Close Encounters
A/N: Thank you to everyone who is reading this story. If you are reading this on and haven't left a note to let me know what you think, I hope you will when the story is complete. The highest honor I feel you can have on that site is to have someone mark you as a favorite author, followed closely by marking your story as a favorite story. So thanks to all of you who have done so! I am humbly honored. I am so terribly sorry that it has taken so long to get this chapter out. 'To err is human, to forgive divine.'
Chapter 3 – Experimentation
Kal killed the lights on the bike and pulled over to the curb. Climbing off the bike after turning it off, he assisted Jo off and then moved the bike over behind some bushes against a high wall. "We're at the first stop of the night," he declared, trying to keep his excitement out of his voice.
Jo looked around, her confusion written on her face. "And where exactly are we?" she asked, looking up at the wall that was easily 10 feet high.
Obviously she had been expecting him to take her straight to his place. Her surprise amused him. Grinning, Kal took her hand and pulled her gently down the road and around the corner to a door that had an electronic keypad lock. He pulled her to stand against the wall, hidden in the shadows next to the door.
"Wait here a minute and you'll find out," he told her. "I'll be right back."
He could barely make out her half smile and narrowed eyes in good humored suspicion. "And where are you going?" she asked flirtatiously.
Kal's smirk stayed on his face as he backed around the corner, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's a surprise." He got almost out of sight before adding, "You do like surprises right?"
Jo bit her lip, trying to contain the full blown grin that was threatening to spread itself over her face. "Sure. Who doesn't like surprises?" she asked, lying through her teeth. While technically Lois liked the idea of surprises, the truth was she had no ability to wait for surprises. The moment she got a wind of anything that smelled like a surprise, she was investigating, determined to ferret out the truth and whatever was hidden.
When he disappeared around the corner, Lois found herself looking around again. The area looked familiar and she felt that she should know where she was but couldn't place it in the dark. Not for the first time, she wondered at the lack of even a tiny fissure of doubt at her choice to be here with Kal. At least he hadn't taken her straight to his apartment, house, cardboard box, or whatever he lived in. That possibility had become very real in her mind as they were whizzing through the streets of Metropolis. It had also crossed her mind what it was that he would probably want once they got to his place. So this was a pleasant surprise already…unless he lived here or was planning to do something to her here so that no one could trace her murder back to him…
Her rising panic was put on hold by the opening of the door from the inside. A head poked out and a hand was held out to her. When she looked back up at the face, she barely made out the whites of his eyes and his teeth as he smiled at her. Suddenly, although technically Kal had really done nothing to assuage her newly rising doubts per se, she felt them completely dissipate as she placed her hand in his.
Returning his smile, Lois stepped through the door, and Kal didn't let go of her hand as he pulled it closed again behind her. She looked around and her smile grew. "The zoo! We're at the zoo!"
Tilting his head in cocky assurance, Kal moved slightly closer to her side. "Surprise," he whispered into her ear, leaning close enough for his cologne to send her heart into overdrive. He didn't linger there, however…stepping back to a more comfortable distance, but still holding onto her hand.
Looking up into his face, her smile turned teasing. "What made you think of coming here?" she asked.
When Kal's gaze traveled down her body, Lois felt her cheeks warm and was grateful for the darkness to hide her blush. He pulled her to him and slid a finger back and forth under the strap around her neck holding her dress up. "Maybe it was the snakeskin dress that made me think you might enjoy a walk on the wild side…either that or your cat-like moves," he told her, his voice husky and sending shivers down her spine.
"And just how did you get in?" Jo's warm and teasing tone wrapped itself around him like a warm blanket and his wide grin returned.
Kal shook his head. "Oh, no, I'm not going to tell you. I've gotta keep some secrets, beautiful…makes me mysterious." He squeezed her hand gently. "I've always wanted to do one of those summer camps at the zoo or aquarium. So many of the animals are nocturnal that all you get to see when you come during regular visiting hours is them sleeping. Care to see what they're like awake?"
She looked around and took a hesitant step forward. "You sure we won't get caught? What if there are video cameras or a security guard or something?"
Kal chuckled but stepped farther out of the shadows, gently pulling on her hand. "Come on. You can trust me. We won't get caught." The inner voice that sounded a lot like Jonathan Kent whispered that the red kryptonite was starting to make him cocky and it would lead to trouble. Kal sank into the feeling the small piece of his home world brought and allowed it to silence his hesitations.
Jo looked up at him and he felt his breath hitch at her smile. Even in the darkness, she was beautiful and he felt that his life would never be the same…which was ridiculous! This was a total stranger! A woman who was too old for him…and human…and he was an alien. But somehow none of that mattered. All Kal wanted was to be with her, tonight, tomorrow, maybe…
His musings were broken when she spoke. "So where to first then, Kal?"
* * * * * CK/LL * * * * *
Lois and Kal had moved quickly through a couple of exhibits and were currently moving on to the big cat area. They had held hands or brushed against each other, but for the most part, they simply walked and enjoyed the atmosphere and company. Neither said much, each trying to avoid dangerous territory of their personal lives. It hadn't been very long, 20 minutes at most, since they had started their tour but it felt like time had stood still for them.
Leaning against the wall of glass that allowed viewing of the tigers, Lois was acutely aware of the man standing with her. Kal was just behind her, close enough to touch but not actually doing so, one hand placed on the wall above her head, bracing himself, and the other in his pocket. Neither said anything as they watched for the large felines.
She caught movement in the trees beyond the immediate front open area of the viewing and then she spotted a mother Bengal tiger moving with her two cubs down to the front moat that separated them from the glass. It was probably very deep but the mother cat kept a look out on her cubs, both very young. Lois didn't dare to breathe for fear of scaring them away.
