Chapter 11: Form Hell To Heaven

As Superman flew into the sky with the little girl now safely in his arms, he pondered all had seen in that brief moment. How can anyone do that to a child? It was clear he wanted to rape her when I got there. And how can a mother just sit and watch, allow her child to be harmed in such a way? I've only been a father for a few months, and even though I'm completely against it, I would kill anyone that tried to hurt Lois and Jason if I had to. And yet she just stood there and allowed it, even told her daughter not to ask for help?! WHY?! Jason's request filtered through his mind in that moment along with what he'd told Lois.

"Can Kala come live with us?"

"Wolves would be better parents. At least they care about their kids."

Superman knew then and there that he would do everything in his power to make his son's request come true. This little girl deserved all the love in the world, and he and Lois had plenty to share. And he knew just who to get help from. But first he had to talk to Lois…

"You did come, Jason said you would," the little girl's voice broke into his thoughts. Superman looked down at her and saw all the bruises on her, she was well dressed, but extremely mistreated.

"I always answer the calls of those that need help," Superman told her. "What's your name?" he asked her.

"My name is Katherine but everyone calls me Kala." Kala told him. "Please don't let them sent me back to my mom, like they always do. I'd rather die than go back there." She started to cry. Then she whispered as if ashamed, "My mommy hates me, she's hurt me since I was 4 after daddy died in the war."

"Shhh, shhh, It's alright. You won't be going back; I'll make sure of it, Kala. Don't be scared. You can trust me," Superman told her, while gently rubbing her back.

Kala looked into his eyes for a minute before throwing her arms around his neck, hugging him fiercely, "I trust you," she told him simply. It was then that Clark simply fell in love with her, he just knew that this little girl was meant to be his child.

"Kala, I need to scan you, to make sure you're not hurt so I can let the doctors know how they need to help you. Is that alright?" he asked. Kala nodded. Superman used his x-ray vision to check Kala's little body for injuries. He saw plenty of healed injuries including a fractured skull and was amazed and disgusted at seeing how much this little girl had been through and that no one had done anything to help her. He also saw something that scared him, a small knife in her pocket. "Kala, why do you have a knife?" he questioned her.

Kala looked down, as she pulled the knife from her pocket and handed it to him, "I got it from the kitchen. I didn't know what else to do. If you didn't come then I was gonna use it, 'cause I would rather die than live like that," Kala explained in a tiny voice, ashamed.

The look of horror on Superman's face was beyond description as he took the small knife from her. It was a sharp serrated steak knife; the kind used to cut a steak in restaurants. It would have really caused some damage to her if she had used it. "I won't let you go back there," Superman swore to her again as he held her tightly.

Kala hugged him back and said, "I trust you," Superman began to fly again as he held Kala, who fell asleep safe in his arms.

On the way to see his friend, Clark called Lois, "It's me."

"Did you get to her?" Lois asked.

"Yes, I got to her just in time. Lois I've been thinking. Kala needs a place to stay, a home, even if it's just temporary. And I was—" Lois interrupted him, knowing what he was trying to say.

"Bring her home Clark. We can take care of her, and Jason would be trilled." Clark smiled fondly at the receiver.

"I was hoping you'd say that. I'll see what I can arrange and call you later with what I have, love," he told her.

"If Superman is suggesting it, they'll go for anything," Lois told him happily. Clark could hear her moving about and the sound of sheets being unfolded. "I'm putting together the guest room for her, so she'll have somewhere to sleep. We'll take her shopping in the morning and get her some clothes and toys and stuff," Lois informed him. "I love you," she finished.

"I love you too. I'll let you know what happens," Clark told her as he hung up and put his cell phone back in his cape pocket.

Inspector Henderson was just getting into his unmarked police cruiser when Superman landed in front of him with a little girl in his arms. Kala had fallen fast asleep, safe in her knowledge that Superman would protect her. Henderson shook his head and stepped out of the car. He'd gotten a good look at the girl, and saw all her bruises; he didn't need to ask. "Another one, Kal?" the inspector asked, though it was a statement rather than a question. In the past Kal-El had brought to him children that he'd rescues from certain death at their parents' hands, being an investigator, he'd often dealt with such cases and hated them with a passion, he had three kids himself and saw his little ones in the faces of each tiny victim. Henderson made it a point that if Superman brought him any children, that they would not be returned to their parents ever again and that the full weight of the law would fall on them. Kal knew this and it's why he came.

