking up one of Lois' paperclips to fiddle with.
"About what?" Lois asked, standing up slightly to snatch back her paper clip.
"Ouch, what was that for?"
"Don't give me that look," Lois told him. "What are you trying to get Clark mixed up in?"
"Me?" Oliver asked innocently. "Look, Lois, Clark's got himself … I'm just trying to help here," he added exasperatedly.
"Help with what, exactly?" Lois asked calmly, pretending to sort through some papers on her desk. She looked up at Oliver through her lashes.
"Oh no you don't, nosy reporter," he responded with a smile, shaking his head in her direction. He stood up and walked over to stand next to Lois' chair. "Just tell Clark I stopped by, will you?"
"Maybe," Lois told him, looking up and raising her brows. The last thing she wanted was Oliver roping Clark into some kind of Green Arrow business or any of his little gang's projects. In the future, Oliver had talked about some of their past escapades, and the last thing she needed right now was Clark or the Blur getting sucked into some sort of operation with those guys … that is, unless he'd been involved with them three years ago.
Lois felt the time travel migraine coming on just thinking about it.
Oliver's expression grew solemn as he leaned down next to her, "This is serious, Lois. I need to talk to Clark. He could be in trouble."
She felt her mouth go dry as she swallowed and nodded.
Oliver patted her shoulder, "By the way, nice story about Jimmy's Good Samaritan. What did you name him? Oh right," he continued, snapping his fingers, "the Blur … it's catchy. I like it, it's definitely better than the Green Arrow Bandit." Oliver chuckled a little.
"Oh, I don't know … I always thought the bandit part was appropriate," Lois responded in the same sarcastic tone that Oliver was using.
"You know, if I didn't know better, I'd think you had a crush on this … Blur," Oliver whispered with a laugh, straightening when he saw her expression.
"Tell Clark to call me right away," Oliver reminded her, walking out of the Bullpen, his chuckle trailing behind him.
Lois looked at her computer screen with a sigh. He knew. Somehow Oliver knew that she knew Clark was the Blur. It must have been something to do with J'onn and their matching outfits. No wonder Oliver hadn't called to grill her about the Blur bungle … he'd figured it out for himself. Her breath caught as she realized Oliver also recognized her feelings for the Blur/Clark. Was she being too obvious or was Oliver teasing her as usual?
Lois put her head in her hands, her body exhausted but her mind racing. Chloe's engagement party and wedding were taking up more and more of her time, her class was demanding, she was dealing with Clark as the Blur and now he could be in trouble. She'd thought doing things the second time around would be easier. Sitting back, Lois closed her eyes for a minute.
Man, she hadn't been this tired since fighting the Darkness.
"Lane!" Randall shouted.
Lois sighed as she got up out her chair and walked to Randall's office. It looked like visiting hours were over - time to get back to work.
Fifteen minutes later, when Lois returned to her desk, her steps felt sluggish and her eyes were like sandpaper.
Fortunately, a large cup of coffee from her favorite beanery was sitting on her desk and Clark was back in his seat. Taking an appreciative sip, Lois couldn't contain a little moan as the flavor hit her tongue.
She glanced over at Clark just in time to see his eyes widen at the sound. Feeling perkier, giddy even, she toasted him with her coffee cup before taking another sip, acknowledging that he always brought the best coffee, her favorite blend, and at the perfect temperature, too …
At that thought, she almost spit out her second sip, realizing for the first time that he must be using his heat vision to keep it hot. Before she could stop herself, she started laughing.
At Clark's questioning glance, she laughed even harder. She laughed until tears rolled down her face, until she was gasping for breath, until she was desperate to stop …
In her mind she knew it was the exhaustion taking over but that didn't help. Clark must have recognized the panic in her eyes because, by the time she realized she was out of control, Clark was already by her side, leaning over, blocking the views of her various co-workers. As her laughter finally started to subside, she could feel one large hand rubbing her back while his other held hers and was rubbing slow circles in her palm. The warmth eased the panic, but then Lois felt her emotions swing violently at the feel of his hand on hers. She wanted so much more … emotions welled up inside her until she couldn't contain them.
"I need to get out of here," she whispered, further distressed by the thought of breaking down in the office.
Quickly and with very little effort Clark lifted her out of her seat and casually walked her to the elevator. Her feet barely touched the ground and his calm helped Lois to gain some control. She managed to give him a grateful smile as he shuffled her inside. With a grim expression, he blocked her from the other passengers until they reached the right floor.
By the time he escorted her out to the parking lot, what little control Lois had was gone. The dam burst just as Clark was opening the passenger door to the car. Collapsing against the side of the car, she began sobbing hysterically, beating on the hood in frustration until Clark grabbed her arms. Soon he was pulling her against his strong, warm chest. At first, she fought him, trying to pull away, wanting desperately to curl up inside the car and disappear. She hated the fact that he was seeing her like this.
Clark wouldn't let her pull away. Surrounded by his warmth, unable to put up much of a fight, she succumbed to the exhaustion and the emotions that came with it. Lois lost track of time as Clark stood there supporting her until the last tear was done and she was hiccupping into his dampened shirt. Physically drained and emotionally spent, she felt her eyes start to close, until he tried to pull away.
