Chapter 5

After they finished dinner, Clark and Jack cleared the table and with the help of Lois and Chloe, they washed and dried the dishes in record time. As usual with Clark eating, leftovers were not a problem. Clark made sure the recipe for the strawberry mash Jack had whipped up was safe so that he could send it on to his mom, Martha. When the last dish was put away, Lois asked, "So what are the driving arrangements for the drive out to the bowling alley?"

Clark turned to Lois and smirked, "Well, luckily Chloe drove so that means we all have a better chance of getting there alive." He suddenly found a dish towel in his face.

"Funny Smallville, but I would like to get there before the place closes." Lois gave her almost ritual reply. "The only reason I let Chloe drive was because I plan on having a few beers while we bowl. Of course, even with a few in me, you still don't stand a chance of beating me."

Jack had stepped over to Chloe and was standing next to her. She took a deep breath and inhaled the aroma that was Jack. She looked up at him, smiled, and rolled her eyes. "This could go on for a while," she whispered. Jack nodded.

"Why don't I drive? I have plenty of room for all of us," he said. "Especially now that I took out Toshiko's computer brackets," he thought. "It will save on gas."

Chloe liked Jack, but she respected the environment too much and had to call him on this. So far this was the only thing that had bothered her about him. "Jack, you drive a big SUV. I don't think that we would end up saving any gas by taking that stegosaurus sized beast any where." Chloe expected Jack to be offended by this, but again his reaction surprised her.

"Finally someone in Kansas who can think clearly about the environment. I was beginning to think it they were only on the coasts of this country during this decade," Jack said. His face took on a mysterious grin, "My SUV is a one of a kind, custom built. It is sort of a …hybrid; I guess you could call it. The engine is still under design and testing, but I have a working prototype. I agreed not to tell anyone too much about it until it was ready for production, but I can say the amount of gas I save is astronomical," Jack said. "Not exactly a lie," Jack thought, "but I can't tell them it has a fusion engine I put in it that won't be invented for another 115 years."

Chloe felt her shoulders relaxing. She hadn't even realized that they had tensed up waiting for Jack's response to her stand on the environment. Without thinking she took his hand in hers and looked at the others, smiling. "Jack is driving."

They walked outside and over to Jack's SUV. For the first time, Chloe noticed the symbol on the grill was the letter "T" made out of hexagons. She was about to get in when she saw Jack holding the door on the left side of the vehicle open. She craned her neck to look into the vehicle and saw the steering wheel was on the right side. Lois was the first to comment, "Well Smallville, if we want to run up a big tab on Jack's behalf next week, we need to start looking in Europe."

They all got into the SUV and Jack turned the key in the ignition. For moment nothing happened. Lois, Clark, and Chloe looked at each other in confusion as Jack just there and smiled patiently. A male voice, soundly just slightly computerized, said, "Security authorization."

"Captain Jack Harkness," Jack said in a clear, commanding tone.

"Voice print confirmed. Welcome Captain Harkness, you sexy beast." Both women laughed at the last bit and Clark looked slightly uncomfortable. The engine started and Jack pulled away from the house.

"Oh…my…God! Did your car just flirt with you?" Chloe laughed.

Jack looked smug. "I had a little problem right before I left my last job with the SUV being stolen. It was supposed to be theft proof. My friend who dropped me off here thought it was hilarious and gave me this new security system for the SUV. I've been working on programming the thing this afternoon. This is the first time it has said any thing like that. I guess my friend has developed a new sense of humor."

The drive to the bowling alley was short and filled with small talk. Lois and Clark tried to question Jack about his past and he told him that he wouldn't answer any direct questions, to make their wager fair. They pulled up to the bowling alley and Jack read the sign, "Lois' Lanes". He laughed until Lois punched his shoulder.

"Laugh it up, Jack. No relation by the way otherwise I would be asking for a cut of proceeds," Lois said.

"Huh? Oh no, I just thought it was funny that they kept the name," Jack explained. The others looked at him quizzically. "There used to be a saloon on this site called Lois' Place. The owner had an ex-wife who left him because she thought that alcohol was the root of evil. To get back at her he named the saloon after her." He noticed they were still staring at him. He shrugged his shoulders, "What can I say? I'm a history buff." He pulled in to a parking space and quickly got out and ran around the front of the SUV to get Chloe's door. Chloe smiled, indulging in the pampering.

