Note: Here's the next part. Thanks all for your patience and support! It means more than I can say. Hope you enjoy and I'd LOVE feedback!

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Chapter 16

It took a good five minutes of frantic pacing and heated mumbling to lower her blood level from volcanic eruptions to mere boiling. Another five of deep breathing and Zen-like chants to bring it down to simmering.

Idiots. Jerks. Egomaniacal, self-absorbed nincompoops.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. After all, if they were truly egomaniacally self-absorbed, she wouldn't be the intense focus of their ongoing battle. Which, she clearly was.

Nincompoops they were…to the hilt.

Lois Lane sank down into the only chair available, took a deep, calming breath, and looked around. "What the hell is this place? Command central?"

Map covered walls and cabinets full of various forms of weaponry threatened to distract, if only for a moment, from the current problem. A set of keys belonging to only God knew what locked doors or hidden vehicles were hanging like tempting fruit on a vine.

Focus, Lane. Focus.

On Bruce. On Clark. On how the hell she was going to navigate the uncharted waters of breaking some hearts. This clearly was not a role she was familiar with, nor did she relish it.

Her eyes slipped back to the keys. She groaned at the thought and wished beyond wishes there was some window, some hidden doorway into another world, she could slip through and escape. Or a Porsche would do just as well.

But Lois Lane was not the running kind. Well, not until recently. Not until Clark Kent.

Lois sighed and sank into the surprisingly comfortable chair. Who was she kidding? She may have skipped town, found another life to live, but Smallville had never really been that far behind. Like a dark speck in the rearview mirror, he'd followed her. The further she went, the faster she ran, he'd gained on her.

Until he'd filled up the back seat.

And directed her every turn.

Needs. She needed to focus on needs. Bruce's need for medical attention. Her need to tell him the inevitable. And Clark's need for…

What? What exactly did Clark Kent need?

Besides the obvious firm kick in the butt for waiting so long to wake up? For being too damn sexy and irresistible to…well, resist? For making her feel this crazy, out of control perfect insanity that made all the sense in the world?

Truth be known, given recent discoveries, she didn't exactly know what he did need. She could guess. She would probably be right. But when it came down to it, she'd be stepping into a whole new world when she walked through that door.

A whole new world…with Clark Kent at the center?

A soft sigh filled the room.

Suddenly, Lois Lane didn't feel like running any more.

--

Bruce Wayne sighed loudly and glanced down at his watch for the tenth time in as many minutes. Fidgeting with the bandage at his side, he cast an annoyed look in his rival's direction.

And instantly felt a surge of jealousy.

Lips pursed in patient amusement, Clark Kent was sitting in the chair opposite, casually flipping through the latest car magazine. As if he didn't have a care in the world.

Probably because he doesn't. Lois is his. He knows it. She knows it. Hell, even I know it. We're just sitting here twiddling our thumbs, waiting for the inevitable.

Bruce fell back against the couch and sighed again.

The clocked ticked through another five seconds in complete silence.

"You know…" Clark finally drawled. "…counting the minutes won't make her come out any sooner."

Bruce bristled. "Is that so?"

"It, in fact, is." Clark replied flippantly, his baby blues sparking with interest at an image of the latest Bugatti Veyron.

His generous lips formed a perfect 'O' as his eyes eagerly scanned the specs. The two-toned black and blue was an instant favorite, though the black and red had serious possibilities. On second thought, definitely the red. He was dreaming for two now and the usual double-take inducing Lois Lane would stop hearts in red.

Shifting his position carefully, Bruce shot Clark a defiant look that was lost on the oblivious alien. "So. Does this happen often?"

"What?" His face scrunched in disgust. He had reached the 'Yours, for only $...' part. Oh well, that's why they call them dream cars.

Clark grinned.

At least I'm dreaming again.

Another flip of a page.

"This…" Waving his hand in the direction of a stubbornly locked door, Bruce was finding it increasingly hard to keep the tension out of his voice. "…yelling, slamming doors. Interminable silence?"

Amused by the question and its answer, Clark chuckled. "If it hasn't happened at least twice a week, I'm doing something wrong."

"And uh…just how long do these things last?"

"Depends." A pair of broad shoulders shrugged.