"No," she whispered, tightening her grip on his shirt, afraid of the floodgates reopening, afraid of breaking down completely if he left. With everything she'd released, she knew there was more.
So Clark stood there with her, silent and still, except for lightly rubbing her back and arms, until her eyes finally closed.
Later, it was the cool evening air that woke her. Clark was carrying her again and dimly she recognized the front porch of the farmhouse. Still half-asleep, she snuggled into his warmth, nuzzling against his neck in the process.
"Thanks for not taking me to the hospital," she whispered groggily against his warm skin.
She felt a light shudder go through him as he stopped to open the kitchen door.
"Oh, you're going to the hospital," he rumbled. "But right now you need some sleep … and the hospital isn't a good place for that."
"Hmmm," Lois responded against his neck, her sleepy brain refusing to keep her barriers in place and lowering her inhibitions … if she just weren't so tired.
She must have dozed off again because she didn't remember anything until he lowered her onto her bed. When he pulled his arms away, she whimpered at the loss of warmth and reached for him.
"Shhh," Clark whispered. "Go back to sleep."
Lois felt his hand brush the hair back from her forehead as her eyes closed but her mind fought sleep despite her exhaustion. Instead, her brain formed the idea that Clark would stay with her if she kept talking.
"Clark?" Lois said dreamily.
"Yes, Lois."
"Are you worried?"
"Yes, I am."
"Don't be."
Why not?" Clark asked curiously.
"You worry too much," Lois mumbled.
"Okay," he agreed. "Now go to sleep."
"Clark?"
"Yes, Lois."
She tried to answer but his hand was brushing against her face so soothingly that her mind was on the verge of surrendering. A niggling part of her brain was trying to remind her to talk, to tell him something important, but her thoughts were quickly grinding to a halt.
Something about … leaving?
"I made a promise," she muttered.
"A promise?"
"Uh, huh."
"What promise?"
"Huh?" Lois breathed out as she fought to keep her eyes open.
"Lois …"
"Oh … promise I'll never leave you," she mumbled softly, succumbing to the sleep she so desperately needed just as his warm hand froze on the side of her face.
Engagement party, ten days later
Here she was at Chloe and Jimmy's engagement party, round two, and Lois wasn't feeling any better about it. Restlessly she strolled around the perimeter looking at the magnificent photographs on the walls. At least the decor was better this time; they were in a studio belonging to the parents of one of Jimmy's photographer buddies.
Location was not the only thing that was different this time. At the last minute, Lois had decided to change her appearance as well, wearing her gold lamiae dress in place of the form-fitting burgundy and her hair curling down her back instead of up in a knot. Normally she wasn't superstitious but she figured it was better to be safe than sorry. After all, the jeweler was still on the loose. One of the reasons Lois had agreed to clean up was because she didn't want Chloe and Jimmy getting kidnapped again.
Standing behind one of the pillars that supported the large main room, Lois took a sip of water and grimaced. She could really use a drink right now but she didn't want to imbibe before clean-up duty started. Also, no alcohol was doctor's orders.
Of course, after Lois had slept off her little breakdown, Clark had taken her straight to the hospital, where the doctor diagnosed her with exhaustion - big surprise. More surprising to Lois was Clark talking to the doctor about her little zoning out moments. Lois played them down but it made her realize that Clark was more observant than she gave him credit for. She'd have to be careful in the future.
Just then Lois spotted the subject of her musings making his way toward her. Talk about observant - only he could spot her hiding in a crowded room. Her heart rate increased and her breath caught at the sight of him strolling confidently toward her. Unable to resist what Lois secretly called his "Blur side," or the more self-assured Clark, she reached out to adjust the collar of the dark shirt he was wearing. Lately, she was looking for any excuse to touch him. If Clark noticed he didn't mention it but Lois was learning that she could get away with almost anything when Clark was worried about her.
"Looking good, there, Smallville," she told him, teasing him before he could ask how she was feeling. She leaned in conspiratorially, "try not to outshine the groom, though, I hear it is bad luck."
"I think that's the bride, Lois," he smiled in mock exasperation, lightly placing a hand on her elbow. He seemed to be touching her a lot more lately as well but Lois tried not to read too much into it. After all, he was worried about her.
"Try not to outshine her either," Lois said, peeking up at his expression through her lashes. She laughed at his pained look and tried to ignore the warmth that was spreading at his touch.
Clark turned around to look at Chloe and his face softened. "I don't think that's possible," he said quietly.
Lois felt her insides melt. Forget that fact that he was worried about her. The warmth, the soft words and the touching, was he trying to kill her? Tall, dark and handsome with big chunk of hero was pretty amazing but add in the sweet farm boy and Lois wasn't sure how much longer she could resist. Every day she was more and more tempted to tell him everything … However, she was caught up in so many secrets now that she had no idea how to begin or where to start.
Lois followed Clark's gaze to Chloe. She sighed. Now was not the time. It never seemed to be the right time. "I think you're right," Lois said, watching a radiant Chloe in her dark pink baby-doll dress. "She does look happy. I just hope she stays that way."
