Chapter 24
Lois was at the archives at the Daily Planet looking through some old files for her supervisor and checking her email. One new message in particular drew her attention. "You might want to see this," read the subject, sent by someone who named him or herself as "asource." After clicking on the email, she realized there was a video attached to it.
She hesitated for a second, concerned it might've been a spam. However, as she looked at it closely, she saw the image highlighted in the video. Lex talking to another man. She looked at her sides and behind, checking to see if there was anyone else in the room. Clear, she then downloaded the video and hit play.
"Ares is supposed to be operational," the man in the video spoke. He was sitting on a chair in Lex's office. Both of them were having a drink.
"We're in the final stages of testing, Senator," Lex said, standing in front of the man.
"Well, after all my shuffling to keep the appropriations under the radar, I certainly hope so, Lex."
"We both have a lot to lose, Senator."
Lois recognized the man instantly. He's Senator Burke, who, obviously not coincidently, has been in Metropolis for the past two weeks.
She knew Lex wouldn't stop his schemes even after their last encounter, but now the opportunity to stop him once and for all had finally kicked in.
-º-
Chloe was sitting at one of the tables of the Talon looking glum when Clark appeared with a cup of coffee. "Here, an espresso. Hope it cheers you up," he said.
Chloe took it. "Thanks."
Clark sat on the opposite chair. He looked at Chloe, her mood didn't change one bit. "C'mon, just a few more weeks and Jimmy will be back. You'll see," he said, giving her a cheering smile.
Chloe sighed. "I know. I can't help it but miss him, though."
"If you want, I can fly you there."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "Showing off, now?"
He chuckled. "Well, just trying to help a friend in need."
"You've been doing some of that lately…"
"Huh?"
"The mysterious saves those past few days. I believe you and Lois had something to do with that?"
Clark gave her a shy smile. "Um… Yeah. We didn't plan it, though. It just happened while we were… Uh, flying together."
"Is that how they call make out sessions those days?" Chloe smirked.
He blushed. "I… Uh…"
"Relax. I'm glad to see you two happy like that. You both deserve it. Plus, having a super couple protecting the city at night doesn't sound bad to me." She gave him a smile and turned her attention to her coffee.
Clark just grinned.
-º-
"Are you sure about this?" Lois asked to a waiter. She was talking to him outside the back of the restaurant.
"Got the reservation. Eats here every time he's in town." Just as he stopped to talk, the Senator's black limousine pulled up. "Voilà."
Lois handed him a folded up bill. "Thanks for the tip." She then approached the man as he left the car guarded by two bodyguards. "Senator Burke."
He extended his hand. "How do you do?"
She shook it. "Lois Lane, reporter. I was hoping to ask a few questions."
"Sure. Schedule an interview with my office," Burke dismissed her.
"You know, I tried to, but no one returned my calls."
"Well, that ought to tell you something, sweet cakes," he smirked and started to walk away.
Lois followed him. "Senator, last year, your salary was $150,000. Can you tell me how you managed to deposit over $5 million in a Cayman account?"
Burke expression changed to shock. He turned around and moved closer to her. "What paper did you say you work for, uh, miss..."
"Lane," she replied with a long and emphatically voice. "Lois Lane. I'm a reporter for the Daily Planet."
He swallowed hard. He then gave a small laugh, trying to cover his nervousness. "The Daily Planet? Um… That newspaper has seen better days. There's nothing here for your cat-box liner." He shifted his attention to one of his bodyguard. "Now get her out of here."
He turned his back to her and started to head toward the restaurant, but Lois was having none of it. "What about you working with Lex Luthor on the Project Ares?"
Burke stopped on his tracks. "What…?" But as he turned around, he saw his bodyguard putting a hand over his bleeding throat.
Lois blinked in shock as the man fell to the ground. She got even more confused when the other bodyguard was thrown against the windshield of the limousine. The two men were attacked out of nowhere by an invisible force. And as she looked ahead, there was only Burke in her sight.