That's why Kal's voice in her ear made her jump…at least that's what she told herself. "Aren't they magnificent?" he asked in almost a whisper. She felt goose bumps rise all up and down her arms.
"Beautiful creatures," she murmured in return, not moving.
"Then you belong here with them," he said in a husky tone.
She shivered ever so slightly and her eyes drifted closed. Lois Lane was usually put off by such cheesy comments, but she couldn't help but feel flattered by the line. Maybe it was the alcohol that hummed through her system. Or maybe it was the full moon that dodged in and out of the clouds. Or maybe it was just the quiet, intimate atmosphere but Lois found herself starting to really become addicted to Kal.
The mother cat held down one of her cubs and proceeded to bathe it with her large, rough tongue. The other cub played with her tail for a bit and then pounced at other things that caught his eye. Kal took a deep breath, his chest brushing Lois' back ever so slightly. As if having heard it, the mother paused in her ministrations and looked around. Her ears perked towards something else out of sight in the brush and they watched as all three cats disappeared back into the darkness.
Moving as if by some unspoken communication, Lois and Kal rejoined hands and moved on to the next exhibit. Lois at first was moving towards it with Kal, but as she realized what the next animal was, she tugged on his hand to keep moving. "Come on, I don't really want to see this exhibit."
Curious, Kal didn't allow her to budge him and held his ground, though he did stop instead of still heading towards it. "Why? You know what's next? It's the spotted hyenas. They're nocturnal creatures and you don't get to see them do much during the day, if you see them at all. Don't you want to see what they're like at night?"
Lois shivered involuntarily. "No, I don't. I don't really want to explain but I really hate hyenas."
Kal was tempted to take her to see them anyway or at least push for an answer about why she hated the creatures so much. Before he could say anything, however, they heard one of the animals in question start to whoop and cackle. The sound was unnerving and caught Kal off guard until he figured out where it had come from, but Jo's reaction was palpable. She started to shiver and her arms wrapped around her waist involuntarily. Something about this woman seemed to reach down and touch Clark, despite the red kryptonite induced "Kal" personality that was currently in charge. He felt the need to protect, console, comfort, hold…
"Hey, why don't we move on to the next exhibit? I don't really care about seeing the hyenas," he suggested, crossing his arms over his chest to keep them from reaching out for her and pulling her to him.
As they started to stroll on, her phone rang and Lois bit back a groan. It must be midnight already. She looked down at the caller ID and gritted her teeth. Yup. It was the General. "Kal, I need to take this real quick. I'll only be a minute, but do you mind…" she trailed off, hoping he'd catch her meaning. She didn't want to have to explain that she had to lie to her father about where she was.
He raised an eyebrow at her. The phone was on its third ring and Lois was gritting her teeth in nervousness. If it went to voicemail, she was dead. Finally, Kal smiled and nodded towards a small building that housed the restrooms. "I'll just use the facilities while you take your call," he said.
He disappeared into the dark and Lois stepped in the opposite direction, hitting the connect button on her cell phone. "Hi, dad," she said into the phone.
"Young lady, why did it take you so long to get to the phone?" came the gruff voice of her father. To her ears, however, he sounded tired…which meant he wasn't in the mood to be messed with.
"Sorry, I couldn't find where the cordless ended up. It took a minute to locate it," she lied smoothly.
"What time did you girls get in?" he asked.
Lois took a deep breath. Here came the interrogation. She just wanted to get this over with before Kal came back. But she knew that if she wasn't careful and paid attention, he'd trip her up and her cover story would blow up in her face. "About 30 minutes ago," she answered. Keeping her answers short and as close to the truth as possible was the best way to go with this. Technically, Chloe would have gotten to their home on the base about half an hour ago.
"You two came in earlier than curfew?" the General asked suspiciously.
"Well, Chloe wasn't feeling all that well, and we were just hanging out at a local spot they all like to frequent so we decided to call it a night," Lois told him. Then she cringed. Too much information! Crap! Now she was in for it. The interrogation would only become more heated now.
"What local hang out spot? Who is 'we'? And what is wrong with your cousin?" he fired out.
Sighing, Lois answered him as briefly as possible on the first two questions. "'We' is four of Chloe's co-workers from the Daily Planet, all except one is an intern. Three females, one male, although Steve is gay. The local hang out is a coffee shop not far from the paper called 'Joe's Cup of Jo'." Technically, that was the usual hang out spot for Chloe's friends but he didn't need to know that wasn't where they were tonight.
The last question would be the hardest to answer without getting another round of questions. Unsure of how much longer Kal would be, Lois started to feel a little rise of panic that she quickly stamped down. Her father could smell fear, even over the phone. "As for Chloe…well, it's kinda…" she groped for an excuse that would keep him from asking to speak with her as well as cut down or out any more questions.
"Women troubles!" she blurted out. Knowing she had found her ace, Lois calmed her heart and her voice. "Chloe is just having some women problems, nothing serious, just cramps and fatigue. Nothing to worry over." At the dead silence on the other end of the line, Lois knew she had hit the jackpot. Giving a silent squeal of triumph, it was all she could do to keep from dancing.
Sam Lane, three-star general with the US army, was almost squirming over the line. It was one thing to know what women went through, but it was something entirely different to even acknowledge that his daughter and her cousin went through those same things. It was times like this that he wished his wife were still alive to the point of almost pleading with the universe. She'd know exactly how to handle this situation, or at least know what to say to Lois' admission.
Clearing his throat a couple of times, her father finally said, "Well, maybe some rest is the best thing for her. You two get some sleep and I'll be home somewhere around 1430 hours."
