ABYSS ALTERED

Kent farm, the next weekend

"Lois, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" Lois fired back at her cousin, continuing to place food on the kitchen counter.

"Lois," protested Chloe.

"What?" She set out another tray. "Right now, I'm hosting a welcome home party for Kara and I'm busy."

"You know that's not what I'm talking about." The blond snatched a cracker off of one of the snack trays and plopped it into her mouth with a concerned look. "What's with you going at warp speed? I don't' think you've sit down once and you haven't talked to anyone."

"Well, it is Kara's party," she shrugged, avoiding Chloe's penetrating look while busily rearranging the trays completely covering the countertop.

"Whoa." Chloe lowered her face to try to catch her cousin's eye. "This looks serious." Keeping her own face lowered, Lois could still see the blond glance out to the living room. "You and Clark haven't said one word to each other all night," she commented. "Does this have something to do with him?"

When Lois didn't answer- trying to keep her face impassive- her cousin turned away and stared at Clark. She considered him for a few minutes before she gasped and grabbed Lois' arm, dragging her out of the kitchen to the porch.

Practically numb for the last few days, Lois barely noticed the cold night air.

"Lois, did you sleep with Clark?" Her cousin's voice was a combination of shock and awe.

Stunned by the question, Lois could only stare in amazement and shout, "No!"

The vehemence of the response made Chloe take a step back. Throwing her hands in the air, she continued, "Okay, but something's going on with you… and with him. Clark looks, I don't know, like someone dropped a bomb on him."

"Yeah, the 'L' bomb," Lois muttered to herself.

"I'm sorry, did you just say what I think you said?"

Was that out loud?

What was with her mouth lately?

Lois walked forward to lean against the porch rail, fixing her eyes on the barn. There were times, like now, when she wished she had a place to brood alone like her housemate. It would be nice to have her own fortress to run to. Lois sighed, knowing there was no avoiding Chloe when she was like this. Truth be told the blond was the real pit bull on a pant leg.

"Uhm, I'm sorry," Chloe interrupted her thoughts, walking up join her at the rail. "Did you say the 'L'-"

"You heard me." Lois grimaced and looked up at the stars, praying for patience. Couldn't her cousin see that she didn't want to talk about it?

"Uhm, wow." At least the blond had lowered her own voice so that she wasn't squealing any more. "I didn't know you felt that; we are talking about lo-"

"Yes, okay!" Lois lost the self-control she'd been trying to maintain for days. Taking a deep breath at the expression on her cousin's face, she tried to calm herself. It wasn't Chloe's fault.

It was Lois who'd gotten overwhelmed her with her emotions and blurted out the word in the middle of a passionate moment. She still wasn't sure how it had happened. She never planned to say it first.

Of course she hadn't really expected Clark to wrap her in his arms and kiss her, either. He'd seemed okay with taking a step back after the events of the Phantom Zone and her attack in the hospital. Lois had consciously used her recovery as an excuse to distance herself. The emotions she'd felt in the cave had thrilled and terrified her. She'd only felt that kind of deep connection once before- in her other past- succumbing to it had ended badly.

She should have held back but his words filled her heart to bursting.

You make me feel good.

Even now, she shuddered at the thrill that went through her. When Clark had said those words, she'd felt such a rush, like something she'd only dreamed of…. "I've ruined everything, Chloe," she whispered, giving voice to her worst fears.

"You haven't ruined anything," Chloe told her, placing her hand on Lois' arm. "You were being honest. I mean, I assume you were being honest," she stammered. "I mean, we haven't talked about those kinds of feelings, at least not as to Clark."

She felt a sad little smile at her cousin's nervous tone. They were a lot alike, she and Chloe; both women of action who liked to keep their deeper emotions close.

"Well, you did tell me that Clark is oblivious and that I should be direct," she acknowledged, trying to bring the conversation back to more comfortable territory.

"I guess I did." Her cousin looked a little stunned. "But I didn't realize.…" her voice trailed off as she looked away. "So, how did Clark take it?"

Lois shook her head, staring up at the stars. "What did you say, like 'someone dropped a bomb on him'?"

"No, I mean, what did he say?"

"Nothing," Lois told her, sighing in a mixture of both relief and frustration.

"What?" Chloe's voice turned suspicious. "Wait, you haven't talked to him, have you?"