Burke, terrified, grabbed the gun that his bodyguard dropped and tried to aim it at the attacker, but he was totally clueless of where the invisible person was.
As Lois was about to activate her x-ray vision, she heard a stabbing sound coming from where Burke was standing. Blood started to come out of his mouth.
"Senator!" Lois grabbed Burke before he fell on the ground. But as she looked up, she couldn't believe what she was seeing. A familiar face. "Oh, my God! Wes?"
Wes started to move closer holding a bloody knife, but stopped at the sound of sirens. He then disappeared right in front of her eyes.
Lois was left motionless. What had happened to him?
-º-
"Lois!"
Clark arrived at the Metropolis police station where Lois was being interviewed about tonight's murdering of Burke and his bodyguard. The other bodyguard was interned in grave condition. Lois was in the waiting room feeling pretty shaken up.
She looked up as she heard her name. "Clark."
He sat next to her and his hand over her arm, trying to ease her stress. "What happened?"
Before she could answer, a police officer approached them. "Are you Miss Lane's boyfriend?"
Clark looked at him. "Yes."
"You should take her home. She needs rest after everything she saw today. Here," He reached his breast pocket and took a card out of it and offered it to Lois. "If you ever need help to get through this, you can contact Dr. Michelle Lynch at the Metropolis General Hospital. She's really good, one of the best in those cases."
Lois took it. "Thanks."
The officer nodded and left.
"Let's go. You can tell me what happened in the car," Clark spoke. As he drove them home, Lois started to tell him about everything. "Did you tell the cops about the possible Lex's involvement in Burke's death?"
"No…"
Clark looked surprised. "What? Why not? You have a video that can be used as an evidence!"
"There's something else…"
He frowned. "What is it?"
"The reason I didn't tell them about Lex is because I… Um… I know the guy who did this. His name's Wes Keenan. We were army brats together when we were kids."
"Oh." Clark hesitated for a bit, fearing she wouldn't like what he was about to say. "Well, looks like he's working for Lex now."
Just like he feared, Lois didn't. "Wes? No way. He's career military. He's been decorated more than a Christmas tree. Even my dad loved him, and the General hates everybody."
"Are you sure it was him then?"
"I haven't seen him for years, but he has this little scar above his right eye, and... Uh… Trust me. It was Wes."
Clark nodded. "We'll look into it tomorrow."
Lois shook her head. "No! I want to have a little talk with Lex first."
"Lois…"
"Clark, he did something to Wes. I'm sure of it."
"And you think Lex will tell you anything? If you go there right now, you won't get any answers and you'll be risking Wes' safety. That is, if Lex's really controlling him."
Lois sighed. He had a point.
"We'll call Chloe tomorrow and the three of us will investigate it, okay?" He put his hand on her, stroking the back of it with his thumb. "You need to rest. Clear your mind of what you had to witness today."
Lois closed her eyes and threw her head back. "Don't even remind me."
Clark kept driving them to the farm. Lois tried to follow her boyfriend's advice, but she couldn't stop remembering tonight's events and worrying about Wes.
-º-
Early next day, Clark and Lois arrived at the Daily Planet, soon spotting Chloe. "Hey, Chlo. Did you get that thing I asked you?"
"Hey. Yeah, I did. You're not gonna like what I've found," Chloe said.
"What did you find?"
Chloe went to her desk and grabbed a piece of paper. "According to the U.S. Government, Wes Keenan was in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan four months ago. He was killed in action."
Clark and Lois exchanged a look. "No, that is not possible. I know what I saw," Lois told them.
"What else does it say?" Clark asked.
"Nothing. I mean, his military records have been classified."
Both Clark and Lois looked frustrated. Chloe cleared her throat. "Care to explain to me about the Lex video you told me about?"
Lois looked around, the bullpen full of reporters talking e looking for information about Senator Burke's death. "Not here." The three of them then headed to the archives. Lois closed the door and showed them the video.
"Wow," Chloe spoke after the video ended. She then smiled. "It's perfect. Now we have the perfect opportunity to send Lex behind bars."
