Winner Takes All
Folc4evernaday
Part 13
***
Two Months Later…
The next few weeks, Lois and Clark still hadn’t gotten any closer to solving the mystery of the attack against the Metros. Although, Clark had suspected Lex Luthor might be behind it; he could never prove it.
“It’s been two months since these fires have started, Henderson. Are you telling me the police don’t have any leads?” Lois inquired impatiently.
“I never said that. We’ve been getting reports every day and we’ve been following them up, but nothing has panned out.” Henderson explained grimly.
“What about the rumors that these fires an attack from a rival gang? Is there any merit to them?” Clark asked.
Henderson sighed, “I haven’t gotten anything concrete, but there is SOME merit to the rumors…That’s all I can say, and what I just gave you is off the record…”
“Oh, come on, Bill, you’ve got to give me something…” Lois argued.
Henderson looked around nervously then jotted down a name and number on a piece of paper. “If anyone will know anything he will.”
“The homeless shelter?” Lois asked.
“Bobby Bigmouth?” Clark read the name skeptically.
“He’s trustworthy and eats like a horse.” Henderson whispered in a barely audible tone.
“Why are you giving us your snitch?” Clark asked.
Henderson jotted a note down on another piece of paper and handed it to them. “Metropolis P.D. can’t be trusted. Bobby knows why. Don’t ask any more questions. People are watching.”
Lois and Clark read the note and nodded. “So, that’s it?” Lois asked.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t help,” Henderson said, standing up to shake their hands.
***
“Excuse me?” Lois asked.
“Food for information.” The skinny man said in between bites. “That’s how it works. I don’t work for free.”
“Fine.” Lois pulled out her cellular phone, “What do you want?”
“Mexican!” Bobby’s eyes got big as he spoke. She could practically see the drool coming out of his mouth.
“Cuernavaca Grill, how may I help you?” The receptionist answered the phone.
“Yes, I want to place an order for to-go…”
Within a half hour, Lois and Clark had watched Bobby Bigmouth put away enough food to feed a family of six. “That’s what I’m talking about.” Bobby leaned back, rubbing his stomach.
“Okay, you got fed. Now talk.” Lois said.
“Henderson said you wanted to know about the fires in Southside?”
“Do you know who’s behind it?” Clark asked.
“You sure you want to know? Because once you’ve crossed into this; there’s no going back...People have been killed over this information…”
“Would you just spill it!” Lois snapped.
“Somebody’s crabby…Okay, I’ve got a buddy that works in Judge Chamberlin’s office. The other night, he found this floppy disk in the judge’s trash. Being curious he looked to see what was on it.” Bobby pulled out a floppy disk from his coat pocket. “It’s got some interesting stuff on it.”
“Okay, what about the police? Henderson said we couldn’t trust the Metropolis P.D…Why is that?” Clark asked.
“That’s how it all starts. They buy politicians, the D.A., judges, cops…they’re all paid to look the other way while they try to move in.”
“While who tries to move in?” Lois asked.
“All I know is the FBI’s code name for them is ‘Intergang’ and there’s a coincidental connection between Intergang and a certain chain of department stores. That’s all I got, but I’ll keep you posted. Next time, get me some Italian…” Bobby got up and headed out, leaving Lois and Clark to ponder over the new information.
***
The crackling of lightning struck the ground. The rumble of the storm echoed in the night sky. Another bolt of lightning struck a tall oak tree, splitting it in two. Under the rubble of the broken tree limbs and burnt debris, an eerie green light was emitted.
“What in the world is this?” Wayne Irig pulled a glowing green rock from the rubble and looked at it curiously. “This is the second one I’ve found in the last month.” He took the rock and carried it over to his neighbor, Jonathan’s. Maybe he would have an idea about what it could be…
***
Lois sat at her computer with Clark, looking over the information Bobby Bigmouth had given them, “Look at this. He wasn’t kidding when he said this was big. If these reports are true, half the major cities in the world might’ve been infiltrated by this…Intergang.”
“Look what happened to the reporter that last reported on it…fatal car accident.” Clark pointed out grimly.
“Something tells me it wasn’t an accident,” Lois said. “Why hasn’t anyone busted these guys?”