Lois winced as Chloe grabbed her arm and held it in a death grip. "You need to talk to him, Lois. You should march in there right now and find out how he feels. He could be-"

"What? Pining away for me?" Lois jerked back her arm. "I don't think so. Anyway, if he wants to talk, he knows where I am. I live right here, right under his nose, in case you've forgotten."

"No, it's just… I know you. I've watched you tonight. You've made yourself so busy that Clark would need to use super speed to try to get your attention, so don't tell me he knows where you are." Chloe's expression grew sympathetic and her tone less argumentative. "Look, maybe you jumped the gun, but-"

Chloe broke off her speech at the sound of the door. They turned to see Oliver step out from the kitchen. To Lois' surprise, her cousin scowled.

"Hey, ladies," Oliver greeted with a smile. "What's going on out here?"

"Nothing," Chloe asserted, quickly moving to go inside.

Oliver stepped in front of her. "Actually, Chloe, I was hoping to talk to you, if you don't mind?"

"I do mind," Chloe grumbled, rubbing her arms and pointedly avoiding Oliver. "It's freezing out here."

To Lois surprise, Oliver sent her a pleading look.

Lois took the hint. "I think I'll go get some warm drinks started." As she passed Oliver she thought she heard her cousin mutter "traitor" under her breath.

Once inside, Lois purposefully left the door opened a crack and grabbed her drink. She ignored the others who were in the living room and made her way nonchalantly over to window closest to the door to eavesdrop on her cousin and Oliver. She was almost pathetically grateful to have something else to think about beside her words to Clark.

Still, what was up with those two?

"What the hell are you-?" Oliver asked, not even trying to hide his frustration.

"What do you mean?" Chloe was equally as agitated.

Their voices were a little muffled so Lois moved closer to the door, still pretending to look out the window.

"Don't give me that," Oliver told her. "I watched while you used that device to bring Lois and Clark back. Your eyes turned white and then- with one hand mind you- you pushed me into another room. Clark tells me it's Brainiac. What are you doing about this?"

When there was silence, Oliver exploded. "Damn it, you aren't doing anything about it, are you?"

"Would you just let it go?" Chloe threw her arms in the air in aggravation. "Like I told Clark, I'm choosing to see this as a positive-"

"White eyes, nose bleeds and super strength are positives for you, are they?" Oliver moved closer. "Or, maybe, you just like the thrill of power, being able to push me and Clark around-"

"What?" Chloe's voice was furious. "Look, if you need an apology, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to hurt you but, if I hadn't been able to do those things, Clark and Lois would still be stuck in the Phantom Zone-"

"At what cost to you, Sidekick?"

"Oliver-"

"No," the man interrupted. "You're messing with things that aren't human and that you can't fully understand, no matter what you think. Eventually, you're going to get hurt."

"I can take care of myself," Chloe declared, trying to move around Oliver to get to the door. "And the next time you want to find out something about me, talk to me first and not to Clark. He's not my keeper."

"Well, somebody should be," Oliver muttered and Lois winced at that one, waiting for Chloe to explode.

Lois herself was torn. On the one hand she was worried about what was going on with Chloe; on the other, she was proud that her cousin was holding her own-

"Lois, are you eavesdropping?"

At the feel of warm breath against her ear, Lois dropped the glass she was holding and watched in horror as it fell. Before it could shatter against the floor, Clark snatched it from the air and handed it to her with an inquisitive but knowing look on his face.

"What?" She closed her eyes against the roll of her stomach. Having him stand so close was torture.

"Lois," he said, drawing her name out in frustration.

Her eyes opened when she felt him step even closer. Silently, she cursed her heart for speeding up and her stomach from exploding with butterflies. It took a minute for her to remember what he was talking about. "Hey, it's part of the hostess' job to make sure that fights don't break out-"

"And how is that working for you?" Clark asked in a sardonic tone, watching Chloe storm into the kitchen and slam the door behind her. Before Lois could answer, Chloe stomped over.

"I need a drink," she said, grabbing Lois' glass. Trembling slightly in anger, she brought the drink to her lips and took a large swig. Coughing and gasping, she barely managed to whisper, "What's in this?"

Lois shrugged at her question and Clark's concerned look. "Uhm, I don't know. It's something new I put together. I was going to call it Liquid Courage."

Chloe's took a deep breath as she lifted the glass into the air with a victorious grin, eliciting an eye roll from Clark. "I could use a little of that. Here's to Liquid Courage."

