Chapter 26

Lois had Clark's powers. She had taken the meteor rock that Clark kept at the house and used it quickly at the hospital, then headed out before Oliver could question her. She didn't bother exploring what it felt like to use her newly acquired abilities. Her main goal was to find Rudy Jones and stop him, and the one person who could help her do that was Mercy.

Quickening her pace to a run, Lois immediately found out what it was like to super-speed and nearly lost her balance and her vision. Focusing, she easily learned the hang of it. In seconds she was outside Mercy's office door. Turning the knob, she welcomed herself in.

"Lois, make yourself an home. What can I help you with?"

"Where is he?" she demanded, stepping up to the desk on which Mercy was organizing files. "Where's Rudy Jones?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied innocently.

"Cut the bull, lady. You sent him to kill Clark. Now I have precious time to end his sorry ass before he destroys God knows what; so tell me where he is or I will take your head and turn it into a French fry."

"Lois," Mercy said smugly, stepping out from behind her desk slowly.

Dinah Lance came into the room, interrupting the both of them.

"Lois, get out of here," she ordered her friend, knowing Mercy was aware Lois had Clark's powers.

"Dinah-"

"Go!"

Lois was reluctant, but she obliged Dinah's request.

"I mean it, Lois, don't stay here. I'll find you."

Lois shut the door behind her and Dinah leaned into Mercy.

"We all know what you did, but here's why I'm different, and here's why you better listen to me because someone's going to kill you if you don't, and it just might be me. I believed in Lex too. He doesn't care about you and he will betray you. Everything you're doing isn't worth it. Leave. And not for Smallville or Metropolis, not because I'm telling you to, but because Lex is going to hurt you. Tell me what I need to know and get the hell out of here."

"You're Black Canary, believer in justice," Mercy said, her eyes reading the blonde woman.

"I could show you things we don't have time for that would make you believe me. But you need to get out of here, right now."

"I know what you did for Lex, but you don't know anything about me."

"Where do you think Lex is right now? What do you think he's doing and doing it with?"

"Lana-"

"I'm not talking about Lana! I know you don't care about that, he's helping Clark! What you're doing will have no impact because he doesn't care. He never will. Seek revenge on that, Mercy. Take what you can from him and escape. Don't let him take anything else from you when he's not even paying attention to your loyalty. You don't think he's laughing about you in another woman's arms?"

Though the image stung at Mercy, she refused to believe it.

"We don't have time for this," Dinah said, pulling out a gun and opening her phone to show a clip of Lex revealing less than admiral intentions towards Mercy's future well-being. "Pay attention, and then we're done with this conversation. You're going to help me, and then I'm going to direct you to a friend of mine who will be more than happy to assist you in screwing this man over, personally."

Dinah saw Mercy's eyes change forever, and she remembered feeling that way herself a long time ago.

XxX

Lois found Rudy terrorizing Metropolis. She flew down to where he was, finding him looting, attacking, and destroying everything in his path. She walked up to him, wearing gloves and a mask to protect herself from him.

"Hey!" she called out, his white eyes meeting hers. "You don't want this. You don't want these people. Come with me to the farm."

"Why should I? Why shouldn't I destroy you like I did him?"

She tilted her head to the side a little. "Follow me and maybe you'll get the chance. I have his powers."

She flew off, racing back to the Kent farm. She paid careful attention to herself and what she felt, listening to Lana's warning, but she didn't notice any difference in her own personality yet. Landing in the field near the barn, she looked out for Rudy Jones. Scared that he didn't take her up on her offer; she looked up in the sky and waited.

Seconds later, she heard him making his way towards her. As he landed, fear rose up in front of her. He came at her, vicious, and suddenly she was glad she'd grown up fighting and beating the hell out of people. She knocked him off his feet but he was up again right away. He threw her and she felt herself flying into the barn, breaking it. Stunned at feeling minimal pain instead of death, she crawled back up and flew back out to him, her mask getting lost somewhere along the way.

"You think I won't tell his secret?" he shouted at her. "Better yet, I'll find him and suck him dry and then I'll have no need to reveal anything about either one of you. I'll kill you both and have both your powers."

"You act as if I'll let you leave here alive," Lois countered, rising up.

She threw a punch at his face and he matched her by wounding her stomach with an equal blow.

"Your powers will wear off," Lois wheezed, injured from his strike. "You'll have nothing left!"