“I don’t know, but it looks to me like they are trying to push the Metros out of Metropolis so they can move in,” Clark said grimly. “As if we don’t have enough problems here already with Luthor.”
“Tell me about it,” Lois remarked grimly.
“Did you ever figure out what Linda was going undercover at the Metro Club for?” Clark asked.
Lois glared at him, “No, and I am not going to ask her.”
“So, when exactly are you going to tell me what is up with the bad blood between the two of you?” Clark asked.
“She’s a conniving rat that needs to crawl back in the sewer she came from.” Lois snapped. “That’s all you need to know. Can we please talk about something else?”
“Okay, I think you need to find out what she was investigating.”
“Why?” Lois glared at him.
“Well, Johnny Taylor is missing, Toni Taylor is in intensive care…I don’t think there’s anyone left that we know of from the leadership of the Metros.”
“I am not calling her.” Lois glared at him.
“Fine.” Clark reached over and picked up her phone.
“What are you doing?”
“Metropolis Star please,” Clark said into the phone.
“Clark!”
Clark waved her off, “I’d like to speak with Linda King. Tell her it’s Clark Kent. Thank you.”
“Are you crazy?” Lois hissed, trying to grab the phone from him.
“You said YOU wouldn’t call her; so I’m doing it for you,” Clark remarked. He then turned his attention to the voice on the other end of the phone, “Yes, Linda, hi. This is Clark Kent. Listen, Lois and I had a few questions and were wondering if you’d be willing to meet us for coffee…Great. Thanks...Bye.” He hung up the phone. “It’s for the story, Lois.”
“I don’t have to like it.” Lois snapped.
***
“Lois, this is a surprise. I thought you hated me.” Linda smiled as she sat down across from Lois and Clark.
“I do.” Lois said.
“Lo-is..” Clark warned.
“Fine. I don’t hate you…I dislike your choices of behavior…” She turned towards Clark, “Better?”
Linda was watching them amused, “So, what’s this about?”
“We need to know what you were investigating at the Metro Club before the fire.” Clark said.
Linda laughed, “Why would I tell you that?”
“Because the entire Southside has been turned into a barbeque and we’re trying to figure out why..” Lois snapped.
“If I help you; I want shared by-line.” Linda said.
“What?!?” Lois hissed.
“We’ll talk to Perry, but we can’t promise anything. We can at least add you as a special contribution.” Clark said.
Linda contemplated for a moment then nodded, “Fine. I was investigating the use of drugs on customers in an illegal prostitution ring. From what my source was able to tell the drug was given to customers and then within an hour they were begging for sex; willing to pay anything and everything for the relief…”
“Oh, my God…” Lois gasped, covering her mouth in shock.
“Lois..” Clark put a supportive hand on her shoulder.
“You know what they were using?” Linda inquired with an arched eyebrow.
“Maybe.” Clark said grimly. “The night before the fire Lois was drugged…”
“Interesting..” Linda said with an arched eyebrow.
Lois glared back at her and Clark cut in, “I took her to the hospital before anything got out of hand, but…”
“This doesn’t make sense. Why would they target you?” Linda asked. “The usual targets are men.”
“I don’t know.” Lois said sharply.
“Well, keep me posted. This was fun. We should do it more often.” Linda smiled as she stood up. “Later, Lois…” She gave a long glance up and down Clark’s body, “Clark…”
Lois watched her leave in disgust. “She makes me so sick…” she muttered.
“Who would do such a thing?” Clark muttered, “Could Lucy have been exposed to the same drug as you?” The idea of Lucy being exposed to the type of thugs associated with the Metros made Lois’ skin crawl. She felt a wave of nausea wash over her. “Lois?” Clark looked at her concerned.
Lois clamped her hand over her mouth. “I think I’m gonna hurl..” She muttered, dashing for the ladies room in the small café.
***
The remainder of the week, Lois’ nausea had gotten worse. She tried to continue working on the investigation with Clark from home, but it had gotten tiresome and near impossible. She had thought her nausea had subsided and had come over to Clark’s to work on the investigation; only to end up getting another wave of nausea when she smelt the dinner he had been cooking. She now lay on his bed curled up into a ball, willing the pain throughout her body to go away.
“Lois, are you sure you’re okay?” Clark asked concerned, handing her a cup of tea.
“No…” Lois said, shaking her head.
“You have been sick the last two days.” Clark pointed out. “You need to rest.”
“I’ve been resting..” She argued, pushing herself up from her bed.
“Working from your bed isn’t resting. Have you seen a doctor yet?”
“No…It's probably just the flu or something. Lucy had it last week.” Lois mumbled taking a sip of her tea. “Have you found anything out about the drugs the Metros were using?”
“There’s no sign of any drugs in the wreckage of the club or any of the warehouses,” Clark said grimly.
“Doesn’t necessarily mean anything,” Lois said dryly.
“I know,” Clark said. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” At his concerned look she sighed, “Look, if I’m not better by the end of the week I’ll go to the doctor. Okay?” He nodded, seeming to accept that answer, “You are such a mother hen. Haven’t you ever had the flu before?”
“It’s…been awhile…” he said evasively. “Look, why don’t you stay the night? I’ll fix you some soup. In the morning I’ll take you to the doctor…”
“Clark…” She groaned. “I don’t NEED to go to the doctor. My father is a doctor. My mother was a nurse. I know what flu symptoms are. I don’t want to waste the time going to the doctor’s only to be told the same thing I already know. There’s nothing they can do for it anyway. It just has to run its course.”
Clark gave her a weak smile and laid down on the bed next to her, wrapping a protective arm around her. “I just hate to see you hurting.” He whispered, placing a kiss on her forehead. He lightly stroked her hair and within a few minutes, she had fallen asleep.
***
One Week Later….
As predicted, Lois' flu symptoms had passed within the week. Once her illness had passed she dove back into the investigation into Intergang with Clark, but they still hadn't made any headway. Lois was still feeling a little under the weather but didn't let Clark know for fear that he would try and coddle her even more.
Lois woke up feeling slightly chilled. She looked around at her surroundings and groaned when she saw Clark wasn’t in bed next to her. “Clark?” She called. Seeing his dress shirt from the night before on the floor next to her, she reached down and put it on; leaving it unbuttoned. She then went into the living room to look for her missing boyfriend. “Clark?”
Clark was just coming in the door with a bag of pastries from the deli down the street. “You’re up. I got some breakfast.” He handed her the bag and gave her a quick good morning kiss.
“I thought we discussed this whole, ’you leaving me alone in bed’ thing.” She pouted linking her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
“Sorry. I didn’t want to have to dash out for breakfast later.” He leaned down to kiss her once more. He looked down to get a better look at her and smiled, “You’re wearing my shirt.”
Lois grinned up at him, “I think it looks better on me.” She teased.
“I’d have to agree, but I’m going to have to get my shirt back.” He said, lowering his mouth to hers once more. He wrapped his arms around her as he walked them back into the kitchen to put the pastries on the counter.
“Clark…what about breakfast?” Lois asked as he began his assault on her neckline.
“Later.” He said in between ragged breaths. He pressed her up against the wall at the opening in between the living room and kitchen. He threw the bag of pastries on the counter then allowed his hands to roam up and down her thighs, focused on anything but breakfast at the moment.
Oh, God, Clark…” She moaned as he trailed a path of open mouthed kisses along her collar bone.
The ringing of the phone next to them broke the moment. “You have got to be kidding me,” Clark muttered, reaching for the phone. “Hello?”
“Who is it?” She mouthed to him.
“Hi, Dad…” Lois grimaced as she looked down at their current state of undress. Not exactly the ideal situation to be talking to your parents on the phone. He loosened his grip on her, lowering her back to the ground as he continued the conversation. “Wait, slow down. Okay okay okay…I get it. Yeah..We’ll check it out. Okay, thanks bye.”
“What was that about?” Lois asked.
“My dad said their neighbor, Wayne Irig got pushed off his property in the middle of the night by some government agency, waving warrants and wanting information on Superman,” Clark replied grimly.
“What?” Lois turned on her heel to face him.
“Sound familiar?” Clark asked.
“The only government agency that’s had any interest in Superman was…”
“Bureau 39.” Clark finished grimly.
“Trask,” Lois muttered grimly.
“I think we better plan a trip down there and check it out.”
Lois gave him a wayward smile, “Chasing after Trask wasn’t exactly what I imagined when your mom had invited me to come visit.”
***
One Week Later…
Lois glared at the train as it continued to run across the track in front of her, showing no sign of ending. “How long is this going to take?” She glared at Clark who seemed perfectly at ease.
Clark sighed, shooting her a megawatt smile, “It takes as long as it takes.”
“I didn’t realize Zen was so popular in the country.” Lois remarked.
“It always takes people from the city a while to decompress. Fortunately for you this weekend Smallville’s hosting the annual Corn Festival.” Clark said happily.
“This is a GOOD thing?” Lois asked skeptically.
“Sure. We’ll see the Corn Queen Pageant. The Husk-off. The Corn-o-rama. Popcorn, creamed corn, corn on the cob. We’re in luck.”
Lois sarcastically placed a hand over her chest, “Be still my heart.”
Clark laughed, “No seriously it’s a lot of fun. You might even enjoy yourself.”
“Whatever.” Lois shrugged. “As long as we can catch Trask this time. I want him bagged and tagged and sent down to the nearest funny farm.”
“You and me both.” Clark said.
***
Clark pointed to the farmhouse at the end of the dirt road that was swarming with activity. Men in protective suits were everywhere, coming in and out of the two large tent structures that had been set up on the property. “Dad wasn’t kidding when he said they tore Wayne’s property up.”
Lois glared at the site in disgust. “I swear, government agencies make me sick…”
They exited the rental car and approached the gate where an African American Woman stood, giving orders to one of the men. “Excuse me?” Lois waved to get the woman’s attention.
“Sorry. Off limits to the public.” The woman said.
Lois and Clark simultaneously pulled out their press passes. “We’re not the public. We’re the press.” Lois said.
“We’ve already issued a statement to the local paper…” the woman began evasively.
“I’m Clark Kent; this is Lois Lane. We’re with the Daily Planet.” Clark gestured to Lois.
“I’m Carol Sherman, EPA Field Liaison.” Sherman extended her hand to shake both Lois and Clark’s which they both took. “What’s a newspaper like yours doing here?”
“Well, that’s why we’re called the Daily Planet.” Clark smiled. “We cover the world.”
“Like Smallville.” Lois smiled, her eyes narrowing as she sized Sherman up.
“Well, what you’re seeing here is an ecological risk assessment.” Sherman pointed behind her. “During the sixties, the owner used a lot of pesticides and we’re concerned about the seepage into the local ground water.”
“Giving people more than what they bargained for at the dinner table?” Lois asked.
“That’s it. Public safety. No big story I’m afraid.”
“We’ll need to speak with Wayne Irig,” Clark said.
“Mr. Irig’s been given relocation money during testing. He didn’t say where he went.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ve got that information somewhere,” Lois said pointedly. “We’ll check back.”
“Ms. Sherman, are you sure this is just EPA’s doing?” Clark asked pointedly. “I find it hard to believe they would go to all this trouble..” He gestured to the construction behind her, “..and not even bother any of the surrounding neighbors. If the ground was exposed to pesticides here, wouldn’t it make sense to check the neighbor’s property as well?”
“Well, we only just now received a call from the Smallville Sherriff about the ground…” Sherman was cut off once again by Clark.
“Also, Mr. Irig wouldn’t be able to go anywhere this weekend. The hotels have been booked months in advance for the Smallville Corn Festival…and no government agency would pay the money to relocate a man outside of the parameter of the city his property’s in.”
“The government has pull…” Sherman snapped.
Clark narrowed his eyes at her and began scanning the property. Nothing in the house. The tents seemed to be lined with lead. “We’ll be back,” Lois said, pulling Clark away from Sherman.
“I know you want to find Trask, Clark, but you can’t go around threatening the EPA..” Lois hissed.
“I don’t buy the smoke she’s trying to blow up our…” Clark muttered.
Lois sighed, “Okay, fine, she’s lying. What are we gonna do about it?”
Clark got thoughtful a moment, “I don’t know. I’ve just got an eerie feeling…”
“Yeah…” Lois nodded, reaching for the handle of the car door. Missing the handle, she tripped slightly, “Whoa…”
Clark caught her before she hit the ground. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah…I just got a little dizzy there for a second…” Lois said sheepishly.
“You wanna go lie down?” He asked, concerned.
“No. I’m fine.” Her stomach growled a little, “I think I’m just a bit hungry.”
“Well, we have been on the road for hours…” Clark said, climbing into the driver’s seat. Lois nodded. He tried not to let her see the occasional glances he kept stealing at her. She was looking really pale….
***
“Where are we?” Lois asked, looking at the farmhouse they had just pulled up to.
“My parents' farmhouse. I figured we could get settled, get you something to eat then meet them at the festival.” Clark explained, grabbing the bags from the trunk of the car.
“Okay.” Lois nodded, following Clark inside. She examined the simple décor of the farmhouse. It had a warm, welcoming feel to it. She spotted an easel with a canvas of colorful shapes painted on it.
Clark walked up behind her, placing two supportive arms around her waist. “Mom’s artwork.” He said simply as if that explained everything. “I put your bags in my room. Now, what do you feel like eating? I’m pretty sure Mom’s got stuff for a turkey sandwich.”
“Yeah, a sandwich sounds good.” Lois nodded.
“Here.” Clark poured her a glass of water. “Sit down and drink this. You really don’t look good.”
“Gee thanks…” She muttered sarcastically. She sat down at the table and took a long sip of the water. “It's probably just some after effects from the flu.”
“You ready for something to eat?” Clark laid a plate with a turkey sandwich and a few crackers in front of her.
Lois nodded. She hadn’t felt hungry earlier, but now she was famished. She took the sandwich gratefully and devoured it within a few minutes. Once she had finished she noticed Clark watching her with raised eyebrows. “What?”
“Nothing.” He murmured. “You ready?”
“Yeah. Thanks. I feel so much better.” Lois smiled gratefully.
***
“You really think Sherman was lying completely or just partially? Irig could be somewhere around town..” Lois reasoned.
Clark shook his head. “If Wayne went anywhere; he’d go to my parents. Ever since his wife died he’s been kinda a hermit. He doesn’t really socialize that well.”
“That’s so sad,” Lois said mournfully.
“Yeah, I remember before she died they used to make the best caramel apples every Halloween…”
“Mmmmm…Caramel apples sound good.” Lois said wistfully.
“Did you actually eat anything before we left?” Clark asked.
“I was in a hurry,” Lois said briskly. “Oh, look, there’s your mother. I think I’ll go say ‘hi.’” She brushed past him to go greet Martha.
Clark watched her leave and shook his head. “I will never understand her…” He moved to join Lois and Martha who were standing over by the corn dog station. Lois had bought three of them and was scarfing them down as she and his mother walked.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to get to the bottom of this. We just need to find Trask….” Lois was saying as he approached.
“I know. A man that powerful and that crazy is a deadly combination….Hi, Clark..” His mom turned to greet him.
“Hi, mom…” Clark hugged his mother.
“Oh, my God…These are to die for. You have got to try one.” Lois turned towards Clark as she finished the last of the corn dog.
Clark smiled, “I’m sure they are.”
“Have either you or Jonathan seen Mr. Irig since the construction started on his property?” Lois asked.
Martha shook her head, “No…We last saw him last weekend; he came over for dinner.” Martha said. “He and Jonathan had talked for a bit out in the barn. You can ask him about it. He may have an idea what is going on…”
“I still don’t understand why Trask is looking for Superman in Smallville. It doesn’t make any sense…” Lois said.
Clark gave Martha a pleading look, “Well, dear, never try to make sense out of a mad man’s mind. You’ll drive yourself crazy. Why don’t we check out the pies over at the bake sale…” Martha steered Lois away, giving Clark an opportunity to look for his dad.
***
“Colonel Trask, I just spoke with a couple of reporters. Lois Lane and Clark Kent from the Daily Planet. They were asking quite a few questions and they weren’t buying the EPA story you instructed me to feed the public.” Sherman said, entering the tent behind the Irig property.
“Well, of course, they didn’t buy the story. They are Metropolis’ best reporters, are they not? Well, if they’re in Smallville then that means Superman must be close by.” Trask turned to face Sherman. “Make a call to the boss and instruct him to take care of Jenkins and Kenn. They have outlived their usefulness to Bureau 39.”
“Yes, sir.” Sherman nodded.
***
Jonathan was taking his apron off after being relieved as cook for the festival by Mark Walden. He turned to scan the crowd for Martha when a familiar face appeared behind him. “Clark, when did you get here?”
“A couple hours ago,” Clark said, giving him a hug.
“So, how are you doing?” Jonathan asked as they walked towards a more secluded area of the festival.
“I’d be better if Trask was behind bars. You and mom haven’t heard anything from him?” Clark asked.
“No.” Jonathan shook his head. “Did you come alone?” He asked in a hushed whisper.
“No, I came with Lois. Mom’s showing her the pies…” Clark rolled his eyes. “She didn’t eat anything before she left and she’s recovering from the flu; so her appetite’s been kinda in overdrive today.”
“Ah…” Jonathan nodded. “Well, I have something Wayne gave me for safe keeping that I need to show you in private...In case you haven’t figured it out already, they’re not digging for pesticides at Wayne’s.”
“I figured as much. What are they looking for?”
“A rock.”
“A rock?” Clark asked, confused.
“Clark!” Martha’s voice echoed across the aisle. She motioned for him and Jonathan to follow.
“I guess that’s our cue, huh?” Jonathan chuckled. “Your mother seems to have taken to Lois quite well.”
“Yeah.” Clark nodded. “I need to tell her, dad.”
“Well, I’m never one to argue with your mother. If she trusts her, and you’re sure…I still don’t like the idea of …”
“I know, dad,” Clark cut him off, “but Lois is trustworthy and I need to tell her.”
“Okay. It’s your secret.” Jonathan patted his shoulder as they approached Martha and Lois.
***
Martha and Jonathan were enjoying the festivities while Lois and Clark stole some quiet time away from the crowd. They watched everyone enjoying the attractions a bit secluded from the rest of Smallville’s crowd. Clark was nervously threading his fingers in between Lois’ as he tried to figure out the best way to tell Lois about Superman. “Is it always this hot here?” Lois asked, fanning herself with her notebook.
“It’ll cool down once the sun sets.” Clark smiled at her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders as they walked.
Lois leaned against him, “How do you put up with it? Not a single drop of sweat..” She noted, looking up at his forehead.
“Good genes?” He suggested. Lois gave him a questioning look and he sobered. “There is a reason and I do want to tell you…in private.”
“What is it?” Lois asked, turning to face him.
“Clark?” A female voice behind them caught Clark’s attention, distracting him from a much-needed conversation.
He smiled when he saw the source of the interruption. “Rachael?” He turned to give his old friend a hug.
“Hey, I thought I recognized you over there,” Rachael said. She glanced up and down his figure a minute, “Boy, you haven’t changed a bit.”
Clark took Lois’ hand and pulled her to him, “Rachael, this is Lois Lane…Lois, this is Rachael Harris..” He looked more carefully at her uniform and smiled, “I guess it's Sherriff Harris now, huh?”
“Hey, don’t let this uniform fool you. I can still Tush Push better than anyone in this town.” Rachael grinned.
Clark laughed, “I’m sure you can.”
“It’s nice to meet you. I was wondering if Clark would ever bring you down here. Martha’s been talking nonstop about you for the past month.” Rachael said, extending her hand for Lois to shake.
“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?” Lois asked skeptically.
“If Martha thinks enough of you to talk about you; it’s a good thing,” Rachael assured her. “So, you two came down to see the Corn Festival? It’s been a few years since you’ve graced us with your presence in time for the festival, Clark.” She wagged her finger at him.
Clark blushed. He had quit coming to the Smallville festivals when he had been traveling. “I’ve been a little busy..”.
Rachael shot him a generous smile, “I hear that. So, what’s it like in Metropolis? I’ve only visited a couple times..”
“Busy,” Clark answered.
“Chaotic,” Lois added.
“I bet it was incredible meeting Superman…” Rachael’s eyes took on a dream-like state. “I would love to meet some of the celebrities that come in and out of Metropolis.”
“You get used to it after awhile,” Lois said. “So, how do you two know each other?”
Clark picked up the edge of hesitancy in her tone. “Rachael and I went to high school together.”
“Yeah, we’re just old friends. Don’t worry I ain’t gonna snag your man. He’s more like a brother to me than anything.”
“Gee thanks,” Clark said sarcastically.
Rachael punched him jokingly. “You know what I mean. Now, Lana Lang on the other hand…”
“Rachael..” Clark gave a warning tone. He really didn’t want to discuss Lana. They had dated off and on during high school but it had never been anything serious. She seemed to think more of their relationship than he had.
“Snobbiest girl in the Midwest, I’m telling you…Look out…” Rachael said.
“I’ll keep my eye out,” Lois said with a smile. “So, as Sherriff, you know everything that goes on around here, right?”
“Pretty much.” Rachael nodded.
“Did Smallville request the EPA to come out there on Wayne Irig’s land and survey it?” Clark asked.
Rachael shook her head, “No. They just showed up; said their orders came from Washington.”
“I told you she was lying,” Clark said. “What about Wayne? Has anyone seen him?”
Rachael shook her head, “No, I haven’t seen him, but you know how he likes to keep to himself.” Just then her radio began to beep. “Duty calls. I’ll ask around about Wayne. Lois, we’ll catch up later and trade Clark stories…away from the subject of discussion of course.” She winked at them as she left.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Clark said, pulling Lois to him.
“What? You don’t want me to learn all the dirt on you?” She teased, turning around to face him.
“That’s not what I meant…I just might not live through the embarrassing stories that get shared.” Clark said miserably.
Lois leaned up to kiss him, “That’s what makes them fun to listen to.” She teased, linking her arms around his neck.
“Maybe I should ask Lucy all the embarrassing stories about you. It’d only be fair..”
“Who’s Lana Lang?” Lois asked pointedly.
Clark sighed. He knew that was coming. “Uh, just someone I dated in high school.”
“An ex-girlfriend?” Lois teased.
“Sorta. It wasn’t really that serious but she seemed to think it was. I only went out with her a couple times. She wasn’t really my type. As Rachael said…snobby.”
“You called me a snob.” Lois reminded him.
“I was trying to get your attention. You are nowhere near the realm of snobby as Lana and her family are.” Clark sighed. “Her mom’s some big wig with the fundraisers in town and tries to push her way on everyone. Lana kinda inherited that trait. I’d only gone out with her three times. At this point, I hadn’t seen the real Lana. Rachael kept telling me Lana was trouble and I could do better…I didn’t listen…young naïve..that sort of thing. Rachael was always a tomboy and she got teased a lot about that. Anyway, I overheard Lana spreading a rumor about Rach liking girls around school…Needless to say, I quit seeing Lana after that.”
Lois seemed to squirm slightly at the mention of Lana spreading rumors about Rachael. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I just…I really don’t like people that gossip..or worse yet slander someone’s reputation just because they don’t like them.” Lois fumed angrily.
“Why do I get a feeling this isn’t about Rachael and Lana?” He inquired.
Lois shrugged. “I don’t want to talk about it. I’m hungry. Let’s grab some barbecue.” She headed towards the barbecue pit, dragging him along.
***
“So, Lois, Clark tells us you two have had quite a busy couple of months.” Jonathan began as they entered the farmhouse later that night.
“Yeah, I guess you could say that.” Lois sighed. She was really tired.
“I feel like I know you already.” Jonathan smiled, “Between these two talking nonstop about you…”
“Dad..” Clark was doing a really good impression of a tomato right now. His face was almost completely red with embarrassment.
Martha chose this moment to chime in, “Yes, his first week he kept telling us how pretty you were and what a talented writer you were…”
“Mom!!” Clark was rolling his eyes in embarrassment.