Kent farm, twenty minutes later

Lois was in the kitchen, watching everyone in the living room while she mulled over Chloe's earlier advice. Her words were starting to make sense, especially now that Lois had downed a couple more glasses of her drink.

The small party was in full swing and Kara seemed to be having a good time, smiling and laughing, looking more comfortable in her own skin. Standing in the living room, hands in her pockets, she was smiling at one of Jimmy's jokes. The photographer was hanging onto an unsteady Chloe who had finished off more than a couple of drinks herself. The blond was obviously ignoring Oliver, who was shooting her frustrated looks from across the room. When Oliver wasn't glaring at Chloe, he was deep in conversation with J'onn and Clark.

Those three were the only serious ones in the room.

It was while Lois was smirking in Oliver's direction than Clark caught her gaze. Her resolve wavered at his direct, wide-eyed stare. His expression was at first curious and then uncertain. Tempted to lower her eyes in avoidance, she squared her shoulders instead. Why should she continue to act self-conscious? It shouldn't concern her that Clark was confused.

That was a perpetual condition for him.

Maybe it was the alcohol's influence, but she felt like facing her fears. She was poised to march into the living room, smiling when Clark's eyes grew even wide at the resolute look on her face, when she was stopped by J'onn.

She sighed at the serious look on his face. Couldn't he see that she was ready to make her move?

"You know, for a festive event, I feel a lot of tension in the air," he said, holding up a hand when she tried to walk around. When he added an inquisitive quirk of the brow, she answered. "Yes, well, Chloe and Oliver had a little blow up earlier."

"And…" J'onn continued, reaching out to grab a cookie, "you and Clark?"

"Don't ask," Lois told him, smiling at the familiar sight of her friend enjoying his favorite treat. She grabbed her own cookie off the tray. "That's old news. The real question is what has you three so serious over there?"

The Martian was silent so Lois speculated, keeping her tone casual, "Looked like a strategy session to me. Should I try to guess what you might be planning?"

J'onn shook his head and released an exasperated sigh.

"What?"

"I can see why you're a good reporter," he told her.

"Flattery will get you nowhere." Grinning nonetheless, Lois leaned across the counter to grab another cookie. "Now, you came over here for a reason." Lois pointed her cookie. "Spill."

J'onn hesitated. "We were talking about the Zoner who attacked you."

"Really?" Lois was surprised because she'd been assured that the creature was gone. Still, something about J'onn's tone made her think he hinting about something. Was the alcohol dulling her senses? She wasn't following. "What about her?"

"I have been concerned with why a Kryptonian criminal was visiting the hospital and, more importantly, who she was visiting."

"She said she had seen her son," Lois told him, making a face as she remembered the Zoner's words- and her tight grip. "Do you think it was someone at the hospital?"

"Maybe."

Lois huffed in response, sure than J'onn was being purposefully vague. "Does Lana remember anything?" She asked, trying to pull more information from the Detective. Either he hadn't put the pieces together or he knew something.

"It doesn't appear so."

"What do you mean, doesn't 'appear so?' She was slow to process J'onn's words but was surprised when she finally considered the implication. "Hasn't anyone talked to Lana?"

"From what I understand, Ms. Lang has been traveling since the incident."

"Right," Lois acknowledged, recalling her conversation with Clark from… before. "She's been following up on her theory that Lex sent Clark to the Phantom Zone."

Just then the man looked toward the kitchen door. Lois followed his gaze, watching at the subject of their discussion walked in and looked around, eyes reflecting her surprise at seeing the small crowd gathered.

"Looks like she's back," he remarked quietly, taking the drink from Lois' hand and putting down on the counter. "Maybe we'll get some answers tonight."

Kent farm, same night

The cousins were on a mission fueled by alcohol and curiosity. They quietly tip-toed into the barn, Chloe giggling all the way.

"Shhh," Lois whispered, starting to regret letting the intoxicated blond talk her into to following the others out here. If they were caught, they'd learn nothing and end up looking like drunken fools. This kind of operation required stealth.

"Right," Chloe whispered none too quietly, giggling again.

Lois rolled her eyes, "You go stand watch at the door," she whispered. "I'll let you know if I hear anything."

