Army brat, Farm guy
Chapter 3f Confrontation
MPD – CHIEF ASHTON'S OFFICE
Chief Ashton is meeting with general Sam Lane, Perry White and Clark Kent.
Sam couldn't believe this the 1st time Clark told him; "Tell us what you heard at Lois' apartment again, Clark."
"Richard said 'You'll never find her, now', in a loud, angry voice. I have no idea what he meant." Clark shakes his head.
They all look at each other, finally settling on Perry. He blushes a touch and looks down.
"Perry, we need to know!" Sam urges.
"I'm thinking I shouldn't be here any longer," Clark mutters and gets up.
"Stay close," Chief Ashton asks.
Clark nods as he exits. He takes a seat and waits, w/o super hearing.
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Perry White pales as he looks up.
He relives a painful event:
FLASHBACK – 3 PLUS YEARS AGO
Lois Lane slips into Perry White's office and settles in a seat. She takes a deep breath and whispers, "I made a big mistake, Perry." He really is her 2nd father; sometimes almost her 1st. She starts to weep.
Perry comes to sit beside her, encircling her shoulders with an arm. "Tell me, Lois."
"I'm pregnant," she chokes out.
Perry's arm tightens. She shares enough details for him to parse out the story:
Lois & Richard; OCP ABX; they will NOT do this together; she is on her own; NOBODY MUST KNOW!
Perry gives her maximum leeway about work; at home vs Daily Planet; Perry and James Olsen lay down the law – anyone who tells will be terminated w/o severance pay or assistance with a job search or favorable recommendation letter. It remains a total secret.
After delivery, a baby girl was put up for adoption. Lois looks, but never found where her daughter went.
END FLASHBACK
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Chief Ashton & Sam Lane stare at Perry.
"I never knew, what in hell!" Sam shouts. "I am her father! That is my granddaughter!" He is steamed.
"I urged, repeatedly. No dice."
Sam runs a hand over his head, "Damn. There was a year plus when neither I nor Lucy saw her. Always an excuse . . . so, now that bastard Richard knows where the girl is?"
"Sounds like it," Chief Ashton admits. "Plus, it sounds like he's holding it over Lois!"
"Why? For what?" Sam mutters.
"In hopes of a relationship?" Perry White wonders.
"SHIT!" Sam explodes. "He'll never have another kid after I get my hands on him."
They talk Sam off the ledge; then call Clark in. He joins them and takes a seat.
"Clark-
"Wait. I really think that I shouldn't be in the know here. I work with Lois daily. I don't have a very good poker face. I don't want to poison our partnership or friendship. Please?"
The others look at each other.
"What if we need your abilities?" Sam asks.
"Let's cross that bridge when we come to it."
"Ok," they acquiesce.
Based on the assault & known perpetrator Richard White (not what the blur heard), the 3 decide to have the MPD intelligence unit do a deep dive into Richard & Lois. Findings: The pregnancy & Ob-Gyn physician; birth certificate – father UNKN; adoption details; the girl's current location.
NOW WHAT?
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Sam comes over to see Lois and start the process of finding out what is up between her and Richard White. He parks 2 blocks away and walks toward her building. He stops when he sees Richard's car parked in front. He sends a text to the other 3 men.
SAM: RW car at LL. Need blur.
CK: in 3.
SAM: will watch & listen.
The general moves into Lois' hallway, sits on a window sill at the end of the hall. He listens carefully; he doesn't hear any loud voices or a commotion. Soon Clark texts that he is on the roof; within 30 seconds Clark is at Sam's side.
"Super hearing?" Sam asks.
"Are you asking me to turn it on?"
"Yes, please."
"On." Clark turns his head. He relays the following with Sam's phone on speaker for Perry White and Chief Ashton:
RW: You are never gonna find that little girl, you bitch!
LL: It's not too late to press charges, you bastard!
RW: Ha, you do that and your life is over!
LL: What's with the gun Richard? Please put it down!
RW: Turn around, Lois!
LL: NO!
Gun discharges. Lois expects pain – NONE!
CK: Aim off, sucker?
Richard empties his Sig at the blur's chest; all recorded on Sam's phone. Sam tosses cuffs to the blur who cuffs Richard.
The blur steps over to Lois who is trembling, barely standing. "Ma'am, you really should sit down." He helps her to the couch and assists her to sit. "Are you ok?"
"I think so. Thank you!"
He turns to the general, "Everything under control, sir?"
"Yes, thanks." Sam winks.
The blur exits. Sam knows that Chief Ashton is sending detectives, so he sits next to Lois and waits.
"I can't believe that," Lois whispers.
"Which part, Lo? Richard?"
"That too. The blur saved me again!"
Sam says nothing.
"Daddy? What's going on?"
"You tell me. Why do you continue to let him in? What does he have on you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Lois, I'm not stupid! He has something on you. What is it? I can help, sweetie."
Silence.
"Well, we've got him for attempted murder. You won't need to worry about him for a long time."
Lois sighs. "You saw him daddy?"
"Who?"
"The blur, of course."
"Yes, so?"
"So strong, polite, kind – and bullet proof! I wonder if he . . . never mind." She sighs again.
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MONDAY – DAILY PLANET
Clark is at his desk when Lois comes in. She drops her valise and sits. "You'll never believe it, partner!"
"Not again! The blur, eh?" He shakes his head.
"Jealous, Smallville?" She cocks her head and smirks.
"What? Why would I be jealous? I'm learning something here."
"What?"
"Well, for one you seem to be a trouble magnet. Two, your judgment about guys . . . ah-
"Careful, Clarkie!"
"It just seems to me that Richard hit a blind spot or something. Can I help?"
"You? Naw, I wouldn't want my partner to get hurt. Say, have you ever met the blur?"
"No, could you introduce us?"
"I'll ask, next time I see him."
"Thanks partner."
"No problem, just for you."
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3 WEEKS LATER
Clark Kent and the general are having coffee.
"Clark, where are you in your thought process regards telling Lois about yourself?"
"I really don't know, Sam. The thing with Richard kind of caused me to overthink tings. I just don't know."
"Do you think she was to blame?"
"Not really. It's just her apparent refusal to reach out for help. I know you would turn over heaven & earth for your family. What's the deal?"
"Clark, that's Lo! And it's mostly my fault. I put my army duties before my family – even after Emma died. She was in charge. I relied on her to care for, then supervise Lucy. She shouldn't have had all that responsibility on her shoulders. But that's the way it was. I can't change that now."
"So now?"
"Lois needs someone strong to love, and be loved by. Someone who won't dim her passion; who can keep up with her. Most guys are either intimidated, or want to slow her down – control her. It will not work."
Clark sips his coffee, thinking.
"You may be her guy." Sam smiles and takes a bite of his pumpkin loaf.
Clark takes a bite of his bagel, washes it down with a sip of his skinny latte. "She say that?"
Sam snorts, "Ah, no. Astute observation on my part."
Clark nods and finishes his coffee and bagel. "You think she would panic at meeting my folks?"
"Depends on how it's set up. But probably not." Sam smiles at that.
"You look pleased."
"Maybe. By the way, she often tells me how much she loves that sketch. Her and Lucy."
"Yeah, I have thought of doing a replica for Lucy. Has Lucy seen that sketch?"
"Yes, and both would love it if you did that! Doing that for her sis would please Lois immensely, Clark."
"Sam, do you have 1 or 2 pictures of Emma that I could, ah, borrow?"
"Sure, for . . . ah I see." Sam grins.
"And are you still in the house the girls grew up in?"
"Yes."
"Here is my idea."
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TBC