A.N: Hang in there guys... one more!!!!

Chapter 15

Flash!

Jimmy turned around with his camera taking another photo of a display and looked around. Chloe stood at his side biting her nails to the skin nervously. They caught Bruce's eyes from across the room and nodded to each other. Everyone was in place. Oliver was at the bar with Bart, while AC and Victor circulated the ballroom. Clark had stayed back at Watchtower watching the monitors connected to the video feed footage, being taken from inside.

Bruce looked at his watch and sighed. It was ten-thirty and there was still no sign of John Corben.

"Maybe he's not coming…."

He turned to Dinah and smirked.

"He'll be here", he said confidently, "He wouldn't pass up this prime opportunity…."

Clark watched the team on the monitors, in positions, waiting. He picked up his cell phone and dialed Detective Jones cell.

"Anything", he asked.

Detective Jones shook his head on the other side.

"It's been quiet tonight", he said, "No robberies…."

"Keep me posted, John."

"Always, Kal-El."

Clark hung up and kept his eyes glued to the screen. He was hoping John Corben would take the bait, but with every passing minute, it seemed unlikely.

~*~

Jimmy continued to take photos of the event and sighed.

"He's not coming", Chloe said softly.

"What", he asked, "Maybe he's just planning to make a grand entrance…"

"I don't think so", she said shaking her head, "Something's not right…"

She walked toward Bruce and Dinah with Jimmy trailing closely behind her.

"He's not coming", she stated.

"How are you so sure", Dinah asked.

"He would have been here by now…."

"So what happens now", Jimmy asked.

"Someone needs to call Clark", Chloe said.

"Alright, I'll go…"

Bruce walked over to a corner and dialed the newly familiarized cell phone, hearing it ring three times before going to voicemail. He tried it again three more times, before walking back to his teammates.

"He doesn't answer", he shrugged.

Chloe bit her lip.

"Something's wrong…"

~*~

Clark watched them on the monitors closely, viewing every profile that filtered on the screen, none of which matched John Corben. He sighed and rubbed his face.

"Well, how stupid do you think I am?"

He turned around and saw John standing in the door looking around.

"Nice place", he commented nodding; "Is this team headquarters or something?"

"How did you find this place?"

John held up a GPS in his hand.

"I tapped you", he smirked, "Good thing too… otherwise I'd never have gotten you alone…"

"You set us up", Clark said angrily.

"I knew you'd try to set me up", John said smiling, "I just did it first…"

Clark walked up to him, as close as he could get without feeling the effects of kryptonite.

"Where's Lois", he asked coolly.

"Freezing by now, probably", John smirked, "She was wearing this really skimpy outfit when I took her… mmm…."

"Where… is… she?"

"You're never going to see her again", John said, "Clark, so I'd suggest you just forget about her for the next two minutes or so you have to live…"

Clark charged him and hit him hard causing him to fall to the ground. He staggered back feeling the effects of kryptonite and collapsed, holding on to a table for support.

"What is the matter with you", John said spitting out blood and standing in front of him, "Are you allergic to me or something?"

He watched Clark shake in pain and knelt down to his level.

"I'm going to watch you die, and not even have to do anything about it…"

"Think again."

John looked up to see a man dressed as a giant bat jump from the second floor of the room. Bruce kicked John to the other side of the room away from Clark. He turned around and helped him up and to cross the room as far away from the rock as possible.

John laughed.

"Ouch", he laughed harder, "You can do better than that I hope."

"Try me", Bruce instigated.

He watched John charge at him and he charged back. He crashed into John's torso pushing him down to the ground and hitting him in the face, making him bleed.

John laughed mockingly and Bruce yelled in rage and hit John in the face over and over until he pulled out the rock tossing it away, he heard the rock clatter on the far end of the room. He continued beating on the lifeless body repeatedly. He lifted his arms to send one final blow and was held back. He looked up to see Clark holding his arm tightly.

"Bruce", he said, "He's dead."

He slumped back and nodded.

Clark fell to his knees in front of John's body and Bruce's solemn form.

"Thank you", he choked.

"You're welcome", Bruce said seriously.

"How do we find her now", Clark asked.

"I don't know", Bruce said slowly, "I don't know…"

~*~

Clark sat at his desk in the Daily Planet staring at Lois' empty desk in front of him.

"Hey CK…"

He looked up and smiled at Jimmy.

"Hey, Jimmy…"

"You doing alright?"

"Yeah", Clark cleared the emotion from his throat, "I'm fine…"

"Chloe and I are going to lunch", Jimmy said sadly, "You can join us…"

"No, it's ok… thanks though…"

He stood up slowly and grabbed his coat.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to the farm", Clark said slowly.

"Oh, you mean home?"

"No", Clark said emotionlessly, "I have no home…"

He turned to walk to the elevators leaving Jimmy stunned into silence.

~*~

He walked into the loft and looked around at the pictures now lingering the small landing.

"I never thought I'd see the day Clark Kent actually gave up…"

He turned to see John Jones standing in his loft.

"I have nothing to hold on to…"

"Except Lois", John said.

"Lois is gone", Clark said sadly, "She's not coming back…"

"Funny", John said, "She never gave up on you this easily… and you're the alien…"

John turned to walk away.

"Wait", Clark called out to him causing him to turn around, "what am I supposed to do?"

"Do you love her", John asked.

"More than anything…"

"Then go find her", John smiled, "I think you have better resources than I do at the department… might have to suffer a little cold while you're there though…."

Clark smiled understanding.

"You think he would?"

"I know he would", John nodded, "Go…"

Clark smiled and super sped away.

"Good luck, Kal-El."

~*~

Clark walked into the frozen palace and called out for Jor-El.

"My son, you have returned."

"I need your help."

"All my knowledge is yours, my son."

"I need your help to find someone", Clark begged, "Please…"

"Very well… but before I help you locate this person, I need to know of your relation to them…"

"I love her, Father."

"Would you sacrifice everything you know, and don't know for her…"

Clark nodded.

"Yes", he said, "In a heartbeat."

"Would you promise to honor, to cherish, and to love her forever?"

"Yes", Clark nodded, "Please…"

"Very well, Kal-El", Jor-El said, "I will help you to locate Lois Lane…"

"How did you-"

"Kal-El, when your mother and I sent you to this planet we feared that you would stay alone forever", Jor-El said, "When Martha Kent asked me to spare Lois Lane's life years ago, I bathed her in a kryptonian life force to heal her internally…."

"What are you saying?"

"Even then, I could feel the love she had for you", Jor-El said, "I knew that you were destined for each other… therefore I made her compatible to mate with a Kryptonian."

"Father…"

"She is your soul-mate, my son, and the only thing that can lead you to her is your heart beating entwine with hers… When you find her heart, you will find her…"

"All I have to do is listen for her heartbeat", Clark asked.

"Yes", Jor-El said, "But it will not be an easy task, as it is weak right now…"

Clark nodded and closed his eyes blocking off any noise around him and miles away. He searched his memory trying to find her distinct heartbeat. He found it in a memory from the past, at Chloe and Jimmy's wedding, when he pulled her in for a dance.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

He focused on it and tried to find it among the noise in his head.

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

He opened his eyes wide and smiled.

"Thank you, Father."

Clark super sped out of the fortress toward the heartbeat now shallow ringing in his ears.

"Good luck, my son."