Another roll of the eyes. Was this guy this dense or was he purposely trying to drive him insane with the vague non-answer answers? Given the situation, Bruce guessed the second. After all, that would be one way to eliminate the competition…

Not that there really was any at this point.

"On?" Bruce prompted.

Clark sighed. Could Bruce Wayne not take a hint? Lois clearly didn't want them sniping at each other. And talking clearly lead to exactly that. Well, if Wayne wanted to tempt the odds...

Snapping the magazine shut, Clark tossed it to the side. His steady, confident gaze met a disconcerted pair of brown eyes. He almost felt sorry for Bruce. Almost. "Just how irritated she is with me."

"And this time?"

"Well, I've never had to factor in another person before, but my guess is, given the situation…we'll be here a while."

"Great. Just great." Bruce's lips tightened into a thin line as he shook his head in annoyed disbelief.

Clark's eyes narrowed. He sank further back into the comfort of the arm chair. Steepling his hands in front of him, he slipped into the role of competitor easily. "So, I take it by the questions, she's never slammed a door on you."

"I've never given her reason to." Bruce responded rather smugly.

"Hmmm, what a pity. She's pretty amazing when she's fired up." Clark observed.

"So I've seen." Bruce answered tersely. Then he offered an observation of his own. "You know, she's also pretty amazing when she's not."

"So I've seen." Clark countered, the knowing tilt of his lips sent a dagger through Bruce's heart.

His eyes narrowed in accusation. "You really think you know her better."

"I'm amazed that you still don't." Clark shot back.

"Why should I?" Knowing he had the upper hand in at least one major area even if only for a while longer, Bruce pulled out the big guns, took aim and squeezed the trigger. "I'm the one she said yes to."

"For now." And the bullets bounced off the future Man of Steel. "Things have changed. You and I both know that."

Bruce hrumphed his response and folded his arms across his chest. His petulant silence lasted all of ten seconds.

"How exactly did this happen?"

"I don't know." Clark tossed a suggestion out with a jerk of his shoulders. "Maybe because you were being an obnoxious jerk."

"Me." Instantly insulted and instantly alert, Bruce nearly shot up off the couch. "You're blaming this on me."

"Yeah, well…shoe fits and all that." Clark pronounced with a casual wave of his hand.

"Oh, and I suppose this would have nothing whatsoever to do with how you've just dropped back into her life with all your declarations and field leveling!"

"Of course it does." Clark conceded without a fight. "But I'm not the one here intent on proving which of us is the better man."

"Oh, no?"

"No." Clark's tone sharpened as his eyes narrowed. "Because in the end, that isn't the question."

"Oh, really? And just what is the question?"

"Which of us has her heart." Clark informed softly before taking up another issue with the legendary Bat. "And about this field leveling…let's get one thing straight, ok?" An accusatory finger pointed in Bruce's direction. "For the record, it was a kiss…well, two actually, and I initiated both. So, don't go giving her attitude about something that wasn't her fault."

"That's it? That's all?" Bruce scoffed. "We're going through all of this because of a few lousy kisses?"

"I never said they were lousy." Clark shot back rather smugly. "And you know it's so much more than that."

Clark had him. Bruce knew it. Clark knew it. And Bruce hated that he knew it. He wanted to scream. But since screaming wasn't Bruce Wayne's style and he was way too intrigued by this pairing to let things lie…

"So, do you do it on purpose? You know, needling her? "

"Sometimes." Clark shrugged. "Most of the time though..." He openly grinned, his eyes softening with realization. "...I don't even have to try." And eager acceptance. "Getting under each other's skin, it's as natural as breathing. It's just the way we are."

"That much is obvious." Bruce's nearly snorted admission of the truth slipped out before he could stop it. By the acknowledging light in Clark's eyes, he instantly regretted it. "No wonder she needed me."

The comment was meant to irritate. In fact, it was meant to do even more than that. This was no longer about keeping Lois' heart. He'd already lost that battle. No, this was about keeping his promise. It was about keeping her safe. And if she was determined to fall into Clark's open arms, he was just as determined to make sure Clark Kent was there to catch her when she did.

The comment hit its mark. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"If you really knew Lois, you wouldn't have to ask."

"Look, Wayne…"

"I get it, ok? She's tough as nails and just as stubborn. She's full of fire and passion and the two of you together are explosive enough to blow up the whole damn world. But she's also hiding a seriously vulnerable heart."