"No way," she barely managed to whisper in return. "They always leave me out of their little plans, at least until they need computer... stuff." The blond struggled for the words. "Then it's all 'help us Chloe,' blah, blah, 'we can't do this without you.'" She waved her hand around for emphasis. "'It's a matter of life and death,' blah, blah, blah." Determinedly, she stuck out her chin, pointed to the bottom of the stairs, and crept forward.

Lois reluctantly followed, shaking her head in response, convinced that this wasn't a good idea. When they reached their destination, her cousin leaned against the plank wall, while Lois rested her body against the rail, both of them listening to the voices in the loft.

"It's a solid lead, Clark," Lana's airy voice wafted down the stairs.

"As solid a lead as we've ever had on the bastard," Oliver chimed in. "If we're going to move, it needs to be now."

"Right now?" Clark sounded dubious.

"You know Lex is scrambling signals faster than we can track them. He could be on the move as we speak. It needs to be now," Lana argued.

"I don't want to leave Kara," Clark said anxiously and Lois could almost see the man running a hand through his hair. "This party is for her and it's the first time she's seemed happy-"

"With you on this, we could be back before they know we're gone," Oliver persisted.

There was silence and then Lois heard footsteps. "I doubt that," Clark said and, from the tone of his voice, Lois knew they'd been made. She reached for her cousin but stopped when she heard Oliver's next words.

"Lois knows your secret now and I know she'll understand," he pointed out. In a lower tone of voice he added. "I wish I'd figured that out-"

"What about Kara?" Clark countered, voice filled with resentment. "She was taken to the Phantom Zone and left there by Brainiac. I didn't look for her; didn't think about it. I abandoned her in that hell-hole and my priority is to spend time with her now that she's back. She's family."

"Clark, if Lex knows your secret he could destroy your family and everything else that you've worked for," Lana insisted- a little dramatically, Lois thought.

"All this time and he hasn't made a move," Clark responded. "I'm willing to risk that he won't do anything before tomorrow."

"It's your life," Oliver muttered, and Lois bristled in response. In some ways Oliver hadn't really changed from the future; she was just now seeing how much he badgered Clark. What was it now- frustration or envy?

Heavy footsteps sounded from above and Lois moved grab her cousin and flee. Unfortunately, Chloe was passed out, snoring lightly against the wall. Bending low, making an effort not to mutter in disgust, Lois tried to maneuver her cousin so that she could carry her. Grunting with the effort, she stopped at the sound of a familiar mocking voice.

"Want some help?"

Rolling her eyes, Lois kept her voice at a whisper. "No thanks. I've got it."

"Yeah, I can see that," Oliver said as Lois struggled to walk, Chloe's dead weight more than she expected.

"Out of my way," he sighed exasperatedly. When Lois moved, Oliver hefted Chloe with ease and cradled her against his chest.

"Any particular place you want Sleeping Beauty?" The description must have startled the man because Lois caught a look of surprise before he masked it with his usual mocking expression.

"Couch for now," Lois whispered, wanting to get out of the barn as quickly as possible.

"You know," he told her, keeping his voice at a whisper as well. "The Lois I know would have stormed the fortress by now." His eyes darted up to the loft.

"Maybe I'm not the Lois you know anymore," she told Oliver, disgusted at herself for listening to Chloe, for being discovered by Oliver, and for eavesdropping at the bottom of the stairs.

Studying her face with a serious expression, he shifted Chloe a little before answering, "No, you're tougher." The man shook his head, "Clark's an idiot," he muttered before walking out with arms full of Chloe.

Staring after them, she tried to process his words through the pounding in her head. The last thing she expected were Lana's words wafting down from the loft. "Clark, you know I'm only trying to protect you."

Lois shivered in the silence that followed. It seemed deafening in the cold night air, and she found herself wanting to shout out to Clark to say something, to stand up for himself or simply walk away-

"Clark?" The uncertainty in Lana's soft voice made her flinch. Suddenly, she knew she needed to get out but her legs wouldn't move. She felt frozen by the scene upstairs, afraid to leave and afraid to stay.

"I know, Lana," Clark's voice sounded resigned. "It just seems that…"

"What?"

"I can't shake the feeling that you've got your own reasons for going after Lex."

"Why would you think that?" Clark's words obviously offended the woman. "After all we've been through, you still don't trust me, do you?"

Lois felt her eyes roll at the accusation.

"It's not that..." Clark's words were hesitant. "I'm worried about you. This thing with Lex has become an obsession."