"What do you mean?" Clark asked. "Chloe tells me you've been trying to get her to postpone the wedding. Why?"
Lois almost groaned out loud. Of all her secrets this was not one she could share with him. She sighed, feeling torn with her knowledge of the future. On the one hand it was clear that Jimmy was devoted to Chloe and that Chloe was fond of him. On the other hand, Lois had glimpsed, just briefly, her cousin's relationship with Oliver and discovered that Chloe was capable of giving so much more.
"Well ... I've been knocked around by cupid enough to know true love when I see it … and I just don't see it," Lois said, deciding to fall back on the words she used at the last engagement party rather than lie to Clark.
"Hmm, sounds to me like you're jealous," Clark said, raising his brow in a challenge.
Her first urge was to deny it, to argue with him, but then she remembered watching Chloe and Jimmy dance together at her birthday party. Even if it wasn't true love they had an ease with each other that she envied.
"Maybe I am," she answered, pulling her elbow away to turn back behind the pillar, looking at the color photograph of five guys skydiving in formation. The colors were bright - red, yellow, and blue - the figures grouped together in formation against a light sky. It had caught her attention the first time she'd walked the room and she'd felt drawn to it, comforted by it, sort of like her room in the Legion's space station. Something about those colors-
"Lois," Clark whispered, following behind her and placing his warm hand on her shoulder.
"You know," she said, trying not to shiver at his touch, "a palm reader once told me that I was destined to be with a guy who flies a lot and likes to wear tights." Looking over her shoulder at Clark, she plastered a smile to her face. "If you ever see my cross-dressing pilot, let me know, will you?"
The smile faded as she saw the understanding and longing in his eyes … reflecting her own desires. A shiver ran through her as Clark turned her to face him and his hands lowered from her shoulders to lightly caress her bare arms. Drowning in the darkening color of his eyes, Lois barely noticed when the lights dimmed around the perimeter, illuminating only the center of the gallery for Chloe and Jimmy as they toasted one another. She and Clark turned to listen politely but soon Clark's hand was back, idly caressing the sensitive underside of Lois' elbow.
The dim light seemed to magnify the sensation of his touch and, even when her eyes closed in response, she felt him step closer, the heat radiating off of him and warming her. A whimper might have escaped her lips at his nearness but she wasn't sure. His hand was wreaking havoc with her senses and making her knees weak.
When the toasts were finished, the lights stayed focused on Chloe and Jimmy as they began to cut the cake. Clark's nearness was overwhelming, so Lois tried to move, intending to make her way to the center of the room and act as the supportive maid of honor. Instead, she bumped into a guy who was rushing to the bar. His elbow pushed her body fully up against Clark's just as Clark turned to face her.
The feel of Clark's body flush up against hers stole her breath. Lois couldn't help but lean into him as his hands closed around her arms. This time he didn't push her away and she watched, mesmerized, as his lashes lowered. Struck by a sense of déjà vu, she placed her free hand on his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat. She looked into his hooded eyes until she realized his lips were coming closer. Then her eyes were drawn his lush mouth as her lips seemed to part of their own accord. She lifted herself to meet him halfway.
The minute their lips touched Lois could feel that this kiss was different, softer and slower. The passion was there but Lois sensed caring as well. Partially hidden by the dim light and large pillar, Clark's lips were tender, almost gentle as he leisurely explored her mouth with his own.
By the time he was finished Lois was dizzy and clinging to him to keep her balance. Breathing heavily, she kept her eyes on his shirt until his hand lifted her chin.
Clark's slow smile was almost her undoing. "Lois-" he said huskily.
"Clark?" Lois questioned in a whisper, her thoughts in turmoil …
"Lana!" Chloe's exclamation rang loudly from the center of the room. "I can't believe it!"
And with the sound of one name, Lois felt her connection to Clark being severed on the spot.
At least he didn't pull away immediately this time. Instead, Lois watched as his expression turned to one of confusion before he slowly turned to look into the middle of the room. Lois, on the other hand, stood rooted in place. How could it be? The future kids must be taunting her. Either that or the fates were playing one heck of a cruel joke.
Lana was back, early this time, and instead of having everything together, Lois was falling apart. Figures, Lana always did have impeccable timing.
You must continue to support and challenge him.
Rokk's words came to her unbidden and Lois tried to shove them aside. She didn't want to think about that while her heart was being shredded into tiny pieces. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, the words wouldn't leave.
Finally, her eyes were drawn to Clark's frozen face and she was surprised, not by the expression there, but the lack of one. He looked exactly as he had on the balcony outside the Ace of Clubs weeks ago. There was no longing in his face, just confusion, stress and tension radiating from his body.
Even with her heart in pieces, Lois' body responded to Clark's and she sighed. She didn't need a reminder of Rokk's words. There was no way she could walk away from Clark as long as he needed her. Drawn by the emotions he was trying to hide, Lois moved closer and unobtrusively gripped his hand in her own. She squeezed gently and felt his return squeeze as she watched Lana's gaze drawn to Clark over Chloe's shoulder.
