Chapter 18
Lois and Chloe had taken the previous afternoon off and shopped for the perfect dresses for the evening's dance. They had driven home from Metropolis at break neck speed so they could have a few extra moments to get ready. Chloe had decided to get ready with Lois rather than at her new place in the city. The cousins thought it was always more fun doing stuff like that together. Lois was putting the final touches on to her hair while Chloe applied a tiny amount of make-up.
"Did Smallville tell you that his mom will be home for the weekend?" Lois asked Chloe, looking at the other woman's reflection in the bathroom mirror.
"No, he didn't. He's seemed kinda preoccupied for some reason," Chloe said. Lois bumped her cousin's hip with hers. "He doesn't have a curfew does he?" Chloe teased.
"He better not! He told me yesterday that she was coming in this morning and that he was going to take the day off to spend with her. He said that way he wouldn't feel bad leaving her alone on her first night back. She insisted he go out on the town with friends," Lois said. "I hope Mrs. K. is all right with me dating Smallville. I think of her as a mom and what she thinks about me really means a lot," Lois admitted.
"She loves you Lois, and if you love her son, what could she not like about it?" Chloe asked. Chloe's cell-phone rang twice and then silenced. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "Curtain call, Lois. The boys are downstairs," she said.
Martha Kent had driven to the Talon to take pictures of Clark and Lois on their first real date. She knew it was corny, but she was a mother and it was her prerogative. She was also interested in meeting this new boyfriend of Chloe's. From what little Clark had told her, Jack had been instrumental in finally getting Clark to admit his feelings for Lois. She owed this young man a debt of gratitude. She was also curious to meet him because Clark said he was someone who he could feel like himself around, like when he was Oliver and the gang. She knew he couldn't say more over the telephone, especially with her being in Washington. Martha K. assumed that he was another meta-human.
Martha Kent was waiting at a table with a coffee and her camera when a limousine pulled up in front. At first she was worried it was Lex or that pompous little, brat Lana, but then she saw the vanity plate "QUEEN1". "I guess Oliver is getting into the matchmaking mood as well," Martha thought happily. She watched her son and another man step out. She was struck by how good they both looked in RAF blue. When they came inside, Clark walked over to her. The other man walked towards her as well. "Good lord," Martha thought, "I wonder if Chloe would mind if I just have him walk back and forth a few times." Martha forced her eyes upwards and saw that the man was much older than she would have thought. He was in his late 30s to early 40s. His eyes twinkled with amusement.
Jack couldn't resist putting his friend on the spot. He upped the level on his pheromones and put on his best smile. "You must be the lovely Senator Kent I have been hearing about. I'm Captain Jack Harkness." He reached out his hand to take Martha's.
Clark rolled his eyes and hit Jack in the shoulder. "JACK!" Clark warned. Jack winked at Martha causing her to her to laugh. Clark heard the door to the apartment shut. He nudged Jack. "Here they come," he whispered. Jack walked quickly to the base of the stairs.
Chloe was the first one to reach the top of the stairway. She saw Jack standing at the foot of the stairs in his RAF uniform. She noticed that the rank insignia was indeed captain. His ever present coat was tossed over one arm like when they first met. He looked handsome as ever. She was tempted to skip the dance and have the driver drop them off at the Watchtower.
Martha Kent smiled at Chloe's choice in clothing for the evening. The dark yellow business dress had a jacket that buttoned down the front and a matching skirt. Martha noted the differences between the 1940's style suit Chloe wore and the type women wore today. The jacket was taken in at the waist to show off a woman's curves rather than try to make her look like a man. Chloe had chosen a beret style hat to finish off the look. From the looks Jack was giving her, he approved whole heartedly of her choices. Martha wondered if anyone had bothered Chloe about dating someone who might be twice her age. Martha saw the happiness in Chloe's eyes and decided that if anyone did, she would be having some choice words of her own with them. Jack led Chloe off to the side and Clark took Jack's place at the base of the stairs.
When Lois stepped onto the landing, Clark thought that his heart might stop. He had always thought Lois was pretty and over the past year had come to realize she was beautiful. However even knowing she was beautiful could not have prepared him for what he saw then. Lois was wearing a shimmery red evening gown that would look good in any decade. The sash around her waist crossed across her chest becoming the shoulder straps. This created a tremendously low, plunging neckline. The gown was split up one side to mid thigh. Clark wasn't sure he was going to be able to remember how to speak let alone dance tonight.