Lois felt something squeeze her heart at the tone even though logically she knew that Clark cared about all of his friends. Still, something about his tone penetrated enough that Lois could move and so she took a couple of steps, only to be stopped by the sound of Lana's harsh laugh. It was filled with pain.

"You think this is about Lex?" Lana's tone changed from pained to coaxing. "It's always been about you, Clark. You have no idea what I've done, what I'm willing to do, for you… for us."

"Uh, Lana," Clark's voice was apologetic. "I ... I, uhm-"

"It's all right, Clark, I know I need to prove myself to you. I'm willing to take the time to do that."

The silence that followed was more than Lois could handle. It seemed to continue for hours even though Lois knew it was only minutes before she could move again. With tears in her eyes, she stumbled out of the barn and back to the light of the farm house, her wayward brain filling in the silence that trailed behind her like a nightmare.

She reached the porch before the nightmare caught up with her.

"Oh, didn't you know? In every incarnation of Clark Kent, you are his second choice," the creature chuckled as Lois felt the words hit home.

Falling on the stairs, she barely felt the shock to her knees as the pain in her head turned sharp and piercing. Just managing to contain a cry, her last thought was, "Not now, not here" before the memory pulled her in.

A scream escaped her lips as Lois fought against the Darkness. Having watched her until the first sliver of dark found a way past her barriers, the other Clark, the essence of the Darkness, drifted out the door confident that his shadows would now finish the job. They worked their way into her body, trying to take over, the entire process a violation, a desecration of self. Lois resisted with every fiber of her being but it wasn't long before she realized that resistance simply increased the pain.

She screamed again until, after what seemed like an eternity, her senses started shutting down one by one. First her vision darkened. After that, her hearing was lost. Eventually, her sense of touch was all that was left. Still, she resisted. She would not be taken.

Somehow, through the pain, she could feel soft soothing hands, cool hands that seemed to warm with every caress. She didn't remember when they started but focusing on them kept her mind off of the agony. Eventually, she leaned into the steady strokes, grasping the hand that was continuously rubbing soft circles in her palm. The pain eased just a little.

Knowing she could move freed her until she searched for something of her own to touch. Finding a face close to hers, she explored the plains and valleys of it, memorizing with her fingers what she knew intimately with her eyes. When her fingers touched soft, cool lips, they moved against her hand, eliciting a sigh from her.

She could feel her body tilt as she was placed gently on the bed. The pain lessened and she could hear- the sound of the silk sheets, quick breaths mixed with her own. The caresses continued to soften the hurt and she opened her eyes, finding his face above hers, blurry but recognizable.

His expression stole her breath. It was so… Clark.

Through it all his hands continued their soft caresses, each touch easing the pain. Her head cleared and she realized that somehow, in some way, he was saving her with his touch. She wanted- no, needed- to do the same for him.

So she kissed him with everything she had, sensing his surprise as she did. It didn't take long, however, before he was returning her kisses and setting her body on fire. Running her hands through his hair, she gloried in its silky softness and then let her hands roam lower, over his t-shirt and under it, gliding her fingers over the coolness of his skin. She could feel his skin warm with each touch, each caress, and each kiss.

Gray eyes turned blue and the look in them was intense and filled with desire. His eyes held hers, while his hands continued to touch, roaming up and down her body, now replacing pain with pleasure. In an instant, being his second choice didn't matter. He was saving her and she was doing the same for him. She felt exhilarated and alive, realizing that she had the ability to free him from the Darkness.

Her caresses became more determined and deliberate. His shirt was a barrier that was quickly removed. Somehow, when he pulled her against him, her shirt was gone as well. Just the feel of his skin on hers caused her to cry out in pleasure, all the Darkness inside her completely banished.

In Clark's eyes, however, she could see the pain that lingered.

"It's okay," she told him, stilling as his hand brushed against the scars on her neck. "It's okay," she said again as the passion in his eyes turned to fear and then to horror. "Clark, I promise, it'll be okay. You can start over; we can start over…."

He moved away from her, off the bed, and Lois could only imagine the terrors that were playing out in front of him as his now darkened eyes looked off into the distance. She scrambled forward, her jean-clad knees becoming twisted in the sheets and bringing his attention back to her. Staring at her with disbelief a lone tear ran down his face. Without any other warning he launched himself from the room, flying out the balcony doors with a primal cry.