Superman nodded, "She called for me. I found her outside of town in a field. Her mother's boyfriend was attempting to rape her while her mother stood near the car watching and shouting at her to shut up as she screamed for me. Her name's Kala. I grabbed the guy before he landed on top of her and threw him 50 feet away before flying of with her," he explained.

Henderson nodded, "I'll make sure she's taken are of." Then he noticed something that Kal had said, "Did she tell you who the man was?" he asked, noticing that the girl was asleep, and had probably been for a while. It was probably the first real sleep the child had had in a long time so both men whispered so as not to wake her.

Kal shook his head, and decided to come clean with his friend. Henderson knew his secret already, "No, she's a friend of my son Jason. They go to school together, and he told us what had been going on with his friend and asked me to help her. I knew I had to wait until she called for me to make sure she wouldn't be sent back to her mother yet again."

"Your son?" Henderson asked shocked.

"Yes, Lois' and mine. He's five, almost six." Henderson nodded in understanding. "Jason asked if it would be possible for Kala to come live with us. I'm inclined to believe that if it's at all possible, Lois and I will adopt her, or at least give her a temporary home. I called her on my way here and she agreed." Henderson was shocked. It was the first time that his friend had ever said that, despite his big heart and how many kids he had rescued from similar situations.

"Your son manipulated you," he joked.

"I just felt a connection with her, like she was meant to be a part of my family, Bill," Kal explained. "We talked a little before she fell asleep. She told me that this had been going on since she was 4 and her father died in Iraq. Her mother started drinking and this, but that even before her father died, her mother had always been rough with her, even as a baby. Her father was her only protection and the only one who gave her love, and when he was gone, her mother became worse than she already was. Children and Family has a file on this, gotten dozens of complaints from the school, the other parents; but the girl's been returned every single time. I x-rayed her; she's had multiple broken bones in her arms and legs, multiple concussions, a cracked skull, her tailbone broken, broken and cracked ribs. There's evidence of dislocations, and from what I saw tonight, I hate to think that maybe she's been raped before, though she'd need to be examined by a doctor to confirm that."

Henderson nodded, "Children and Family might not give Superman her custody, even on a temporary basis, but Lois Lane and Clark Kent might get it. If Superman can vouch for them, then maybe emergency custody will be granted to them," Henderson told him. "I'll follow you to the hospital, to get the doctor's reports since you've already given me yours and I'll call DCFS on my way. I know there's no room at the children's shelter since my wife volunteers there, so maybe the Social Worker will agree. I can tell you one thing though… She won't be going back to her mother tonight, not after this," Henderson told him. The two men parted company as Kal flew Kala to the hospital and Henderson drove behind him.

A few minutes later, Superman landed at the entrance of the hospital and walked in with Kala, who was now awake. It was like being in a museum or something, all of the staff was frozen into statues at seeing him walking down the corridors with his young passenger when only a few months earlier he had been rolled in on a gurney, not knowing whether he would live or not. Superman turned to his audience and said, "She needs your help." The staff seemed to unfreeze and rushed to him, taking the girl from his arms and placing her on a gurney, then taking her to trauma bay 1, the same one he'd been taken to months earlier, not that he was aware of that.

"What's her story?" the lead physician asked as he proceeded to try to take a blood sample for analysis. Kala screamed and tried to get away, terrified the man would harm her. She'd been scared when she'd been taken from Superman's arms and placed on the gurney but because he had come along she was okay, however, the strange man's approach had scared her so much.

Superman quickly picked her up and held her to his chest, "Shhh, it's all right Kala. No one's gonna hurt you. The doctor's just need to run some tests and take a look at you, to make sure you're okay. Shhh, don't cry, you're safe. I'll be right here, I won't leave," he told her as he rocked her. It took a few minutes, but Kala eventually calmed down. Superman placed her back on the gurney and Kala allowed the doctors to examine her with some encouragement from Superman, though she kept a vice-like grip on his hand as she was examined. Superman finally answered the doctor's question. "She was physically abused by her mother. I heard her call and found her at an empty field outside the city. Her mother was standing by the car watching as her boyfriend approached Kala and shouting at her to shut up and stop calling for help. It was obvious the man wanted to hurt her," Superman said, placing a special emphasis on the word 'hurt', so the doctor would know he meant 'rape' not wanting to us that word near her. "I took her away before she was harmed more. I x-rayed her and found lots of healed injuries, plenty of evidence of long-term neglect and abuse on her: multiple broken bones in her arms and legs, multiple concussions, a cracked skull, broken tailbone, broken and cracked ribs. There's evidence of dislocations, and from what I saw tonight, I hate to think that maybe she's been hurt before, but she'll need to be examined for that. Inspector Henderson's on his way. I talked to him on the way here; I would also like to talk to the social worked when he gets here. Kala says that this has been going on since she was 4," Superman told him as he held Kala's little hand in his own large one. Tears still streamed down her cheeks and Superman used the edge of his cape to wipe them away. His tenderness was not lost on the doctors and nurses attending to Kala. He'd done similar things for other children like her in the past, and each time was a shock to them all. Many wondered how such a powerful man could have such a tender heart and loving nature. One doctor even thought that he'd make a great father, if he had children.