"You think I don't know that?"

"If you knew that, you would have been more careful."

"Careful?" Dark eyebrows disappeared into the hair falling over Clark's forehead. "All I've ever been with Lois is careful. In all the time she lived with us, she never once figured out who I was, what I could do. And working together, well that just upped the ante. But I was careful enough to make sure she never caught on. In fact, she didn't know my secret until you spilled the beans because I've been so damncareful!"

"I'm not talking about your intergalactic roots or the hero routine, Clark. Lois can handle that. Probably better than you." Bruce pinned him with a knowing look. "I'm talking about Lana Lang."

Anger flooded Clark's cheeks. "That was a mistake."

"Yeah. One I've been cleaning up for you ever since." Bruce shot back without mercy. Though he didn't know the details of 'that', he'd clearly hit a nerve. Arms crossed over his chest, his chin tilted defiantly. "She said yes to me for a reason, you know."

Clark swallowed hard, his voice dropping to a suddenly vulnerable whisper. "I know."

Like a father scolding an already repentant child, Bruce continued. "You hurt her."

"I did."

"She ran because she loves you."

"I know that too."

"You made her doubt herself. Made her question everything. She was turning herself inside out to be what she thought you would want."

Tension mounting, Clark stiffened and moved to the edge of his seat. "So will I. To prove she already is."

Fueled by adrenaline, Bruce pushed himself up and swung his feet to the floor, accosting Clark with rapid accusations. "She's not some withering flower that needs to be protected every second of every day, but dammit, Clark, she does need to know she comes first. Above and beyond anything. Past, present, future. Hell, she deserves it! And if you have any doubts, anything holding you back…"

Clark's jaw tightened. "I don't."

"If you can't give that to her…"

His teeth clenched. "I can."

"You'd better." The warning came with a pointed finger and an upraised brow. "Because if you don't…"

"You'll what?" Challenging fire flashed through blue eyes.

And the fury of the Bat made an appearance. "I will take up residence in your back yard. I'll shadow your every move. I'll insert myself into your life in every possible way. And I will stop at nothing to win her back. If you doubt me for a second, hurt her again."

Like two snarling pit bulls staring each other down, neither made a move. Or a sound. Or even a breath.

Until Clark blinked. And made a solemn promise.

"If I hurt her again, I'll deliver her to you myself."

Silence fell over them like a wool blanket.

Heavy. Uncomfortable. Irritating.

With a grunt of acceptance, Bruce settled back into the couch, shifted his gaze to a non-existent spot on the ceiling, and silently cursed Clark Kent. He'd been thoroughly defeated. Any remaining doubts he had of Clark's devotion to Lois' happiness, disappeared with Clark's final declaration.

Only one test remained.

"Isn't there somewhere you need to be right now?"

Confusion flashed over Clark's expression. "Uh…no."

"Clark. I know you saw her. Isn't it bothering you, even in the least, that she's being held as a hostage in Luthor's compound?"

Clark pondered that a moment. Even he was mildly surprised by his own answer. No overwhelming panic. No driving fear. No haunting jealousies. My, how things had changed.

"If I thought she was really in danger, I'd be concerned, yes." He held up a finger of caution at the triumphant gleam in Bruce's eyes. "Which is the appropriate emotion for save-the-world kind of guys like us, right?"

Bruce ignored question. "Luthor has her. How could she not be in danger?"

"Luthor's had her before." Clark commented with a shrug. "He'll try to use her against me, but hurting her won't be part of the deal. It's not his style."

"But she was in handcuffs."

"Just a precaution. A means of control."

"You weren't this calm earlier." Eyes narrowed, Bruce shrewdly observed.

"Earlier, it was Lois."

Another score for the alien. Bruce grimaced in grudging respect. "Well, since you're the only able-bodied hero to check it out, I think you should."

"Right. And leave you here to work whatever passes as charm these days on Lois when she's ready to come out." An eyebrow rose. "Not a chance in hell."

"But Lana…"

"Can wait." Clark declared with determination. "I'm not leaving here till I know Lois is ok."

Bruce tried another tact. "You know, this is my property. So, technically, I could have you thrown out."

"Technically…" Clark's gaze slipped to Bruce's wound then met his steady gaze, the implication clear. "I'd like to see you try."

