Chapter 14

Clark and Jack had bummed around town for the rest of the day waiting for Lois and Chloe to get off work. They had made their way to the park at the center of town. Jack had been asking subtle questions, trying to gauge exactly how Clark felt for Lois. From what he could tell, the big goof was head over heels in love with the feisty reporter. "Maybe feisty isn't the right word," Jack thought, "indomitable might be better. Hell, she even scares me sometimes and I can't stay dead. I'm sure she feels the same way for him, what is their problem?" The problem was Clark wasn't ready to act on his feelings.Jack figured a less subtle approach would be called for if he was going to get things off the ground with these two. "So, Clark, Do you think Lois might be interested in a threesome?" Jack asked with all the casualness someone would ask about ice-cream flavors.

"I can't believe you just asked me that, Jack. How the hell would I know?" Clark exclaimed angrily. Clark became jealous at the thought of Jack sharing a bed with both Lois and Chloe. "I'm pretty sure Lois wouldn't go in for anything like that with her cousin." Clark noticed Jack smiling at him like the Cheshire cat.

"Gotcha! I wasn't planning on anything of the sort. I asked you that question to get a reaction out of you. Consider it a controlled experiment," Jack said. "I want you to think about what you just felt and why."

"Why should I talk to you about my feelings? No offense Jack, but we've only recently met and I don't think my personal life is any of your business," Clark said coolly.

"I can think of a lot of reasons," Jack said evenly. "For one, I can't think of any other guy in this town who was born on another planet and has a secret that he feels that he has to keep from the world." Jack folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against a tree. "I know what you're thinking. You're thinking your secret is some much bigger than mine that Lois might not be able to handle it and she might reject you, right?"

Clark was stunned that Jack was able to cut straight to the matter with one sentence. Clark turned his head away from Jack and said softly, "I know you told Chloe that for some reason you are extremely old and that you're from another planet. You even told her you were a time traveler, but it's different. You're human and I'm an alien. My secret is bigger."

"You're wrong, Clark. I'm more alien than you can ever imagine. I'm something that shouldn't exist. I am a being unlike anything that has ever existed or ever will, and that is impossible. I am fixed point in time and space. I am immortal. I have been killed over 1,000 times now. I have been shot, knifed, poisoned, and all other manor of nasty ways to die including being blown up. Do you remember the terrorist bombing of the Millennium Center in Cardiff?" Jack asked. Clark nodded. "That was me. Not the terrorist, the bomb. I spent a year being tortured to death over and over again." Jack paused. "That and I'm Omni-sexual, so I think I've got your secret whipped, farm boy."

"Chloe knows everything? She's ok with it?" Clark asked, still not able to find his full voice.

"To be honest, I don't think any human can fully come to terms with their lover being immortal, but yeah, she's coping better than any of my past lovers," Jack said. He smiled and nodded towards Clark, "Thanks to you, she took the whole being from another planet thing easily. The rest fell into place. I thought with your centuries' issues with sexuality she would have a problem with my last relationship being with a man, but she only said he sounded like a wonderful man and wished she could have met him," Jack said with pride. "Chloe is truly remarkable and I am very fortunate to have found her. Don't lose your chance to be able to say that about Lois." Clark stood still, deep in thought.

"I should head back to the Talon, Chloe should be back by now and she wanted to discuss something with Lois and me," Jack said. Jack glanced down at the flannel he had been forced to wear. "Plus, I don't want to leave my lovely girlfriend alone with Martha and Gwen to long or they might come up with another slight and another punishment. Oh, and I was thinking of more along the line of me, you, and Lois with that threesome."

"I should drop you off and head back to the farm and get some chores done," Clark said as he stood up from the tree.

As they walked back to the truck, Jack stopped Clark briefly by putting his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Promise me you'll think about what we talked about. I mean you dating Lois, not that other thing. You're both stronger than you give yourselves credit for," Jack said.

Lois and Chloe had car pooled from Metropolis and walked into the Talon. They found Gwen and Martha sitting at one of the back tables comparing the day's shopping. The cousins walked over and Martha invited them to sit. After a round of coffee, the women started talking about their lives; where they were from, who they were with, etc.

"Well, my husband Rhys used to work for a shipping company, but now I have him in charge of the operations side of Torchwood. He runs things almost as smoothly as Ianto did," Gwen said.

"So your husband is doing the same job as Ianto?" Chloe asked. Gwen nodded wondering where this line of questioning was going. Chloe got a wicked gleam in her eye. "Is it some sort of requirement for the position that they have to be shagging the boss?"

