Hello! Sorry this chapter is so short. It really didn't want to be written, but I made it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Superman or any other associated characters.

Chapter 2: A Helping Hand

Clark could not have been more relieved than he was about Lois' intervention.

"Thanks for that, Lois; I don't know why..."

Lois cut him off. "What did she mean by 'See you at lunch'? I hope you're not planning to actually eat with that woman."

"She invited herself. Before I knew what was happening..."

Lois rambled on like she didn't hear him. "I just know that you're not always the most aware and street smart person. But trust me, she's not the kind of women you need to get involved with. She's a man eater."

"Lois"

"I mean, I just don't want to see you hurt."

"Lois"

"She's not really your type anyway."

Clark jumped in when Lois stopped to take a breath. "Lois, I'm not completely stupid. I don't plan to get involved with Cat Grant."

"Oh. Well, that's good. I guess I'll just get back to my article then." Before Clark could reply, she walked abruptly back to her desk.

SSSSSSSS

Lois left the conversation feeling a little embarrassed. Of course Clark knew how to take care of himself. The last year had proved that despite his outward appearance of vulnerability, Clark was far savvier and resilient than she used to think.

He had been her rock since Richard left her. The failure of her relationship had been both unexpected and long in coming. She had been living in denial for so long that the last nail in coffin, Jason's true parentage, caught her by surprise. She had loved Richard, but maybe she had loved the normality he let her believe in more. With Richard by her side, she could pretend she had a normal family and lived a normal life.

Who was she kidding? Lois Lane didn't do normal. No, Lois Lane had a superhero's child and now, no father for that child. Sure, Superman was "always around" but sometimes it'd be nice to actually see the man.

That's where Clark had come in. He had caught her crying in the archive room and before long she was spilling the whole sad story out to him: the truth about Jason's father, her fight with Richard, their breakup, her confusion about what this meant about her relationship with Superman. Maybe it was foolish telling him so much, but if she couldn't tell Clark, the most trustworthy person she knew, who could she tell.

He had been wonderful, more than wonderful really. He let her cry on his shoulder, helped her find an apartment, looked after Jason when she needed a babysitter, and started working as her partner again. He was her best friend and her biggest support, so yeah, he could take care of himself.

Nevertheless, she really, really, really did not want to see him with Cat Grant. So she wasn't going to let her just step in and try all her little tricks. It doesn't take much for an experienced woman like Cat to fool a sincere man like Clark into believing whatever she wants.

SSSSSSSS

To say that Clark was confused would be an understatement. There was Cat's rather blatant advances than Lois' weird overreaction to the situation. Sure they had been close of late, but Lois kept things firmly in the "friend zone." What did matter if the new reporter was interested in him?

Not that Clark had planned to lunch with her anyway. Miss Grant was attractive in an openly sexual way, but like Lois had said, she wasn't his type. And he was in love with Lois, not that she knew of or returned his feelings.

Still, her behavior over the matter was odd. Very odd. After a moment, he decided consider it part of the over-protectiveness he had often seen her exhibit with Jason and leave it at that.