Lois took a deep breath. "No, we don't. At least not yet."
Chloe looked surprised. "What?"
"I need to find what Lex has on Wes first."
"Lois, Lex must be drinking a glass of champagne right now thinking he got away with what he did. We can't let that happen."
Lois shook her head. "Sorry, Chlo." Her cousin then huffed. "I will give it to the cops once I find out what's happening, alright?"
Chloe nodded.
Clark decided a change of subject was needed. "Do you have any clue of who sent this to you?"
"To be honest, I was more focused on finding Burke's dirties than finding who could possibly have sent it to me."
"I can try to track it back to the source," Chloe said.
Clark didn't look confident in it. "Do you really think this person would use a personal computer?"
Chloe shrugged. "It's worth a shot. Whoever this person is, he or she might help us."
-º-
Lex was in the Project Ares facility inside the Reeves Dam, checking on Wes as Dr. Donovan Jamison ran some tests on him. "What is that?" Lex asked after there was a bleep.
"His alpha wave just spiked for a second. It's probably just feedback from the implants in his cortex," Jamison replied.
"Probably?"
"It's nothing to worry about. Everything's still holding within operational parameters."
"Make sure it stays that way."
The door of the room opened and Lex's assistant, Jason Bartlett, entered. "Sir. Just received information that Burke has been eliminated."
"Evidence trail?"
"Leads straight back to the mob, per your instructions."
Lex nodded and shifted his attention back to his soldier.
"There's been a complication. There was a witness."
"Nothing can get in the way of completing this project. Nothing. Take care of it." Lex then left the room.
Bartlett looked at the Jamison. "You heard the man. Prep him."
The doctor then woke up Wes, preparing him to go after Lois.
-º-
"Thanks for nothing, dad." Lois sighed as she hung up the phone. She and Clark were at the loft of the barn trying to find any new information that might help them.
"He refused it?" Clark asked.
Lois nodded, frustrated. She went to sit next to Clark on the couch."He wouldn't give me Wes's military records unless I told him everything. And I didn't want to involve him more in this."
Clark nodded. "I have more bad news. Chloe just text. Burke's bodyguard was declared dead this afternoon."
She breathed hard, her expression showing sadness. "I could have saved them. But it all happened so fast."
Clark put a hand on her face. "Hey, it's not your fault. You weren't expecting one of Lex experiments to attack that suddenly."
"I know. It just... It fe…"
Lois stopped as she saw Martha climbing the stairs, holding a tray with a couple of sandwiches and a couple of orange juice. "Thought you might be hungry."
Clark got up and grabbed the tray. "Thanks, mom." He placed it on the table in front of the couch and looked at a distracted Lois. "You should eat."
"I'm not hungry."
"Lois."
Martha looked worried. "Clark is right, sweetheart. You're looking tired. This is taking a tool on you."
Lois sighed. "It's so frustrating. Oliver doesn't have any new info on the Project Ares. I listened to Lex for a couple of hours and nothing. I talked to my dad, but he won't give me…" Lois stopped as she realized something and stood up. "Mrs. K, can I ask you a favor?"
"Of course."
"Do you think that you could use your connections to get a look at Wes' military jacket? I have to get my hands on that file. It might explain why Wes is doing this."
Martha looked hesitating. "Well, I've made a few friends in Washington. I don't know if they can help, but I'll see what I can do." She gave Lois a warm smile and started to leave.
Lois smiled back. "Thanks, Mrs. K."
"Feel better?" Clark asked.
"Only when I get that files in my hand. But it's something, at least."
Clark smiled and then hugged her. "You should rest a little. You barely slept last night."
"You didn't either all worried about me."
He gave a small chuckle. "True. I think we both need –"
A sound coming from the barn interrupted Clark. They pulled away and looked at each other, concern on their faces. They climbed down the stairs and went to check where the noise was coming from. Both of them were relieved when they realized it was just rocking chair.
Clark went to stop it. "Looks like it was just the wind."
