"Fallen Deeper"

Featured Characters: Lois and Clark (DUH), Hawkman, and Martin Manhunter

NOTES: Glad you guys are enjoying it! YAY!

DISCLAIMER: I STILL owe nothing, if I did I would give all green lights to Smallville so they can say the word "Super Man!" :D

SIDENOTES: Enjoyed writing this one more than the previous ones...for obvious reasons.

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CHAPTER 3: "Landing Hard"

Hawkman placed Clark down on the floor. He got into his communicator. "Hawkman to Watchtower. I've got him. Badly wounded."

No response back from Watchtower. Hawkman frowned at this and tried once again. "Hawkman to Watchtower. Do you copy?"

Still no response.

"Great," he grunted. He looked down at Clark and placed his hand upon the dagger. "We should take this out, kid. You'll be able to heal fast."

Clark took a hold of Hawkman's wrist. "Leave--it," he managed to let out.

Hawkman frowned. "You'll die. We need to take it out." He took hold of the end of the dagger one more time, determined to save Clark's life.

Clark's hold on Hawkman grew stronger. Hawkman saw the determinism in Clark's eyes as he heard him say, "Leave it."

Hawkman wasn't understanding one bit. He opened his mouth to speak, to try to talk some sense into Clark.

However, a cry from behind him stopped anyone else from speaking. "Clark!"

Hawkman turned quickly and found a tall, distraught looking brunette running as fast as she could towards him and the badly wounded Clark. Crap, he thought to himself. I should have been more careful. Hawkman was pretty sure that only Clark's mother and Chloe knew the truth of who Clark really was and knew that Clark wanted it to be kept that way. Too many people with too much information was a recipe for disaster.

For half a second, Hawkman debated on covering Clark's face with his body and flying him off to a safer location; make the woman think that who she had seen was not Clark Kent and just a figment of her imagination. However, as the woman was now much closer, Hawkman could see her face more clearly.

Tears were pouring down her white face as her entire body seemed to be shaking. Her sobs were barely allowing her to breathe properly. She almost tripped as she got within five feet of him and Clark.

Hawkman reached over to hold her steady, but it seemed as if she hadn't seen him. Clark was the main focus in her eyes. She crashed into the ground next to Clark, her eyes pouring out more powerful tears.

Hawkman stared into her eyes, focused on her expression--her reactions to this. Familiarity began to sink into him. He had seen this before--experienced it. But he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

"Lois," Clark chocked out.

Hawkman turned back to Clark. He was giving the woman, apparently named Lois, a smile. He was so weak, Hawkman wondered how Clark had managed such a thing, let alone say her name. And there was something about the way Clark had said her name as well. There was cunning in the tone and wonder, almost sounded like a prayer. As if his world centered around this name--this person.

Hawkman didn't think it to be possible but he noticed Lois' sobs coming harder down. She placed a shaky hand on Clark's shoulder and held his hand with the other. She turned to his wound and then back to Clark's face. "Clark."

The tone in her voice sounded the same as Clark's now when she said his name.

And it dawned on Hawkman just then. These two loved each other. Cared deeply for one another. The energy coming off of them was unlike anything Hawkman had ever seen in centuries. Astounding, Hawkman thought to himself.

Clark continued smiling at Lois as she let out tears of torment. "I thought I'd never see you again." His hand stroked hers.

Lois placed her palm on his cheek. "We need to get you to a doctor."

He shook his head. "They--can't--help me."

Just then, Martian Manhunter appeared at Hawkman's side. "What seems to be the problem?"

Hawkman turned to him and gave him a quick review. "He doesn't want me to take the dagger out of him--even though it's killing him."

Martian knelt down. "We're going to have to take it out," he said to Clark with a determined look.

Clark took hold of the dagger again. "Blue," he hardly let out.

Hawkman frowned. "What?" He didn't understand what that meant. However, by the looks of the Martian's face, he certainly did.

"That's why you didn't transport out," Martian let out in a whisper.

"Portal. Hurry." Clark was beginning to look paler by the second. And sweat was dripping out of every corner.

Martian stood up. "How?"

"Book of Rao. Pull out."

The Martian was gone. Hawkman stared up after him. He was going up to the rooftop. What's going on? Will someone explain?

"Clark, we need to get you help," said Lois with a weak, defiant voice. "Come on."

Hawkman turned and found that she had come to her knees and was attempting to pick Clark up by herself. He almost laughed at the sight. A normal human trying to pick up the Man of Steel. Funny.

"Lois," Clark pleaded. "No one can."

"I can't just…leave you like this!" She clutched onto his shirt and yanked.

He placed his hand on top of hers. "Lois...."

She didn't listen, just continued to pull.

Hawkman didn't know this woman very well, but seeing how helpless she looked and how much it was obviously tearing her apart because of it, was enough to make his heart squeeze. Something told him that this Lois was one to not easily give up and believe she could do anything she set her mind to.

Turning to Clark, Hawkman saw the same sort of look. But there was patience there in Clark's eyes.

Clark looked as if he was doing the best he could to keep his eyes open. "Lois. Lois, look--me."

Lois did so, with what appeared to be a great effort.

"Just stay…with me." He was pleading with her.

She sank deeper and wrapped her arms around his neck, sobbing. "Don't leave me, Clark. I can't survive that."

Clark stroked her face with such gentleness. Even though he was going through what must be the most physical pain he had ever endured, Clark seemed to only notice her.

Witnessing this, Hawkman knew that the strength Clark had was due to her. Just over a minute ago, he was ready to pass out, but the moment this Lois came into view, everything changed. Clark seemed to be more in control, stronger. Fighting for survival. Postponing his end. Not sparing a single second he had left on anything else other than her.

The way Clark was looking at Lois and the force coming out of him was a reminder to Hawkman. The love coming out of these two young couple's eyes kept hitting him harder and stronger with every second he was around them.

Carter had witnessed another powerful love as this. With Shiera, his wife.

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NOTE: Like? Like? Well, REVIEW! hurry! Next one is still being written. I THINK it might be the last one... I THINK! Give me like two days to post it up though. Still not done with it.