"Will do, General," Lois said, stopping just short of saluting him.
She let out a big breath as she disconnected the line. Turning around, she almost ran right into Kal. Lois let out a small squeak, then placed her hand over her chest and gave him a smile. "Whoa there, Kal! Boy did you give me a fright!"
Kal tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in slight suspicion. "You weren't expecting me to come back or something?"
"Of course I did, I just didn't realize you were that close behind me," she told him with a slight swat to his shoulder.
He studied her for a moment. "So everything ok?" he asked slowly, nodding towards her phone.
"Sure! Yes, of course! I was actually expecting that call," Lois chirped somewhat nervously. She really didn't want to have to try to explain why she had been speaking to her father and she wasn't quite sure how much he might have overheard.
Kal's eyebrows went up in surprise. "You were? At midnight? Who calls you this time of night?" Then a thought struck him and he was grateful for the darkness as he fought shame on the Clark Kent side with pride and arrogance on Kal's side. "That wasn't your husband was it? You aren't married, are you?"
"What?! No, I'm not married! Just what kind of woman do you think I am, buddy?" she demanded, poking him in the chest. "For your information, that was one of my friends from the club, calling to make sure I was ok since I had decided to leave with a stranger." The lie came so easily, Lois almost believed it herself.
Holding up his hands in innocence, Kal placated her. "Alright, alright! No need to get so defensive. I was just checking. I don't like to share," he said with a smirk that she could hear. At her exasperated sound and rolling of her eyes, he chuckled and put his arms around her, drawing her closer to his body. "You're kind of cute when you're annoyed," he teased.
Tilting her head back to look into his eyes, that she could only just make out, she raised one eyebrow. "And how, exactly, would you know that in this darkness?" she teased back, good humor mostly restored. "Maybe I'm close to 60 years old, with a mustache and bushy eyebrows. You wouldn't be able to tell too much considering the lighting we've always been in together."
Smirking, Kal boldly let his hands slide down to her bottom and he gently and briefly squeezed her buttocks, causing her to let out a slight yelp of surprise. "If this is the ass of a 60 year old, you need to sell your secret because you could make millions; I can live with bushy eyebrows, if you do indeed have those, though I think I've seen you in good enough light to know that's not the case; and as for the mustache…"
Instead of finishing his sentence, he lowered his head and captured her mouth in a soul-searing kiss, complete with dueling tongues and lip nibbling. When he pulled back, he was happy to find that she was clinging to him as if she were unable to hold herself up and she was panting heavily. Grinning down at her, he said, "Definitely no mustache."
Having forgotten the conversation in the wake of that mind-blowing kiss, Lois was caught off guard by his words and burst into a full, all out laugh. Dropping her forehead against his chest, she continued to chuckle as she said, "Yeah, well, maybe there is something to be said for the dimmer lighting…adds to the romance."
Finding her laugh contagious enough to cause him to chuckle in response, Kal gently pulled back from her and took her hand. He dropped a quick peck on her fingers that were entwined with his. "How about we pick up the tour of the zoo and then go somewhere for coffee after we're done? I know it's getting a little chilly out here."
Squeezing his hand briefly, Lois smiled up at him. "Yeah, but you're so warm, I barely notice. So just keep close by and I'll be fine."
Moving his arm to drape over her shoulders, he pulled her into his side. "Well, I suppose if I must, I'll find a way to make the sacrifice," he sighed.
* * * * CK/LL * * * *
It had been a unique evening, Lois would admit that, and one that was full of fun memories. They had almost made it back to the door they had entered and were munching on popcorn and cotton candy and sipping on sodas Kal had gotten from the small diner they had passed that someone had left unlocked. Kal held the bucket of popcorn to her but she shook her head, having had enough. He pitched it into the trashcan along with the empty cotton candy bag outside of their last stop at the zoo. Lois followed it with the empty soda cups.
Looking up, Lois squinted as she tried to read the sign for what the building housed but couldn't make it out and she couldn't remember what it was. "What's left? Just whatever is in this building?" she asked.
Kal gave a secret smile and took her hand. "Yeah, I think you'll like this last stop."
He pulled her gently to guide her inside ahead of him. He moved up behind her as the door clicked shut after them, circling her waist with his arms as she looked around, an amused grin on her face. His hands clasped hers gently and he walked them forward a few steps, nudging her along with his knees and shoulders for the first couple of steps. Her hands were cool and soft in his and his thumb started to stroke the back of one subconsciously.
"Not that I can't see how the lighting contributes to the romantic ambiance, but why exactly would you think I would enjoy the Insect and Reptile House?" Lois asked, her question laced with amusement.
The only sources of light were from the heat lamps in the various tanks and cages that housed all types of creepy, crawling scorpions, centipedes, turtles, snakes, salamanders and other animals that usually repulsed women. Kal chuckled as he brought a hand up to gently brush past her ear, down her neck, sending shivers down her back and goose bumps to rise, to trace his fingers under the edge of his jacket that she was wearing, the backs of them brushing her bare skin at the junction of her neck and shoulder. His index finger caught the edge of her dress' neckline and he tugged gently to draw attention to it.
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe something about the snakeskin dress, or was it the sneaking off from your friends for a smoke, that told me you like to flirt with danger now and again. Oh no, wait! I know what it was; it was the fact that you went off in the night with a strange guy that told me that," he teased softly. Chuckling again, Kal waved towards the animals exhibited in front of them. "Come on, tell me you don't want to see the alligators or the king cobra."
She laughed. "Actually, I do like snakes," Lois admitted. "Although I prefer the pythons. I find it fascinating that they squeeze their prey to death before swallowing them whole."
