Chapter 5

Scene I

Lois stirred into awareness as she heard a bright, female voice. "Good morning sleepy head."

"Huh?" Clark muttered a groggy reply to the new visitor. Lois felt movement and heard the rustle of cloth, followed by a sensation of cool air on her face. She realized that Clark had been resting his head on her shoulder, and he was turning to face the newcomer.

"Clark, you look terrible."

"Hmmph. I missed you, too." He yawned.

"Sweetheart—you look so tired. Did you sleep at all? Why didn't you have them bring in a cot or at least a more comfortable chair?"

"I had to stay close."

"Clark, I know you blame yourself—"

"No. It's not that. I mean I do feel responsible, but that isn't what I meant . . . She was so restless last night. She seemed so distressed, thrashing around in her sleep, moaning as if she were in pain. She kept calling out to me, clutching my hand. She seemed so desperate . . . I was worried that she was afraid. I just couldn't leave her alone—not like that."

"Oh, Lois—you poor dear." The woman's voice was full of concern, and Lois felt a gentle hand caress her hair. It was so comforting.

Lois heard the scrape of a chair and sensed movement. Clark must have stood up, because his voice was now above her as he spoke. Based on the proximity of their voices, Lois judged this other woman to be quite petite compared to Clark.

"You're back early. I didn't expect you until next week."

"The storm moved south and got worse as it moved. They closed the legislative session and sent everyone home for safety."

"I'm glad you're safe. I really did miss you. I hardly see you anymore."

I missed you too, honey. But you aren't going to see me for the rest of the day. You are going home to rest."

"But—"

"No buts, you're no good to anyone if you are dead on your feet. Go home. I'll stay with Lois until you return."

So this was Mrs. Kent. Despite what Lois judged to be her relatively petite size, it seemed she would accept no excuses or arguments from Clark. And he quickly deferred to her, which was in direct contrast to the way her own relationship with Clark was described. What an amazing woman this Mrs. Kent must be that this man would defer to her. Lois felt an affinity for this woman. She seemed so nice. Her words of reassurance to Lois were so soothing—so maternal.

A new thought hit Lois suddenly. Perhaps Mr. and Mrs. Kent were her parents. That would explain so much—the deep concern that she detected in Clark's voice when he spoke to her and about her, the safety she felt in his presence. It would certainly explain the constant bickering to which he and Chloe had alluded. She suddenly felt very lucky to have parents that cared for her so much.

As nice as that sounded to her, something about that idea still didn't make sense. When she saw him in the woods he didn't look old enough to be her father, but it had been dark and there was a storm. Perhaps her eyes and mind were playing tricks on her. Then she recalled how he looked in her hazy dream visions. He certainly seemed young and . . .

Panic seized her. She was having erotic dreams about him—a man who might be her father!

Just then Martha noticed Lois' cheeks flushing profusely and that she was struggling with some unknown demon.

Lois heard Clark over her tortured thoughts. "That's how she was last night. I tried to comfort her. When I spoke to her, it just seemed to make it worse. I finally had the nurses give her something to help her sleep."

"Go find the doctor." Mrs. Kent commanded. Lois could swear she felt a gust of wind as he left the room.

Scene II

It seemed that no sooner had Clark left the room, that he was reentering it with the doctor. Lois rationalized that her mind was really playing tricks on her and distorting her sense of time. Maybe that was the reason that she had such vivid dreams that were obviously just that—and not memories, like she had previously believed. That had to be the answer. She just couldn't believe that she was so wicked to have such wild fantasies about her own father.

She was still so caught up it the torment of her own thoughts that she wasn't paying attention to the conversation between the doctor and the Kents. The room grew quieter and then Lois began to feel a warm, fluid sensation seep through her veins, followed by an odd, garlic-laced, metallic taste in her mouth. She began to feel herself relax as she floated away from the conversation. The last thing she heard before drifting into a bank of fog was Mrs. Kent's final command to Clark that he go home and rest followed by his dutiful reply, "Yes, mom." She heard the door close behind him.

Mommmm?