Chapter Thirteen Part IV- Nobody's Damsel

The doors to the Luthor study slammed open causing the bald CEO to look up at the intruders with a frustrated sigh, "You would think for a farmboy that you'd have the common decency to knock before barging into my home." he notices someone at Clark's side and just shakes his head, "And you brought the reporter back with you." Lex rises from his seat agitation spreading through him at their sudden appearance and the fact he couldn't seem to get a night of peace in this house, "Speak before I have my men throw you out."

"Three years ago you hired a guy by the name of Joel Kane, the same Joel Kane that was harassing Lois about a story before her disappearance." Clark throws down a printout of a bank statement, "$500 was wired to his account from one of LuthorCorp's subsidiaries and I want to know why."

"I don't have to answer to you or your little friend." Lex responded immediately facing off against Clark causing the room to grow silent with tension so thick that you could cut it with a knife, "Times of you barging into my home are over." He calls out for security and watches as the rather large men appear at both Clark and Richard's side grabbing them by the arms ready to drag them out.

Clark just pushed the guard away defiantly, "If I found out that you're somehow responsible for Lois's disappearance then you can be damn sure that there will be repercussions."

Lex just shakes his head and clenched his teeth in anger as he reached for his phone to dial a private number known only to him, "Griff. Shut up and listen, I need everything you've got on Joel Kane's whereabouts and I need them now." He clicks off the phone and drops it on the desk uncaring if he broke it.

Lois head hung low in exhaustion with her chest slowly heaving back and forth, her body was screaming for her to just give in but her mind would not allow such a thing to happen, "You are one tough cookie. Not that many people can withstand this much pain."

She just smirked and let out a breathless reply, "I'm no most people." She used most of her strength to lift up her head to face Joel once again, "When I get out of here the first thing I'm gonna do is make sure you can't hurt anyone else and that includes your brother."

He just scoffed, "We're all Billy has, he may be smart but he's not stupid enough to turn against family." He looks over towards his brother, "Isn't that right William."

The young boy nodded reluctantly before sticking his hand into a bowl of water and placing it on his back where the fork had been stuck in him, "Watch this." Joel says gesturing towards him and Lois's eyes looked in surprise when the wound began to close almost as if it hadn't happened, "Water manipulation is a neat little trick. Did you know 60% of the human body is made up of water?"

"I didn't know this was a biology lesson." She retorts sarcastically earning another backhand which caused the cut on her lip to grow larger but she just shook it off, "Seriously what's the point to all of this? I don't know anything so there's no need to tire yourselves out searching for something you're never gonna find."

"Obviously I can't get through to you but maybe he can." Joel walks over to his baby brother and they begin conversing in a hushed tone unaware of the plan forming in Lois's head.

Billy eventually lost the battle and walked towards Lois to the point they were feet apart allowing him to outstretch his hand towards her causing a tight compression to form on her chest like someone was squeezing her lungs causing her to gasp for air until finally losing consciousness, "Way to go genius!" Joel exclaims slapping his brother over the head oblivious to the fact that he was now sporting a bloody nose, "Go get yourself cleaned up."

The young teen headed towards the bathroom leaving Joel with Lois once again, the intimidating metahuman advanced on her unmoving form to feel for a pulse only to feel nothing in response, "Shit" he exclaims and quickly went to untie her bindings and chains.

"Billy get your ass back out here and help me!"

One of Lex's sports cars sped out of the driveway in a hurry and seconds later Clark and Richard poked their head up from behind the dashboard, "I told you if we waited he'd do something like this" Richard states smugly as he starts the car oblivious to Clark's eye roll.

The black SUV stayed behind Lex's car keeping distance between them so he wouldn't get suspicious that he was being tailed at that very moment until the Porsche made a sharp right straight for the docks causing the two would be sleuths to have to drive all the way through traffic and make a u turn so they could continue their pursuit.

"Where'd you learn how to drive?"

"This is nothing; you should see me fly a plane."

"There's no way I'd ever get into a plane if you were flying it." Clark respond only to grimace when his head bangs against the backseat door, "Can you just keep your eyes on the road." He exclaims when they almost rear ended another car.

"Life's about taking risks Clark, sometimes you just have to take the plunge."

"This coming from a guy that's breaking every vehicular law in Metropolis." he grabbing onto the armrest when the sharp turn comes up which they barely make it through with some minor damage from scrapping against a brick wall.

They stopped when they spotted Lex's car parked outside the warehouse district talking on his cell phone, "Next time I'm driving." Clark says jumping out of the car which confused Richard but he soon followed, "Lois must be in there."

Before Richard could question their strategy, the farmboy tapped him on the head causing him to the slump against his car, "Sorry about this but I don't need anymore people getting hurt." Clark puts Richard's unconscious body in the backseat of the car and locks it's once the door closes, "Like you said sometimes you just have to take the plunge." He speeds towards the warehouse unaware of what was going on inside.

A dog bark caused him to turn around and come face to face with a golden retriever who sat there staring at him for a few seconds before running off with Clark close behind, the animal lead Clark to a blank side of the warehouse and pointed his nose up towards an open window which caused Clark to smile and pat the animal on the head before slowly ascending upwards towards his entrance.

Meanwhile…at the same time…

Billy and Joel were freaking out about the possibility that they had killed Lois Lane; it wasn't until a foot smashed into Joel's knee that they realized she was just playing possum.

She quickly jumped up to her feet and used the chain they had bound her up with as a weapon knocking the older brother out quite quickly leaving the younger one to fend for himself, "I suggest you get out of here and tell everything you know to the police, maybe the DA will be lenient and give you a deal." She drops the chains when he runs off quickly leaving her to stand over Joel Kane's body with all the pent up emotions flowing out causing her to kick him repeatedly until a pair of warm arms circled her calming her down.

The hate soon turned into relief as she sobbed into the strong chest of Clark Kent, "I've got you now Lo. Your safe." He whispers lifting her in his arms while she wrapped her arms around him tightly afraid to let go, "They can't hurt you anymore."

They get out of there just as Lex came bounding in with a gun only to see an empty chair and a very bruised metahuman, "Damn it" Lex exclaims in frustration as he slipped the gun into it holster and began to dial a number, "Prep a cell. We've got another one coming in; I think Sebastian will want to know we have one of his brothers in custody." He hung up and looked down at the fallen man with a wicked glint in his eyes, "I think your gonna like the place we have set up for you Joel, it's in Montana."

Several Days Later…

The doctors had found that due to the strain of the ordeal and the extent of her attack, they found several hairline fractures to her arm which they had to put in a sling in order for it to heal but other then a require psych evaluation they could find no other signs of trauma.

Clark let out a sigh of relief at the news and practically begged her to stay on the farm for a couple days in order to relax and get away from the city.

Richard had written a page 7 article about what had happened and questions about Joel Kane's whereabouts as well as the fact that DA Sacks was currently working on a plea bargain with the youngest of the Kane trio.

When Clark told her about teaming up Richard White in an effort to save her, she actually found it quite amusing at his expense but was really grateful that they put aside their differences and learned to work together.

But one thing he failed to mention was Lex's suspicious activity that could have been linked to her abduction, Clark didn't want her to run off to confront Lex and put more stress where it wasn't needed unless he had proof that it was true.

The secret to him was worth keeping for her health and safety.

Joel awoke in a small cell with a single bed and no windows, "What the hell?" he whispers to himself looking around the room confused until he notices a post-it note written on the cell door.

He walks over and takes the note which read: WELCOME HOME. He crumpled up the piece of paper in anger and began calling out from his cell door window which echoed down the long corridor of cells eventually leading towards a large metallic door labeled 33.1

TBC