Lois glided down the stairs like a silver screen goddess. She reveled in the stares she was getting from Clark, but she wanted those stares in private, later. Lois elbowed Clark in the ribs, "Breathe, Smallville. I'm not carrying your huge carcass all the way back to the farm if you pass out," she said. Clark blinked twice. Before he could respond, Lois took his hand and walked over to Martha Kent.
"Hi, Mrs. K. How does it feel to be back in Kansas?" Lois asked.
Martha was beaming. "Finally these two figure it out. He better come clean about his secret or I might just do it for him!" Martha thought. "It's great to back, especially since I get to see how good you two look together. Ok, I want a group picture. Chloe and Lois in the center with you two handsome gentlemen standing behind them," Martha said. After that she took photos of them individually and as couples. Martha laughed as Jack hammed it up for his photo. She thought it was sweet that Lois and Clark seemed to enjoy the awkwardness of the whole real first date thing and yet were able to rely on their closeness to each other. Martha grinned as she listened to them leave the Talon and get into the limo.
"Hurry up, Smallville! I don't want to miss our dinner reservations," Lois said.
"We'll be fine, Lois. Just do me a favor and don't order for me like you did at that Indian place last month," Clark reminded her.
"Hey, it's not my fault those two dishes sounded alike. Besides it's not like that goat had a use for those anymore anyways, I was eating the rest of him," she teased. Clark laughed at their easy banter and got into the limo.
The dinner had gone off without a hitch. Jack even managed to keep his stories to an "R" rating and within the last 100 years. They all laughed and shared a good meal. The banter between Lois and Clark was a little light due to the fact that Clark spent quite a bit of time just smiling at Lois with his farm-boy innocent smile. Clark was glad that Lois couldn't read minds, because his thoughts were anything but innocent. At least he was pretty sure she couldn't. There was that one time before desert she had snapped her fingers and told him her eyes were up there. Chloe had had to bite her lip to avoid laughing at how red Clark had gotten.
After dinner, the limousine dropped them off in front of the Metropolis Ball Room. There were people lined up to get inside and several of them were jockeying to see who the limo had dropped off. The most of the women and a few of the men in line made appreciative comments as they saw Clark and Jack get out. The rest of the crowd followed suit when the men helped Lois and Chloe out. The couples walked past the line up to the front door. Clark had been uncomfortable about this at first, but he had been to enough functions with first Lex and then Oliver to get accustomed to it.
Jack walked up to the door man letting people in. A second doorman approached, this one was older, dressed in a WWII Army uniform costume. He was carrying a clipboard. "I'm sorry, but I have to ask. Are you four on the VIP list?" he asked very politely.
"Captain Jack Harkness," Jack said, "These are my friends Chloe Sullivan, Lois Lane, and Clark Kent."
"Welcome Captain, on behalf of the Museum I would like to thank you for your very generous donation. We have a table set aside for you and your party and all of the drinks are complimentary. One other thing, Captain Harkness, those uniforms you and Mr. Kent are wearing are outstanding. I am something of a WWII buff and if it weren't for the fact that they look brand new, I would say they were authentic WWII RAF uniforms. You'll have to give me the name of the person who does your costumes." The museum man saw another group coming to the VIP door. "Alas duty calls, have a wonderful evening."
As they walked inside Clark whispered to Jack, "You actually wore these during WWII didn't you?" Clark rubbed the wool jacket between his thumb and forefinger.
"Yeah, I've some equipment that will revolutionize dry-cleaning in about 100 years stowed away in my trunk. How do think I keep my coat looking like new?" Jack asked.
They found a table to the side of the dance floor that was mostly hidden in shadows. There was a placard on it that said it was reserved for the Captain Harkness party. Jack had thought ahead and made sure there were only 4 chairs. The big band started to play and Jack whisked Chloe off to the dance floor, leaving Lois and Clark alone.