Suddenly, Wes materialized from behind him. "Clark, watch out!" Lois warned, but it was too late. Wes sent Clark flying through the barn.
Then, in less than a second, he appeared behind Lois, aiming the knife at her. "Wes!" She called him, determination in her voice.
He motioned to attack her, but stopped immediately as he heard his name being called. They looked into each other's eyes. There, Lois could see it. She finally saw life in his eyes.
As Clark turned to look at them, Wes put his arm around Lois's neck and disappeared with her.
"Lois!" He cried, in vain.
-º-
"How could Lois have been kidnapped?" Chloe asked to Clark. They were leaving from her apartment.
"I think she let herself be dragged by him, but I'm not sure. When he hit me... Chloe, I haven't felt anything like that since I went up against Titan."
Chloe grew worried. "Clark, do you think he can actually hurt Lois?"
He breathed deeply. "Lois can take care of herself. But in any case, we have to find where he took her. Did you find anything that might help us?"
"I haven't been able to retrieve any information from the military files, but I did run a cross-check on his name, and I found one hit... Jodi Keenan."
"Jodi Keenan? Isn't that the woman who tried to kill Lex in the tunnels?"
"Guess who she's married to."
"Wes?"
"Looks like Jodi found out that Wes wasn't killed in Afghanistan."
"And she followed the trail all the way back here to Lex." Clark angered and started to leave.
Chloe was surprised by his action. "Wait! Where are you going?"
He stopped and turned around to look at her. "I'm gonna talk to Lex."
"Come on, Clark. We both know that Lex isn't gonna tell you anything."
"I'm done waiting. I'll make him talk."
"Before you do something you might regret, there's something you should know."
Clark looked puzzled. "What?"
Chloe took a deep breath. "I managed to track to source of that email. It was sent from a cybercafé."
He waited for her to finish, a little impatient.
"I hacked into the place's camera. The day, the time. It's Lana," Chloe said, concern evident in her voice.
Surprise took over Clark's face.
-º-
Lana arrived at the main room of the mansion, surprised by the visitor. "Clark? What are you doing here?"
"I need to talk to you. Is Lex around?"
"Uh… No. He just left."
He nodded. "Lois is in trouble."
"And what makes you think I can help?"
"Because you're the one who sent her that video of Lex and Senator Burke."
Lana's breath got heavier.
"You must know about Project Ares."
"I… Clark, I…"
"I'm not accusing you of anything. I'm just asking for your help, if you know anything…"
She took a deep breath. "All I know is Lex has been talking to Senator Burke about this military project. Yesterday, he threatened to shut it down. Maybe you should talk with him."
"I can't. Senator Burke is dead. He was murdered by the same man who has Lois. Lana, is there anything else... Maybe something that Lex let slip?"
"One of his men was just saying something about an asset that failed to return."
"An asset? That's what the military calls its soldiers. It's gotta be Wes he's talking about." He moved closer. "Lana, about that email, it's a dangerous game you're playing. Whatever reason you have to still be married to Lex even knowing all that, it isn't worth it. You'll end up hurt. Or worst, dead like Burke."
Lana gulped. She then regained her confidence. "I know what I'm doing, Clark."
Clark wanted to argue with her, but he was running out of time. "I hope you change your mind, Lana. You deserve better than this." Clark then left, leaving a very torn Lana behind.
-º-
"Wes! Wes! Stop hiding!" Lois kept looking around for her old friend. He'd brought her here and then disappeared. "Wes!"
Suddenly, the man appeared in front of her. "Designation incorrect. Call sign 'Ares,' prototype Mark IV."
"You don't remember me, do you? It's Lois... Lois Lane. My father is General Sam Lane. When I was a kid, he used to drag me around to all the bases that he was stationed at. One of them was Fort Addleson, where I met you."
Lois moved closer and continued. "Do you remember how you got that scar? You used to tell everybody that you got it falling off your dirt bike. But that's not how it happened. We got into the General's whiskey. Then we broke into the storage warehouse. We were wrestling around, being stupid. And I kissed you... The first time I ever kissed anybody. And you smiled your crooked smile. And then you puked and passed out and cracked your head open on the floor. Never could handle your liquor, Wes."