"But the memory of Clark's identity," he threatened. "What are you going to do? Kill me?"

"I will stop you," she vowed.

"Really?" he taunted, this time hitting her in the face, absorbing a slight amount of her essence as she fell down. "I was ordered to remove Clark, but I didn't know I'd end up with such a beautiful prize in the process."

Through her hazy vision, Lois saw a car speeding down the Kent driveway. Lex and Lana pulled up to the barn and got out, immediately running towards Lois. Lois looked up at Rudy with fury and kicked him away from her.

"Lois!" Lana yelled out

Lois stood up and Lana threw a gun at her.

"Use that, trust us!" she called out.

But then Lana saw a figure beside Rudy.

"No," she said, touching Lex's hand briefly before pulling free. "Help Lois," she told him.

Two helicopters emerged above the five of them, and Lana ran past Lois and Rudy. Lois ripped her mask off so she could see clearer.

"Clark!" Lana called out, throwing herself at him to remove him from the line of fire as Lois fired the gun at Rudy.

Rudy went down instantly as the helicopters grew closer to landing. Lois looked at the gun, realizing there had been a single kryptonite bullet inside that she had fired perfectly. Rudy was hit. Lois looked over to see Clark and Lana on the ground, too overpowered by the wind the helicopters were creating to get up. Lex came over to Lois and they both covered themselves with their arms as they dropped to the ground, waiting for the helicopter blades to stop spinning.

Oliver Queen and members of his hospital staff stepped out of his helicopters when they landed, and they set about retrieving Rudy Jones's body.

"I want triple security on his body. Nobody sees this, nobody!" he barked.

Lois, who had been on the ground with Lex, wriggled herself out of his arms and got up.

"Clark," she whispered, looking for him. "Clark!"

"He's over there," Lex said, pointing across the field to where he laid with Lana.

Lois began to move but Lex pulled her back.

"Give them a moment."

Lois obeyed, hesitantly, but was more surprised that it was Lex telling her to relax, refrain, and give Lana a moment with Clark.

XxX

Clark pulled Lana up off the ground.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She grinned, happy to see him again after all this time.

"Yeah, are you?"

"A little weakened, but better. You look different."

"Do I?"

"Yeah," he said, a little on edge in her presence. Pausing, he spoke. "Are you happy?"

"I am. I didn't know that I ever would be again really. But I am."

"You're sure?" he questioned seriously.

She nodded, never so sure of anything in her life.

"Positive. Please don't worry about me."

Clark smiled, relieved, touching her cheek briefly and then he looked up.

"Where's Lois?"

"I'm here!" she called out, jumping into his arms, her legs bracketing his waist. "Oh my God, I thought I'd lost you."

Lana would always feel a little jealous that she'd lost her first love, but she couldn't help but smile a little at the zaniness of Lois Lane. She stepped over to Lex.

"Did I lose you?" she asked, the question having so many meanings.

"You tell me," he answered, looking down at her.

She raised herself up her toes, grabbing his tie and pulling his lips to her. "Never," she whispered before taking his lips.

Lex kissed her back, his heart swelling once again at the feeling of her against him. She leaned into him, pressing her body against his, and he knew he would never feel anything like he felt when he was with her. Snaking his hand around her back, his lips caressed hers, devouring them, and he let her light seep into his darkness, ridding him of his evil.

XxX

Not five feet from them, a strong man held an equally strong woman. She cupped his face, her warm lips on his forehead, slowly breaking contact with his smooth skin.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Am I okay?" she laughed, caressing his hair. "How do you feel?" she asked, just above a whisper.

"Just as good as new," he smiled back her. "I love you."

"Still? Even after everything I said?"

"Do you love me even after everything I said?"

She frowned slightly.

"What did you say?"

He chuckled a little. "You must feel really guilty," he said, taking her hand.

"So, Clark," Lex said, his hand in Lana's.

Clark and Lois turned to Lex and Lana.

"That time, with the car on the train…" he trailed off.

When Clark didn't answer, and Lois rubbed his arm comfortingly, Lex continued.

"…that was, because of this."

"Yeah," was all Clark could say.

Finally Lana spoke. "Lex," she offered, placing a supportive hand on his chest. "So," she said to Lois. "Are your children safe?" Lana asked.

"Yes," Lex chimed in. "I could offer protection for wherever you are, or wherever you'd like to go."

"You-" Lois started but Clark yanked her by the arm so she was cut off and then he lovingly wrapped an arm around her.

