Chapter 14

Lois was rushing around the Daily Planet to get to her deadline. Lex Luthor was finally getting sentenced to prison after investigating on his involvement on the attempted nuclear attack. The sentence was yet to be determined. She needed to get a full backstage pass to the trial and she needed to speak to Perry. She was on her way to his office when Jimmy attempted to stop her.

"Not now Ms. Lane! He's in a meeting and you're known to just barge in. He's not in the mood for that."

James was the younger brother of Chloe's Jimmy, her old friend. He was all grown up and filling in his brothers shoes at the bullpen. In order to keep his spirit alive, he insisted that people call him Jimmy. He was trying to keep up with Lois' pace who was in a rush, "Come on Olsen, this is more important than some sleazy meeting. What's this one about now?"

Jimmy shrugged, "Dunno. Boss said he was hiring an old friend."

Lois rolled her eyes, "Trust me Jimmy, getting a full backstage pass and an interview with Lex's judge is more important than another attempt at hiring another hot shot reporter. He's already got one." She points at herself, "Me!" She puts her hand on the doorknob when Jimmy stops her.

Lois narrows his eyes at him which always scared him, "Sorry Lois. Boss said no interruptions."

Lois shook her head, "Who is so important that he can't have one simple interruption?"

Jimmy shrugged, "Got me. Come here I have some footage I want you to take a look at. I just took' em this morning" Jimmy pulls her to his desk and presented her with two photos. At first Lois didn't seem interested, but when she realized what exactly he took, she couldn't believe her eyes. "I know it's not exactly a clear view, but I got a good enough shot for the whole world to know who exactly that is." Lois blinked a few times, "Red and Blue blur flying around? He's back Lois!" Jimmy was getting excited. Lois couldn't make out a word, she was speechless.

"I look forward to having you work here again son. I have to admit, it hasn't been the same without you." She heard Perry's voice coming out of his office.

"Thank you sir. I promise it'll be just like old times" Lois turned around at the sound of the two men coming out of Perry's office. Perry was shaking hands with the other man. He was wearing a trench coat with a white collar shirt, a black tie, and black dress pants. What threw Lois off more was glasses he wore. Those familiar black framed glasses set in front of those blue green eyes. Clark looked up at Lois and took a deep breath as he walked up to Lois, "Hey."

Lois was hesitant to speak, "You work here now?"

Clark nodded, "I just spoke with Perry, he offered me the job again, but he wanted to know why I left. He thought I left for a better newspaper, but I assured him there was nothing better than the Daily Planet... as long as you're here working with me." He smiled at her.

Lois closed her eyes and looked at the ground, "Why are you doing this?" she looked back up at him, "Why can't you just leave me alone?"

Clark sighed, "Lois I've left you alone for four years. I think I've given you enough space since I came back. I told you I wasn't sure if I was staying-"

"I figured that meant you were most likely leaving..."

Clark nodded, "After you lashed out at me, at how much I hurt you. I thought it would've been better if I had left. But then I saw Chris. I got to hear his voice up close, hear him laugh, talk about his powers with him, be able to touch him, hug him... It made me never want to leave... ever." Lois blinked a couple of times, holding back tears. Clark continued, "He only knows me as Clark. I want him to know me as his father. I want us to be a family again."

Lois shook her head in disbelief, "It's too late for that. I've moved on."

Clark pressed his lips, "It's not too late. I'm gonna keep fighting for you Lois. No matter what, I'm not giving up." He pushed his glasses closer to his face, and gave her his irresistible smile, "You'll see."

Lois frowned, that was when Perry came out of his office, "Lane? I heard you wanted to speak with me?" Lois composed herself and let herself into Perry's office without saying another word to Clark. She turned around as she caught a glance at Clark staring back at her when Perry closed the door between them. "So what is it?"

Lois almost forgot what she came here to do. Her mind was still on Clark. Was he being serious? How long is he gonna stay for now? How long is it gonna take until he's scared off again? Perry was tapping his foot impatiently on the floor, waiting for Lois to respond. Lois cleared her throat, "It's umm, it's about Clar- Lex!" Perry raised his eyebrow, "Lex. It's about Lex's trial. His fate is going to be set this Friday and I need you to get me into that trial. Now I know it's pretty packed, but I know you can use your band of merry men to get me a pass into that courtroom. I need to get a quote from the judge and hopefully from Lex."

