A.N: I'm sorry, I completely missed last Friday's update. I didn't get home til really late and passed out as soon as I did. Plus I'm working full time in the Summer. So Friday updates are going to be tricky.... but please be patient. I would have posted this Saturday, but I've been sick all weekend and writing didn't come easy.... Much less editing which is so tedious for me... so I apologize in advance if this has any mishaps.... As always read and review. And if you're good to me, and I really hope you are cause I'm sick :0( lol, I'll do a double update and update this Friday again.
Chapter 3
"And that's the last of it", Jimmy said unloading the box off the truck Mrs. Kent had lent him.
"Thank", Lois smiled. She turned to Chloe and pulled her in for a hug.
"This just seems so final", Chloe said softly.
"It's not", she smiled, "I'm just living at the farm… kind of like I did when I first got to town."
Chloe nodded.
"If you need anything", Chloe said.
"I know", Lois smiled, "You guys better get home…"
"Okay", Chloe said hugging her tightly again.
"Chloe", Lois strained, "Can't… breathe…"
"Sorry", Chloe said letting go, "Sorry…"
"Come on, Bright Eyes", Jimmy said laying his arm around her shoulders, "It's not like she's moving to Guam…"
"I know, it's just the first time since we moved in together that we don't actually live together…"
"This is how it should have always been", Lois smiled, "You and Jimmy at the Talon and me… moved out."
Chloe nodded and walked toward her car waiting for Jimmy by the passenger side.
Lois watched her sadly and turned back to her cousin in law.
"So", she smirked, "Don't tell me you're going to get all sentimental on me too…"
He pulled her in for tight hug.
"You're not alone, Lois", he said softly in her ear, "Don't pretend that you are…"
She pulled away from and nodded her thanks.
"If you need anything, call us", he said, "And take care of yourself…"
"I will", she nodded, "Bye Jimmy…"
He nodded and walked toward Chloe's car, opening the car side and stepping in. Lois watched the car pull out of the Kent driveway and waved at them from her spot in front of the house.
"Lois?"
She turned and smiled at Martha Kent.
"Come in, honey, it's freezing out", she waved the young girl in.
Lois smiled and nodded picking up her last bag and box following her inside.
~*~
"Lois?"
"Clark?"
She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him close.
"I thought you were dead", she muttered, "I thought-"
He pulled her in and kissed her softly.
"I missed you", she mumbled against his lips, "I miss you every day…"
"I know", he said putting his forehead against hers, "I'm sorry…"
"I know you are", she said, "I knew it that day…"
"I need you to let me go, Lois", he said sadly rubbing her cheek, "I need you to move on…"
"I can't", she said sadly, "Clark, I-"
"I know", he nodded, "And I love you too… but I need you to move on… You can't stay here like this…"
"How am I supposed to live without you", she said with tears falling down her face, "I don't know how…"
"Yes you do", he smiled and kissed her again, "I love you, Lois; I've always loved you…"
She nodded.
"I love you too, Clark…"
He let her go then and walked away from her.
"No!"
She reached out for him and screamed again.
"No! Don't leave me!"
"CLARK!"
She sat up in bed sweating again.
"Lois", Martha was at her side trying to calm her down, "Lois… relax honey, it was just a dream…"
Lois hugged her tightly.
"Was it the same dream", Martha asked and felt her nod, "Honey, maybe we can see someone… get something to help you sleep at night…"
"A shrink", Lois asked.
"Not if you don't want to", Martha said quickly, "You just haven't been sleeping well since it happened over a week ago… I'm worried…"
Lois nodded.
"Okay", she agreed, "Okay…"
Martha smiled sadly.
"Come on", she said pulling Lois out of bed, "Let's try some tea and see if that works…"
Lois nodded and let herself be dragged to the kitchen.
~*~
May 17, 2009
"Well, Mr. Luthor, congratulations, you've officially been buried."
"I wonder Doctor", Lex smirked, "How many funerals can a man have before the world stops believing he's actually dead…"
Dr. Murphy lowered his gaze.