"Why thank you, Captain Harkness," Chloe said as she took Jack's hand to help her out of the SUV. They walked into the bowling alley holding hands.

Lois wistfully watched them and waited for Clark to open her door. She waited until she saw Clark entering the building. He turned around, smiled mischievously, winked at her and said, "You coming Lois?" Lois stormed out of the SUV and ran to the door only to find Clark there holding it open for her like a gentleman.

"Jerk!" Lois said as she walked by. She couldn't resist and stuck her tongue out at him as she walked by. Clark's laugh broke away any hard feelings and they made their way to the shoe counter.

Jack had chosen a pair of brightly colored shoes and was finishing putting them on. "What do think ladies? Clark?" with that Jack walked forwards 10 feet and then back, giving them an impromptu fashion show.

Chloe and Lois watched with approval. "Yeah, looks great," Chloe nodded. She had completely missed the shoes and had been busy watching other parts of Jack. Lois nudged her and motioned towards the bar with her chin. Judging by the hungry stares Jack was getting from several of the ladies and some of the men, his walk had been noticed by more than just them. Chloe bounced up to Jack and took his hand. "Lane 4, when you're done taunting the cougars." Jack laughed. Chloe decided that she wanted to hear that laugh more often, a lot more often.

The first game had ended with Lois winning and Jack coming in a close second. Chloe had a respectable third place, but as usual, Clark's score was dismal. When she thought no one was looking, Chloe shared a knowing smile with Clark. They both knew that Clark could get a strike on every lane in the place simultaneously. They had no idea that Jack suspected as much. Chloe looked over at Jack and saw he was staring off into space. "You OK?" she asked.

"Huh, uh…yeah…sorry, I was just remembering the first time I ever went bowling. I haven't thought about it in a very long time," he said. His Time Agency partner, John, had taken them to the base recreation center and taught him how to bowl. "I don't know what is more disturbing. The fact that this simple outing triggered one of my hidden memories, or the fact that there is still bowling in the 55th Century."

Chloe was up first this time and Jack leaned forward in his seat, enjoying the show. Chloe was wearing a grey half jacket over a maroon t-shirt that was tucked into a pair of tight blue jeans. Jack looked at her ensemble and realized that her clothing choices had all been…uncomplicated. Jack couldn't keep his smile from growing larger. Lois caught Jack ogling her cousin and had to rib him, "See anything you like Jack?"

Jack tore his eyes off Chloe and turned to Lois. Jack paused as if he was collecting his thoughts. When he spoke he gave Lois a half smile, but his voice rang with sincerity, "Do you want the list from head to toe or alphabetically? It's quite a long list." Clark overheard with his super-hearing and almost choked on his cola. Jack and Lois didn't notice.

Chloe came back from the lane to find Jack smirking and Lois staring at him speechless. "Wow, Lois speechless. This guy's good." "What did I miss?" Chloe asked.

Lois jumped up and spat out, "I need a beer."

Jack put his hand on Lois' shoulder and eased her back into her chair. "I'm buying. Clark, Chloe, anything for you?"

Clark was wiping cola off of shirt and shook his head no. Chloe said, "They have a good iced cappuccino, I'll take one." Jack headed off to the bar.

Lois pulled Chloe down into the plastic seat next to her. "That guy has the serious hots for you." Lois watched her cousin's face blush and her eyes brighten. "Whoa, slow down there cowgirl. What do you know about this guy other than he's gorgeous, charming, smart, can cook, and forget I said anything because I'm just jealous. But seriously Chloe, be careful. And another thing. What the hell is he wearing? It's not musk, spice, or anything else I can put my finger on but it smells great. If we can get Smallville some, maybe we can get him a date." Lois said the last part loud enough for Clark to hear if he had been human. A French fry flung into her hair was Clark's only reply.