A few minutes later, Superman was forced to leave Kala's side so the doctor could do the rape kit. Kala was terrified by the prospect and held onto him as tightly as she could. It took a few minutes of his gentle reassurances for Kala to finally let him go and only because he promised her that he would be right outside the door and that if she got scared all she had to do was whisper his name and he would come back in, in a flash. As Superman was closing the door, he heard Kala call out for him; knowing well that it was a test. Superman came back in the door making Kala giggle and putting her mind at ease knowing that he was always nearby. As the doctors examined Kala, she thought to herself. I wish I could go with Superman and never, ever have to go back with my mom. Heavenly father, Kala prayed silently, you've made my wish for rescue come true. Now, if it's not too much trouble, could you grant me another miracle, my fondest wish? Can you please, please let me go with Superman, so that he can be my new daddy? I really like him, he's so good and kind, can you please make him my new daddy? I'll always love my old one that's with you now forever and ever, but could you please make Superman my new daddy? My fondest wish is to have a family that would love me and Superman would be such a good daddy, please dear Lord in Heaven, grant me my fondest wish to be his daughter, and I promise to be a good daughter and make him proud to call me his baby. Please dear Lord to you I make my prayer. Kala continued praying to have a family with Superman as her father while the doctors worked on her.

As he waited outside, Superman saw Inspector Henderson coming up to him along with a man and a woman quite well known to him. Carl Winterburg was a social worker for DCFS, and had worked with Superman on other similar situations, making sure the kids he rescued would be kept safe. He was a man in his late 40's, balding salt-and-pepper hair and a slight bear gut. The lady was Regina Thomson; she was also a social worker that had been involved with Superman's rescues of abused children. She was in her mid 30's with auburn hair, blue-gray eyes and thin gold-framed glasses. Both were dressed casually in jeans and t-shirts, and both looked like they had just been pulled out of bed and had gotten dressed and rushed over; which was most likely the case since it was after midnight.

"We've got to stop meeting like this," Carl told Superman as they shook hands.

Superman shook Regina's hand as he responded, "Don't I wish."

"Inspector Henderson briefed us on the way in," Regina told him, "I pulled Kala's file, and you were right, unfortunately. She's had a long history of abuse at the hands of her mother. Her mother is an influential well-connected woman, but an extremely heavy drinker. She'd started drinking after Kala's father died in Iraq, and that's when the problems started. We've removed Kala from the home a half a dozen times, and every time the mother promises that she loves her daughter and would never do it again. Kala never should have been returned to her after the last incident in which the woman had pushed Kala of a stairwell and cracked the little girl's skull, but, like I said, she's well connected. But I'll tell you right now that this is the final straw," Regina promised, knowing that this was very important to the hero. "She won't be going back this time."

"We'll find her a spot at the children's shelter while we can arrange for a foster family with experience in dealing with abused kids," Carl told him.

Superman shook his head. "It's not enough, not this time. She needs love and she needs it now. I'm really concerned about her. While I was watching what was going on before intervening so that I could provide a full account I heard her say that she would rather die if I didn't rescue her. As I scanned her for injuries I noticed that she had a small knife in her pocket, and when I questioned her about it, she handed it to me and told me that she had planned use it to kill herself if I hadn't come because she couldn't take one more minute of that torment. A 7-year-old was considering committing suicide to escape the hell she had been living in for the past few years. This is an emergency situation," Superman informed them as he handed the small knife to Henderson. All three of his companions gasped in horror. Henderson pulled an evidence bag from his pocket and put the knife inside before putting it in his pocket to take as evidence.

