Chapter 4

The next morning...

Clark walks into the office and silently leaves a paper bag and a cup of coffee on her desk. She eyes him curiously as he sits down, then opens the bag and pulls out the maple donut. "Mmm," taking a bite. "Apology accepted," flashing him an appreciative smile.

"Thanks," smiling back at her.

"So have you heard the latest about...well...you know?"

"It's okay," he says after a moment. "You can say her name. I won't break."

She gets up from her chair and walks around the partners' desk they share. "I found out from the coroner just before you walked in that Lana was pregnant," sitting down on his desk and crossing her legs.

"Pregnant?" looking at her with surprise.

"That's right," her skirt rising up her thigh a couple inches.

His eyes linger on her toned and lightly tanned legs. "How far along?" he murmurs while unable to keep his eyes off them.

"He estimates about two months," she replies when she finally notices what he was looking at. She grins inwardly as she deliberately crosses her legs again and gives him a quick flash of what she was wearing under the skirt - or rather, what she wasn't wearing. I am so happy that all my underwear was in the wash.

His eyes widen when he realizes what she wasn't wearing. I never thought she was the commando type. What I wouldn't give to get up close and personal with...Stop it, Kent. Get a grip, giving himself a mental shake. You need to give it back to her as good as she gives it. "So..." he says at last. "Two months, huh?" pretending to nervously adjust his tie. "Did her husband know she was pregnant?"

"Nope," shaking her head sadly. She's about to say something else when her phone rings, so she gets up and runs around to her side of the desk and picks up the phone. "Lois Lane, Daily Planet, how may I help you?" sitting back down on her chair and fiddling around with a pencil as she talks.

He chuckles to himself and turns on his computer. Once it's up and running, the first thing he checks is his email. He smiles when he sees an email from his Mom. He reads it, then quickly composes a response and clicks on 'send,' Once he's finished checking them, he clicks on the Word document for his latest story and begins to type.

"Clark."

He looks up from his monitor. "What is it, Lois?"

"That was Chloe," she says. "She may have some information for us. Are you interested in taking an early lunch?" arching an eyebrow.

He glances over at the wall clock. "It's a bit early for lunch - don't you think?"

"Okay, so how about a coffee break?" she counters.

"Well..." he hesitates.

"Come on," getting back up. "You could use some fresh air," grabbing his hand and pulling him out of his chair.

"What about Mr. White?" he asks as he follows her over to the elevator.

"We'll just tell him that we got a lead on the Lang-Ross murder and need to follow it up," stabbing the 'down' button repeatedly.

"I think that once is enough, don't you think?"

She has a slightly annoyed look on her face as the doors finally open. "It's about time," ignoring what he said as she steps inside. "Coming?"

"Not yet, but give me a few minutes," also stepping inside.

Her cheeks flush a soft pink as the doors close. I got her good with that one. She's speechless. Now what should I do to her next? smiling inwardly as the elevator begins to descend.

"So are you still upset about missing the RUSH concert last night?" she asks in an attempt to diffuse the sudden sexual tension between them.

"Not as much as I was," he replies as he takes a few steps toward her. "I do want to say that I appreciated your concern when you came over last night," now standing next to her.

"You were an ass as I recall."

"I hate to admit it, but you're right," he replies as he moves slightly behind her. "I was unbelievably rude to you and I intend to rectify that," his warm breath softly tickling her neck.

"You were...um...definitely...um...rude," gulping thickly at his closeness. "How do you intend to rectify that?"

"Well..." he starts to say but is interrupted when the elevator doors open and a group of people step inside.

Lois' eyes widen at the tingling feeling she gets as she's suddenly pressed up against Clark. She attempts to move, but there's too many people in the elevator.

His super-hearing notes her rapidly beating heartbeat. I couldn't have plan it better myself, he smiles inwardly."Are you okay, Lois?" he whispers as he rests his fingers on her waist.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be?" her voice betraying her nervousness.

"It's just that you seem nervous all of a sudden," his fingers gently squeezing her waist.

"I'm not nervous," she insists.

"I see," not really believing her. "For a minute there I thought that I was making you nervous," whispering again.

"Well you're not," she replies just as the doors open on the ground floor. "I need some air," she declares as she pulls away and exits the elevator.

He stands in the empty elevator for a second. Yep. She wants me all right, whistling as he steps outside and follows her out of the building.

Watchtower

They're about to step inside the elevator to Watchtower when they spot Jimmy walking towards them. "Hey C.K., Ms. Lane," winking at them as he steps inside. "You're here to see Chloe too?" he asks as the doors close.

Thank goodness. A buffer between Clark and me. "I'm so happy to see you," throwing her arms around him.

Jimmy looks over her shoulder at Clark as if to say what's gotten into her? Clark just shrugs his shoulders back at him. "I'm happy to see you too, Lois," letting go of her. "So what are you doing here?" he asks as the doors close.

"She said she might have some information about Lana's murder," Lois replies as the elevator begins to make its ascent. "What about you?"

"She wanted to get a look at some of the crime scene photographs I took yesterday," he replies. "I looked them over, but I didn't see anything unusual," shrugging his shoulders.

"You never know with Chloe," Clark replies with a smile on his face.

"True," he remarks thoughtfully as they arrive at the top floor and the doors open.

"Hi, Chloe," says Clark as they step off the elevator and make their way over towards the monitor where Chloe was busy inputting some information.

"Hi," not turning around as she continues typing.

"Are you too busy for one of these?" casually waving an extra-large Caf-Pow in front of her face.

"I'm never too busy for one of those," swinging around and grabbing the cup from his hand.

"I can see that," Lois remarks as she eyes the two discarded cups in the wastepaper basket.

"So what do you have?" asks Jimmy.

"It's not much," slurping some of her drink. "I managed to get footage of the hallway outside the ladies room," turning back to the monitor and bringing up another screen. "Unfortunately I can't get a clear look at his face."

"So it was definitely a man who stabbed her?" asks Clark.

"It sure looks that way," she replies. "I thought that maybe you could use that micro-vision of yours," winking at him.

"I'll see what I can do," focusing his eyes on the unknown man's face.

"Well?" the three of them ask in unison.

"It can't be," he mutters under his breath after a few seconds. "You won't believe it," a frown creasing his forehead.

"Don't keep us in suspense, Smallville," Lois says. "Who is it?"

He takes a deep breath, then turns around to face them.

"I think it's Zod."

TO BE CONTINUED...