**Chapter 16: Breaking News**

The week had started in overdrive for Lois. The article she had written on the mayor's scandal had gone viral over the weekend, stirring up chaos across the city. The front page of every major news outlet seemed to feature her expose, and the pressure was on to keep the momentum going.

Lois had spent most of her Sunday in the office, organizing the next steps for her follow-up piece. It had been a good way to keep her mind off her personal life and the complicated emotions swirling around her ever since the weekend. Between her intense connection with Clark and the awkward encounter with Lana, she'd needed the distraction. Diving into work was always her way of coping.

Monday morning arrived, and Lois found herself immersed in the familiar rhythm of the *Daily Planet*. The hum of the office, the clattering of keyboards, and even the faint scent of the ever-so-slightly burned coffee were all comforting. There was something about being in the newsroom that always energized her. She thrived in the chaos of it all.

Just as she sat down at her desk, organizing her notes, Perry White's booming voice echoed across the newsroom. "Lane! Get in here!"

Lois didn't even flinch. She grabbed her notepad and walked briskly toward Perry's office, her mind already racing with possibilities. What could it be now?

The door to his office was barely shut before Perry began speaking, his voice filled with urgency. "Lois, I just got word of an imminent explosion at the Metropolis Power Plant. That same plant was funded with the mayor's dirty money—ties in perfectly with your expose."

Lois's eyes widened, her instincts kicking into high gear. "How bad is it?"

"Bad. They're evacuating, but there are still people trapped inside. The situation's unstable. We need you down there now."

"On my way, Chief!"

Lois turned on her heel and marched out of Perry's office. She waved her hand at Jimmy Olsen, who was nearby, snapping photos of something mundane. "Jimmy, grab your camera. We're heading out!"

"Where to?" Jimmy asked, grabbing his gear as he hurried after her.

"Power plant. Imminent explosion. We need to get up close and personal."

Within minutes, Lois and Jimmy were on the roof of the *Daily Planet*, climbing into the helicopter that Perry had arranged. The hum of the blades kicked into action, and as they lifted off, Lois's mind was already buzzing with questions. How big was the explosion going to be? What would the aftermath be? Was this a direct result of the corrupt funds she had uncovered?

By the time they reached the plant, they could see smoke rising from several areas. Flames licked the sky, and emergency personnel were already on-site, trying to manage the chaos. As the helicopter descended, they could see fire trucks, ambulances, and swarms of workers evacuating from the facility.

Lois jumped out of the helicopter the second they touched down, motioning for Jimmy to follow. Firefighters on the ground were yelling at the civilians to move back, to get to safety.

"Ma'am, you need to stay back!" one of the firemen shouted as Lois approached the scene, trying to get closer.

"Not happening," Lois muttered under her breath. She was determined to get to the heart of the story. Her eyes scanned the area, trying to figure out how to get closer without being stopped again.

The plant was still active, and she could see several workers struggling to escape, their faces filled with panic as smoke thickened around them. The whole situation felt like it could blow at any moment. Lois spotted a narrow side entrance and made her way toward it, pulling Jimmy along with her.

"Lois, are you crazy?!" Jimmy hissed, trying to keep up. "This place could go up any second!"

"That's why we have to get inside," Lois shot back. "We're reporters. We go where the danger is."

Jimmy sighed but followed, knowing there was no point in arguing with her when she had that determined look in her eyes. They slipped through the side entrance, immediately feeling the oppressive heat and smoke. The alarms were blaring, and the place was chaos—workers yelling, pipes hissing, and the building groaning under the pressure of the impending explosion.

Lois pushed forward, trying to assess the situation. She was scribbling down notes as she went, while Jimmy snapped photos despite his nervous glances toward the ceiling.

Just as they rounded a corner, a loud crack echoed through the plant. The ground shook beneath them, and Lois lost her footing. Jimmy grabbed her arm to steady her, but before they could react, a massive pipe above them burst, sending a wall of steam and fire in their direction.

"Lois!" Jimmy yelled, pulling her back as the heat surged toward them.

Suddenly, everything seemed to blur. The next thing Lois knew, she wasn't standing near the collapsing plant anymore. She was outside, in the open air, and the fire and smoke were gone.

She blinked, disoriented, as she realized she was in someone's arms. Someone incredibly strong. She looked up, and her heart nearly stopped.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice gentle as he set her down carefully.

Lois was speechless for a moment, her brain scrambling to process what had just happened. Clark. It was him. This was the kind of "special" Clark was. He was flying! She shook herself back to reality.

"Jimmy..." Lois gasped, looking around in panic.

Superman turned to her. "He's safe. I got him out too."

Lois turned, spotting Jimmy standing a few feet away, looking just as stunned as she was. He was clutching his camera, wide-eyed and trembling, but otherwise unharmed.

Superman gave them both a reassuring nod before he turned his attention back to the plant. "Stay back," he instructed firmly, before speeding off into the burning structure once again.

Lois watched in awe as Superman moved with inhuman speed, dousing fires, clearing debris, and rescuing workers as if it were the easiest thing in the world. He flew in and out of the plant in seconds, each time reappearing with someone clinging to him, safe from the flames.

Suddenly, there was a massive explosion in the distance, far enough from the plant that no one was harmed but close enough to send a shockwave through the area. Lois's heart raced, but before she could even react, Superman was back, the explosion neutralized.

As the crowd around her stood in stunned silence, Lois pushed forward, her journalistic instincts taking over.

Lois swallowed hard, her mind racing. "What caused the explosion? Is there any more danger?" she asked, her voice steady despite the tumult inside her.

Superman landed gracefully and stepped closer. "A buildup of dangerous gases caused the explosion. But the plant is secure now. There's no more danger."

"And who are you?"

Clark smiled softly and answered, "A friend. You can call me Superman."

Lois barely registered the answers. Her mind was still reeling from the realization that had hit her like a ton of bricks—Superman was Clark Kent. The man she had just spent the past few days getting closer to was now standing in front of her, saving the day in a way she'd never imagined.

Their eyes met, and in that moment, Lois knew that Clark knew she had figured it out. There was an unspoken understanding between them, the weight of it settling in the air around them.

"Thank you, Superman," Lois said softly, her voice carrying a subtle note of something deeper.

Superman gave her a small nod before taking off into the sky, leaving Lois standing there, her heart pounding. She had just been rescued by Superman—by Clark—and the weight of that realization was staggering.

Jimmy ran up to her, breathless. "Lois! Did you get all that?"

Lois blinked, snapping back to reality. "Yeah. Let's get back to the *Planet* right now. We have a front page to publish."

Jimmy, still wide-eyed and dazed, nodded. "You got it."

As they made their way back to the helicopter, Lois's mind was spinning, trying to make sense of everything that had just happened. She had a front-page story to write, but she also had a lot more to figure out when it came to Clark Kent.

**To be continued...**