*Chapter Fourteen*

POV: Clark Kent

Mercy's eyes were narrow and unblinking like a snake. She watched us unwavering. "Miss Lang." Her voice was as hard as ice. "Now that we've finished the introductions may I ask why you two are down here?" She kept her tone professional, removed and monotone. "I just had some questions about the plane crash that almost killed Miss Lane, and Lana here is a good friend and-"

Mercy held up a hand and I stopped talking. The black buttons on her chauffer coat gleamed in the light and not a hair on her head moved. "I've heard enough. Both of you need to remove yourself from the premise immediately and Mr. Luthor will be alerted." She turned on a boot heel. "And I mean now." Lana and I both scrambled over to the door. I tried to walk slowly to the door, keeping my calm as I could practically feel Mercy's eyes boring into my back.

As soon as we got into the elevator Lana sagged against me. "Oh gosh Clark, I'm so sorry!" I smiled and lifted her back to her feet. "It's fine Lana, you couldn't have predicted what happened." She shrugged, suddenly acting like she was interested in her reflection on the shiny door. "I should have been more careful." I gave a small laugh. "We all make mistakes eventually." Lana peered at me from the corner of her eye. "Even a hunky Kryptonian?"

I furrowed my brows. "I don't know any, but I'll tell you when I meet one." Lana playfully slapped me and I feigned injury. Of course, nothing she could do would physically affect me. The elevator door slid open and Lana and I exited into the hallway, Lana's pumps clacking against the floor.

We pushed out into the cool air, Lana shivering lightly. I slid my jacket off, wrapping it around her shoulders. She tried to shrug it off but I held it in place. "Don't." I insisted. "The cold isn't as bad for me as it is for you." Lana thought for a moment. "Well in that case…." She slid the jacket back on. After a moment she crinkled her nose. "Really Clark, couldn't you have put on better cologne?"

I shot her an incredulous look. "Oh sorry Lana, in all of the stress of being Superman I somehow forgot to put on expensive man perfume, silly me." Lana just rolled her eyes. "For a superhero you're very dramatic." She observed. I shrugged. "Well how dramatic are superhero's supposed to be?" Lana paused to fix her heels. "I don't know. Gosh, my feet are killing me." She moaned.

I looked down at her. "What, do you want me to carry you?" She pretended to look aghast. "Clark Kent, I have a boyfriend and if you even think about laying a hand on me, I swear I will-" I swept her up before she could finish. Lana laughed. "What am I going to do with you?" She muttered. I pretended to drop her. "Not really sure." She just rested her head on my chest. "I don't want to call a cab; do you think you could…?" I raised an eyebrow. "You always get sick when I go at blur speed. Are you sure?" She nodded. I took a deep breath and sped away.

To an average person I wouldn't even be seen, only a wind that quickly sped by. Everything around us passed in seconds but I could see Lana. And she looked green. "Please don't barf." I begged her. She didn't answer, instead choosing to squeeze her mouth closed. A moment later we were in an abandoned alley and I set Lana down.

She wobbled a little but managed to keep her food down. "Thanks." She grumbled. I took a few cautionary steps away. In my pocket my phone began buzzing. I fished it up, checking the caller ID. It was an unknown name. "Hello, this is Clark Kent speaking." I heard a teenage girl groan. "Ugh, thank goodness. I didn't think you were going to answer." I tried to place the voice. "Lucy, why are you calling me? Is Lois alright? How did you get my number?"

Lucy was silent for a moment. "I got your number from Jimmy and I'm calling because of Lois. She said she went with Natasha Irons for help and I didn't know who else to call. I know you're a friend from the Daily Planet though." Friend was a sketchy term.

"Okay, Lucy, well where are they?" There was a slurping sound. "Sorry." Lucy gave an awkward laugh. "I'm eating. Okay, she said she went to the Steelworks… if you know where that is?" I gave Lana the one minute sign. "Uh, I actually do." Lucy sighed in relied. "Thanks Clark." The line went dead with a click.

Lana cocked her head. "Lois?" She asked. I nodded. "She's not in trouble though; at least I don't think she is." Lana chuckled. "Well, duty calls." Lana turned and stalked down the alley towards the bustling street. "I'll call you." She called over her shoulder. I just shook my head and set off towards the Steelworks. I knew the way very well from being Superman, but Clark Kent didn't often stop by. I slipped into the lobby unknown and sped into my costume and was out in a flash. I pushed the button. "It's Superman, I'm just going to let myself up." I followed all of the security protocol I had been taught and pushed into the elevator. Hopefully Lois wouldn't recognize me as Superman again.

When I entered the Steelworks it was even messier than usual with John barking at Natasha while she ran around grabbing things. They didn't even notice me as I closed the door behind me. John was fidgeting with a machine that was hooked to…. Lois. Her eyes were open wide and her skin was even paler than usual.

"Don't worry." John assured her. Lois's hair gently lifted with electrical currents. She remained still, eyes darting side to side. "What is happening here?" I asked. Natasha stopped dead in her tracks, dropping a pile of wires. "Lois wanted her memory back and we had this new invention that was supposed to shock her into remembering but we don't know if it works because she went numb and can't move." I waited for her to breathe. "It's good to see you too Natasha. Can I go over there?" Natasha nodded and started picking up wires.

I walked over to Lois. John turned a knob and the electricity began to weaken until it faded away. Lois fell forward and I caught her. She licked her dry lips. "Thanks." She croaked. I gave her a Superman smile. "It's nothing Miss Lane, how about we don't try electrocution to solve problems again though." Lois gave me a small smile. "It's a deal." I helped her to her feet.

Natasha looked at her like a puppy starving for attention. "Did it work?" She stood on her toes. Lois thought for a minute. "I can't remember anything new!" She groaned, dropping her head into her hands. Natasha sympathetically rubbed her back. "I just got electrocuted, freaking electrocuted, and I still don't remember anything." Lois jumped up and began to pace unsteadily. "Why can't I remember? Maybe I'm just not trying hard enough." Lois squeezed her eyes shut and practically shook from the effort.

"Augh!" Lois yelled and she dropped to the floor. "Why didn't it work?" I cautisouly moved over to comfort her. "Hey, we'll figure it out." I gently assured her. Her eyes nearly bugged out of her face. "Steel. John freaking Steel couldn't fix it. So who can?" I shrugged. "There's gotta be answers somewhere." I sighed. "I know Lois, and I will do my personal best to help you find them."