Lois sat down next to Clark. "Time to start the field maneuvers of Operation Smallville," Lois thought. She took a small compact out of her purse and pretended to check her makeup. Instead of putting it back in her purse, she put in down on the table so she could see Clark's expressions without having to face him. "This looks like fun," she said as she looked around the room. She glanced in the small mirror to see Clark look around and nod.
"Yeah, it does," Clark said. "Jack and Chloe sure look like they're having a good time."
Lois decided to lay her snare. "It does doesn't it. We'll have to thank Jack later for setting this whole thing up. But for now, I feel like dancing," Lois said. She purposefully kept her face away from Clark, but watched his in the mirror. She pretended to scan the dance floor. "I just need to figure out who to dance with," she said nonchalantly. Lois watched Clark's expression become panicked. "Hook," she thought. "I don't know, Smallville, who do think I should ask?" Lois asked him, pretending to be sincere. She watched his jaw set in determination. "Line," she thought. Clark all of sudden relaxed, a smile coming to his lips. He stood up and took Lois by the hand. As Clark led Lois to the dance floor, Lois thought, " And…Sinker. Operation Smallville is a go!"
Clark was chuckling as he and Lois made their way through the crowd to the dance floor. "What's so funny, Smallville?" Lois asked.
"The whole mirror on the table thing. It took me a little while to catch on," Clark said. He took Lois's hand and put his other hand on her waist.
"Busted!" Lois thought. "Ok, farm-boy, if you caught on, why didn't you call me on it before we got to the dance floor?" she asked.
"I was going to ask you anyway, you are my date after all," Clark answered. "I wanted to make sure I made it here without you ditching me for some other guy."
"I might ditch you to get at a story, but that is the only time I would try to get rid you, Smallville," Lois said. Lois wrapped her arms around Clark's neck, forcing him to hold her tighter as they danced.
"Are you feeling ok, Lois. Earlier you sounded like you were actually being nice to me," Clark teased. Lois turned her head to glare at him, causing him to laugh. He leaned down to her ear and whispered, "Promise me you will always be there to bust my chops and knock me down a few pegs."
"God, I love this man. Who else would ask that?" Lois had a coy smile on her face as she nodded to Clark. She looked up at him and said, "I'll promise, but I have one condition."
"What?" he asked.
"You shut up and kiss me already," she demanded. Clark lowered his head and brought his lips to hers. Lois tightened her arms around Clark's neck, drawing them even closer. The world seemed to fade away, until they heard applause. The broke the kiss and looked around. The music had stopped and they were surrounded by couples happily clapping for them. Jack and Chloe were leading the group. Jack made a motion and the band started playing again, giving the new couple some semblance of privacy. Lois and Clark smiled shyly at each other, but did not break their embrace or leave the dance floor.
Lois and Clark had danced for a few songs when they ran into Chloe who looked puzzled. "Have you guys seen Jack?" Chloe asked, "He said he had to take care of something and then disappeared. His coat and uniform jacket are at the table."
"No, I haven't seen him, but I think he will be all right. He is probably just flirting with a vending machine or something," Lois said, causing Chloe to laugh. The music died down and the band leader came up to the mic.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, normally we don't allow guests to come up here and sing, but I met this man back when we did a gig in Cardiff, Wales. I saw him dancing out in the crowd and asked if he would grace us with at least one song. He agreed if I left him dedicate it to his new friends and how they should treat the future. I could never resist this man. Please, welcome Captain Jack Harkness," the band leader said.
"Oh, no. He isn't…" Clark began.
"Don't worry, Smallville. He has a really nice voice," Lois told him. She reached over and squeezed Chloe's hand and gave her a small smile, letting her know when she had heard him sing. Chloe walked over to the bar. Lois and Clark headed back to the table. The lights came up on stage and Jack was standing in front of the band in his blue shirt and suspenders.
Anything Goes by Cole Porter
In olden days a glimpse of stocking
Was looked on as something shocking,
But now, God knows,
Anything Goes.
Good authors too who once knew better words,
Now only use four letter words
Writing prose, Anything Goes.
The world has gone mad today
And good's bad today,
And black's white today,
And day's night today,
When most guys today
That women prize today
Are just silly gigolos.
And though I'm not a great romancer
I know that I'm bound to answer
When you propose,
Anything goes.