Wes closed his eyes, receiving a message. "Mission incomplete." He moved toward her.
"No."
"Eliminate target."
Lois stayed still as he moved closer. "Why did you bring me here? Think, Wes. This is Fort Addleson, okay? This is the warehouse. This is where I kissed you that night. Remember me!" She begged him, teary-eyed.
Her words started to reach him, making him struggle between his emotions and his new programming. After a few seconds, he finally won the battle and managed to regain control of his own mind, although with a confused look on his face. Lois smiled as she realized he was himself again.
-º-
"I killed a United States Senator?" Wes asked. He couldn't quite believe what he did.
"What happened? How did you end up like this?"
"I was stationed in Afghanistan. Our convoy hit an I.E.D. And then I woke up in the military hospital. That's when Luthor showed up," he told her, regret and guilt in his voice.
"Lex." Lois sighed. "He forced you into this, didn't he?"
"He offered me a way to keep serving my country."
"By turning you into a brain-dead assassin?"
"You think this is what I signed on for? He told me Project Ares was gonna help soldiers protect themselves on the field, so they wouldn't end up like I did."
"We won't let him get away with this, I promise you. Okay, we will expose Lex and Project Ares…"
Abruptly, Wes put his hands on the sides of his forehead and started to struggle against his programming again. At that very moment, Dr. Jamison, after being threatened by Lex, was trying to regain control over him.
"What? What? What is it? Wes? Wes?" She put her hands over his.
"Them... They're… Trying… To get back… Into my head."
"Well, fight it, Wes. Look at me. Look at me!"
"Run."
"No."
"Run!" He yelled.
"No!" She said, firmly.
Wes then stopped struggling.
"Wes?" Lois called, searching for his eyes. But as he opened it, she saw the coldness in it. He was gone again.
"Wes, you have to fight th –"
He punched her stomach, sending her flying through the base. He then became invisible again.
Lois coughed as she tried to regain her breath. "Wes…"
-º-
Clark and Chloe entered the farm house. "I think Lois is helping Wes to fight the mind-control."
"I'm not sure about that…"
Clark frowned.
"I talked to Oliver. He tracked down the doctor who used to work on the project. According to him, there's a little fail on the programming, which allow the person to regain control, but as long as there's someone controlling him, he won't ever be fully owner of his own mind and body."
He sighed.
"Oliver also told me Wes's invisibility is actually a force field. That's why he could make Lois invisible, too."
"So how do we break through it?"
"Something like the equivalent of a mini-nuke."
Martha entered the house through the kitchen door. "Maybe this will help... Wes' military jacket." She handed it to Clark.
"How did you get that?"
"Called in a few favors and had to promise a couple dozen of my own."
"Lois is right. Wes was a hero."
Chloe realized something. "He took her instead of killing her. If whatever programming they're using to control Wes is failing, maybe he'll go back to a place he remembers."
"Somewhere he lived or... Or was stationed," Martha added.
Clark checked his files again. "The military base that Wes grew up on was decommissioned a few years ago... Fort Addleson, just outside of Metropolis."
"Sam Lane was stationed there when Lois was in junior high. Maybe that's where…"
Clark didn't wait Chloe finish the sentence and superspeeded to the base. Chloe looked annoyed, while Martha just sighed. "Do you ever get used to that?" Chloe asked Martha.
"Not really."
-º-
"Wes, please stop. I don't wanna fight you!"
Lois was looking for him, but even with her x-ray vision she couldn't find him. Wes, on the other hand, kept circulating around Lois, looking for the right moment to attack her. The moment appeared when she had her back to him.
But before Wes could touch her, Lois turned around and grabbed his arm. "You can fight this."
He then tried to stab her with the knife on his other hand, but it bent.
Lois ignored the attack. "Wake up, Wes! Damn it, wake up!"
