Chapter 9

Clark began clearing the dinner dishes from the table. Lois moved to help him.

"Lois, I've got this. You should go rest."

"That's all I've done today is rest. And watch Buffy."

"Oh, so that's why you were having dreams about vampires. I should've known."

"Come sit with me awhile. I missed you."

It was odd to see Lois acting this way toward him, but then again, she had no idea how she usually treated him.

"Sure. The dishes can wait."

He stoked up the fire before sitting down on the couch with her. The Buffy marathon was still going.

"So, were you a slayer?"

"Huh?"

"In your dream--If I was a vampire, were you the slayer?"

"No. I was a snack."

Clark laughed at that. Lois decided she definitely liked the sound of his laughter.

"Why would you think I would be a slayer?"

"With your fighting skills, it seemed the natural choice."

"Fighting skills?"

"Martial arts—karate, tai kwon do, that sort of thing. I think you told me once you were a black belt."

"You would make a good slayer. You're very strong."

He shook his head, "No good. Slayer has to be a girl."

"You seem to know an awful lot about 'Buffy'. You're a fan of the show." She teased him.

"I'll admit it. Buffy's hot. And she kicks Demon Ass. What's not to like?"

After a time, Lois drifted off to sleep, her head having dropped to Clark's shoulder. He didn't have the heart to wake her. He knew that she had had a very eventful day—even if most of it was in her head.

He hoisted her up into his arms, and started to climb the stairs to the bed room. She began to stir.

"Clark? Why am I floating?"

"I'm taking you upstairs. Time for bed."

"Mmmm, bed. You have the best ideas." She snuggled against him, enjoying the feel and the power of his strong arms around her. It reminded her of another time.

He pulled back the covers and then tucked her into bed. As he began to leave the room, she called him back. He sat down on the bed facing her.

"What is it Lois?"

"What about you?"

"What about me?" He inclined his head, not catching her meaning.

"Well, don't you need to sleep, too?" She remembered a distorted conversation that Martha had with Chloe at her bedside.

"Of course, but I still have some things to take care of before I go to bed."

"What things? Is it anything that can wait?"

"Not really. If I don't take care of it tonight, then I'll have twice as much to do tomorrow."

"You've been working all day. What could there be left to do?

"A farmer's day is never done. I don't have much left to do. I need to put the dishes away, check on the animals, handle some paperwork—nothing exciting." Truthfully, he would be done in a few minutes using super speed, but he had to make her believe that is took him all day to run a farm alone.

"Can I help? I could put away the dishes."

"Thanks for the offer, but you really should rest. I think you've had plenty of excitement for your first day home from the hospital. You traveled several centuries and managed to escape a vampire—You've put in a full day." He teased.

She smiled up at him. "Okay, but don't work too hard." And then she leaned in and kissed him. Not an x-rated kiss, but not a chaste, friend kiss, either.

"Good night." She whispered.

Clark swallowed hard and blinked several times, stunned and dumfounded by what had just happened. After several long minutes, he walked to the phone, drumming his fingers impatiently.

"Hello, Chloe? We have a problem . . ."