Still on the stairs, still on her knees, Lois felt her body rocking as the tears streamed down her face. The fact that J'onn was the first one to find her made the memory seem even more real. No words were needed as she looked up at him through her lashes. When he sat down next to her, it was just as before.

"Lois… you did what you needed to do."

Her tear-streaked face looked at him. "Then why does it feel like a failure?"

"You've gotten through to him when no one else could. That's not a failure, Lieutenant," J'onn nudged her with his shoulder at the use of his pet name for her. "And, with what we've learned maybe we can develop a plan..."

A shout from the area of the barn brought her out of it, and Lois jumped at the sound of her name. With J'onn's arm around her she turned to sit on the step next to him, keeping her eyes on his shirt and not the form of the man running in their direction, panic in his voice.

"Lois!"

Her peripheral vision could see him slow when he realized that she wasn't alone.

"She's all right Kal-El," J'onn told him, squeezing Lois' shoulders. "But she needs some help inside, I think."

"What?" Lois exclaimed, feeling a little betrayed by her friend. How could he suggest that when he knew-

"The future does not have to repeat itself," he said quietly in her ear before he moved away.

Her wide eyes followed him, ignoring his farewell remarks to Clark, as her mind replayed his words. How could history not repeat itself? Lois had given everything- her heart, her body and her mind- and it wasn't enough. It was never going to be enough. She hadn't saved Night the first time around and she wasn't doing much to save Clark in this time either. Maybe he didn't want to be saved, at least not by her. What more did J'onn think she could give?

Fighting the urge to curl up in a ball and simply shut out the world, Lois straightened instead, grabbing the stair rail and pulling herself slowly to her feet. This wasn't the future; she didn't need saving by Clark and the last thing she wanted was his pity. It was time to re-group.

Still a little shaky, knees wobbling, she turned to make her way up the stairs on her own, pausing on the second step to consider J'onn's words. What did he see that she was missing? Silently, she cursed her friend's enigmatic expressions, searching for the energy to get inside.

Her curses became more boisterous when she felt the world tilt. One second she was on the porch steps and the next she was in Clark's arms, holding onto them for balance. With one arm under her knees and the other behind her back, Clark pulled her against his chest and carried her into the kitchen without breaking stride. Lois found herself gazing at his clenched jaw …

Gallant and stupid.

"Put me down," she hissed, looking over his shoulders for Lana, but the petite brunette and her car were gone. For a moment Lois wondered where but then pushed all thoughts of Lana from her mind, worried that her insecurities would trigger another future memory. She didn't need any more of those right now.

Clark ignored her, stopping in the middle of the kitchen where a flustered Kara met up with them, wet washcloth in her hand.

"Lois, Clark," she remarked. "Is everything all right?"

"I'm fine," Lois told her, fighting to get down. To her consternation, Clark only tightened his grip in response.

"Who's that for?" Clark asked, pointedly ignoring Lois.

"For Chloe," Kara replied, looking a little harried. "She woke up feeling quite ill, I'm afraid. Jimmy's with her upstairs. I told him they could have your room for the night, Lois. I hope that's okay."

"It's fine. I'll bunk with you," Lois told her, talking to Kara's retreating back as she hurried up the stairs.

Without releasing Lois, ignoring her struggles, Clark followed Kara up the stairs.

"What are you doing?" Lois asked through gritted teeth, trying to hang on to anger and block out the strong feelings his touch evoked. Her body was tingling in response, the recent memory only enhancing the effects. Each part of skin felt tender, overly sensitive, and she was aware of every finger along her ribs his hard arm cushioning her back. Even the undersides of her knees were tingling. It was all she could do not to rest her face against his chest and simply breathe him in. His scent- like sunshine and the outdoors- always affected her, even at the worst times.

Lost in her body's reactions, Lois was surprised by the anger glittering in Clark's eyes. "I'm taking you upstairs."

"I don't think so," Lois told him, her own anger surfacing at the look in his eyes. What did he have to be angry about? She was the one who was hurting emotionally and physically. Minutes ago he'd been worried about Lana. Where was all of this righteous anger hen? "We just had a party and I need to clean the kitchen. It's a mess."

"Oh, we hosted a party, huh?" Clark's words were quiet but determined as he lowered his nose until it almost touched hers. "I don't remember having a say." His eyes glanced quickly to her lips before he pulled away. "I'll clean up. You could barely stand a few minutes ago."