"There's just no other option. We'll try to find her a placement as soon as possible, she'll only be in the shelter for a few days—" Carl told him emphatically.

"It's not enough, she needs love and a family, not an institution. I shudder to think of what could happen to her there."

"There's just no other options, Superman," Regina told him regretfully.

Superman thought for a moment, "I may have another solution. Part of the reason I made it to Kala so fast is that I got a call from Lois Lane and Clark Kent. Their son is a friend of Kala and he told her to call me for help if she ever needed it. Later he informed his parents of what was going on with his friend. While I was talking to them they suggested that they could provide at least a temporary home for Kala if at all possible. This is an emergency situation, and Mr. Kent and Miss. Lane can provide a safe stable environment for Kala. I would take her myself if I could, but I cannot provide the stability she needs being on call 24/7," Superman explained.

"This is highly unusual," Carl protested.

Superman nodded, "But a 7-year-old contemplating suicide is an extreme emergency. I don't think Kala really wants to kill herself, she just doesn't see another way out. She needs love and they can provide it. And their son's her friend and she needs all the friends she can get. Besides, from what Lois told me, it was really Jason's idea, since he asked his parents if it was possible for Kala to come and live with them. As young as he is, he understood that Kala needed love, and knew that his family had plenty to share."

"Miss. Lane has a very wild reputation. Constantly in danger. I'm not sure it's wise to place a child with her," Regina tried to argue, but Superman had a perfect comeback.

"While it's true that Lois has needed my help in dangerous situations from time to time, she's also more than capable of protecting and caring for herself and her son in most situations. I can also vouch for Clark. And besides, I already promised Kala that I would remain close so there won't be any problems to worry about," Superman argued.

Carl shook his head, "This is highly unusual, normally we'd need to do a complete background check, but I agree with you that a 7-year-old contemplating suicide is an extreme emergency. If you can vouch for them, and the couple's willing, I see no reason for Kala not to go with them, at least until something more permanent can be arranged. We'll go wake up a judge and get the papers signed, but we need to talk to Miss. Lane and Mr. Kent."

Superman nodded, beaming internally, and answered simply, "I'll call Lois." He led the group to the nearby empty waiting room and covertly pulled his cell phone from his cape pocket. When his companions saw it their eyes widened in shock.

"You have a cell phone," all three said at the same time.

Superman smiled, "It's the 21th century, everyone has one. And no Henderson, I'm not giving you the number, and Lois doesn't have it either so don't bother asking her, and it won't show in her caller id either," he told them while looking for Lois's number on the contact list. When he found it, he pressed the send button and waited. "I had told Lois I would call her, and let her know so she's waiting for the call." Lois picked up on the second ring. "It's me," he said simply.

"Hey handsome so, what did they say? Are we going to take Kala?" Lois asked.

"They want to talk to you and Clark, I'll put you on speaker," Superman pressed the speaker button and asked, "Can you hear me?"

"Yes, can you hear me?" came Lois' voice on the other end.

"Yes."

"Miss Lane, my name's Carl Winterburg. I'm a social worker with the DCFS. I understand that you're aware of the situation with the little girl?"

"Yes, my son informed us at dinner of what was happening with his friend Kala, and that he had told her to call Superman for help if she needed it. We tried to inform DCFS, but only got a recording as it was after hours and then we called Superman and let him know what was going on. My fiancé and I are quite willing to take the little girl in. I've already made up the guest bedroom for her if needed. Are you going to let us protect the little girl?"

"Fiancé?" Carl asked.

"Yes, Mr. Kent and I have plans to get married in the late fall or early winter, but haven't picked a date yet. You're quite welcome to come to our wedding if necessary," Lois explained, while surreptitiously telling Clark that she knew what he was planning and that she accepted. Unnoticed by the others, Superman's eyes widened and he had trouble containing the beaming smile that threatened to crack his face in two.

"That won't be necessary Ms. Lane," Carl told her. "However I was wondering if Mr. Kent is agreeable to this?"

"Yes, absolutely. He couldn't come to the phone because our son just woke up with a stomachache and threw up all over his bed. Clark is cleaning him up right now. My son's not sick, he's got food allergies and isn't allowed to eat certain things, however, you know how children are. He ate something he shouldn't have at school and felt ill, but he's fine now," Lois said, coming up with an excuse to explain Clark's absence since he was busy at the moment, playing Superman.

