Here's another chapter. Have fun!

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

Chapter 4: Time Bomb

Lois did not like Cat Grant any better after knowing her for two weeks. She didn't know if the woman was stupid or just couldn't take a hint. Either way, nothing she or Clark did had stopped the woman from flirting and trying to arrange dates with him. How clear could they make it! He was not interested!

After day five of this behavior, Lois had been ready to confront her directly. Clark however, didn't want to make a fuss or cause a fight. As usual, the man was simply too nice for his own good.

Today, Lois was done with avoidance. She would talk to Miss Grant herself if Clark wouldn't. She just had to wait for him to get out of the office first.

Unfortunately, none of Clark's mysterious last-minute errands had taken up his attention today, and Lois had been forced to wait until he left to pick up Jason. When she knew that he had definitely gone, she preceded directly over to Cat's desk with the intention of killing her amorous intentions once and for all.

Cat was there, typing away casually on her latest column and looked up as Lois approached. "Hello, Ms. Lane. Did you need something?"

"Yes, actually, I'd like to speak in private."

"Of course, why don't go into a conference room."

The two women preceded to the empty room in the back of the bullpen where Lois got straight to the point.

"I want you to leave Clark alone."

"Why should I do that? I like Clark."

Lois was already prepared with a rebuttal. "Well, for one, he's not your type..."

Cat interrupted her, "Oh, trust me, Clark Kent is my type."

"I'm sure lots of men are your type, Cat, but I doubt Clark really falls under that category. He's shy, subdued. I don't even know if he's ever even had a girlfriend in his whole life."

"Oh, don't be so naive, Lois," Cat snapped back. "Clark Kent is a gorgeous man even though he hides it well. I'm sure he has had his share of women. And you should know that shy, subdued, attractive men are exactly my type."

Lois was struck dumb, not a very common occurrence. Cat Grant thought Clark was a "gorgeous man"? Clark, who wore ugly suits and occasionally tripped over his own feet, was a "gorgeous man"?

Cat interrupted Lois' thoughts with one last thought of her own. "Maybe you should be asking yourself why you are so concerned about Clark's love life. I should go; I still have an article to finish."

SSSS

Relations were awkward between Lois and Clark that afternoon. Clark kept thinking about what Jason had said in the car. Lois had needed a friend, and so he had suppressed his romantic feelings and been one. Now she had grown to depend on him, almost treating him like a boyfriend, but without moving forward in the relationship.

Jason's questions had brought back all those suppressed feelings. Being around Lois immediately after was making it worse, and her strange behavior toward him didn't help either. She spent the whole time glancing at him like she was trying to figure something out.

Had he let his secrets slip? He had spent so long hiding things from her, mostly his true feelings and his identity as Superman, but he couldn't imagine she had suddenly put everything together now. If she had, he doubted his reception would have been a silent chill, probably more like a fiery inferno. Or a stab with a kryptonite shiv, this time right in the heart.

Whatever her issue was, she didn't want to talk about it. Instead they spent the rest of the afternoon digging through old expense receipts from the mayor's office looking for discrepancies while Jason did his homework at the next desk over. Around six, Lois decided to call it a night, had Jason gather his things, and headed home.

Clark kept searching for another half hour before he left. After slipping into the elevator, he quickly changed into the red and blue suit and flew off to do his other job. Hopefully, he'd be able to sort out whatever was going with Lois tomorrow.