Perry's face changed to confusion, "Ms. Lane didn't you know? You're already set to testify against him."

Lois raised her eyebrow, "What? I never got that memo?"

Perry stroked his head, "I could've sworn I had Olsen to send it to you. Anyways that's not the point. You were captured by Luthor and you saw what was going on. You've been asked to testify against him. This whole trial is depending on you. You have to tell them exactly what you saw."

Lois swallowed, she wasn't prepared for this. To testify against Lex? This was going to create a black mark on her record. The league specifically asked her not to get involved in Lex's menacing missions. But if she doesn't testify, Lex could leave a free man and cause more danger to her and her son. "So I guess I already have a backstage pass to this."

Perry shook his head, "I'm sorry Ms. Lane. But you can't publish this story if you're testifying. It's a conflict of interest and it doesn't look good on your part. The witness who testified, publishing a story about it? I'm sorry but I'm going to have to give this story to someone else."

Lois scowled, "Are you kidding? I can't give up this story. This is MY story!"

Perry's eyebrows wrinkled, "You're in the middle of the story Lane. I can't have that. Now if you want I'll give the story to someone else and you can work on it together, but you have to give them the by-line." Lois paced back and forth, "I'll get them into the courtroom so they can quote you, Lex, and the judge directly. It'll be on the front page."

"A front page discredited by me!"

"Don't give me that Lane. Those are the rules and you know it."

Lois put her hands on her hips, "Fine! So tell me who are you planning on giving my story to?"

"Clark Kent."

Lois' eyes widened, "Clark?"

Perry sighed, "Look Lois, I know your history with Clark. I've worked with you two before he left and you have to admit, Clark and Lois made a pretty good team."

"Lois and Clark."

Perry laughed, "Fine. But he's back, and I would appreciate it if you could try to get along. I gave him his old job back because he was good at what he does. He'll be your partner in crime again. He has the desk in front of you. Just like old times."

Lois continued to stare at Perry with wide eyes, "Perry. I'm sorry but I don't want it to be like old times. I've moved on. I can't work with him around me. Please. I beg you. Give it anyone but Clark!"

Perry held his hand out in front of her, "I've made my decision Ms. Lane. However, you are still Mrs. Kent. Clark stays, and he's going to be your desk neighbour. Show him around in case he gets lost. Things have changed around here for him and I want him to feel like home."

Lois gritted her teeth and stomped out of his office. She did not want to go back to her desk. She blew out a breath of air, when she got out of the elevator, she hesitated "It's just for a story. It's just business Lane." She took a deep breath and walked slowly towards her desk. When it came into view, she saw Clark sitting at his old desk. It was as if he never left... but he did... for four years.

Lois dropped a pile of documents on Clarks desk which made him jump. Nothing ever took him by surprise, except for Lois. "These are all the research I've collected over Lex and his involvement in the nuclear attack with Brainiac and how his influence as President had taken a negative impact." Clark looked through the papers. Lois continued, "It's all there, I need you to write the story. Perry's going to be making some calls and getting you into the trial. That way you can get a quote from the judge and... maybe some witnesses."

Clark turned his chair to face her, "You were a witness Lois."

Lois nodded her head slowly, "I've been called to testify against him. I can't write this story because I'm a witness. You're gonna have to take the by-line from me."

Clark stood up, he was inches away from Lois' face, she took a step back from him, his face got serious, "Lois... If you testify against Lex you could be his primary target for being the one who sent him to jail. He has as much power behind those bars. You could get hurt."

"I have no choice in this. You didn't think I thought about this? I didn't even know I was gonna testify until five seconds ago. You need to do this story. We'll work on it together after the hearing."

She was about to walk away when Clark grabbed her hand, she wrinkled her eyebrows at him, "Lois... I don't want you to go off alone. Lex is a very powerful man, he could get anyone to do anything for him. Even kill a witness before his trial."

Lois smirked and pulled her hand out of his, "I can take care of myself. Don't even try worrying about me... You lost that right a long time ago remember?" She gave him a cold look and walked away, she couldn't be at work anymore. She had to speak to Oliver.