Throwing his head back slightly, Kal let out a bark of laughter, squeezing her in his arms. He dropped a kiss on her neck and she tilted her head to the side, giving him better access, surprising him and causing his blood to heat up. "I have a feeling that no matter how long we knew each other, you would always be full of fun surprises," he whispered against her skin.
Biting her lower lip, Lois found that she was feeling bold with this stranger. Maybe she just wanted one crazy experience to be able to look on when she was old. Maybe she wanted to have something that her dad would really flip over. Maybe she really was just attracted to this guy, but it felt like it was so much more than any of that. Kal was like the true North to her compass of a life. It was like he was the one she had always been looking for, and she knew how crazy that would sound aloud, so she didn't even admit it to herself…didn't even think about what she was doing. She would just feel, just enjoy, just allow things to progress.
Lois spun around within his arms, and Kal wrapped his arms tighter about her waist and pulled her body closer to his. The lighting was a bit better in here for Lois to make out a little more of his face, though it was still in shadows and she still couldn't tell the color of his eyes. He really was handsome and though she couldn't tell everything, the look in his eyes made her heart speed up. Her arms snaked their way around his neck, her fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck.
"You'd better believe it," she flirted back. She bit her lip and smiled up at him coquettishly.
Kal caught her closer to him, unable to help feeling that this was where she belonged, in his arms…forever. Refusing to allow that line of thinking to go on, he studied her face in the dim lighting, unable to make out the color of her eyes but seeing that she looked younger than he first thought. She seemed so confident and self-assured that he had pegged her age at close to thirty or so, but now he would place her age closer to early to mid-twenties, but that only because she must be old enough to have been in the club, old enough to drink and her independence. As her arms slid up around his neck and her fingers played with his hair, he felt a shiver go down his spine but he remained still. When she bit her lower lip and smiled up at him in that way that made his blood boil, he groaned and fused his mouth to hers.
After several moments of intense kisses, tongues dueling, bodies pressed together tightly, hands petting faces and roaming over backs and through hair, Kal pulled back to give them both air, more necessary for her than for him. Panting with her chest heaving, Lois looked up into his eyes. "Wow!" she said huskily.
"What do you say we skip the rest of the tour and get out of here?" Kal asked with raised eyebrows. Jo bit her lip again in slight indecision, her body warring with her mind and her heart pulled in the middle. He saw it and added, "We don't have to do anything you don't want to." With those words, she gave him a full smile and a nod.
* * * * CK/LL * * * *
The Next Morning
Kal propped his head up with the palm of his hand, his elbow resting on his pillow as he looked down into the face of the angel sleeping in his bed. In the glow of the morning sun, she looked much younger than she must have been, almost close to his own age. He gently brushed aside a lock of her dark hair that was across her cheek, careful not to disturb her. She had fallen asleep in his arms in the moments just before dawn. They had talked about everything and nothing at all. Never had he had such a deep and meaningful connection with what was essentially a total stranger. The part of him that was Clark Kent seemed to be brought out in Kal by this woman, despite the best efforts of the red kryptonite. He vacillated between wanting to show off his powers, super speed her someplace exotic and claim her for his forever, and wanting to take her home and have her help him find redemption with his parents and his previous life.
Jo took a deep breath and wrinkled her nose a couple of times as if something were tickling it and Kal held his breath, wondering if she would awake or if she would fall back to sleep. Her hand came up and brushed at her nose before she snuggled deeper into the pillow and her breathing deepened again. She looked so beautiful, her hair tousled, her make up smeared, her lips swollen from his kisses, her soft snores making him want to chuckle aloud. She was wearing his white t-shirt, the only thing white that he still owned, the same white shirt he wore when he left Smallville. He sighed softly at that, rubbing his own, black t-shirt-clad chest subconsciously over the symbol burned into it…the symbol she had not seen but had felt.
*FLASHBACK*
Kal shoved the door open to his apartment and waved for Jo to go in ahead of him. When she didn't move right away, he looked at her and raised an eyebrow in question. "Something wrong?"
"What happened to that coffee you promised me?" she asked back, her head tilted to the side and an amused, though somewhat nervous smile on her lips.
He answered with a gaze that could melt ice. "I have coffee here," he told her. "I also have beer if you'd rather." Just because alcohol didn't affect him didn't mean he wouldn't keep a couple of beers around for when Coop dropped in.
A soft snort escaped her and she walked on inside. "I'll bet," she said, looking around as she removed his long leather jacket.
Kal took the jacket from her and tossed it over the nearest chair back, his eyes not leaving her. He had rented this place with her discussion with her friend in mind. Now that she was here and actually seeing it, he was curious if it was a little of her fantasy for herself come true. Her eyes sparkled as she looked back at him.
"Nice place," she said appreciatively. Going over to the balcony and looking out at the city below, she added, "Spectacular view."
Moving to stand behind her, he didn't touch her but said huskily, "It's never looked better."
Jo spun around to look up at him, her breathing picking up as she looked up at him. The pale moonlight added credence to his statement and he groaned as the magnetic pull between them became too much to resist. Moving simultaneously, they threw themselves at each other, fusing their mouths together and embracing tightly.
Jo's hands pulled and tugged on the edges of his black shirt, freeing it from the confines of his dark jeans, their mouths gliding over each other's and never missing a beat. As he lost himself in her kisses that tasted like wild cherries, it didn't register at first when her hands slid under the front edge of the t-shirt and up his chest. As her fingers brushed over the symbol that Jor-El had burned into his skin, however, she pulled back.
"Kal? What is this?" she asked, as she traced the symbol.