Gwen was silent for a moment and then said, "You know Chloe, I never thought about it that way, but I wouldn't put it past Jack to have put it down somewhere in one of the manuals."

Martha laughed, "Sounds like him. So do you two carry on like Jack and Ianto did in the office after hours."

Gwen's accent thickened with embarrassment, "No..No..Nothing like that takes place. I can guarantee there is no more naked hide and seek going on when someone might walk in." Chloe and Lois looked at her with their mouths open. Martha just grinned, she had heard this story before. "I walked in on Ianto and Jack playing naked hide and seek. Ianto was seeking. He was also complaining that Jack always cheated. Jack popped out and invited me to join. Let me tell you it was a difficult call, but I left." Lois put her hand over her mouth to cover her giggle while Chloe just blushed. "Well Chloe, we know who you're with so that leaves Lois. Are you and Clark dating?"

Lois had been taking a sip of her coffee and spewed it across the table. Chloe rolled her eyes and shook her head. "What, me and Smallville? Are you kidding? We can barely stand each other. We are always bickering and competing. If anything we're just good friends," Lois said defensively.

Martha knew all about love and not being brave enough to tell the other person and then losing any chance you might have had with them. She had been in love with the Doctor, but chose to leave him rather than admit her feelings for him. "Of course Clark isn't some kind of super powerful alien, but even if he was Lois should tell him how she really feels. It's written all over her face. I'd hate to see anyone lose a chance at love like I did," Martha thought. "Let's do a little experiment. I'm going to describe two events. You're going to close your eyes and keep them closed. After each description I'm going to watch your facial expressions for 20 seconds," Martha said. "Trust me, I'm a doctor, and this will help us get to the bottom of things."

"Sure, as long as you don't stick peanut butter in my hair like certain someone did at a slumber party," Lois said as she glanced at Chloe who was trying to look innocent.

"Ok, Lois, close your eyes. Now remember to keep your eyes closed. First one: you're in your apartment having sex with Clark," Martha said simply.

Lois almost opened her eyes, but fought the impulse. She waited for the remainder of the description and when it wasn't forthcoming, her mind filled in the details. She flushed slightly and unknown to her, a smile had crept to her face. "Second one: You and Clark are celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary," Martha said. Once again there was nothing else. Had anyone asked Lois to verbalize about a 50th wedding anniversary with Clark, she would have said something snarky about it. When she just visualized it, safe in her own mind however, she felt an overwhelming feeling of safety and warmth. Martha watched Lois' shoulders relax and her smile take on a serene quality. She let her stay that way for 40 seconds instead of 20. Lois opened her eyes. "Right, no romantic feelings for Clark whatsoever," Martha said sarcastically.

Lois was about to give back a witty comment about Smallville and cows when she looked into Martha's eyes. There was nothing mystical in them, only wisdom and a sense of loss. Somehow Lois could tell that Martha had lost a chance at love. Lois knew she couldn't lie to this woman and get away with it. "He's out of my league," Lois whispered.

Chloe couldn't believe her ears. Lois had not only admitted to liking Clark, but she had admitted to self doubt. Chloe looked at Jack's friends and realized what kind of people he surrounded himself with. She was even happier than she was before that she had taken him as her lover. Chloe reached over and took her cousin's hand and squeezed. She said one word with total conviction earning the nods of Gwen and Martha, "Bullshit."

Lois looked at her cousin in shock. Chloe very rarely swore and never with that much fervor. "Lois Lane, there hasn't been a man born on this planet, or any other for that matter, who is out of your league. As for Clark, if wasn't for his stupidity inducing y-chromosome, he would be your equal. As is it stands now, you out class him," Chloe vented.

"Chloe, Clark isn't like other guys. He's smart, sexy, intelligent like I'm sure some other guys are, but the thing he has the others don't is Clark's ability to care for other people. He cares for people like no one I have ever known. He's special," Lois said defending Clark. "Besides, this is a mute point. He's never going to ask me out."

Martha sat straight in her chair, "Lois, Chloe told me you were the daughter of General Lane. I'm assuming you were taught some things about battle tactics and not only what it takes to win, but what it takes to win completely. Lois, what is the more tactically sound option: waiting for the battle to come to you, never knowing when it will get there, or fighting a battle when and where you chose?" Martha asked.

