When Clark entered the Isis Foundation about an hour later, he was back to being the buttoned-up guy in a suit and brown raincoat. The place was full of people, not busy or crowded, but apparently enough people used the foundation's services. He approached the receptionist.
"Hello sir." She hung up and smiled at him, "How can I help?"
"I'm looking for Chloe Sullivan."
"Do you have an appointment?"
"No, my name is Clark Kent. I'm an old friend and I was hoping she could meet up with me."
"I'll ask. Why don't you sit down?"
Clark sat down on one of the chairs in the waiting area. As the minutes passed and she ignored him he started to really listen. Chloe was in the inner office and didn't like the fact that he suddenly appeared. He got the impression that she organized every second of her day and didn't like surprises. She thought if she ignored him long enough, he would give up and leave. After more than an hour of waiting, Clark got up and entered the other room. The receptionist hurried after him.
"Sir! You can't go in there! Sir!" Clark ignored her. He apologized to the counsellor and the man sitting in front of her and headed to the inner office where Chloe was found. "You're not allowed! You can't…" Chloe turned around as the door opened but not before making sure the computer screens she sat in front of only showed the Isis Foundation logo.
"It's okay, Meg. I'll take care of it." she said with a polite smile. Meg left, closing the door behind her. "What? No super speed?" Clark looked around the room and didn't answer. "You burst into my office uninvited, and you say nothing?"
"Make sure Lois gets her job back."
"After working so hard for Lex to fire her? I don't think so."
"What exactly bothered you about her story?"
"She was going to expose us, Clark!"
"This isn't true."
"Look who knows everything! You have no idea what's happened here in the last five years. I can't have Lois storming in like an elephant in a china shop right in the middle of a sensitive project!" For the first time since he entered the office, he looked at Chloe.
Her blond hair was even shorter than he remembered, her makeup makes her ten years older, and she is all serious, without a hint of humour. She refused to move uncomfortably under his searching gaze.
"You can't allowed it."
"Exactly."
"And Oliver has no problem with that?"
"Oliver is aware of the things at stake here."
"The end justifies the means."
"Clark, I know it must not be easy for Lois but she will find another job. She always lands on her feet. And unfortunately, she is just a small part of the big picture. I must think about everyone."
"I understand." Much has changed, much more than he thought. Chloe nodded in approval.
"Why don't you grab a chair and I'll update you? We could always use someone like you." She stood up and point her hand for a chair in the corner of the room.
"I'm sure."
"So come on."
"I don't want to interrupt your busy schedule." Chloe's smile disappeared.
"It's not a disturbance."
"Explaining everything to the idiot alien will only hold you back." This time Chloe shifted uncomfortably in her chair, he quoted almost verbatim what she had said to Oliver.
"Clark, I don't think of you that way. You're still a dear friend..."
"I'm an asset to Watchtower." And what was even worse, Clark didn't sound bitter or angry
"Clark..."
"It's okay, Chloe. It probably doesn't fit right now. Bad timing and all." Just disappointed. "Well, if you're not willing to help me I'll find someone else."
"There is no one else." A first smile appeared on Clark's face.
"I'm sure I'll find someone." He turned to leave. Chloe rushed over and grabbed his arm.
"Who exactly?"
"Someone who doesn't treat people as assets. Someone who won't ruin a journalist's career just because she's a problem for him. Someone who doesn't treat his cousin as a small detail in the big picture." He released his hand from Chloe. "I'll find my own way out." He disappeared.
"If you insist on appearing here at least get to the point." Clark paced back and forth.
"I need your help."
"I thought we took care of all the business of your return from your five year absence. We even arranged a job for you."
"It's not for me." Bruce Wayne sighed and turned in his chair towards Clark.
"What now? Can't wait two months for Lex to find out he no longer owns the Planet?"
"He fired Lois Lane yesterday." Bruce was silent. "Because of Watchtower."
"What did she do?" Clark looked at him questioningly. "Watchtower."
"Lois confronted her, about her "sensitive project" and was going to reveal everything in the newspaper."
"Did you destroy Lois's laptop?"
"There was no need for that. She already found out what Chloe did and switched computers."
"Thank God for small favours." He held out his hand. "Give me the phone." Clark handed Bruce his cell phone and Bruce placed it next to the computer. The computer started copying documents quickly. "Hmmm, the Watchtower systems are impressive."
"Yes." Bruce played the recording of the conversation between Clark and Chloe.
"I warned you she changed."
"You were right, Bruce, satisfied?"
"Not really. We need Lois to get her story out as soon as possible."
"I'm still not keen on taking advantage of her like that."
"She reveals the truth. It's not like we use her like a pawn in chess."
"The truth that in this case suits you, us." Bruce stood up and turned to Clark.
"Lois came up with Watchtower's existence herself, partly because Chloe became complacent. From what I read from Lois' exposure; she went out of her way not to reveal Watchtower's identity. She only raised legitimate questions." Clark closed his eyes and nodded. "I don't think Lois would ever put people at risk on purpose."
"She's not that kind of journalist. You read her articles."
"Yes." Bruce sat down at the computers and started searching. "Right now, it will be impossible to get Lane back to the Planet but there is a way we can publish her article."
"Lex, or maybe Chloe, blacklisted her. No newspaper will publish her."
"That's what the internet was invented for." He pressed a few buttons. "I sent Lois an email tip."
"She needs that job, Bruce."
"I know but right now it's impossible."
"I'm thinking of telling her." Bruce's fingers froze for a moment on the keyboard. "Not about you or about... us but about me."
"Are you sure about that?"
"I've been wanting to tell her for years. I trust her and I want what's between us to have a fair chance."
"It's your decision."
"Oh, God! That was exhausting!" Lois lay on her sofa looking up at the sky. Clark leaned his shoulder against the wall and smiled at her.
"I'll probably stay on the farm until I find an apartment." She straightened up on her elbows and looked at him.
"No. Why would you do such a thing?"
"The farm isn't that far from Metropolis, Lois."
"Not close enough. I don't want you far away, I want you here. In Metropolis. With me."
"That's just until I find a reasonable apartment in the city." She bit her lower lip. "Come on, I want to show you something." He held out his hand to her.
"Can't you show it to me from here? My feet hurt!"
"Come on, get up!" He grabbed her hands and pulled her up. She sighed but got up.
Holding her hand, Clark took her to the balcony. He looked around making sure no one was looking at them then pulled her into a hug.
"Hmmm, we could hug inside too. On the sofa for example." He smiled and kissed her.
It wasn't one of the short kisses, which still managed to get her blood pumping, that he kissed her all day but from those deep kisses that stopped time. When the kiss was over, she looked at him with veiled eyes.
"Let there be no doubt, yes?" He looked at her with that little smile that tickled her from her feet up, "I'm addicted to your kisses, but you said you wanted to show me something."
"I said."
"And..." she noticed a cloud out of the corner of her eye that quickly passed and descended. What do you mean went down? She looked around them and held Clark tightly. Metropolis was far below them. "Smallville?"
"Yes?"
"I don't want to scare you but... we're flying!"