In the darkness, he could just barely make out the concern in her eyes as she strained to see what it was that she was feeling under her fingers. Kal reached up with his own hands and stilled hers gently. Every time any other girl from the club had even brushed the scar, it would bring unbelievable pain, but as Jo's hands rested on the edges, he felt no pain at all. Still he gritted his teeth at the reminder from his birth father.
"A gift from my father…a little reminder of my place and his plans for me," he growled out, trying to control his anger.
The tone of his voice must have caught her attention, however, for her eyes snapped to his. He could only imagine that his were glowing with the anger inside of him threatening to erupt through his heat vision. Now the concern in her eyes was mixed with disbelief and anger.
"Your father did this?!" Jo exclaimed. "What kind of monster is he? Is he still alive? Was he arrested for this? I can't believe…"
Kal's heart swelled at her outrage in his behalf. Deciding to end her tirade early, he once again captured her soft lips, bruising them with his own. After several moments of whimpers and moans, he pulled back again and pressed a kiss to her forehead and each of her eyelids. "Thank you for your concern, but he's long dead. I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to think about it. Right now, all I want to think about is you," he told her.
After a moment of looking up into his eyes, she nodded and let him pick up where they had left off. He released her hands, and when she moved them to trace the scar, he waited for the pain. Kal sucked in his breath as, instead of the expected pain, he felt more attraction to her than ever and there was another feeling, not unpleasant but he was unable to define it as her light touch followed the pattern of the symbol of his birth family. Finally, he pushed the thoughts to the back of his mind and let himself just feel the moment.
*END FLASHBACK*
Kal felt the call of nature and slowly eased himself out of the bed, knowing that Jo needed her sleep. She had had a long, full night and he knew she must be tired. He wondered briefly if she had to work but decided to let her worry about it when she woke up. It was Sunday and the odds were better that she didn't and either way, he hoped to keep her there a little while longer. He padded to the bathroom in his t-shirt and boxers, took care of what he had gone in there for and brushed his teeth.
His eyes caught his reflection as he spit into the sink and he stood back up and studied his face as he placed the toothbrush back in the holder. The blue eyes were ringed with red and he brought his right hand up in a fist, looking at the ring that bore the name of the high school in the town that held his past. Suddenly, his chest began to burn again, stronger than ever. Biting his tongue at the impulse to scream out in agony, Kal ripped his shirt in two, throwing the pieces off of him as if the lightweight material was strangling him and making the pain worse.
The memories of what he had done, the reason he was in Metropolis flooded his mind and he gasped and dropped his head, gripping the granite counter until parts of it crumbled in his hands. Jo's words to her friend on the train went through his head…the words about his parents worrying about him. He growled in pain and rage, finally snatching the ring off of his finger and collapsing in a heap on the floor as the pain began to subside and the glowing of his chest stopped. Drawing his knees up, Clark rested his forearms on them and his head onto his arms, sobbing softly.
He couldn't go back; the thought of the woman in his bed only made his heart hurt harder. No matter how much he might dream, he couldn't take her back with him for there was no way to go back. His parents would never forgive him, Chloe would never forgive him, Lana would never forgive him. He only brought pain and destruction to everyone he ever cared about. That thought brought him up short and his head snapped up.
Jo couldn't be a permanent part of his life, no matter how much he might want it. She would only end up hurt in the end…or he would. It was the way it always went. Unsure of what to do, Clark grunted and jammed the ring back on his finger, feeling the relief that the red K brought. His eyes glowed again and he jumped up off the floor, washed his face and made his way to the kitchen. Clark Kent might accept that he had to give up the woman he had found for both of their sakes, but Kal wasn't ready to give her up just yet. He was going to hold onto the best thing he had ever found for as long as he could.
He rounded the wall that divided the bedroom from the living area and made his way to the refrigerator, took out the carton of orange juice and, after opening it, began to chug it right from the carton. After finishing off what little was in there, he tossed the empty container in the trash, looked into the nearly empty refrigerator and frowned. An old Chinese take-out carton, 4 bottles of beer, a molded lump that might have been anything at one time. That was the sum of the contents of the refrigerator. He sighed and decided that maybe Jo would like a real breakfast. He really had no idea.
There was a noise at the front door and Kal super-sped into some clothes and over to stand where the person coming in wouldn't see him at first, giving him the advantage to attack. He drew himself up short from the attack, however, as he recognized the figure entering his apartment. Walking over to him, Kal placed a hand on the old man's shoulder and gently swung him around, getting a startled grunt.
"What in the…" Coop started to cry out but Kal's finger to his lips and shushing stopped him. Switching automatically to a whisper, Coop looked around. "What the heck's goin' on? Why am I whispering?" he asked. When Kal only grinned at him and raised his eyebrows, Coop let out a muted chuckle. "Oh, I get it. You've got company. Well, you didn't leave anything outside like I told you to if this situation were to arise so how in Sam hill was I supposed to know?" he told him with a wink. "I'll just sneak back out the way I came in and…"
Kal shook his head and drew the older man around the side of the wall to the counter of the kitchen. Gesturing towards the empty coffee pot, Kal spoke softly. "I haven't had the chance to make coffee yet, but if you'll make a pot, I'll go out and grab us some breakfast. Any special requests?" He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair he had tossed it onto last night, his keys from the counter and raised an eyebrow at Coop.
"Nah, whatever you bring back will be just fine by me," Coop answered, his low voice coming out more gruff than usual. "Could I go ahead and take a shower?"
His eyes darting to the other side of the wall where Jo was still sleeping, Kal's expression softened just the slightest bit but Coop caught it and he hid a smile at it. It seemed that Kal had found someone special. Coop hoped that he would get a chance to meet her. The younger man shook his head as he opened the door.