Wes dropped the knife and raised his closed fist, but Clark appeared behind him and grabbed him by the jacket, throwing him across the fort.
"Clark," Lois cried.
Clark immediately hugged her. "You okay?"
Lois nodded. "I am. Don't worry."
"We have to stop him."
"No… Clark, he's not himself."
"I know that. But he's Lex's weapon right now."
Lois looked hesitating.
"I read his files, Lois. You know Wes. Do you think he'd wanted to be keep like this?"
She shook her head.
"We can help him afterwards." Clark then turned around, but he realized Wes had disappeared.
"Do you have any idea how to stop him from becoming invisible?" Lois asked.
"I might have something in mind."
Wes reappeared in front of Clark and punched him in the face, sending him flying. He went after her next, but was met by a punch on his stomach. When she tried to land a second one, however, he dodged from it and disappeared again.
Clark got up, still feeling a little dizzy, and ran to Lois' side. "I'm getting annoyed with this ability of his. Do you see him?"
Lois was using her x-ray vision, looking around. "Nothing, it's like it doesn't work on him." But then she moved her head upward. "Look up!"
As Clark looked up, he saw Wes standing on the rafters, materializing himself again. The man then jumped down toward Clark with his superspeed. It was the opening Clark needed. He shot his heat vision at Wes, breaking through his force field and sending him flying across the warehouse.
"Wes!" Lois ran to him, sitting by his side.
"System... damaged. Turn protocol 38529532," He spoke, sounding like voice computer.
"Wes."
"... 38." He then regained control and smiled when he saw her. "Lois."
Lois smiled back. However, there was pain in Wes's expression. Clark approached them, concerned.
"You're gonna be fine. Do you understand me? You're gonna be okay. I'm gonna go get help, all right?" Lois told him, tears threatening to fall.
"No. Better this way. They'll never... Stop trying... To control me."
"You have to stay with me. Do you hear me?"
"Don't... Let them do this... To anyone else. Okay?"
"Okay. I promise, but you just stay with me, okay? Don't leave me."
Wes stopped talking abruptly. "Wes?" He then closed his eyes, life leaving his body. "Wes? Wes? No, no, no. No."
Lois started to cry. "Wes? Wes! Come on! Don't leave me!"
Clark watched the scene, saddened and feeling powerless. Lois's crying was breaking his heart. She kept going like that for about a couple of minutes.
He sat on his knees and put a hand on her back. "Lois…" He called her, concerned.
She didn't turn around. Instead, she stood up, wiped her tears, and simply whooshed off.
Clark blinked, completely surprised. He looked at Wes's body, not wanting to leave him in this place, but he had a really bad feeling about Lois taking off like that. So he went after her.
-º-
Lex was sitting on his chair feeling tired because of the busy day. His biggest accomplishment was starting to fail and he couldn't allow that. He wouldn't give up on it so easily, not after years of dedication.
Abruptly, the main doors opened. The most unexpected guest by Lex entered the room. "Lois? What are you doing here?" Lex asked, looking puzzled.
"You piece of human garbage," Lois said, her voice and expression in pure rage.
Lex got up and started filing a glass of wine. "Ha. I knew you didn't like me, but coming here in the middle of the night just to insult me is a little too much, you don't think so?"
Before Lex could take his glass, Lois grabbed him by the neck, lifting him off the floor. Lex tried to breath, only managing to do so with much difficulty.
"You've been nothing but a pain in everyone's life. You play with people's life like they're nothing. You don't deserve to live," she said. Her voice was shaky and the tears were still visible in her eyes.
Lex tried to take her hands off him, in vain. "L… L… Is… Sss… S… Top…"
Clark arrived at the mansion in time to witness Lois choking Lex. He ran to her side. "Lois, stop! Lois, stop!" He yelled.
"No. He must pay for what he's done. To Wes, Chloe and aunt Moira. To you." She tightened her grip, making Lex cough.
Clark touched her arm, trying to argue with her. "Don't do this, Lois. Don't, please."