When grandmama whose age is eighty
In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo's,
Anything Goes.
When mothers pack and leave poor father
Because they decide they'd rather be tennis pros,
Anything Goes.
If driving fast cars you like,
If low bars you like,
If old hymns you like,
If bare limbs you like,
If Mae West you like
Or me undressed you like,
Why, nobody will oppose!
When every night,
The set that's smart
Is indulging in Torchwood parties in studios,
Anything Goes.
Lana Luthor had walked into the dance alone as usual. Lex and she rarely went to these functions together. She didn't like him crimping her style. Right after she had entered she heard the band leader introduce his friend. "Sounds like the band leader is queer as Tess Mercer on the 3 dollar bill. I guess the singer probably is too," she thought. The lights came up on stage and she thought, "What a waste, that guy is cute. Hold on, is that the guy Clark was with?" Lana made her way to the bar and ordered a drink. She saw Chloe standing at the end the bar, watching in rapture. Lana sidled up next to her and waited for the singing to stop. "He's pretty good isn't he," Lana said.
"You have no idea," Chloe said without thinking. She realized who she was talking to. "Hello, Lana. What brings you here?" She said coldly.
"You know how the Luthors like to donate to charities and how much I like to dance. As an added bonus, I get to listen to a really cute guy sing. Sounds like a pretty good evening," Lana said.
Chloe couldn't resist. "Yeah, he is pretty cute isn't he. He's really good in bed too," Chloe said.
"Chloe, I'm sure your friends have told you that he is, but let's face it; there is no way he would be into you. He's probably gay, and if he isn't why on Earth would he want you with me standing right here?" Lana asked. She waited eagerly for the hurt look to show on Chloe's face, instead she was treated to a confident smile.
"Looks like he might be headed this way. I'll make a bet with you Lana. If he goes home with you tonight instead of me, I'll be a servant at the Luthor mansion for a week," Chloe offered. "If he ends up going home with me, you give an exclusive interview to Lois Lane on a topic of her choice."
"Agreed," Lana said holding out her hand to shake.
Chloe shook Lana's hand and looked over at the bartender who had been listening in on the conversation with amusement. "You heard the bet, right?" Chloe asked. The bartender nodded her head, never having liked Lana Luthor. "We have a witness, Lana."
"Good, Chloe. I hope you like scrubbing toilets wearing a French-maids outfit. I'm sure Lex will enjoy it," Lana said.
Jack made his way to the bar and saw Chloe talking with a brunette that his instincts told him was pure trouble, and not in a fun way. He figured this must be the infamous Lana Luthor. As he approached he watched Chloe for any indication of how to handle this. The other woman spoke first. "That was truly amazing singing. You have a great voice. Do you have time for us to buy you a drink and for you to settle a friendly wager between my friend and me?" Lana asked. Jack picked up on the slight catch in her voice when she said "friend". He glanced slightly over at Chloe who gave him a wink.
Jack amped up his pheromone production to max and smiled at Lana. "I always have time to let two beautiful women buy me a drink," he said. Lana put her arm through Jack's and led him to the bar. Jack offered his other arm to Chloe.
While Lana was next to Jack she got a full dose of his 55th century pheromones. "God, this guy smells great!" Lana thought. "I can't wait to get him back to the mansion while Lex is away on business." Jack ordered his drink and let Lana pay, even though his drinks had been comped for the evening.
Jack turned around, leaning his back against the bar. "So ladies, how can I be of service to you?" Jack purred. He flashed his smile and put an arm around both women. Chloe smiled at the thought of what her lover's advanced physiology was doing to Lana.
"Well, we made a little wager involving you," Lana admitted. "You see we bet on who would get to take you home tonight," she said. Lana ran her hand down the front of his uniform. "You need to decide if you're going home with me to my mansion, or home with her to her little apartment over a coffee shop," Lana informed him.
"I don't live there anymore," Chloe said.
"Oh I'm sorry, did your cousin finally get tired of your neediness and toss you out?" Lana asked. "I guess that helps you figure out where your headed, huh?" she asked Jack.