"Wait until she gets up and knows you're here. I wouldn't want her to think it's me in the shower," Kal told him with a wink before disappearing behind the closed door.
* * * * CK/LL * * * *
Lois awoke with a pounding headache, her hair going in every possible direction, her eyes felt full of grit and her mouth as dry as cotton…and yet, she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so at peace, so at home, so…confused. As her eyes focused on the unfamiliar ceiling and her brain started to register the feel of unfamiliar sheets, her eyes widened and darted around, trying to figure out where she was.
Sitting up, Lois pulled the sheet up automatically to keep herself covered until she looked down and realized that she was wearing a t-shirt. By the size of it, however, it obviously wasn't hers. As the night's events caught up with her, she sucked in a breath and her eyes searched for her host, for several reasons. It was daytime, the sun was shining brightly, and she had yet to see her newest friend in full lighting.
She also couldn't remember exactly how the evening had ended and it worried her a little…ok, maybe more than a little. Lois remembered the club and a lot of alcohol, but she still remembered the dance with Kal, leaving on his bike with him, every bitty detail about each of their kisses, and most of the details of their private tour of the zoo. What she didn't remember was what happened after they got back to his apartment. She remembered agreeing to come back with him, making out with him, touching what felt like scars on his chest that he said he had gotten from his father and then…and then…well, that was where things got sketchy, and truth be told, that's where she thought she should remember the most.
Lifting the sheet, Lois blew a breath out at the sight of her underwear still being on…or was it back on? She bit her lip and scrunched her eyes up, trying to put together the pieces of her memory. Surely she would remember if they had…her face heated up and she cleared her throat. Finally, Lois squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and decided that she would remember after coffee, or when she saw Kal. That was it! She was hung over and caffeine deprived.
Taking a deep breath, she tilted her head and listened. There were muffled sounds coming from the other side of the wall, the kitchen area if she remembered correctly. Throwing the covers back, Lois started to leap out of the bed but the pain of a headache got her to slow down a bit, although it wasn't as bad as she had been expecting. When she reached the corner of the wall, she stopped, biting her lip in nervousness. She took a deep breath, no idea which she feared more, that he was even older than she thought and hideous, or young and as wonderful and hot as she thought.
Finally working up enough courage by reminding herself that she was a Lane, the daughter of a three-star general, and world traveler, Lois stepped around the wall, stopped short…and screamed. The old man sitting at the counter almost fell off his stool at her scream and answered it with a startled cry of his own. Lois' eyes darted around the room, looking for anything she could use as a weapon. She grabbed the nearest object she could lay her hands on and, keeping her back to the wall, started to move towards the door.
"Who are you?" she demanded loudly. "What are you doing here in Kal's apartment?"
"I'm a friend-a-his. Name's Coop," the old codger answered holding his hand to his heart. "You scared the daylights outta me!"
"I scared you?!" Lois exclaimed incredulously.
He nodded and smiled at her hand and what it was holding. "Whatchya planning on doing with that, young lady?"
Lois frowned in confusion until she realized where he was looking. Holding up her hand, she couldn't stop the sheepish grin that spread over her face. "Well, honestly, I have no idea. But I would have found some way to take care of you with this…wooden spoon," she answered with a chuckle, placing the utensil back on the counter where she found it. "I'm…Jo," she told Coop, remembering just in time that she was using part of her middle name.
Circling the counter, Lois moved to the coffee pot. Opening the cabinet right above where it was sitting, she was surprised to find it empty, completely. "Huh. Weird," she murmured.
"There's an extra coffee mug in the sink. He only has two," Coop told her, holding up the mug in his hand.
"So where is Kal anyway?" she asked as she found the other mug and filled it, her movements a little slower due to her headache. Opening the refrigerator, she grimaced and shut it, then began randomly opening cabinets.
"He went out to grab breakfast for the three of us. What are you looking for?"
"Alka-Seltzer…and cream and/or sugar for the coffee. The best cure for a hangover is an ice bag to the head, Alka-Seltzer for the stomach and coffee for the sluggishness, though I usually wait for the coffee after the other two." Lois opened the drawers looking for a towel and then moved on to the freezer. "God! The man doesn't even have ice! What's up with that?"
"He just moved in not too long ago and he's a young bachelor. I have a feeling that he doesn't stay here much. Sleeps and showers here but that's about it. I'm pretty sure the wooden spoon was a prop from when they were showing the apartment. Don't bother looking for anything else to go in the coffee. He's out of creamer and since that's the only thing he puts in his coffee, he'll bring some back but there's no sugar," Coop told her. "You'll have to drink it black or wait until he gets back."
"How long has he been gone?" she asked, dropping onto the other stool at the counter.
"Somewhere around 20 minutes so he should be back any second now," he answered.
As if saying it had somehow conjured Kal out of thin air, there was the jingling of keys at the door and, as it opened, Lois stood up nervously. At that moment, she wished she had gone into the bathroom and washed her face, or at least looked into the mirror. She had no idea how bad she must look but based on past experience, it wasn't pretty. As a male figure stepped around the door, butterflies sprang up in her stomach.
A dark haired young man in sunglasses that hid his eyes came inside and closed the door, carrying a brown paper grocery bag. His hair was ruffled and his bangs hung down to his glasses. The sun was shining through the window behind him, making it more difficult for Lois to see details. He was wearing black slacks, a black t-shirt and his black leather jacket with the collar turned up. He was extremely sexy with scruffy whiskers that dusted his face, making it more difficult to determine his age.