The moment Lois saw Lana's dark eyes feast themselves on Clark, her protective instincts kicked into high gear. No way was she going to let Lana rip his heart out again. Even if Clark only considered Lois to be a friend, she would stand by him this time.
So, with her hand in Clark's, Lois watched his eyes follow Lana's progress around the room, caught a glimpse of his startled expression as Oliver appeared right behind Lana, and shared his dull look as friends proposed toasts to Chloe and Jimmy.
Finally, when Lana left the central gallery to enter one of the side rooms, Clark's eyes turned to Lois and she could see the question in them through the storm of other emotions. For a minute, she couldn't release him, even when the logical part of her brain told her Clark wanted to follow. Clark's hand tugged on hers a little before his thumb began to rub circles in her palm.
"Lois, I need to go … to talk to her … to understand," he muttered, his eyes pleading with her before they darted to the room where Lana had gone.
What did he want from her? Clark Kent needed Lois Lane; couldn't he see that?
His profile told her that he didn't. Resolve weakening at the look on Clark's face, she closed her eyes. Did she have a choice? Unable to look at him, she released Clark's hand and waited.
When his fingers slid from hers, she felt the loss of warmth and shuddered with it. The cold spread until she was practically shaking, wondering if she was going to fall apart this time. How many times could one person be left behind? If her life was any indication, it was an unlimited number. With a deep breath, Lois fought her initial inclination to run, to flee, to take off before she-
"Hey, Legs, how's it shaking?"
Lois opened her eyes at Oliver's words. He was talking to her but looking at Clark's retreating back. Her eyes followed and her heart sank as she watched Clark's recent confidence seemed to dissipate with each step closer to Lana.
…even if Clark Kent doesn't return your affections, you must continue to support and challenge him.
"How do you think?" Lois responded, straightening her own back at the echo of Rokk's words. Only she could do this. Determination starting to build, she masked her expression and looked over at Oliver.
"I'd say not too well," Oliver answered, glancing toward the door where Clark had gone. "Want a drink?"
Lois' first inclination was to decline as her eyes again followed Oliver's. Somehow, with her sparring partner near, Rokk's words bolstered her and all thought of flight left her mind. Instead, Lois felt her fight instinct kicking in. Suddenly, she had the urge to drop-kick Lana into the thirty-first century and let the Legion deal with her. After that, she'd grab Clark and show him that she was the one he needed, the one he wanted, the one he could have, if only …
Out of the corner of her eye, Lois spotted the glass containing the amber liquid. Still in a state of fight she took the glass of liquid courage from Oliver and raised it to her lips. She downed the drink in one gulp and gasped.
"What the hell was that?" Lois choked out as the liquid burned its way down her throat, turning to face Oliver.
"An attention-getter," he smirked. "And look at that - it worked. At least I've got your full attention now."
"Well … you could have just snapped your fingers in my face or something," Lois wheezed. "What's so important that you needed my undivided attention?"
"Your cousin sent me over here. According to the future bride, your toast is long overdue, as is Clark's … but he's busy right now."
Her gaze slammed into Oliver's. At least he had the grace to wince.
"Look, Lois, don't you think Clark deserves some closure, if nothing else? I'm sure they're just talking …" He trailed off, swallowing hard as Lois' eyes narrowed.
"Okay," he said, raising his arms in surrender, "backing off now. Don't shoot the messenger," he quipped, shrugging his shoulders in Chloe's direction as his eyes met hers.
Lois followed his gaze and saw her cousin looking at her with a Bridezilla look in her eye. Sighing, Lois tried to gather her thoughts as she walked over to the bar and grabbed the first full water glass she could find, along with a suitable utensil. Clearing her throat, she tapped the glass with the tip of the spoon.
"Excuse me, everyone; excuse me. I'd like to make a toast." Lois shouted to the other occupants of the room as she walked closer to Chloe and Jimmy in the center.
"As we were growing up, Chloe and I spent time, like a lot of young girls, talking about the type of guy we wanted to marry someday. Of course, Chloe was more interested in the prince while I was more interested in the dragon." There were chuckles around the room. Still, Lois was aware of the exact minute Clark stepped back in…
"When we grew older, we threw away childish fantasies, recognizing that love and friendship were more important than being damsels in distress." Lois watched as Clark's eyes widened at her remarks and then seemed to narrow as he caught her meaning. Her gaze quickly returned to a tense Chloe.
"In Jimmy, I think Chloe has found both a friend and a prince. Here's to Chloe and Jimmy." At the finish, Lois watched Chloe relax as everyone raised their glasses.
When her cousin came forward to give her a hug, Lois found her eyes returning to Clark's over Chloe's shoulder. His eyes begged for understanding as Lana walked up and linked her arm through his. Together they walked out the door, and Lois realized she'd been holding on to the idea of meant to be. In her heart, she'd secretly been hoping that Clark was getting closure and that he would come back to her. It was a foolish dream. Her eyes blinked back tears. No amount of wishing, wanting or fate could make things happen now. Her time had obviously run out.
For Lois, the rest of the evening passed in a haze. She talked, laughed and visited but inside she was berating herself for being so foolish. Relying on the future kids, she had opened her heart, sure that Clark would pick her this time, thinking that time was on her side.
