Note: Hey all—next part. This is probably not what ya'll are expecting, but I hope you'll still stick with me and not hate me for it! There are some things that need to be handled/addressed before we go where we all want to go. Was that cryptic enough for everyone?? Your support/feedback has been beyond amazing!! Would love to hear what you think!!

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Chapter 8

The light was blinding. The rush of wind in her ears, deafening. Hope swept though her, strong and swift. Her own whispered plea shivered through her. Reverberating through every cell. Becoming part of her. Of him. Rippling through the distance separating them.

"Hang on, Smallville. Don't give up on me. Not now. Not when we're so close…"

Then utter void.

One split second. Sparkling shards of crystal. A cold gust of wind. A warm light surrounding her. One heart ripping gaze into the face of destiny. Into his broken, tear-stained face.

"Oh, Clark…"

She reached out, her arms wide. Her heart full. Her emotions on overload.

Then…

She felt the strong arms surrounding her waist. Trapping her. Pulling her back. Everything reversed. Struggling fiercely against the rock hard restraints, Lois' demand was incessant, loud, nearing hysteria.

"No! No! Dammit! I can see him! I can see…Clark!! CLARK!! Let me go! LET ME GO!!"

A voice sounded low in her ear. "Sorry, so sorry, Lois, I can't..."

Furious tears flooded her eyes as she blinked them open.

And saw the future all around.

Spinning around and pushing herself out of Rokk's arms, Lois' livid demand was repeatedly punched against a solid chest. "WHAT DID YOU DO THAT FOR? I WAS ALMOST…." A sob wracked through her body and all her energy evaporated. She sagged against him, clinging to his shirt, to his strength. "Why…why…he was so…so close…"

In the space of a heartbeat, Rokk went from fighting Lois off to cradling her in his arms. His breathing was labored from the struggle and the swiftness of the shift. Unaccustomed to soothing anyone, let alone one as strong as Lois Lane, he awkwardly ran a hand over her hair, trying to calm her. To gentle her. "I'm sorry, Lois. So sorry. But he wasn't. He'd already left the Fortress."

She whimpered her response and sank to the ground, taking Rokk with her. Imra and Garth ran into the room and skidded to a halt at the sight of both of them, a tangled mess on the floor. Broken anger and helpless compassion met, mingled and divided.

"But…he was there. Garth said…" A shattered Lois angrily wiped tears away from her face. Her ragged sigh filled the empty silence. "And I…I saw him."

"What you saw was just an imprint in the fabric of time. An impression of what was." Rokk shook his head, his eyes filling with regret. "He was only there a few moments, Lois...it wasn't enough time. I'm sorry, but you know the rules. You have to meet him in the Fortress. He has to be alone."

"Screw your rules!" Lois yelled as she pushed him away from her. Jumping to her feet, she towered over him. "Send me back now! NOW, Rokk!"

"I..." He exchanged glances with his team mates. "…I can't."

"Then who can?" Lois persisted when silence greeted her question. "Someone makes these damn rules keeping me from Clark. Who is it?" She backed away till she was facing all three of them. Her gaze swept their faces, once full of concern, now suddenly masked by feigned indifference. "Who? I want to know now!"

"I believe, Lois Lane…" A smooth, silky voice sounded behind her.

Lois spun around and gasped.

"…that would be me."

Tbc…

p.s. For those expecting a reunion, please, please don't hate me for not giving one right away. I PROMISE I have a plan to bring them together that I really, really hope will be worth the wait. I need/want Clark to be a little more desperate for Lois than he is even at this point (or the point before this). Soooo, I hope you'll hang in there with me.