"Hey, sleepy head. You're up earlier than I thought you would be," he said with a smirk. "I hope you're hungry. I brought donuts, bagels, creamer for the coffee and some fruit." Even with his eyes hidden, it was easy to follow their movements as they started at her feet, swept up her legs, paused at the edge of his t-shirt that she was wearing, and continued up to her face, finally meeting her eyes. Kal's whole demeanor screamed self-confidence and reminded her of the big cats they had seen the night before at the zoo.
Lois felt her face heat up at his obvious appreciation. She moved to take the bag from him, looking for the creamer. "I never sleep well in strange places…and no, I'm not hungry. Stomach is a little upset from either what I ate or drank last night." She busied herself emptying the contents of the bag and silently cursing herself. Seeing him hadn't helped her memory. She still had no idea if they had done the deed. Gah! Shouldn't she have some clue?!
When Lois pulled out the donuts, she smiled at the box and opened it up, just to see what he had bought. It was a mixed dozen and she couldn't keep from helping herself to the maple glazed. They were her favorites. Taking a big bite, she poured creamer into her coffee and stirred with the wooden spoon. Her eyes stayed glued to what she was doing but her senses were filled with the dark haired young man.
"Well, I think, if you don't mind, I'm gonna take a shower and then make myself scarce. I don't like to leave my cart in the same place too long," Cooper told them. Truth was the tension in the room was making him uncomfortable. "Unless you just want me to come back later…"
"No, no! You go ahead. Don't mind me…that is if it's ok with Kal," Lois told the old man. Kal nodded and Coop hopped off his stool and disappeared behind the wall. Lois' eyes followed him and then took in her surroundings more…the ones on the other side of the counter instead of the ones that she was really wanting to. "You sure live sparsely," she quipped, finally glancing back up at Kal over her shoulder, swallowing the last of the donut. "Although the few things you do have here are nice. Coop said you hadn't lived here long."
Moving towards her, Kal took off the jacket and flung it over one of the stools. "No, not long." He moved to stand behind and to the side of her, waiting for her to look back up at him again. When she didn't right away, he moved closer, now standing right behind her but still not touching her. Kal smirked when her breathing and heart rate went up; she was definitely aware of exactly where he was. Now she was deliberately avoiding looking at him.
Lois kept her eyes focused on the counter in front of her, her coffee, the spaces she could see on the other side of the counter, anything but looking at Kal. She could feel his body heat behind her and her breathing became soft pants as she saw his hand come around her out of her peripheral vision and she held her breath in anticipation of what he would do. She let it out in a small gasp of relief mixed with disappointment as he only laid his sunglasses on the counter in front of her. Then her chest started to heave as he caged her with his body against the counter, still not actually touching her.
Looking down at the hand on her left, she didn't notice the ring that was on his right hand. He actually had very nice hands, large, well-shaped, long fingers that fit his hand that looked so strong…she jumped when she felt her hair being moved to the side and his lips gently brushed her neck. Of their own accord, her eyes closed and her head tilted to the side to allow him better access. She couldn't seem to get enough oxygen into her lungs.
As Kal's lips parted and his whiskers scratched at her skin, Lois swallowed and let out a soft moan, his tongue darting out to taste her skin. "Mmm, you taste like you smell…like wild cherries," he murmured huskily.
Lois vaguely registered his words through the haze that his actions were having on her senses. Her sister Lucy had sent an expensive gift basket of bath wash, lotions, and other spa paraphernalia to her for her birthday, all with the unusual scent. She would have to remember to send her little sis a thank you card. All thoughts of anything but Kal disappeared as his hands came around her shoulders and turned her into his arms. He fused his lips to hers, his kiss quickly building in passion and increasingly demanding, and Lois gave back as good as she got.
Kal slid his hands down her arms and circled her waist, lifting her and seating her on the edge of the counter, causing her to give a small squawk of surprise, and then he moved to stand between her legs. His hands slid up her thighs, stopping at the edge of his t-shirt. Her hands were mobile as well, but they didn't stop at the edge of his shirt, sliding up underneath and when her fingers brushed the same scar she had felt the night before, she pulled back and looked down at the black t-shirt covering his chest.
He froze as he noticed where her hands and gaze had landed. Taking a deep breath in slight nervousness, his chest puffed out to brush against hers and Kal allowed himself to feel the effects of the red kryptonite, lifting his chin and looking her in the eyes. Her hazel eyes were lined with the smeared make up but he still saw the question in them. In answer, he removed his t-shirt in one swift movement and threw it onto the counter behind her, his hands bracing on either side of her, waiting for her reaction to something he had shown no one else.
Lois' breath hitched at the sight of his chest. The scars, or was it just one big scar, was a loud and angry reminder of the atrocities one human could do to another, and the fact that it had been inflicted by his father…she shuddered slightly at the horror of the idea. Her hands, which had dropped into her lap while he had removed his shirt, lifted and rested on his chest. They lightly traced the blemish that covered the expanse, without which Kal's chest would be a perfect specimen of masculinity. His muscles jumped under her touch and his grip on the counter tightened but he forced himself to stay still and let her explore his body. His skin seemed to heat up more under her touch.
"How did he do this?" she whispered. Her eyes narrowed as she recognized that the marks weren't random. There was a pattern that she strained to pick out. "Is this a symbol or special mark of some kind?"
Kal couldn't take it anymore, the burning inside threatening to erupt to the surface again. He covered her hands with his and brought them up to kiss each of her palms. He forced a smirk to his face and his eyes tinged with red, the effects of the ring encased meteor rock. Pulling her upper body forward against him, he circled her with his arms and lowered his face to hers, a breath away. "I'm not really in the mood to talk about family right now," he told her and then captured her lips again.