"She thanks you but we've got them taken care of," he said politely, and Lois glared, perfectly ready to rip Lex's head off.

Oliver Queen came over at that moment.

"Hi, I'm sorry to break this up but I can take you both back when you're ready. Just let me know," he said, before leaving again, never able to stand near Lex for very long.

There was an awkward silence between the four of them. Lex had so many questions, so much he wanted to demand from Clark, so much he wanted to understand, and yet finally it all did seem clear. Lana felt the anger towards them both brush off her bit by bit, and her main concern was the man beside her, and that someday he could let this go.

"If you hadn't have given me that gun," Lois said to Lana. "…I might've lost my life, and my family. So..." Lois trailed off.

Lana curled her mouth into a small smile. "You're welcome," she replied.

Clark looked back at the helicopters.

"Oliver's waiting," he whispered to Lois.

"I know," she responded softly.

"Well, we better be off. We're glad we could help. You take care of those children," Lana said.

She turned, but Lex didn't immediately join her. He stared at Clark.

"Lex," she said.

"Goodbye, Clark," he said.

Clark nodded. "Goodbye, Lex."

Lex turned, joining Lana as they headed for the car. Lois shivered in Clark's arms.

"God, he gives me nightmares like Stephen King did when I was ten."

"I know, but try to believe it'll work out for the best."

"I forgot, I'm engaged to the guy who will eternally be spitting out Pollyanna lines," she said teasinglyas they began walking towards the helicopters.

"Tell me the part again about why I spent four months in another dimension just so you could be the one to save everyone while I lay in a hospital bed?" he mused.

"Because I'm fabulous like that, Smallville," she grinned, prancing beside him. "Serious answer? I don't think Jor-El meant for you to gain all that knowledge and ability just for this one threat. I think he wanted you to become a hero for the world."

"But-"

"Alright," Oliver said quickly, climbing out of the first helicopter and greeting them. "We are ready to go and you," he said, gesturing towards Lois, neglecting to tell them the previous engagement Dinah had called him to help out with. "We need to get those powers out of you before you lose your mind."

"No," Lois said. "This may be the only time Clark and I ever have powers together. I want to enjoy them the last few minutes we can. So we'll fly back to the hospital together and meet you there."

Clark stood up and walked back to her.

"I think that's a good idea."

Oliver nodded, knowing he'd be with Dinah and Mercy by the time they arrived at the hospital. "Be careful."

Lois and Clark waited for the helicopters to leave. He cupped her face, stroking her flowing hair back away from her neck.

"Let's get these powers out of you and then go get our children."

"I love you," she said, back to him. "And I'm so glad I got the chance to tell you that again."

He kissed her mouth.

"You're my whole world."

"Even though the girl you loved your whole life just left with another man?"

"I don't love her anymore," he said simply. "And maybe she'll be a good influence on him. That's all I can hope."

Lois looked back at the barn. She ignored the damages that had just been made to it and thought about the first time Clark had brought her to it, inviting her to stay with him.

"Seems like an entire life time ago that you brought me here. And yet, just like yesterday."

"Lois, you said you thought Jor-El did all this so I would be able to give myself to the world. Do you really think that?"

She nodded. "Absolutely. It makes sense."

"I don't know if I can do that."

"Of course you can. Clark, you can do anything. And the world needs you. Look at all you can do. Even before you went, you had so much to give. No one has a heart like you, no one sees things the way you do. You shouldbe the one out there saving and making the world a better place. There's no one like you."

"But didn't this whole relationship start with you saying you couldn't be with someone who had a greater destiny than to have a normal life?"

She placed a hand on the side of his face.

"You know, in all my life, my father did one thing for me. He told me my destiny was to be more than a stay at home mom. Now there's nothing wrong with that, and I praise women who can do that, but I think he just meant that he wanted me to get out there and do more than what my mom did. So I got a little crash course in being told you have a greater destiny than what you thought."

"So now you feel like you could be with someone with that kind of destiny?"

"Now I have my own destiny to go after. And you, Clark," she said, pulling him close to her. "You don't make me feel like everyone else. You don't always leave me feeling abandoned no matter what you do. It's different with you. I trust you."

She kissed him, knowing that she would support him and love him through all the journeys they might face.

"Now let's get these powers out of me before I turn into a raging lunatic. More so than usual."

~~~~To Be Continued~~~~