"I'm fine," Lois insisted, hating the breathless quality of her voice, as her eyes responded by staring at Clark's mouth, her heart beating at the concern under the anger. It was hard to maintain her frustration when he was being so, so...

A grunt was his only response.

Male.

Sometimes he was all male.

Lois almost smiled at the thought until they passed the bathroom door, where they could hear Chloe retching. She winced in sympathy instead, having been there just a few times. Clark didn't stop but continued until they reached her bedroom, finally putting her on her feet just outside the door. Lois tried to step away, put some distance between them, but stumbled. Clark gripped her arms to hold her steady. He was still too close for comfort but Lois didn't move, waiting for her legs to function properly. Her knees ached.

"Lois, what was that on the porch- another episode?"

"No, I just tripped, that's all," Lois lied, lowering her gaze, knowing he would force her to go to the hospital if he saw the truth. She focused on one boot-clad foot and concentrated on keeping her breathing even and her heart rate normal, knowing that if he used his super senses he could tell if she was lying.

"Lois-" he started but didn't finish. Peeking up through her lashes, she saw that distant look on his face, the one that told her he was hearing cries for help.

"Go," she told him, pushing him toward the stairs. "Take care of someone who really needs you."

After giving her one last look- a mixture of frustration, worry and anger- Clark super sped away, the air stirring Lois' hair and almost tripping her with its force. Rising up through her own hurt, anger and fear, a sense of pride filled Lois as she pictured the Blur in action. Was she focused on the wrong things? Clark was saving people and that was crucial. Who he loved and who loved him, not so much.

It was the sound of Chloe's retching that brought her back to reality. Lois sighed and grabbed some pajamas from her room before making her way to a strange bed. Her thoughts continued to churn while she got ready. What should she do? Should she wait for Clark? That could take forever. Should she give up? That wasn't in her nature.

Right now her knees were aching. Crawling into bed, Lois finally gave into her urge to curl up and shut out the world. She was too tired to clean up after all.

Kent farm, next morning

The scream that echoed through the farm house woke Lois from a dead sleep. Disoriented, heart racing, she scrambled to get out of bed, reaching for her knife, only to realize that it wasn't there.

It was a minute before she remembered that she was in the Kent's former bedroom, having shared the room with Kara. By the time she heard the second, more agonized cry, Lois pulled herself together and was out the door and down the hall, skidding to a stop when she saw Kara escorting Jimmy from Clark's bedroom to the bathroom.

He was cradling his arm and it was covered in blood.

"Jimmy?"

His shocked freckled face looked up at hers before a pale and shaken Kara spoke.

"You should go in there, Lois, I think Chloe needs you."

Lois sprinted to the bedroom, heart pounding, only to find Clark sitting on the bed with a wide-eyed Chloe who was crying hysterically, her hands still clutching Lois' knife. Hands and knife were spattered with blood.

"Chloe?" Lois asked her voice raspy from sleep and shock.

Clark looked up from where he was whispering to Chloe, his arm around her shoulders, his eyes full of fear.

Lois walked slowly up to the bed and reached out to cover the knife with her own hands. Slowly, very slowly, she pulled it from Chloe's grip, watching her cousin closely. When it slid from her fingers, Chloe looked up and Lois winced at the anguish in her cousin's face.

"Chlo?"

"I didn't know," she muttered, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I didn't know."

"Didn't know what, baby?" Lois asked sitting down on the other side of her cousin.

This time, when green eyes met hazel, Lois saw something she'd missed the first time around... confusion.

"I didn't know who he was," Chloe said simply, and Lois felt a sharp pain in her chest and for a minute, she felt her breath hitch. Fighting down a sense of panic, she smiled calmly. Chloe was clearly terrified.

"Is he really my fiancé?" She asked, moving even closer to Clark for support, while eyeing the bloody knife in Lois' hands with revulsion.

"Yes, Chloe. That was Jimmy," Lois told her calmly, trying to keep her own composure.

"Lois, it's like… I've never… I've never seen him before in my life."

Lois caught Clark's gaze over Chloe's shoulder and she could see the questions and concern there, mirroring her own.

"Lo, what else am I forgetting? God, what if I forget you and Clark? What's happening to me?"

"I don't know, but we'll find out," Lois told her, trying to sound soothing, while she continued to watch Clark, the expression on his face telling her they were on the same page, at least as to this.

Something serious was happening.

Chloe needed their help.