Beside you still
Chapter 12 Tragedy to fix
6 WEEKS LATER
Lois and Clark are sitting back-to-back in their shared office, their usual configuration. He scoots backward in his chair so he's ear to ear with her.
"You are pretty good at that," she mutters.
"I have rear view vision," he jests.
"Ah, no," Lois opines.
"You're right." He admits.
"I always am," she boasts, with a grin.
He leaves that subject alone. "Has your dad found any way we can help Hetty, yet?"
"No, but I haven't talked with him in a week or more. But do we really want to use our powers for her?"
"Good point. Probably not." He cocks his head – she knows what that means. "I hear a big crash, south side. Probably 494 again. Maybe you should let Cat Grant get a head start this time?" He is off, Lois turns on their police scanner. It starts squawking; Cat hears it, grabs her valise, jacket and is out the door 1st. Lois follows slowly, with a smirk. They need to play the office game.
Sure enough, there is a massive pileup at the Hayden Street exit off the 494 south side beltway. 2 big rigs, a school bus and multiple cars. When Lois arrives, Jimmy is already snapping pictures & Cat is furiously taking notes. She sees Superman attempting to extricate 2 cars that are wedged tightly under one of the semi-trailers.
He gets them dislodged enough to examine the occupants. He checks the people in each car quickly, and then calls for EMT personnel to join him. They huddle, talk for a few moments, then disperse to care for other victims. Lois has a very bad feeling about this. Neither Superman nor the emergency personnel spent any time at all helping the victims in those cars. She rushes over to Superman and grasps his arm.
Cat sees the physical contact and gasps, 'Lois just went up to Superman and grabbed his arm! What the hell?' She watches carefully; taking mental notes. Then continues working.
"Superman, what's wrong?" Lois questions.
He looks at her, tears in his eyes. "Four occupants in those vehicles . . . all beheaded, Lois." He drops his head, braces his hands on his knees, takes a few deep breaths then stands back up. Lois wants so much to take him in her arms and comfort him. She cannot do it here, not now. LATER.
"Superman!" Ayoung girl's scream cuts through the air. He and Lois turn and see a familiar figure.
Julie.
She has torn loose from an adult, probably a teacher, and is running toward them; the adult hot on her heels. Superman crouches down and opens his arms wide. Julie crashes into him, and he hugs her tightly.
"Superman, my mommy and daddy were following our bus in their car. Are they ok?" She is sobbing now.
"Sweetie, what kind of car were they in?" He asks tenderly. His heart clenches; Lois is about to hyperventilate.
"A blue and white one," Julie chokes out.
Superman and Lois look over at the cars that were lodged under the semi. One is a blue and white Buick. Their hearts drop.
"Julie, can you stay here with Miss Lane? I will go check." He hands her off, with a PLEASE look on his face. Lois dies internally, but nods and takes Julie in her arms, sheltering the girl's vision from the carnage.
Superman surveys the accident scene; nothing needs his immediate attention. He sidles up to 2 EMT personnel who are working on one of the cars. "Have you Identified the fatalities yet?"
"Yes, sir. They are Mr. and Mrs. John Adams. And a Thomas Jeffers and Miss Angela Thomas. Do you need anything more?"
"No, I'm afraid that the Adams have a young serving daughter." He walks back to Lois and Julie. "Julie, sweetheart. What is your last name?" He's afraid he knows the answer.
"Adams, why?" Her voice is soft and trembly. She is resting in Lois' arms.
Superman looks away for a moment, then crouches down and encircles both girls in his arms. "Julie, both your parents have been very badly hurt. You can't see them right now."
Lois trembles, she knows what's next. She has covered too many accidents, seen too much death and destruction. It all still causes her pain. Her heart aches for this innocent young girl.
"Are they going to the hospital?" Julie sniffles.
"Yes, they are. Lois and her boyfriend will see that you are cared for until we know more."
Julie looks at Lois, "Who is your boyfriend?"
"His name is Clark, Clark Kent."
"Where is he now?"
"He is at work; we will see him soon." Lo\is mouths PERRY to Superman. He nods and takes Julie into his arms so Lois can step away. She does:
TXT
LL to PW: emergency, young girl both parents killed, beheaded under semi. CK & I need afternoon off. Please.
PW to LL: ok, call with update, please. Praying.
Lois walks back, Julie's hand in hers. Superman has ascertained that the young girl's parents will be taken to the Metropolis General morgue. He tells Lois that he (Clark) will meet them there. They aren't sure how to break the news. They hope that a social worker or doctor can help with that.
After assessing the accident scene one last time – and giving Cat Grant a short interview, Superman dashes back to the Daily Planet. He changes clothes, has a word with Perry (Who gives him and Lois the rest of the week off) and gets to the hospital ASAP.
He finds Lois and Julie in a small waiting room on the surgical floor. Lois and a social worker have not told Julie any specifics yet; they are waiting for Clark. He walks in and is introduced.
"You know Superman?" Julie asks.
"Yes," Clark admits. "He and I are good friends. He asked me to help Lois take care of you." He looks to the SW; "What do we know about Julie's family?"