She'd been so stupid.
It seemed to take forever for the party to end but, finally, everyone was gone except for Chloe, Jimmy and Lois.
"Are you sure?" Chloe asked for the hundredth time, as Jimmy helped her on with her coat. "Clark was supposed to help you tonight. With the escaped jeweler running around, you shouldn't be left alone…" Chloe trailed off.
"If the jeweler was going to make his move, he would have done it by now," Lois interrupted. "Besides, it's your night. You guys go ahead and I'll take care of things here." She held up her broom and dustpan, "See, I'm armed and ready."
While Jimmy chuckled, Chloe looked concerned.
"I don't know, Lois," she said, as Jimmy started pulling on her arm - the prospective groom definitely had something special planned.
"Go," Lois told her cousin, helping Jimmy to get her out the door. "I promise to lock the door and run to my car when I'm done."
Reluctantly, Chloe let herself be led out by her fiancé and, when the door was closed and locked, Lois released a heavy sigh. Immediately, she slipped off her shoes. Her feet were killing her. Putting on a CD of some of her favorites, Lois leaned against the stereo and listened to the familiar tunes.
After a while, she straightened, refusing to brood. Action was what was needed now and so Lois quickly started moving around the room picking up paper plates, plastic utensils and other garbage.
With Def Leppard blasting in the stereo, it took a few minutes before Lois heard the knock on the door. Ironically singing, "Is anybody out there?" she froze at the glass entry and dropped her garbage bag when she saw who was on the other side. She blinked trying to clear her vision until he raised his hand to knock again. Reluctantly, she unlocked the door.
"I thought you could use a hand," Clark said, giving her his sheepish smile along with his puppy-dog eyes.
Lois didn't return the smile. Instead, she handed him the garbage bag.
"Chloe called you, huh?"
Clark's face lost its sheepish expression as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Does it matter?"
Lois shrugged. "Not as long as you do your share of the work," she added, nodding toward the garbage bag in his hand.
After he started working, Lois kept her back to him, knowing that she wouldn't be able to hang on to her composure otherwise.
You must continue to support and challen-
She tried to cut off Rokk's words in her mind. They weren't helping. In fact, they were tearing her in two. How was she supposed to be any help to Clark when her own heart was shattered? Telling herself that she'd survived this before wasn't helping right now.
Falling back on the familiar, Lois simply shoved her emotions aside, willed her mind to go blank and started singing loudly with the music. Keeping busy helped and so she moved quickly around the room, cleaning as much as she could.
With all the work to do, it was easy to ignore Clark until she bumped into him.
"Watch it!" Lois said, irritated by her own clumsiness.
When he didn't respond, she finally looked at him, only to see that intent look on his face, the one he wore when he was trying to figure out what she was thinking.
"What?" she asked, irritated by his look, his presence, his … everything.
"Nothing," he muttered looking back at the garbage in his hand, but then his face grew determined and his gaze returned to hers. "Look, Lois about earlier tonight …"
Not wanting to be close to him or listen to his excuses, Lois walked quickly over to the stereo and cut him off by turning up the volume. It was immature, she knew, but she wasn't ready to talk. She wasn't sure if her heart could stand it. Burying the hurt had been working so far …
A large, warm hand reached around to cover hers, turning down the volume in the process but she didn't let go. Her hand battled with Clark's until he finally reacted.
"Lois, what are you doing?" Clark asked, grabbing her by the shoulders and spinning her around to face him.
"I don't want to hear it," Lois said, moving her hands up in an attempt to break his grip on her shoulders while her eyes darted around the room.
He leaned down to catch her eyes with his but she turned her head away.
Clark's sigh practically parted her hair. "You may not want to hear it but I want to explain. Lana had an appointment and needed a ride to her Aunt Nell's. I left to take her there-"
"What you do with Lana is your own business," Lois responded, trying to hang on to her dignity. She couldn't let him see how much he'd hurt her. "And I have enough going on without riding that roller coaster ... no offense."
"None taken," Clark said, releasing her immediately. He seemed disconcerted by Lois' reaction.
Quickly, she pulled away before his touch could break down her resistance and turned to walk off. She wasn't sure how long she could keep this up, but his next question stopped her in her tracks.
"What if I don't want to ride that roller coaster?"
"Then I'd say that's one of the smartest decisions you've made in a while, Smallville," Lois told him, trying to keep her heart from racing as she unlocked the front door and continued outside with the garbage.
It wasn't until she reached the dumpster that she released a shaky breath. Was it possible that Clark Kent was over Lana Lang? While her mind was telling her "no," hope was blooming again in her traitorous heart. She stood at the smelly dumpster for a few minutes wondering how she could possibly go back inside. That's when she noticed the car headlights.
"Hey, do you mind?" Lois shouted, still thinking about Clark. "Your high beams are drilling holes in my skull-"
She felt the sting of the taser in her side.
"Oh, shit."
As Lois was collapsing she heard Clark's voice, "Lois? Where are you?"
No, not Clark.
That was her last thought.
Metropolis warehouse, same night
Pain.