Jack let go of Chloe and leaned in towards Lana. He stopped mere inches from her face. Lana was intoxicated by his scent. Jack showed her his perfect white teeth. Lana took it for smile. Chloe knew it for what it was: a predator baring his fangs. "I had already made up my mind before I talked with you. This conversation only reinforced what I had already knew," Jack said. He leaned over, blowing softly into Lana ear, and then whispering, "I'll be going home with my girlfriend tonight. You know, that whole thing about all my stuff being at our apartment and not mention the fact that I am deeply in love with her. I will give you one warning… if you ever act like that towards her in front of me again, you'll regret it, Mrs. Luthor." Jack stepped back and was satisfied with the dumbstruck look on her face. He walked over to Chloe and gave her a passionate kiss before they both turned their backs on Lana and walked back to their table.
Lana was stunned. "How could that little bitch snare someone like that?" Lana asked herself. She was broke out of that line of thought by the second surprise of the evening, Clark dancing with Lois. "Oh, poor Clark. That guy and Chloe must have insisted he come here tonight. He must not have been able to get a date, so he brought that bit-bull, Lane," she thought, "It's my civic duty to save the poor guy. Besides, I could do with some good worship from Clark."
Lana made her way around the dance floor, careful to stay hidden from Chloe. When the song ended she approached Clark. "Hello, Clark," Lana said. She was surprised to see him jump like he was startled by her. Lana was happy to see the glares Lois was shooting her way. "You look great, Clark. I always thought you would look good in a uniform," she said. "Lois, you don't mind if I cut in for the next dance do you?" Lana said with saccharine sweetness.
"Hell yes! I mind you evil bitch!" Lois thought, "But if I smother Smallville, I'll be just as bad you." Lois released her embrace around Clark's neck and took a step back. She let one of her hands drop into Clark's. To keep from slapping the smug look off of Lana's face, Lois kept her eyes on Clark's. She was surprised to see a somewhat vacant look in his eyes; then all of sudden his grip on her hand tightened slightly. Lois couldn't find the right words to describe it, but now his eyes seemed more intense and stronger than she could ever remember seeing them. A new fire burned behind his eyes. Her Smallville smiled.
Lana had asked Clark if she could cut in on Lois. The Lois he had kissed tonight and had dreamed about for the last year. Lois had let her embrace go. By not saying anything, Lois had told him it was his decision. Clark had never been able to deny Lana anything before, but he didn't want to stop dancing with the woman he knew he was in love with. His senses all faded out except for his sense of touch. He felt Lois' hand in his. She was beside him, giving him strength. Clark felt a surge of energy course through him as he drew on Lois' belief in him to believe in himself. He could almost hear the circuit close inside his body. He smiled.
"She may not mind, but I do, Lana. I'm spending the evening dancing with my girlfriend and I want to get as many dances in with her as possible. So if you don't mind…" Clark said as he led Lois onto the dance floor next to Jack and Chloe.
"Way to go, Smallville!" Lois thought as she wrapped her arms around Clark again. She couldn't remember being more proud of him, or more having been given a better ego boost. Lois shook her hair back and looked up at Clark. "Girlfriend, Smallville?" she asked.
"Yes, Lois, girlfriend," Clark said softly.
Lois put her head on Clark's chest as they danced slowly. "I like the sound of that, Smallville."
Lana stormed off to the front doors cursing like a sailor. She was putting on her coat when she bumped into a blonde man who had just come in. "Pardon me," the man said in a British accent. Lana glared at him. The man was dressed in a neat period 3 piece suit. His hair was cut very short. He had piercing blue eyes and a charming smile. "You seem upset, is there anything I can do?" he asked.
Lana was furious with the others for making her look like a fool. "I just had a man who should love only me, be corrupted by a little blonde bitch and some new comer who has screwed everything up," she blurted out.
"That's horrible," he said. "I know what's like to be scorned when what you really deserve is to be idolized. Why don't you point these people out to me," he offered.
"The big guy with the brunette over there is the one who should be mine," Lana said as she pointed to Lois and Clark. "The other guy in blue with that little blonde tramp is the one who is stirring up trouble," Lana said as she gestured at Jack and Chloe.
The man's eyed narrowed as he recognized Jack Harkness. "I'm sure he is causing all kinds of trouble. It's what he's good at. I think I can be of great help to you. Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Harold Saxon," the Master said.