Keeping a Promise Chap 9
Countdown to Isa
The Kent's are resting in bed, catching their breath and letting their hearts slowly resume resting rates after a session of sharing their love a few times. Clark was exquisitely careful and respectful of Lana and Isobel during their time together. This was one of the things that Lana adored about her husband; his support and careful treatment of her and Isa was unending. She loved him more each day, if possible.
"Clark?"
"Yes, babe?"
"Have you thought more about the question you raised a few days ago? About the hospital doing blood tests and other exams on Isa after she is born?"
"Yes, a little."
"And?"
"Well, it seems that we don't want to expose ourselves to intrusive questions; either us or our little one. So, it seems to me that we either have a home birth with a mid-wife we can completely trust to shield us from all that; or we check out Dr. Jackson and if she's completely trustworthy we trust her to shield us from all that and do a hospital delivery. And, since you are doing the heavy lifting at this stage I'm willing to go with your choice. What are you thinking, sweetheart?"
"I would rather not start all over again with a mid-wife who is new to us. I prefer checking Dr. Jackson out thoroughly and if she is squeaky clean, then confiding in her about our total situation and trusting her to get us through this. Does that sound reasonable to you? Can that be done?"
"I think it is reasonable, and can be done. What if I start with a talk with Chief Abbott and see how that goes?"
"Good starting point, babe."
"I'll get right on that. Good-night Lana, night Isa." He kisses Lana deeply on the lips, and Isa softly on her mommy's tummy.
"Night Clark, my Superman!"
3 DAYS LATER, MPD ROOF
Chief Abbott patiently awaits the requested meeting with Superman. He has one of his trusted Lieutenants with him. They see the costumed super-hero circle the roof-top twice before gracefully coming in for a landing.
Superman speaks, "Thanks for meeting me Chief. I have a personal, non-crime request of you. If you feel that you cannot get involved in this, please just say so. I will completely understand."
"I will do that. What is on your mind?"
"Before I go any further, is your Lieutenant completely trustworthy? You understand that I have to ask."
"I understand. And yes, he is."
"In order to explain this I will have to give you a little more background on myself. I am a Kryptonian, born on the now non-existent planet Krypton. My parents sent me away in a space pod before my home planet self-destructed. Everyone else on the planet died as Krypton exploded. I came to earth and was raised from age 3 by a loving family on a mid-America farm. So I was raised an earthling, but genetically I am an alien; I prefer inter-galactic traveler. It is Earth's yellow sun gives me my extra ordinary abilities.
"Well, my wife is pregnant and we are seeing a Dr. Amanda Jackson. The baby will obviously be half Earthling and half Kryptonian. This will raise some questions that we don't want to have to answer if the birth is in a hospital and some testing is done. We would prefer to be shielded from all that, if possible.
"So, my question to you Chief is this. Are you able and willing to thoroughly check out Dr. Amanda Jackson, to see if she is completely trustworthy so we can share with her the things I've told you? So she can assist us in the way we need so as not to spread my origin and abilities prematurely? If you don't feel like you can be involved in this, can you give me a recommendation?"
"Wow, that's a lot of information. I deeply appreciate your trust in sharing more about yourself. Would you be able to give me a few days to consider this?"
"I would. But I need you to keep all of this very close to your vest, both you and the Lieutenant here. This is an ongoing trial for our relationship, I'm sure you understand."
"I do. I'll get back to you as soon as I can give you a definitive answer."
"Thanks Chief, Lieutenant." Superman flies off.
There is a soft buzzer that sounds in the penthouse; Lana goes to the sliding glass door that opens onto the balcony and opens the glass, leaving the curtain closed. Shortly her husband zooms into the living room, brushing the curtain aside. He turns around and closes the glass door. The buzzer is one of the communication (warning) devices he is working on to make his Superman duties fit as smoothly as possible into his personal life. He and Lana are having ongoing discussions regarding this area of their life and they are both pleased as to how working together on this is going.
It is approaching noon and Lana is packed up for an expedition to the park to do some sketching. Clark changes clothes in a jiffy and returns to the LR and wraps her up in his arms. After a long embrace including many well placed kisses he enquires, "where are you off to?"
"Off to the park for some sketching time. I have a picnic lunch packed in that basket over there, I was hoping for some company," she grins.
"Will my company do?" He smirks.
"Yup, I was counting on it."
"Ok, just a second. I need to have my suit along." He is back in a flash and they are off.
Lana sets up her easel near a picnic table and they get the food and drinks out and start to eat.
"So, how was your talk with Chief Abbott," Lana asks.
"It was good, he had a Lieutenant with him who he asserts is completely trustworthy."
"Can we trust all these people, Clark?"
"I hope so. I told Chief that all this is an ongoing test of his trustworthiness and he understands. Anyway, in order for him to understand my request re Dr. Jackson I had to share my origin with him. He will consider our request to check out Dr. Jackson and get back to me. We shall see if he can help us or not."
After lunch he strips down to a pair of swim trunks (that Lana didn't know he had slipped on) and stretches out on the blanket she'd brought – to catch some rays. Lana tries hard to concentrate on a sketch of some children playing on the playground nearby. She can't do it.
She lies down beside him and snuggles up to his ear. "Clark, you really aren't helping me do my work."
"I'm being quiet, just laying here."
"Half naked."
"You want full naked?"
"Later. Now, how about a t-shirt?"
"Spoil sport," he pouts.
"Since you asked so nicely," he slips on a t-shirt. "I expect my reward later."
"I'm sure you will collect!"
He does; she rewards him, wearing only a smile.
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