The burning sensation was coming from her other side this time. Lois grimaced as she looked around. Everything was still dark but the ceilings were too high for a basement. She was being held in a warehouse. The fact that she could recognize a dark warehouse so quickly was probably a sad declaration about the state of her life.
His voice, when it came out of the blackness, crawled over her skin.
"You said it yourself, Ms. Lane, actions speak louder than words," the jeweler told her. It took a minute for Lois's eyes to adjust enough to see that the jeweler was standing about ten feet away from her in the shadows.
Great, psychopaths actually listen to me.
Instinctively, Lois tried to move and discovered that she was chained to a concrete post, probably one of the support posts in the large structure. There were windows in the warehouse positioned about fifteen feet off the ground, but they had been painted black. The only lighting was from a single bulb situated somewhere above Lois and she couldn't shake the feeling that he was recreating some kind of horror movie.
As Lois moved, she felt a sticky sensation on parts of her skin. Looking down at herself, she realized that she had wires attached to most of the pressure points on her body.
"What, I'm a human light bulb now?" Lois commented, struggling to see the jeweler in the shadows, wondering how she was going to get out of this one.
Lies ... pain.
Simple words but they impacted her immediately. Her chest tightened, the static filling her head and the black surrounded the edges of her vision. Lois blinked and took deep breaths trying to calm her racing heart. This guy was not going to get to her again.
Not again, not again.
"... it's always about the truth, Ms. Lane," the jeweler responded. "But with deeds, not words. You were so right."
"Glad I could help," Lois told him sarcastically, gradually applying pressure to the chains to test for weak spots. There weren't any.
"Oh you didn't help me, just yourself," the jeweler told her. "You'll thank me for this later."
"Right, I'll thank you when I'm dead," Lois responded, fighting the shiver in her voice as the words sank in. Then she heard the sound of another voice and her entire body started to shake.
"Lois?" the voice was weak but recognizable.
"Clark?" Lois called. "Clark, where are you?" Lois looked around in the dim light and spotted movement against the post about twenty feet away.
"Good, you're awake," the jeweler said and she heard the sound of a switch. Instantly, the dim light from single bulb shone above Clark and Lois could see him for the first time.
He was in the same condition as her, chained to a post but instead of wires, there was green rock in a small box at his feet. It had clearly weakened him because his head rested loosely on his chest and his eyes were closed.
Frantic, Lois yelled at the jeweler, "What have you done?"
"I haven't done anything yet, Ms. Lane, but soon I'll be doing you both a favor."
"What …" Lois stopped, scared to hear the answer, "what do you mean?"
"Actions, Ms. Lane," the jeweler said, moving between Lois and Clark, quietly adjusting the various knobs and levers on his equipment. "I've watched the two of you together. You've got something special between you, but you haven't been able to act on it because of your secrets."
"There's nothing between us, no secrets and ... nothing else," Lois told him, fighting to keep the fear and panic out of her voice. "Let him go, please," she begged.
"Lois, stop," Clark said weakly. "Let her go," he said more strongly to the jeweler. "You can do whatever you want to me but leave her alone."
"See," the jeweler said, stepping back to look between them. "You're already protecting one another. Like I said, you'll thank me later."
"Who are you?" Clark asked, his voice not much more than a whisper.
The jeweler left Lois to walk over to Clark, "Oh, that's right, we haven't met. Ms. Lane named me the Truth or Dare Murderer, although I don't like the word murderer. I prefer helper myself."
"No," Clark groaned, beginning to struggle against his chains.
Lois watched as the jeweler held his green bracelet up to Clark's face. Immediately, Clark's struggles ceased as his complexion turned the color of the stone glowing in the bracelet. Clark tried to pull his head away.
"Oh, yes," the jeweler told Clark as he stepped back and lowered the bracelet. "Just one of your little secrets I happened to notice when you and the detective rushed in to rescue Ms. Lane. You were so eager you didn't hide your reaction very well. I knew then that you were the one, the one who cared, the one who needed to be honest with her," the jeweler paused and looked at Clark. "But you haven't been honest, have you? Don't you know that you'll never truly have her love unless you're honest with her?" The jeweler stepped over to his instruments. "Of course," he commented casually, "most couples don't come close to carrying the secrets you do."
"It was you," Lois whispered, realizing that she'd been aware of him watching her all along. She'd had the feeling she was being watched several times during the past few weeks but the feeling had been strongest when she was on her way to meet Jimmy and Clark for some Blur hunting. The jeweler must have seen the whole Blur bungle and her rescue in the alley. Lois felt sick at the thought.
The whine of the instruments interrupted and a sob escaped her throat, her body automatically tensing at the thought of the pain. Clark heard her and he lifted his eyes to hers. Her own fear and pain were reflected in his eyes.
Pain.
How were they going to get out of this?
"You came crashing in to save her last time, so I'll give you the chance to do it again. Of course, this time you'll be required to reveal your secrets," the jeweler said, moving to stand in front of Clark. "I've plugged Ms. Lane into enough electricity to power your little home town. I'm going to set the timer for five seconds," the jeweler instructed, adjusting one of the devices closest to Clark. "You'll have to use your, uhm, special talents if you want to save her."