"You know what? You're a bit of a jerk."

"Must be my proximity to one brings it out in me." Clark sank back in his chair.

"It might be a good idea for us to not talk."

"For once…" Clark sighed as he retrieved the car magazine from the table, not entirely oblivious to the irony of his words. "…we agree on something."

--

Lois returned to a dead silent room.

The second she cautiously stuck her foot into the open space, both men jumped to attention. Clark, to his feet. Bruce, to a propped elbow and a valiant effort to hide a pained wince.

Arms crossed defiantly, her gaze shifted from one to the other as an eyebrow arched. "Well?"

"Tucked." Clark responded.

"Zipped."

"Padlocked." Clark added.

A pause, then…

"Until, of course, you decide which massive ego you want to stroke for good."

Clark rolled his eyes and pinned Bruce with an irritated look, his exasperated sigh filling the room. "Seriously. Was that really necessary?"

For his defense, Bruce offered little more than a helpless shrug.

Lois was tempted to laugh. But it had long been known that amusement at a child's misdeeds while scolding them only reinforced the bad behavior. Lois suspected that principle rang even more true for her two big little boys. She maintained her rigid posture.

Somehow.

Nodding her approval, Lois then sighed with relief. "Ok, then." Crossing to where Bruce still lay, his shirt ripped open and a bloody bandage loosely covering his wounds, Lois began to inspect the damage. "I'd say our next order of business is to get Bruce to the hospital."

"Hospital?" Bruce piped up, his face scrunching in disgust. "What? No. No, I don't think so."

"Bruce, you've been shot, you're still bleeding, and there's not much more I can do here with these supplies."

"I'll just go home." Heading off the beginning of the protest forming in her expression, Bruce waved a dismissive hand. "Believe me, Alfred is well versed in the ways of patching up the Bat. This isn't the first time I've been hurt."

"And certainly can't be the worst." Clark piped up.

Lois shot him a look that could kill and her lips tightened into a thin line.

Clark mouthed 'sorry' and shrugged, his appropriately apologetic expression conveying a hint of helpless confusion at his obvious lack of control.

Lois rolled her eyes and returned her attention to Bruce. After closer inspection, perhaps a hospital wouldn't be needed after all. The shot was clean and had a clear entrance and exit.

"Alright, then." Lois turned to Clark expectantly. "What's the best way to do this? Run him back then come back for me or…"

"Actually…" An exchanged glance between the two men immediately raised Lois' suspicions. And her concern. It was Bruce that stuck the key in the lock and opened Pandora's box. A little too eagerly, in retrospect. His lips tilted knowingly. "Clark's gotta go."

Lois' head whipped around. "What? Where are you going? We need your help right now…"

Suddenly uneasy, Clark shifted from one foot to the other, his gaze shooting a quiver full of arrows in Bruce's direction. "Uh, Lois…"

This was not lost on one Lois Lane. "Wait. What's going on?" She jumped up from the couch and approached Clark, concern written all over her face. "Does it have to do with Luthor? Are you still in danger? Clark, what is it?"

Another exchanged look and Bruce began. "Lois, when I was meeting with Luthor…"

"…before all hell broke loose…" Clark chimed in.

"…he ordered his men to bring 'the girl' as he called her."

"You. At least, we assumed he meant you."

"Except I knew it wasn't because I knew Clark had already rescued you."

Gaze shifting rapidly from one man to the other and back again, Lois felt an instant rush of panic. "Yeah, and?"

It was Clark who answered her. Quietly. Hesitantly. "The girl they brought out…was…Lana."

Lois couldn't seem to breathe. "Lana. As in Lang."

Clark swallowed hard and silently nodded, just waiting for the full impact of her reaction.

He didn't have to wait long.

An unreadable masked dropped over her expression. The green in her eyes flashed, then all colors faded. Tightened lips and crossed arms were the only visible sign of her internal struggle.

"Well, then. I guess you'd better go."

"Lois…" Clark reached out to touch her.

She shrank back. And retreated to Bruce's side. "After all…we wouldn't want to keep your princess waiting…"

Tbc…

p.s. I know Lois is a noble soul, so please understand this is just her INITIAL reaction. Plus, I've dealt with Bruce, now Lana needs to be handled. And I happen to think Clark needs to work for it a bit.