Chapter 15

[Next Morning]

[Loft]

Clark stood in the Loft's upper window and watched Dawn paint her colors across the sky. As per Chloe's advice, he emailed Perry and requested an appointment to talk about things. He knew things were changing. He understood he needed to reassess priorities ….

…Lana was worth it…no question….

…but so fast?

…and to deal with so much flack in the process?

I wish people would understand that I'm not just a reporter or Superman. I'm a man too. Lana needs me. I need her. I just hope Mr. White gets that. He gulped down some cold coffee and shook his head sourly at it.

10 o' clock couldn't get there fast enough. Unfortunately it was only 5:30.

I could several laps around the world but that wouldn't help. Maybe I should take Lana for breakfast before this? He smiled at the consideration of his plan. He wouldn't do Carmine's because that was his and Lois' place. Renee's Café, however, had great food and coffee not to mention was right around the corner from the Planet.

A teasing smell of freshly ground Viennese roast caressed his nostrils and coaxed a grin out of him. "Announcing yourself, are you?" He chuckled in spite of himself while turning to face Lana.

"Finally figured out a way to break through that wall you put up. Might as well play it to the hilt. You know?" she supposed wryly while setting the two coffee mugs down on the counter. "I figured you could use some support before the big talk with Perry White."

"Always." He grinned at her. "Thanks."

"Just part of being the loving girlfriend. Line 47 of the deal," she cracked before putting her arms around his waist.

"Line 47, huh?" he wondered.

"You never do read the fine print, Clark." She quirked her nose at him and let her eyes sparkle. "There's something else too."

"Which is what?" he supposed.

"You aren't just taking care of me. I'm here for you no matter what," she vowed.

"I know that. Hey I was wondering if you want to come with me? I was thinking of breakfast at this place right around the corner from there. Maybe we could set a positive mood before we go in and talk with him?" he suggested.

"You mean Renee's? I definitely could use a soufflé from there. You're on," she accepted readily while holding him closer.

And, in that, Clark had his answer. Maybe the world wouldn't like it but he needed his own time too…..

[Daily Planet Building—9:50 AM]

Fresh off a picturesque flight over the Kansas countryside and the desired breakfast, Clark and Lana stepped anxiously off of the elevator and into the lobby in front of Perry's office. As always, the area bustled with activity.

Clark sighed anxiously. The buzz from their morning date waned already and he wasn't even inside the door yet.

"It's okay, Clark. You're going to be fine," she reassured him while motioning toward the executive assistant by the office in question.

"Fine. You're right. It'll be okay either way," he relented. "Kiss for luck?"

She smirked at him. "Just try and stop me, Mr. Kent." She pecked him on the cheek. "Knock him dead in there."

He nodded and walked up to the assistant's desk. "Good Morning, Harry. How's everything?"

"Morning, Clark. I was going to say too bad about Lois but it seems you've got everything under control. Where did you meet her?" Harry queried pleasantly.

"Old friend from high school. She's dealing with some life issues. We've discovered our mutual feelings. I have an appointment with Mr. White," Clark replied; his butterflies buzzing around even more so by now.

"Certainly. He's waiting inside. Good to see you, Clark," Harry indicated while motioning toward the door.

Clark glanced back to Lana who gave him a thumbs up. Here goes! He knocked on the door. "Mr. White?"

"Kent? Come in, Son! Don't dither on me now!" Perry bade from within the sanctum.

Clark stepped in anxiously and shut the door. "Good morning, Mr. White. Thanks for seeing me."

Perry leaned back in his chair and took a puff from one of his favorite Cuban cigars. "How's that leave going for you, Kent? Ready to come back yet?"

"That's…what I want to talk with you about, Sir," Clark declared nervously. His breathing became heavy.

Perry assessed the younger man. He knew something had changed in the last three days. Still he needed to know more. "How are your mother and the farm?"

"Mom's fine. Farm's smaller but still works about the same," Clark replied frankly. "It's been nice being around Smallville again."

"I guess it would be. I couldn't do it. My visits there drove me nuts. You nearly knocked me off the wagon on my first trip through there," Perry revealed. "You know Lois isn't coming back, right? Her desk has been cleared. I have a new reporter working there now. Felicity Travers is fresh off of the Toronto Moon's news desk. I had to work like Hell to get her here. You'd make a hell of a team, Kent."

"I'm sure we would. So would Chloe and me for that matter," Clark answered earnestly.

Perry nearly fell over into his chair. "You want to work for the Ledger instead of here? What the Hell is wrong? You've worked your way up from the damn basement! Now you want to go back?"

"Life's changed. People need me back there," Clark replied firmly. "I hope when everything's resolved that I can come back."