Jack came back with Chloe's iced cappuccino and two bottles of Guinness. He handed one to Lois who arched an eyebrow at him. "This reminds me about the story of the German exchange student who was having problem with his English. Knowing that he was from Germany his friends in the States kept offering him beers from America which he declined saying, 'No, it is like making love in a canoe.' They all thought this sounded pretty good and offered him even more American beer. He again declined comparing American beer to making love in a canoe. This went on for a while until another friend from Germany heard him and started laughing. He corrected his friend." Lois made eye contact with Jack and winked, he nodded and they said the punch line together, "It's not 'making love in a canoe' my polite friend, the phrase is 'f**king close to water'." Even Clark laughed at the elaborate set-up. Chloe looked from Jack to Lois and back again.

"OK, what's with the evil brain sharing routine?" Chloe chuckled.

"Army brat." Lois shrugged her shoulders. "Of course when I heard it, the guy was a French exchange student. Lucy and I were stationed with the General in Belgium," Lois explained.

"When I first heard it will be 300 years from now in a bar near Olympus Mons, on Mars. Even with 300 years of practice, American beer still tastes like crap," Jack mused.

They nursed their drinks and were finishing up their last game. Lois was surprised that she was having this much fun and had only had one beer. She was even enjoying going out on a date with Smallville. "Wow, that Guinness must be really strong if I think this is a date. Just think about something else, Lois." Lois thought to herself. She was trying to think of anything but Clark and ended up watching Clark's butt instead. Lois looked over and saw Jack watching Clark's butt as well. He wasn't watching with the same intensity as he was when watching Chloe, but he was definitely appreciating the view. Clark was walking up to the foul line and was about to release the ball. Lois leaned over and whispered into Chloe's ear, "Not that you have anything to worry about, but your date has totally been checking out Smallville's ass." Two things happened at once. Chloe smacked Lois' arm and Clark who couldn't help but overhear with his alien enhanced senses loss his balance and fell on what everyone was busily watching. Lois was the only one who asked if he was all right, even if she was laughing along with the others.

"Just my pride," Clark tried to glare at his friends, but he gave up and just laughed with the rest of them. They gathered up their things and headed to the counter to turn in the shoes.

"Loved the shoes!" Jack said as he put his pair on the counter and winked at the 40 something male owner.

"I think I'm catching on. You'll flirt with anything won't you?" Chloe teased.

"Of course," Jack said as he lifted her hand to his lips and again kissed her knuckles. This drew a chuckle from the owner. "I'm going to go warm up the SUV." Jack walked towards the exit.

"Our walking men's body wash commercial over there was telling us an interesting story about the name of this place. He said it used to be a saloon a long time ago named 'Lois' Place'," Lois said to the owner.

The owner looked at Jack's retreating back with surprise. "Yeah, not many people know that story. Hold on I have an old photo from the turn of the century that shows the old place." The owner went back to the office. He came back with a sepia tone photo of several men standing in front a classic looking western saloon. The name "Lois' Place" was painted on a sign hanging over the door. Lois was the first to see the obviously drunk pair of men holding each other up, mugging for the camera in the background.

"Smallville, look at that guy. He kind of looks you, same build and everything. The only difference are that his hair is lot shaggier and he actually looks like he knows how to have a good time. I would think he was an ancestor of yours if wasn't for the 'having a good time' part," Lois teased.

Chloe saw the look of concern on Clark's face and focused on Clark and stopped looking at the picture. She failed to notice the second man . "We should probably catch up with Jack," Chloe said.

Clark was quiet on the ride back to his farm barely bantering with Lois. He had been shocked with what he had seen. Lois chalked up his quietness to the farm boy not used to staying out late. When they got to the farm, Clark got out and made a quick excuse about turning in. He didn't even notice Chloe inviting Jack to follow them back to the Talon.

Clark waited until he heard both vehicles about 3 miles down the road and started running towards his arctic fortress. From the visions he had received before in the fortress, he had clearly recognized one of the drunk men as his biological father, Jor-El. He wanted to know why and how Jor-El and gotten drunk. Kryptonians were immune to alcohol. Clark was also concerned about the second drunk man. The one wearing a Victorian, leather duster. The man who looked amazingly like Captain Jack Harkness.