-1The Moments In Between: Full Contact Journalism

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Fling.

Lois slammed her hand on her desk and shot an annoyed glance in Clark's direction. "Clark Kent, if you don't stop…"

Clark lowered his head and tucked his rubber band-wrapped fingers under his desk before looking at Lois with an expression that was the very definition of innocence. "Stop what?"

He grinned at the steam that rose from Lois' coffee cup as it rerouted with her exasperated breath and momentarily appeared to be coming from her ear.

She wasn't really that angry. They both knew it. She'd kept him here far longer than necessary at this point it was a battle of stamina. Clark may be able to bend steel with his bear hands, but Lois' sense of pride and it prevented her from leaving before the article was just so.

The only weapon he had was to annoy her out of her desk chair so they could leave.

Clark glanced longingly at the clock that taunted him, suggesting he bunk her for the night. In a few hours it wouldn't even make sense for them to go home. They would just have to turn right back around.

Clark flung an arm over his eyes. "Can I just write it? I can type faster, and I actually know how to spell 'Consoliere'." He cried.

The day had been a long and tedious one. This morning he had helped clean up not one but two car accidents and prevented a mugging all before lunch and he'd still managed to get his copies into Perry before the evening deadline.

Lois had spent the afternoon writing and rewriting a story on the capture of the local crime boss, the events of which would have almost definitely gotten her whacked had Superman not showed up and saved her hide….again The worst part was, she was making him proof-read it. And with Lois Lane, proofreading was an all night affair.

Clark tossed a long leg over the surface of his desk and leaned back dramatically in his chair. "Looois. I want to go hooooome." He bellowed, allowing his voice to tip-toed up an octave into a juvenile whine. He raised his hand into the air and released the rubber band that had been stretched around his thumb and forefinger.

His sensitive hearing followed the band in the air and his eyes closed in momentary victory at the muted plop that signaled he'd hit his mark. A moment later a shriek born of pure annoyance pierced his ears, startling him into losing his balance for a moment. His leg slipped off the desk top and he was propelled firmly forward by the back of the chair.

This change of position put him directly into Lois' line of sight. The heat of her glare rivaled put his heat vision to shame. Clark's eyes lowered to see the telltale speckles of splashed coffee spattered over Lois' shirt.

Don't laugh. Don't laugh. Don't laugh. He willed himself, pursing his lips together in an unsuccessful attempt to swallow his smile.

Lois had had enough. There was one muffled thunk followed by another as Lois' feet worked below her desk to step out of her high heeled shoes.

Clark's eyebrow shot up. There were only two reasons Lois stepped out of her heels, either they were going flying….or she was.

He was mulling over this realization when, Lois launched herself out of her chair straight into his direction.

Despite the element of surprise being in her favor, Lois soon found herself plucked out of the air, all momentum vanishing in the powerful coil of Clark's right arm. She struggled in mock fury against the immoveable grip that held her securely against his chest.

Lois flailed wildly, kicking her legs and flailing her arms in a futile attempt to escape him. She did her best to make her giggles sound like growls, after all, she had an image to uphold.

With her palms flat against his forearms she pushed for all she was worth. Lois was almost surprised when she found herself making headway. Any movement she made was clearly because he allowed it, or perhaps the fact he was laughing so hard his eyes had teared was working in her advantage.

Her eyes fell on Gil's desk and the large bottle of water her always kept there. Lois' teeth flashed in a feral grin.

Clark's chest vibrated against her back with the force of his laughter. "You may be the only person on the planet crazy enough, knowing what you know to challenge me to a wrestling match." she could hear the smile on his face and that only fueled her mission to wipe it off.

All at once Lois went completely limp, feigning unconsciousness.

Clark, wondering if perhaps he'd been holding her too tightly, loosened his grip immediately, leaning her against Gil's desk as he turned her to face him.

"Lois-"

Was all he got out before a 64 oz cup of water was poured over his head. Taken completely off guard, Clark let her go. Lois took off running, her bare feet squeaking and sliding over the linoleum tiles of the floor.

She let out a yelp as he caught up with her, wrapping his arms around her once again, pinning her arms to her chest. He held her tightly using the water as revenge as it dripped off of him all over her.

The pair was so breathless with laughter that they didn't notice Perry who was standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest like an angry parent.

One firm clearing of the throat and the couple froze.

Perry's lip twitched upward. This was a sight he wasn't used to seeing. Clark's normally ill-fitting suit was twisted at an even more ill-fitting angle. His hair was flat against his forehead, dripping with water. If Clark was rumpled, Lois was a disaster. Completely disheveled, she stood frozen with one arm rigid against Clark's chest, the other pinned between them. Her breath came in gasps as if she had just finished running a marathon.

"So this is how my bullpen is treated when I'm not here to police it!" he exclaimed incredulously. Perry stalked across the room, taking special care to avoid the puddle of water of water in the middle of the aisle.

"Chief-" they said as one.

But Perry held up a hand. "Kent! Clean this mess up." He opened the door to his office and turned to face them. "Lane! Don't you have a story to finish?"

"Yes, Chief." Lois said, coming to herself and pulling slowly away from Clark's embrace. She straightened her suit in a demure fashion and with a toss of her hair she made her way back to her desk as if nothing had happened.

Clark said nothing, but the reddish tiny to his cheeks said it all. He ducked his head and leaned over to pick up Gil's mug from the floor. He skulked away in search of a paper towel roll.

Perry shook his head, a slow smile creeping onto his face as he closed his office door behind him.