Perry shook his head. "Look, Clark, I'll be frank with you. As much as I wish I could stop the merry-go-round, let someone off and hold their spot, I can't. It's the world. Deal with it."

"Maybe I am. I just wish I could do that and keep working for you," Clark noted.

Perry snorted. "Come on! You literally can zip from that farm to here in five seconds flat. That's not it. It's not your apartment here in Metro. It's not Lois. I know you can do the chores on the farm in three minutes flat if you want. What else is in that town then?"

"It's complicated…." Clark frowned and glanced out the window.

"You've got that look, Kent," Perry indicated tersely. "I haven't seen it since you was in high school but you have it." He glanced through the office window into the lobby and saw Lana sitting there. "And I understand why now." He chuckled. "Must be a helluva rebound."

"Excuse me?" Clark almost jumped out of his chair angrily. "Mr. White, it isn't like that!"

"Then what is it? It sure seems like you're throwing away everything you accomplished for her," Perry pointed out. He paced about the room while trying to cool off. "Sorry. I just don't want you throwing away everything for some fling. Okay? You're one of my best reporters for Pete's sake!"

"I'm not. I'm figuring out how to rearrange things while I help Lana deal with her issues. Remember when she disarmed that bomb here?" Clark retorted evenly.

"I read about it. What about it?" Perry glanced out into the lobby again. "Didn't she absorb Kryptonite from that?"

"We split up over it. She would've killed me if she stayed," Clark reported. "She had surgery to get the Promethius suit removed but the damage was done. She has terminal cancer. There's no cure. She needs me close. I can't be tied up for you in Paris and then have to drop everything and go. I want to do the best for everyone, Mr. White. I also have to do what's good for me too."

Perry tried to wrap his head around the situation. He paced. He fumed. He puffed on the cigar. He slammed his fist on the desk at least twice. "Great Caesar's Ghost! If you were anyone else, I'd throw you out on the street right now! However I may have a solution for both of us. Did Queen tell you that I want to get a local bureau out in Lowell County?"

"Yes she did," Clark indicated honestly.

"Think you can handle that? I'll still want you in here once a week for updates. You can head up that bureau. There'll be a staff of seven reporters under you. Consider it training for that editor job," Perry proposed.

"I'll do that," Clark agreed firmly while shaking hands with his boss.

"Great. Now bring Miss Lang in here. I need a word," Perry insisted. "No I won't bite her head off."

"Sure. Thanks." Clark went to open the door and almost ran into Jimmy Olsen in the process. "Whoa, Jimmy! Slow down there!"

"Hey, CK! What's going on? Are you coming back?" Jimmy wondered feeling glad to see his friend again.

"It's complicated but I'll be around every so often," Clark answered as he motioned for Lana to join them.

What? What's going on? Lana got up from her chair and headed for the office.

"Olsen! Come back later!" Perry ordered.

Jimmy saw Lana approaching and then looked at Clark. "Okay, Chief. Whatever you…."

"AND DON'T CALL ME CHIEF!"

Clark grimaced for his friend's sake. Sometimes he didn't understand why Jimmy insisted on getting Perry's ire going.

Lana walked into the office briskly and shut the door. "What's going on? Can I help you, Mr. White?" She of course remembered him from the whole solar flare episode over fifteen years earlier. She shut her own sense of indignation down to help Clark in his mission.

"Good morning to you too, Miss Lang. Nice to see that Clark can always go to you when the chips are down. You do realize that I have a newspaper to run here, right?" Perry supposed with a bit of impatience and sarcasm.

"Of course I do. And Clark told you I'm dying right? He's trying to help me and you too. That's why we're here," she countered.

"Yeah he told me. Lucky for you, this paper owes you at least one favor since you saved it. I…also owe you because of that tabloid mess earlier. You really did get cancer from that bomb?" Perry informed her.

"I did. There's no cure unfortunately. I've tried all over the world. Nothing. I just want to be in a place where I can live well before my end," she explained. "I hoped Clark could be around and not hurt his career."

"Fortunately for you, I need a bureau chief out there. Clark's accepted the position for the time being. Just keep your head on straight, both of you. All right?" Perry continued.

"We will. Thank you, Mr. White," Clark concurred as they shook hands.

"Make me proud, Kent. Good day, Miss Lang," Perry concluded.

"I'll fill you in back at the farm. Come on. I don't want to keep him," Clark urged respectfully as they headed back out the door.

Kids! There was a time when such compromises would've cost him! Perry pressed the cigar butt's hot end into the glass ash tray. He got up and considered the Metropolis skyline for a minute taking in its every nuance. Then he glanced toward an article of Superman on the wall to his left. Maybe it's time the world learned to work with Superman for a change. Powers, alien nature or not, he is human after all!