"We are looking for the orb, sir", Dr. Murphy said, "But Miss Mercer had it hidden. Seems she may not believe you are actually dead."
"How so", Lex asked wheeling himself in front of Dr. Murphy.
"She knew of the cloning projects you researched in Reeves Dam… She knew not every specimen was destroyed. My guess is she's being precautious…"
"Hmm… Kill her", Lex shrugged, "I don't want the world to catch on to her psychosis."
"That may prove to be difficult sir", Dr. Murphy said, "She's disappeared."
"Disappeared", Lex asked, "But you were in fact keeping a close detail on her, were you not?"
"Yes sir", Dr. Murphy nodded, "And the last we heard of her, she was in a meeting with Oliver Queen."
"Oliver", Lex asked, "Now that I didn't see coming… I mean, I knew they had a thing… But I thought he'd written her off… Find out where he has her…"
"Yes sir", Dr. Murphy said.
"And Doctor", Lex said, "Find the orb… or don't come back…"
"Yes sir."
~*~
Lois walked into the planet and sat down quietly at her desk. She leaned forward and sighed. Jimmy walked up to her with her mug of coffee.
"Hey", he said, "Still not sleeping good?"
"No", she said softly.
"Well, news from the Chief", he said, "There's a new hire…"
"New hire", Lois asked, "What?"
"A John Corben", Jimmy said, "I don't know him… Chief just wanted me to give you a head's up before the proper introduction…"
"Proper introduction?"
"Lois", Jimmy smiled, "He's your new partner…"
"What?"
"Lois", Jimmy warned, "Be nice…"
She glared at him.
"I'm going to need more than a cup of coffee to be nice to this newbie", she groaned.
Jimmy put a bear claw in front of her.
"Extra glaze", he smiled, "Now will you be nice."
"Fine", she smiled sweetly and took a bite of her bear claw.
"Good", Jimmy nodded, "He's in the Chief's office… so saddle up buckaroo…"
"He's here", Lois asked, "Now?"
"Yeah, has been here actually", Jimmy nodded, "Chief already filled him in about Clark and how you're taking it… so I'm sure he understands…"
"Great", Lois mumbled, "I get a pity party…"
"Come on", Jimmy said pulling her toward the office.
"Jimmy, I'll pay you twenty bucks to get me out of this meeting", she said and he snorted, "Fine! Fifty!"
He stopped considering it.
"I would but the Chief paid a hundred to make sure you didn't duck out, so sorry", he smirked turned her around and pushed her into the office, slamming the door behind her.
"And you call yourself family", she muttered under her breath.
"Lois", Perry smiled, "So nice of you to join us…"
Lois smiled and walked toward the desk thinking of a hundred different ways to hurt Jimmy Olsen.
"Hey Chief", she smiled brightly.
"How you holding up", he asked.
"Better", she admitted, "Jimmy said you wanted to see me…"
"I did", Perry smiled, "Lois Lane, meet John Corben. Newest reporter for the Daily Planet."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Corben", she said extending her hand.
He took it and kissed the back of it softly.
"The pleasure is all mine."
"Now that you've met", Perry said, "Lois, John here is from the Daily News and he needs someone to show him the ropes. That's where you come in…"
"Okay", she nodded, "Will you be working on sports with Steve."
John smirked.
"Why", he asked, "Do I look like a Sports Announcer?"
"Um", she blushed, "No…"
He smiled.
"It's okay, Miss Lane", he smiled, "I get that a lot."
"Oh", she smiled embarrassed, "So what section are you starting in…?"
"The City Beat", Perry said slowly.
She nodded. Of course she knew. He was there to take Clark's vacant seat.
"Okay, Chief", she nodded, "It's okay… really…"
"Miss Lane", John said slowly, "Mr. White has already informed me of your late partner. I don't plan on taking his place… just his seat."
She nodded.
"I know", she said, "Well, Mr. Corben…"
"Please, call me John."
"John", she corrected, "Let me show you around the bullpen."
He nodded and followed her out the door.