Her arms came up and circled his neck and she leaned against his chest. Kal's hands dropped to her waist and then gently, softly and ever so slowly slid down to the round globes of her bottom. Lois moaned as he squeezed gently and her hands fisted in his hair. She started to ease closer to the edge of the counter, Kal's hands helping to slide her closer towards him.
"Well, I tried to leave you some hot water and...oops!"
Coop's voice caused Kal to pull back and Lois to jump. She buried her head in his chest, letting her hair fall forward to hide her face like a curtain. Kal chuckled slightly and her cheeks flamed in embarrassment. She felt him grab his shirt and she pulled back, running one hand over her face and the other brushed her hair back slightly, her eyes avoiding looking at either of the men.
"Look, I…I didn't mean to interrupt. I was just on my way out and thought you might want to know that the bathroom was free. I'm sorry," Coop apologized, his grizzled cheeks turning red, but his eyes twinkled as they met Kal's. He put his coat on and moved to the door.
Kal followed him, leaving Lois where she was. "Here, let me walk you out, Coop."
As they reached the door, Kal opened it for the old man, effectively hiding them from Jo's sight. "Listen, Kal, I really am sorry about interrupting things with your lady friend," Coop told him. Then he grinned, his teeth, or lack thereof, reminding Kal of the night they met. "But by the looks of things, it seemed you two already had a pretty wild time last night, eh?" he chuckled and nudged Kal.
"I've heard that gentlemen never kiss and tell, but she did stay the night. Jo's the first girl I've brought back here," Kal admitted.
"Well, I can see what you were waiting for. She's beautiful and she seems nice…feisty but nice. You two have fun and I'll catch ya later." Kal only smiled back as he closed the door after Coop.
Lois heard the voices murmuring on the other side of the door and glanced that way, her eyes skimming around the kitchen as she waited for Kal to come back. That's when her eyes landed on the clock on the microwave. 12:20 pm! The General would be back at the house in two hours! Leaping off the counter, she ran around the apartment to the other side of the wall, scrambling to find her own clothes. She found her dress and strapless bra thrown onto the floor, covering one boot. Her bladder chose at that moment to alert her to the fact that she hadn't yet answered nature's call that morning. She heard the front door close just as she closed the one to the bathroom.
Looking in the mirror, Lois about jumped out of her skin at her reflection. "My god, Lois, you look like hell! What in the name of all that is holy happened to you?" she asked herself quietly.
Knowing she was short on time, Lois quickly splashed some water on her face, unable to take care of all the mess that used to be her make up but getting rid of some of the smudges. She gargled with water, swishing it around in her mouth, changed from Kal's shirt to her dress, tried to run her fingers through her gnarled hair, pulled on the one boot she had been able to find and heard Kal calling her name.
"Jo? You ok? Coop's gone. It's just us now; you don't have to be embarrassed," he called through the door.
Yanking it open, Lois came barreling out, marching past him and looking around for her other boot. "Have you seen my other boot?" she asked, dropping to the floor to look under the bed.
Kal folded his arms over his chest, admiring her backside and the way her skirt rose up as she bent over to look under his bed. "In a hurry to leave all of a sudden?" he asked.
Glancing over her shoulder, Lois blushed as she realized where his eyes had been focused. She quickly sat back on her haunches, trying to smooth her skirt down. "Sort of. I just didn't realize it was so late and I'm supposed to meet someone in two hours across town. I've got to get home and shower…I'm sorry. I've just gotta go."
She saw her boot on the other side of the room and dove for it at the same time Kal did. He reached it first. Lois reached for it but he held it just out of her reach. "Stay. You can call your friend or whoever it is you're supposed to meet and reschedule."
Lois gave him a look of regret. "I'm sorry, Kal, but I can't. This is super important. I've gotta go for now."
"For now? So you'll meet me later? Tonight?" he asked, holding the boot closer but still out of reach.
Biting her lower lip, Lois hesitated. It was Sunday and the General had been gone for a couple of days, which meant he would be home for the night. The clock was ticking and she felt a little panic that she wouldn't be able to make it back to the base and stage everything to keep from raising her father's suspicions. As her eyes met Kal's, however, she knew he wouldn't let her go without an answer…the answer he wanted.
"Today is Sunday. The club is closed tonight. Where do you want me to meet you?" she asked.
Smirking in triumph, Kal handed her the boot, which she quickly yanked on and stood to full height, smoothing down her dress. "How about I pick you up at your place?"
"No!" Lois almost shouted, her head shooting up. "I-I mean, I won't have time to clean up and it's just…it would just be better if I could meet you somewhere."
Kal thought her behavior a little odd, but knowing that he was short on time, decided to let it go for the moment. "All right. Well, why don't you just meet me here? What time?"
Lois moved for the door. "I'm not sure. I don't know how long my business this afternoon will take. I probably won't be able to be here before 9 this evening…maybe later." She reached the front door, grabbing her purse and throwing it over her shoulder as her other hand landed on the doorknob. Kal's hand landed over hers stopping her and she looked back up into his unusual eyes. "I'm sorry," she told him.
"You want a ride home? I can take you on the bike."
She shook her head. "No, I'll grab a cab. But thanks for the offer."
He lunged for her, capturing her mouth one more time, exploring her tongue and teeth with his tongue. His arms wrapped around her and she came willingly, her arms snaking around his shoulders. When Kal released her, she had to almost lean against the door to steady herself for a moment.
Grinning, Kal told her. "I'll wait for you, whenever you can get here."
Yanking the door open, Lois stepped out into the sunlight. "I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise."