Short and sweet, everyone, and, for the first time, I was inspired to change direction because of reviews (thanks mistressbabette 51 and jj the elusive.)

RL has been heavy and tough to write around. But now that summer's here, and Kal has promised he will visit more, I may be able to update more often. I know my slow writing has eliminated me from the running in htbthomas's movieverse contest, but at least I'm in fine company with Tandrelmairon and her fab AU fics. All the best to the nominees -- you are all great at what you do. Thanks for the inspiration and the entertainment.

Disclaimer: Superman and his fellow characters are the property of Warner Bros. Studios and DC Comics and created by Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel.

The fact that I've run out of clever comments to write about my Kryptonian cousin is beside the point.

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12 The Reveal

"He-elp, I need help," Lois bellows; her voice large and frantic in Clark's ear, his sensitive hearing a liability, doubling his anxiety.

Clark races to her side -- at a slightly faster than human rate -- with Perry lumbering along behind. He lets out a whimper when he sees Lois pinned underneath one of the ancient filing cabinets that encircle her desk. He quickly x-rays the metal, and is relieved to see that she is in one undamaged piece.

Perry and Clark glance at each other, "Thank goodness it's empty, Clark," Perry says. "You should be able to lift it off of her easily; here, I'll brace the corner and you haul it up."

Clark blinks – the unexpected gift, to protect his identity, appreciated more than his boss can know.

"Thank you, uh, Chief."

Heaving the creaky metal cabinet, Clark makes appropriate grunting sounds and tries to will himself to sweat, to no avail, but he does a good job of pulling a face, remembering what it felt to lift New Krypton, and allowing a little of that level of strain to show.

I should be more trusting of my friends in the future – thanks, Perry; maybe this won't be so bad.

Lois scoots herself out from under the cabinet, a wary look on her face that doesn't escape Clark's perusal.

"Lois what were you trying to do?" Yes, what were you doing?

"I wanted to move that cabinet – it's been cluttering up my work area."

"Lois, you're just lucky it landed on the corner of your desk… it stopped short of crushing you – Goodness, Lois, you live with clutter… it never bothered you before."

God help me… I'm babbling. Calm down, Kent, she's okay.

Lois grins a lopsided one, and looks at Clark from under smudged lashes.

"Nice to know you care so much… Smallville."

Clark's blush is not missed by Perry, who shakes his head in a he's got it bad manner. Then, a frown interrupts Perry's enjoyment of the young man's discomfiture, and he mutters to himself, "Jason."

Clark, still fussing over Lois, misses Perry's non-sequitor and brushes dust off Lois's skirt. In full-dork manner, Clark makes contact with her leg… and her buttock… Her eyes flash in warning, and she slaps his hand away. He shrinks backward, adjusts his glasses, and points at the cabinet's carcass, abandoned in the middle of the Daily Planet bullpen floor like the symbol of obsolescence for all pre-computer technology it is.

He ventures another gentle gibe, risking another swat.

"I could have done this for you, y'know."

"Yes, of course – you could… well, I wanted to move it – I thought I… could…" The quickened pulse, that only Clark can discern, forecasts the oncoming dissolution of Lois's cover. That which she never allows others to see, will soon be fodder for the masses -- if the high pink splotches on her cheekbones have their way.

This thing with Kitty... is too much for her.

Clark looks into her eyes, his voice deepening in his seriousness.

"Lois, let's get you to a doctor and get you checked out."

Lois wrenches away from him to grab her dignity back, "Clark…"

"I won't take no for an answer," he Kal-voices, not caring that he may be giving himself away.

Wanting to be a part of what he perceives as a marvellous subterfuge, but unsure of its purpose, Perry jumps in, "Lois, why don't you go with Clark – make sure you're okay. We'll get rid of this thing for you."

Her boss's interjection knocks Lois off her game, and she shakes her head and purses her lips, looks at both men as if they had planned the whole thing – falling filing cabinet, and all.

"Hhhmm, okay, I give up."

Both Clark and Perry try to help her to her feet, but she pulls her arm away like a petulant child. "I'm all right…" she swipes at her eyes with her hand – "…j-just shook up – I – need some air."

On the way to the elevators, Clark hovers -- not literally -- behind Lois, and fine-tune x-rays her, head to toe. This time, he sees a tiny stress fracture in her wrist, and chews the inside of his lip.

Should I… ?

He reaches out to catch her elbow, and his fingers encircle the wrist. She winces away from him and grabs it, the surprise of the unsuspected pain like fear in her eyes – and directed at… him.

It takes all his do-it-yourself acting training to mask his hurt at the thought of her fearing him – for any reason -- and he averts his eyes.

"S-Sorry Lois – maybe you, um, broke it."

Lois blinks away the primal reaction and forms a thin smile, and the kindness of it breaks Clark's heart. Her voice is thready, but determined.

"Uh- huh --- m- maybe – fine… I'll go to make you happy."

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Outside the Emergency room exit at Metropolis General, Lois hurries ahead of Clark as if she had a train to catch. Perplexed by her behavior he tries to keep up, watching her closely.

"You o-okay Lois? You know, we were in there for over two hours and you hardly said a word the whole time. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were mad at me."

Lois stops so fast, Clark almost collides with her back, and she turns to look up at him, her chestnut hair glowing in the darkness under the sulphur lights illuminating the hospital parking lot. Seemingly finding the bandage on her wrist fascinating, Lois examines it, and speaks to him without looking back up.

"You and Perry were having quite the bonding moment – before I…"

She waves the offending appendage in the air, fingertips wiggling.

"Uh, um -- why would you think that Lois? A-actually, he was chewing me out for- uh, um…"

Lois stops breathing for a second and her eyes expand to twice their size. Her reaction stops Clark cold and, in his confusion, he panics, and in one fluid motion picks her up to carry her back to emergency. Lois looks at him askance, and thrusts her wrapped hand in his face.

"Gosh, I hope I can still type – this is kinda tight."

With her other arm, she pushes on him to let her down, but he gazes longingly at her and holds her fast.

I can't do this, I can't be around her – with her, and NOT be… with her.

Shaking a little to cover his slip, Clark lowers her to her feet and his voice trembles with emotion. "Now… Lois, l-leave it alone – you know what the doctor said – it needs to be immobilized to heal."

Lois stands, unsteady, on the wet sidewalk and stares up into Clark's eyes. He holds one elbow, reluctant to relinquish the contact, no matter how meaningless.

Please… see me… just, see me

Lois laughs and looks away, her turn to blush,

"Yeah, yeah – what were we talking about?"

"My, um -- talk with Perry – did you… hear any of it?"

Lois looks down and kicks a stone.

"Clark, do you know how difficult it was to pull that filing cabinet over – they have a counter-balance in them you know – like a safety feature – I had to practically climb on top of it to get it to topple. Of course, the real trick was to make sure it didn't land on me."

"Lois, what are you saying?"

"I had to get you out of there – what were you doing? You practically told him a life story – how do you know you can trust him?" This could screw things up for both of you."

Both of you?

"Okay, Clark, you're pretty much doing a fish impression right now."

Lois's eyes squint as she looks him over, "I should have seen it before this."

"Wh-what – Lois – what are you talking about?"

A slow smile overcomes Lois face and she reaches out -- faster than Clark, in his flustered state, can avoid -- and grabs his shirt. Giving it a furious yank, she reveals unearthly blue spandex and the edge of his insignia.

Vitriol tinges her voice, and Kal braces himself for what could be the end; the end of his hopes, the end of his happiness – the end of any future with the woman of his dreams.

Stepping up to him, she removes his glasses and throws them at his chest. "I just have one question for you – Superman…

…where is Clark?"

TBC

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