The military analogy rebooted Lois' usual take charge attitude. Chloe watched as her eyes went from lackluster to bright in an instant. Lois rolled her shoulders back and held her head up regally, and smiled. "Thank you for that reminder, Doctor Jones-Smith. I would be pleased if you and Mrs. Cooper would attend a strategy session with Miss Sullivan and me at the apartment tomorrow night. There we can discuss tactics for the upcoming campaign, over margaritas of course," Lois said.

Gwen and Martha both gave Lois a palm forward salute. "Yes, mum!" they said in unison.

Chloe gave her a palm down salute, "Aye, aye, Cuz!" At that moment Jack walked into the coffee house.

"Dismissed," Lois said with a wink.

"Hey, Jack! Is Clark with you?" Chloe asked as she welcomed Jack with a wave.

"No, he said he had some work to do at the farm," Jack said as he walked to their table. He leaned over and gave Chloe a long kiss.

"Great, now I feel like I'm back at the office," Gwen teased. She did feel a pang of home sickness as she watched Jack kiss Chloe. The last time she had seen him kiss anyone had been her friend Ianto.

When they came up for air, Jack's eyes were sparkling and Chloe was fanning herself with her napkin. "Jack, you really know how to let a lady know you missed her," Chloe said. "Now that you're here, we can talk to Lois about the apartment."

"Oh, god. He's not moving in is he. No offense Jack, but from what Chloe told me I doubt I would be able to get much sleep with the two of you in the next room," Lois pleaded. Everyone laughed as Jack wagged his eyebrows.

"No, Lois, Jack isn't moving in. I'm moving out," Chloe explained.

"Huh?" Lois asked.

"I'm spending more and more of my time in Metropolis. I figured since I'm working for both Isis and Oliver it would be more convenient for me to have a place there. I have been thinking about it for months," Chloe said. "You can cover the rent at the apartment by yourself easily with your Planet salary."

"Well, yeah, but where are you going to live?" Lois asked.

"Jimmy originally bought the top of the Watchtower as an apartment for us. I didn't have the heart to convert the main area, but I was able to acquire the floor below and I'm going to convert part of it into an apartment and the other half into the new Isis headquarters," Chloe said as she sketched out a diagram on a napkin. "I got the extra space for next to nothing," Chloe said. "In fact Oliver gave it to me for a dollar after he bought the rest of the building," Chloe thought.

"What about Captain Dazzle over here?" Lois said trying to get a rise out of Jack. Instead Jack did an impromptu dance finish, worthy of a Broadway show complete with jazz hands.

Jack took a more normal stance after the applause died down. "Chloe invited me to move in with her and I accepted. I had been looking for a place in Metropolis anyway and it didn't make much sense to get two places if I was going to be at hers all the time anyway. I'm staying here in Kansas," Jack said. The last part made Gwen and Martha's heads shoot up from their drinks. They had been studiously ignoring the conversation as it was none of their business, but Jack not coming back to Cardiff was something they had never considered. Jack met Martha's eyes, "That wet Cardiff weather was getting to me, thought I would move somewhere drier, Doctor's orders," he said. Martha nodded. Gwen was about to protest when Martha put a hand on her arm, silencing her.

"OK, that was weird," Lois thought. "I guess that beats me walking in on you guys having Chinese again. There's one final thing that's been nagging me. What is Jack going to being doing now that's he here?" Lois asked.

"She said what and not who, Jack," Gwen quickly put in as she saw Jack about to speak. Jack shut his mouth with an audible snap and Chloe hit him in the arm.

"Jack will be working for Oliver," Chloe said.

"I will?" Jack asked, surprised.

"Yes, you will. He just doesn't know it yet. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll pass the hiring interview," Chloe said cryptically.

"All right then, I guess I am getting the apartment all to myself. This calls for drinks with lots of fat and sugar, my treat," Lois said as she got up.

"I'll help bring them back," Jack offered. The two of them went off to the counter to order the drinks. As their drinks were being put on trays, two men in coats that were too warm for the season walked into the Talon. Gwen saw them and immediately reached for her matched set of pistols only to remember that she had left them on the UNIT plane, being things that customs normally frowns upon. The first man started towards the cash register and therefore Lois and Jack who had their backs to him. The second man was walking towards their table, the coffee house having emptied out. Their table was the last to have customers at it. The first man pulled out a shot gun from under his coat and fired a round at an empty table. Jack and Lois spun around. He second man had pulled out a black, semi-auto handgun and pointed it Martha.

