Army brat, Farm guy

Chapter 9 Beyond a name

Daily Planet bullpen

Jimmy Olsen saunters by Cat Grant's cubicle, dropping a copy of the Geneva Times on her desk. "Read it and weep," he whispers as he chuckles and moves on to Perry White's office. He has two more papers to deliver.

"WHAT IS THIS?" He hears from behind him. "James Olsen, get back here!" He stops; Cat stomps up to him, stopping well within his space. "And where did you get this?"

"Sources." He calmly says.

"Hmpf! You saw the front page?" She huffs.

"Of course, I thought you'd be interested."

She was. There on the front page was THE BLUR pictured with a youngish couple – Georg and Ingrid Olafson the caption read.

The story below detailed the search & rescue operation on the Matterhorn, after a devastating avalanche.

Clark was listening, of course.

"What's going on?" Lois whispers.

He raises a hand, asking her to wait.

She does, rather impatiently as she takes another bite of her strudel. And a sip of her best-ever-coffee.

Cat stops by their desks as she stomps back to her own. "You two seen this?" She huffs as she holds up the front page.

"Ah, no actually," Clark posits as he reaches for the paper.

Cat snatches it out of reach. "Mine," she snorts as she turns and leaves.

"Geez, what was that?" Lois wonders as she stuffs the last bite of strudel into her mouth. "Good s'uff!" She mouths through that last bite.

"LANE, KENT, my office NOW!" The command reverberates thru the bullpen.

The pair rise as one and hustle to Perry White's office. They take seats before the boss' desk.

Perry holds up his copy of the European paper. There is the picture and article, courtesy of Jimmy. Lois takes it and holds it up so she and Clark can both see.

After a few moments, Clark takes the paper and carefully reads the story.

"How is the reporting?" Perry asks him.

"Accurate and well written," Clark answers. "Not up to our standards though," he looks to his partner and girlfriend.

"Good answer," she smiles at him.

There is pounding on the door just before Cat barges in. She stops abruptly. "Perry, you've seen this?" She holds up the very same paper.

"Yes," Clark holds up their copy.

"Well, what are we gonna do?" Cat places her hands on her hips. She scowls.

"About what?" Perry acts puzzled.

"The BLUR! In Europe! Is he gonna save the whole damn planet!"

FORTUNATELY, the other three stop themselves from laughing. Or other telling responses. It was a close call.

"Miss Grant, what is your issue?"

"Well . . . he's supposed to be helping Metropolis!"

"Do you think we own him or something?" Lois snorts. (Leaving herself, personally, out of it!)

"Ah, no but-

"But what?" Clark adds.

Cat turns on her heels and goes back to her desk.

The rest look at each other, wondering what that was all about. Lois takes the paper and reads carefully. "So, Perry. What do we do with this? Anything?"

"Should we pick it up and do a reprint?" Clark asks.

"What say you two?" He holds out his hands, palms up.

Lois and Clark look at each other and shrug, "Why not?"

"Ok, we'll do it and see what response we get."

They all agree.

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KENT FARM, SMALLVILLE

Lois and Clark are "home" for the weekend.

"Superman, huh? I love it!" Martha exclaims. Jonathon isn't so sure.

"Mom, do you remember that piece of material I had? The one with the House of El's emblem, you know what I mean?"

"Yes, I'll find it." She runs upstairs, and in moments is back. She holds up a patch of cloth; it has a black diamond shape with the points at N-E-S-W. In the center was a stylized letter S.

"That's it!" Clark declares.

"Honey, I've been working with those tools you made for me. So I can use the blankets that came with you in the space pod."

"Aw, Clarkie's blankie!" Lois mocks him, lovingly.

He glares, then kisses her. "Yes, my blankets. I was a baby, you know."

"I know, sorry."

"Forgiven."

Jonathon is softening towards this relationship. It seems genuine.

"Let me add this to what I have. I'll have something ready for you to model for us on Sunday, before you head home."

"OH! A little GQ!" Lois likes this.

Clark does glare now.

She giggles, and does the kissing.

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SUNDAY AM

Clark comes downstairs, stops in the middle of the LR and does a slow pirouette.

"Oh, my!" Lois covers her mouth with a hand. "That . . . ah . . . leaves very little to the imagination! I don't know if I like that." She is blushing furiously by now.

Jonathon joins her in that.

Martha inputs, "Well, it is patterned on the Kryptonian battle dress that Clark showed me."

"Yes, mom, it is." Clark agrees.

"You like it?" Lois raises an eyebrow.

"It will take some getting used to – but it does honor my Kryptonian heritage. So, yeah, I like it."

"Ok, let's do it." Lois acquiesces. "Martha, you said something about a flying suit for me?"

"Yes, up in Clark's closet. Why don't you try it on and model it too?"

She goes upstairs, returning in 3". Lois does the pirouette. Clark is speechless. Lois is head to toe in tight, black leather. Talk about needing no imagination! Wow!

"See something you like, Mr. Kent?" Lois grins.

All he can do is nod slowly, smiling all the while.

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Before Lois and Clark leave they have one more talk regarding costumes.

"Lois, would you like another suit? Maybe another color; white, blue like Clark, red, pink?'" Martha grins.

"Mother!" Clark sputters. "Pink?"

Lois is laughing, holding her sides. She finally can talk, "I don't necessarily want to match Clark. Maybe white?" She looks to Clark.

He nods, "I think white would look very nice. Can you have one to try in a couple of weeks?"

"Yes, will you come for the weekend?"

Lois and Clark look at each other, they nod. "Yes, we will plan on that," Lois responds.

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2 WEEKENDS LATER

Lois and Clark flew in late Friday afternoon. They entered the back door and announced their arrival.

"Mom, dad, we're here. We brought some coffee!" Lois voices. She puts 2-2 lb. sacks into the cupboard. "These bags are so cute; they were my first solid clue that something was going on."

"I remember that. I wasn't sure what to think."

"Yeah, you were speechless there for a bit."

"I was. Then I recovered. I knew dad had warned Chloe that we needed cover."

"What! She was in on it right from the start?"

"Hey mom, what's for supper?"

"No, no, don't change the topic on me!"

"What were we talking about?" He tries to look innocent.

She doesn't buy it. "WE were talking about coffee, Chloe, your obfuscation etc."

"OH. Aren't you hungry, dear?"

"Yes, hungry for the truth!"

"Can't eat that."

"Kids, so great to see you!" Saved by mom as she bursts into the kitchen. "I've got a white suit to show you, dear." Martha pulls Lois toward the stairs.

Lois looks back over her shoulder, as if to say "This isn't over!"

Shortly Lois comes downstairs in a shimmering white flying suit.

Clark is again dumbstruck. Now, Lois has him right where she wants hm. And he's not complaining.

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