"I can't believe you're siding with this monster!"
"Lois, you know deep down this isn't the answer. This isn't you. Stop, please."
"He deserves to die," she said, trying to convince him and especially herself.
Lex lost conscious, which made Clark grow worried. "Let him go."
"He deserves to die…" Her voice was losing strength.
Clark looked into her eyes. "Please."
"He deserves…" Lois let go of Lex's neck. He dropped on the floor unconscious. A tear fell down her cheek.
Clark breathed a sigh of relief. He tried to hug and comfort her, but she gave a step back. She then superspeeded away. Clark was about to follow her until he saw Lana looking at him with eyes wide-open.
He gulped. "Uh… Lana. H-how long have you been standing there?"
"Enough to testify what I just saw," she replied, still shocked. "Is Lois… Uh... How long does she do this?"
Clark took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Lana. I don't have time to explain it right now, I need to go after Lois. Check on Lex for me, okay?"
Lana nodded.
Clark nodded back and left the room. Once he was out of Lana's sight, he used his superspeed to go after Lois.
Lana moved closer to Lex's unconscious body, looking with contempt at him. Would anyone really miss him if he died? She sighed, shrugging off such dark thoughts.
-º-
Lois looked at the lake ahead of her. The tears were still falling down her cheeks. She lost an old friend tonight. She almost lost herself in the process.
She thought she had it all under control. Her powers, her morals. But all she could think of was doing justice with her own hands. Doubts started floating her mind.
Someone sat beside her on the grass. "Hey," Clark greeted.
She breathed hard. "How did you find me?" She asked, without sparing him even a glance.
"It would be remiss of me not to remember your childhood's favorite place, Geneva." He cleared his throat. "How're you feeling?"
"I'm not sure."
He nodded. "Look, Lois, I was just trying to help you from making a mistake. Like you helped me in the past. I knew you'd –"
"I know, Clark, and I appreciate it. I just can't deal with it right now. I try to calm myself, but every time I remember Wes's last words, this horrible desire to make Lex pay like he should comes right back." She swallowed her tears.
"He meant a lot to you, didn't he?" He asked, his words implying something more.
Lois gave him a look, which made Clark quickly regret his question. "Yeah, he did. Wes was my friend. After my mom died and my dad started to drag me around everywhere, the time I spent with him was one of the things that helped me forget that pain. Every year I looked forward to come back to Fort Addleson to see him again. We went separate ways, but we kept the memories."
"I'm sorry." He then got up and extended his hand. "We should head back, sleep a little and clear off our minds."
"I'm not coming back."
It took Clark by surprise. "What?"
"I need some time." She hesitated. "Uh… Alone."
Clark looked hurt. "Why?"
"I need to think. To cool off. Right now, it feels like I'm gonna explode in rage any time. If I see Lex again, I don't know what I'll be capable to do."
"You won't kill him, if that's what you're afraid. That's not you."
"I thought so, too. But I'm not sure anymore. If you hadn't got there…"
"You didn't kill him, that's all that matters."
Lois went quiet, avoiding to look at him. Clark realized she really needed this. She was hurt, feeling lost. Without counting the fact that back in Smallville, Lana now knows about her and Lex will probably grow suspicious of her. "Maybe you're right," he told her, despite his own desire to comfort her and stay by her side.
She looked up. She felt guilt as she could see the hurt in his eyes. "I hope you don't think I'm –"
Clark sat on his feet, in front of her. "Shh. It's okay. I understand." He continued. "Take as much time as you need. I'll be there waiting for you when you come back."
She closed her eyes as he gave a long kiss on her forehead. He then stood up, gave her a tight-lipped smile and flew away.
Lois shifted her attention back to the lake, a sight that so much relaxed her when she was a kid. Unwittingly, she looked down and that was when surprise hit her. A little black box was placed in front of her.
Her heart beat faster as she took it in her hands. She hesitated at first, but slowly opened it.
Air left her lungs as she looked at the beautiful medium-sized engagement ring sparkling under the moonlight.