Regina nodded, "Miss. Lane, I'm Regina Thomson with the DCFS. I see no reason why Kala shouldn't go with you as soon as the doctors release her, at least on a temporary basis. It's certainly preferable to a children's shelter. I already talked to the judge while you spoke with my colleague. And he had granted you temporary custody, and the grounds that this is an emergency situation. However, I do need to make you aware of something. Superman informed us that the little girl had contemplated suicide if she wasn't rescued. Are you and Mr. Kent prepared to deal with that?"

Lois gasped, "I had no idea, but yes, we're quite prepared to deal with it. She just needs to be loved, and we have plenty to share in our home. And I think that having a friend here would also help."

Regina nodded in agreement, "She'll need to be taken to counseling as well, though, I agree with you. All she really needs is to be loved, and she needs it now. When can you pick her up?" Regina asked.

"If Clark stays here with our son, I can be there in 20 minutes. You're at Met General right?" Lois asked.

"Yes, we'll see you in 20 minutes Miss. Lane," Regina answered.

"Actually, I think I have a better idea," Superman spoke up. "Kala is really scared, she wouldn't even allow the doctors to examine her until I promised to stay nearby and keep an ear on her. I think it may be best if I take her over to Miss. Lane and Mr. Kent's home and hand her over to them. They're strangers to her, but she trusts me, and knows that I won't let her be harmed. Might make it easier on her."

"I think that's a better idea, after all she's been through," Lois agreed.

Regina and Carl looked at each other and deliberated for a few seconds before reaching a verdict, "We think that would be wiser given what happened to her," Carl agreed.

"I'll take her to you in a bit Lois. From the sounds coming from the room, the doctors are done and will be coming out in a bit."

"We'll be waiting at the porch," Lois promised as she hung up. Superman quickly and invisibly put his cell phone away. The group walked out of the waiting room and went back to the door of trauma bay 1 to await the doctors.

A few minutes later, the doctors came out to speak with the group. "She has quite a few scrapes and bruises that are fairly recent as well as a mild concussion, but thankfully she hasn't been raped. We also confirmed, Superman's earlier evaluation of her injuries. I'll right up the reports and fax them to your offices," the doctor told Henderson and the social workers. "She doesn't need to stay in the hospital so where releasing her. I'm gonna give her a prescription for some mild painkillers to help with the bruising and the concussion, but other than that she's fine." The group nodded, and the doctor left to write up the prescription.

"I'll take her statement in a few days, when she's had the chance to calm down," Henderson told his companions as he left, they all nodded.

"We'll go over to Ms. Lane and Mr. Kent's home tomorrow morning with the papers they need to sign and the court orders. Can you remind them that they need to let the school know that Kala's mother's not allowed to come near her, and that we can go get whatever Kala want from her mother's house?" Carl asked Superman.

"I'll pass that along," Superman told them as they all shook and the social workers departed. Once they were all gone, Superman went in the room to see Kala. She was sitting up on the gurney, waiting for him. Kala beamed as soon as she caught sight of the hero. Superman returned the smile. "The doctor's said that you were going to be just fine," Superman told her.

Kala nodded, "Are they gonna send me back to my mom now?" Kala asked him sadly as tear fell from her eyes.

Superman shook his head and whipped her tear away, "Kala you won't be going back to her."

"They always send me back."

"Not this time. Even if I have to kidnap you myself, you will not be going anywhere you are afraid of, understand?" Superman told her. Kala beamed and nodded. "Now Kala, when the doctor comes back with your prescription, I'm going to take you to stay with some friends of mine they'll take care of you."

"NO," Kala protested. "I wanna stay with you!"

Superman whispered in her ear, "You will. I'm taking you home with me and my girlfriend, but as far as everyone else is concerned; I'm taking you to my friends' home, and you're staying with them. Only a handful of people know who I am, we must keep it a secret. You trust me, now I'm trusting you. My name's Clark Kent, I'm Jason's daddy."

"I won't tell anyone, promise," Kala told him emphatically. Clark smiled at her as she hugged him. Her wish had come true.

Authors note:

For all those who have waited… uh…. Patiently… here it is at long last the next chapter in my story. I had to set it aside because of lack of time but I have never forgotten it and over time have worked on it despite not posting. I'm not sure when I'll finish the ark, it's sequels are also in process and it's to be a trilogy series but have decided to not post them until they are further along. Take heart I will finish my universe it'll just take some time…

Attt.

Sailor FoxFire