"What?" Lois demanded. "What talents? Look, Clark is just a normal guy," Lois cried out in panic over the jeweler's words. Clark could not reveal himself to the jeweler. It would be disastrous.
"Oh Miss Lane, I told you you'd thank me. Everyone has secrets; your friend Clark just has more than his fair share. Don't worry; I'll give you some time to talk things over first. The alarm will announce the activation of the device," the jeweler calmly walked over to Lois. "You have only five seconds to live after that but, if he saves you then trust me … you're more important to him than you realize."
Lois struggled against her chains but they didn't move. Moaning as they cut into her, she stopped, breathing heavily as the jeweler walked out the door.
Her mind blank, Lois just hung there for a minute. What could she do? Clark was the only one who could break these chains but if he did his identity would be compromised.
For a minute the only sound was the whir and tick of the jeweler's devices.
"Clark?" Lois called and watched as his weakly lifted his head to look at her. "Can you move your feet?"
Looking down, Clark seemed to get the idea and Lois watched as he moved each foot slowly up and down and side to side within the chains, trying to loosen them. After a few minutes the toe of his boot lightly grazed the top of the box of meteor rock, krypto-whatever.
If he could only get it shut.
"You almost had it," Lois encouraged as Clark continued to move his feet. Then he stopped.
"Wire," Clark told her looking up. Squinting in the dim light Lois finally saw what Clark had seen. The lid of the box was connected to a wire and they had no idea what it might trigger.
"Just leave it, Clark," Lois told him. If an explosion was triggered before the lid closed-
Lois looked into Clark's eyes and she ached with the pain she saw there. Her mind flashed to the roof of the Chronicle, where pain-filled steel eyes turned to blue and faded-
And then the sharp stabbing behind her eyes caused her to cry out as she was transported to the future.
Night 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, get control, just as a shadowy darkness slithered in through the balcony doors. Lois gasped when the shadow took shape, appearing as a second Night, only this one with blood red eyes.
The hands on her arms lowered as Night turned to face … himself.
"Well, well," a slithering, sardonic voice emerged from the red-eyed Night, as bits of shadow seem to dance around the creature. "What have we here?"
Lois didn't respond. She couldn't. Fear, unlike any she had known, clamped around her heart until she felt frozen, icy.
"Ah, the prize, I see," continued the creature, as he turned to Night. "I know what I promised, Kryptonian, but I expect your companion not to interfere with your duties."
The creature looked at Night until something in him was satisfied, then turned his red eyes to Lois as she fought the urge to cover her fully-clothed body with her hands.
"Hmmm, not bad for your second choice," the creature added and Lois watched as a slim sliver of a shadow danced around her ear. The Darkness was looking for a way in. She tried to ignore the creature's words.
"Oh, didn't you know? In every incarnation of Clark Kent, you are his second choice," the creature chuckled as Lois felt the words hit home. Her weakness, her heartache exploited, Lois fought against it as shadowy slivers danced in front of her vision, the Darkness' last attempt to claim her-
The continuous beeping of an alarm brought Lois slowly back to the present, where she heard Clark calling her name.
"Lois," he out weakly. "It's the alarm. I'm going to try to get us out of here."
"No … no," Lois shook her head as she slowly became aware of her surroundings. This could not be happening. It was all too much. Just then she realized that tears were streaming down her face, the memories opening old wounds and attacking new ones-
"Lois," Clark repeated and her eyes were drawn to his. She saw the fear and pain reflecting her own, as well as the frustration he felt at being helpless. He must have seen the tears because his eyes softened just before he began battling with the chains.
"I'll get us out of this," Clark kept saying as he struggled with the chains and, for once, Lois had no reply.
Feeling drained and defeated, she let her head drop.
The small snap of the lid closing over the box of kryptonite brought her eyes back to Clark's.
Almost immediately, Lois watched the pain leave his expression. The chains seemed to simply fall away from his body as his strength returned. Her eyes never left him when he blurred to her side, breaking her own chains with the same ease. It took longer to remove the wires and, for just a minute their eyes met, but Clark looked away, focusing on the job at hand.
When Lois was free, he pulled her bruised and battered body to his chest and sped out into the dark of the early morning, while electricity pulsed and crackled through the wires left behind.
Kent farmhouse, next evening
The sun was starting to set behind the barn, painting the sky in soft, golden colors when Lois reached for her jacket … again. She could see the barn from the kitchen window and she knew Clark was hiding in there, brooding. As far as she knew, he'd been out there all day.
After their escape, he had immediately taken her to the hospital and left her there while he went back for the jeweler. In the early morning hours, Chloe arrived with coffee and a worried expression. She'd apologized again and again for leaving her cousin but Lois waved her off distractedly, concerned about Clark facing the jeweler.
Reaching out hand, Los tried to stop him.
"Don't Clark," she whispered. "He can weaken you-"
"It's all right Lois," Clark interrupted with a reassuring smile. "I'll be careful." But his eyes contained an anger that Lois had never seen …
It was J'onn who called to tell Lois about the jeweler's capture. He didn't go into details but he did mention that the Blur was involved. It was only after talking to J'onn, out of Chloe's earshot, that Lois felt herself relax. The jeweler was caught, Clark was alive, and J'onn was taking care of whatever the jeweler thought he knew about Clark.
The relaxed feeling didn't last long when Lois realized she was sitting on an exclusive story. After she convinced a reluctant Chloe to take her to work, she finished her second story on the Truth or Dare Murderer in record time. Randall was thrilled and even Tess was impressed. The only thing missing was Clark.
It was Jimmy who told her Clark had taken a personal day.
Picking up her car from the gallery, Lois quickly drove back to the farm, reviewing the night's events. By the time she got out of the car, she was stressed all over again, thinking about Clark's reaction and his anger. Was he upset with her? When she got out of the car she could hear Clark working in the barn but she was too worked up by then. Instead of going in there, she'd waited in the house for Clark.
She'd been waiting for over an hour.
It was after Lana called looking for Clark that Lois couldn't settle. Now she had an excuse to visit and yet every time she'd grab her jacket, she'd hesitate, hang her jacket back up, and sit down at the table… get up, look out the window, grab her jacket, and hang it up … until the entire process repeated itself.
Another twenty minutes went by and Clark never left the barn.
Finally tired of waiting and wondering, Lois grabbed her jacket and put it on. Barreling out the kitchen door, she stormed in the barn, only to discover Clark in his shirt-sleeves working on the tractor. By the time she reached the barn, Lois was worked up and muttering under her breath.
"Okay, I'm sorry!" she cried, when Clark didn't look up from his work. Just the sight of him working quietly sent her over the edge.
Clark looked up, clearly surprised, "For what?"
"For everything! I don't know … for whatever it is that has you brooding out here."
Clark stood and watched Lois pace in front of him. "I'm not brooding," he told her, but his expression belied his words.
"Oh, yes you are," Lois said, stopping about three feet in front of him and planting her hands on her hips. "I can tell. I mean, I've known you for four years. I've lived with you. I know when you're-"
"Five," Clark interrupted calmly.
"What?" Lois sputtered.
"You've known me for five years," Clark said, grabbing up one of the work towels to wipe his hands, his eyes avoiding hers.
"Well, yeah … okay, but the point is I know you-"
"Do you?" Clark asked, suddenly focusing on the towel in his hands, his body completely still.
"Of course I do …" Lois told him, slowing down and growing concerned at the turn in the conversation. "Smallville, what is this about?" Lois took a step closer.
"Me, Lois," Clark responded, continuing to watch his hands. "You saw what I am … what I can do ... what I've hidden from you." Suddenly, Clark threw his work towel into the dirt and nervously shoved his hands into his pockets. "I've kept things from you, lied to you and …and I'm sick of it," Clark finished on a frustrated note, continuing to look at the ground. "I'm just so sick of it all …"
"Then stop it," Lois said calmly, her heart warming at his words.
Blue eyes grabbed onto hazel and held.
Lois watched as fear, self-loathing and longing appeared in his eyes. Her heart was racing as she realized how important this moment was for Clark and for her as well. Afraid to change the dynamic, Lois held his gaze and waited, wanting so desperately for him to tell her, for him to make the first move-
"How?" The question that interrupted her thoughts was barely more than a whisper. "People who know my secret have died-"
"I could get kidnapped tomorrow and die, Clark," Lois told him, watching as he winced at the truth of her statement. "You can't let that stop you if you really want to be honest with me."
Clark was silent for so long that Lois had to react. Walking slowly over to him, she took his hand and led him to a nearby hay bale. Sitting on the bale, she patted the place next to her and watched as he took a seat.
Taking pity on him, she finally spoke while his eyes stayed glued to the dirt. "Look if you're sick of lying, then just … tell me something about yourself, something true."
"You saw some of what I can do," Clark said, taking a deep breath. "I can also run really fast and I'm super strong. I can hear from great distances, shoot fire from my eyes, have super breath, and x-ray vision," Clark told her in rapid-fire sequence, holding his breath as he waited for her reaction.
"That's all great, Clark, but I'd already figured out that you have powers," Lois told him seriously. "Tell me something from here," and Lois laid her hand lightly over his heart, feeling it speed up with her touch.
His brows furrowed in confusion, "What do you mean?" Clark exclaimed, sounding exasperated by her response, or lack of one. "Didn't you hear what I just said?"
"Yes, Clark and I've known lots of guys with special abilities, believe it or not. Unfortunately, most of them threw their talents away because they didn't know how to handle them," Lois continued, trying to make him understand that his secret was about so much more than what he could do. "Tell me what's in your heart. That's what's important."
Clark was stunned. For a minute, he simply gave her a blank look. Then, closing his eyes, he squeezed her hand and began to speak.
"I'm one of the last of my kind, from a planet destroyed …"
For the next hour or more, Lois listened as Clark told her the story of a little boy who was placed in a space ship and sent to earth, of the people who found and raised him, of the tribe who put him in their legends, and of others with abilities who had become his friends. It didn't' matter that she'd heard a lot of it before. She listened intently while Clark opened himself to her, showing her his heart with each and every word.