"Guess what folks. You have generously decided to contribute to the 'I don't want to die' charity fund," the man said, amused with his attempt at humor. "Here is how it is going to work, you are going to give us all of the money in this place, including what is on you and we will let live."

The minute Lois had heard the blast; she had stuck her hand into her pocket and turned on her cell-phone. She couldn't dial 911 by touch, but she could press and hold the center button, speed dialing Clark. She hoped he would answer, figure out was going on, and call the police. She slowly drew her hand out of pocket and held both of her hands up. While dialing the phone she hadn't realized she had accidently switched the phone over to speaker mode. To her horror, everyone in the Talon heard her phone ring twice and then Clark's voice come from her pocket, "Hey Lois, what's up? Hello?"

"You bitch!" The first robber yelled as he swung the shotgun towards Lois. Time slowed for Lois. She felt Jack push her out of the way and saw he had drawn a revolver that he had hidden in the small of his back. The shots were simultaneous. The buck shot tore into Jack's chest, center of mass as Jack's shot went right between the man's eyes. They were both dead before they hit the floor. Lois was sprayed by Jack's blood.

The second robber made the mistake of diverting his attention for an instant when he heard the shots. Martha grabbed his gun side hand and forced it towards the ceiling. Gwen had jumped out of her seat and struck the knee closest to her with at downward side-kick. The crunch of bone and cartilage was audible. Martha followed up by over rotating the man's arm, dislocating the shoulder and then dropping her own elbow into his, breaking the arm. They let him drop to the ground as he passed out from the pain.

Clark had been sitting in the loft going over the pros and cons of telling Lois his secret when his cell-phone had rung. He saw it was Lois and answered it on the second ring. "Hey Lois, what's up? Hello?" he had said. He heard the shots and Lois scream. He used his super-hearing to locate her actual voice and ran to the Talon. When he got there he saw Jack lying dead on the floor with a shotgun blast to the chest, a revolver in his hand. Lois was standing next to him in shock, her shirt partially covered in his blood. A man with a shotgun was dead on the floor with the back part of his head missing. Clark looked over at the table where Chloe was and saw she also seemed to be in a state of shock. There was a second assailant lying at the feet of Gwen and Martha. He was still breathing, but one of his arms and a leg were sticking out at unnatural angles. Clark walked over to Lois and led her away from Jack's body. Lois began to shake. Clark wrapped her in his arms and noticed he had been shaking as well. "I almost lost her. I almost lost Lois. If it wasn't for Jack, Lois would be dead and I would never get a chance to tell her that I love her," Clark cried silently in his head. He held onto Lois like he was drowning.

"Oh god, what just happened? How is Chloe going to deal with this? She can't lose another lover this close to losing Jimmy," Lois thought. "What makes it worse is that I am glad it was Jack and not Clark who was here. I know Clark would have done the exact same thing and I don't know if I could live without him."

Chloe slowly walked over to Jack's lifeless body. She stared at him and then turned away. Gwen took Chloe's face in her hands and made her look at her, "He told you everything, yeah?" Chloe was only able to nod. "Ok, good." Gwen let go of Chloe's face and turned her so she was looking at Jack's body. "The first time you have to go through this is the worse. After that it gets a little better, but you never fully get used to it. My first time was my first week on the job."

Lois was listening to Gwen talk to Chloe and whispered to Clark, "I know Gwen's trying to help, but Chloe just watched Jack get killed. She needs comfort not platitudes. Go to her Clark, she needs you."

Clark realized that not counting the clerk, Lois was the only one who didn't know Jack was immortal. "No, Lois. I'm staying right here with you. Gwen has more experience with this than I do."

Lois buried her head in Clark's chest, glad for his comfort. She heard Chloe talking to Gwen, "So how long does this take to…you know…"

"Every time is different. The recovery time seems to be tied to how traumatic the death is," Gwen said.

Lois thought that while these words were true, now wasn't the time to be saying them to Chloe. Clark whispered to Lois, "Lois, there is something we need to talk about." Lois looked up at him with tear streaked eyes. "It's about Jack…" Lois started crying again until she heard a long drawn out gasp coming from the floor. She looked where Jack was lying and stared in disbelief. Jack was sitting up, rubbing his chest his hand covered in blood. Chloe dropped to her knees and threw her arms around Jack.

Jack returned Chloe's embrace, holding her tight. He turned his face towards Clark, "Sorry about the shirt, Clark."

.