As Lois shakes her head the SW responds; "No siblings, no grandparents, no living family I'm afraid." She is downcast.
Clark shivers, he takes Lois' hand in his. He looks to the SW, "Time?"
Julie is puzzled. "Time for what?" She snuggles closer to Lois' chest. The SW moves close, "Julie, honey – your parents were killed in the accident. I'm so-
"NO! NO! I'M ALL ALONE! NO!" * The young girl starts to sob uncontrollably, screaming NO over and over. Clark moves close, embracing Lois and Julie tightly. He wishes it weren't so – what can he do? He whispers to the SW, "Can Lois and I keep her for a couple days, while things are sorted out, please?"
She nods, "I think so. I will work on it for you." She exits the room as Clark continues to hug his girls. After signing some paperwork authorizing temporary placement, Lois and Clark get keys to Julie's house. They drive by and Lois takes the youngster in to pack a couple of suitcases. They come out and drive to Lois' apartment.
Lois isn't really prepared for this. Her guest room has a Queen-sized bed. Julie takes one look and screams NO again. It is quickly decided that the 3 of them will all sleep in Lois king-sized bed. Clark has stayed over some nights, not regularly yet. The morning will bring some adjustment. Flexibility is the word of the day.
888888888888
DAILY PLANET NEXT DAY
"Perry, I must talk with you, now!" Cat Grant is yelling at her editor Perry White. She stands in his doorway.
"Pipe down! Come in and sit!" Perry barks right back. "What's the matter now, Grant?" He scowls.
"Yesterday, that accident scene!"
"What about it?"
"Lane went right up to Superman, grabbed his arm and began to talk to him! To Superman! What the HELL, Perry?" Cat is about to self-destruct.
"Are you sure?" Perry grimaces; Cat notices.
"Yes, I'm sure. I've got eyes! And you know something is going on. I can see it. Spill!" She is now standing, hands on hips.
"CAT! I don't spill on command. Not for you, not for anyone. Get back to work, now!" He shoos her out of his office.
Cat sulks back to her desk, slams her papers and pen down and pouts. She will get to the bottom of this!
Perry texts Lois:
PW to LL: Cat saw familiarity at accident. CAREFUL!
LL to PW: God! OK.
88888888888
BREAKFAST
Clark is up 1st; he leaves the sleeping beauties to catch more sleep time. Julie has been restless, not unexpectedly. He starts the coffeemaker (This will wake Lois), and gets out the eggs and bacon. Soon two sleepy looking girls appear, yawning widely. "Can someone make toast," he suggests. "And, how do we like our eggs?"
"I know how to make toast," Julie raises her hand.
"Scrambled, please." Lois asserts.
"Coming right up," chef Kent replies.
"The bread is in that bread box, Julie." He points. She gets 2 bags out, white and wheat. She puts 1 slice of each into the toaster and pushes them down. She stands by the counter, elbows on it with head in hands. She is very quiet. Lois and Clark keep an eye on her; it seems almost unnatural.
'I wonder what kind of relationship she had with her parents?' LL
'I don't know, obviously, She's 6, right?' CK
'Yeah, should be in 1st grade. Maybe her teacher can help.' LL
'Good idea. How do we find out who that is? Ask her?' CK
'I suppose.' LL
"Julie, are you in 1st grade?" Lois asks after they sit down.
"Yes, my teacher is Miss Nelson. I love her!"
They get the name of the school, and plan to call. After eating and clean up, Julie is coloring at the table while L/C sit close together on the couch.
"My apartment lease is up the end of next month," Clark declares.
Lois turns to look him in the eyes. "And?"
"Well, we've been going back and forth; paying for 2 apartments. I would like to consolidate." He looks hopeful.
She huffs out a little laugh. "That sounds like a business merger, sport." She folds her arms across her chest.
"No, no! It's . . . ah . . . a joining of lives." He gulps.
"Warmer." She's not making this easy.
"Lois, I love you-
"My daddy never said that," a little voice squeaks, in a trembling voice. She continues coloring, never looking up.
Lois and Clark look at one another, shocked. Things are a little clearer, perhaps.
"Sweetie, come sit with us," Lois gestures for Julie to come. She lays down her blue crayon and joins them on the couch.
"Your daddy loved your mommy, didn't he?" Clark asks.
"He never said so," Julie snuggles tighter to them. "He called her stupid. He was so mad when she got pregnant!"
"With you?" Lois wonders how she knew.
"No, with my little brother." Julie basically whispers.
"Your brother? You don't have a brother-
It dawns.
"Daddy made mommy kill him." Julie tightens her hold on Lois' arm.
'OH GOD!' Both of them. 'An abortion, and she knew?'
"You knew he was a boy?" Clark wonders.
"Mommy told me." She starts crying. "I was supposed to be his big sister . . . I miss him," Julie whispers.
'We can fix this!' CK smiles at Lois.
"Yes, we can, my love!' LL nods back.
8888888888888
TBC
This is one of the toughest situations physicians, or any medical professional faces. Especially with surviving children. Experience helps; it never becomes easy.