“What?” Martha asked, innocently. She gestured around the living room, “It’s just an old farmhouse, but it’s home.” Lois nodded politely. Had Clark told them that they had stopped by here earlier? Martha turned to the painting on the easel. “It’s my latest. What do you think?”
“I like it.” She said politely. She turned her head, to see if she could make out the shapes better, “What is it?”
“It’s a bowl of fruit,” Martha said.
“Mom, we’re going to be receiving a fax tomorrow. Is it okay on paper?” Clark asked.
Martha pulled the cover off the fax machine in the front room. “I think so.” She pressed a few buttons on the machine and wrinkled her nose. “I think it needs more toner.”
“I’ve got an extra cartridge in the den,” Jonathan said.
Lois watched in amazement. Smallville certainly wasn’t what she had expected. She had expected a bunch of farmers in their overalls discussing hog futures; not the welcoming faces and knowing glances she had received. “I already unpacked everything earlier when we stopped by,” Clark said. “Dad, you said you had something on the Tractor you needed help with?” Clark asked.
Jonathan looked confused for a split second then recognition struck him, “Oh, right. Yes, come with me.”
Martha pulled Lois along with her upstairs and showed her around the necessities. “If you need any extra blankets they're in the hall closet. There’s a bathroom in the bedroom.” Martha pointed to the door on the other side of the room. “I’ll let you get settled in for the night.” She gave Lois a quick hug, “I’ll see you in the morning.”
Lois nodded and watched Martha leave with a smile. She closed the door behind her and sunk down onto the bed. It was comfortable. She looked around the room to examine the décor a young Clark had chosen so many years ago. It was kinda weird to think about sleeping with Clark in his childhood bed with his parents right across the hall. It wasn’t like they had sex every night they slept together or anything like that. She had no intention of trying to have sex right now. Especially after the way she’d been feeling today. She’d had to dash to the bathroom twice without Clark noticing. She wasn’t sure what was going on. She just couldn’t seem to shake this flu bug. Lucy seemed to have gotten over her sickness pretty quickly. She wasn’t sure if it was an after effect of the drugs she had been exposed to or what but the nausea was definitely getting old really quick.
***
In the barn, Clark stood behind his father as he pulled out a large lead box. “You said something about a rock…”
Jonathan nodded, “Wayne Irig found this rock on his property last month. He sent it to the lab for testing. Never heard back. Then after that electrical storm last week he found the same rock. He sent it over for testing again. This time the feds show up.”
“But that doesn’t make any sense. Why go to all that trouble for a rock?” Clark asked.
“Because the preliminary report that came back from the second analysis said it was some kind of meteorite. Wayne wasn’t sure what to do with it; so he gave it to me for safe keeping. He’s a good judge of character you know. He knows when someone’s feeding him a line. He thought the meteorite could be worth some money, but I figured since it was found a few miles from where we found you that it was probably related.” He lifted the lid of the case and an eerie green light emitted across the room.
Clark stared at the rock uneasily. A painful feeling of nausea swept over him, “Dad, I’m feeling kind of strange.” He took a few steps back. The rock…meteorite…whatever it was. It hurt. His insides felt like they were on fire. He leaned against the wall for support.
“My God, do you think it could be from this?” Jonathan asked. He still hadn’t turned around.
“Da..” It was no use. He collapsed to the ground with a large crash.
“Clark?” Jonathan spun around and immediately was at Clark’s side. “Clark, what is it?” No answer. “Answer me!” He looked around the room desperately and his eyes rested on the glowing meteorite. He stood up and closed the lid to the meteorite then turned back to Clark. Clark’s facial features seemed to have relaxed. “What’s happening?” He then shouted out for help, “MARTHA!!” He cradled Clark in his arms, listening the best he could for a sign that he was going to be okay. “Oh, my boy…..my boy…”
***
Lois came out of the shower dressed in her pajamas and a bathrobe when she heard the shout. The bedroom door across the hall opened in a hurry and she heard the frantic footsteps afterward. Curious as to what was going on, Lois went to the window to see what the fuss was all about. She looked out the window to see Jonathan struggling to carry Clark to the house. Clark didn’t seem to be moving. “Oh, my God…” She flung the door open and was right on Martha’s heels as she went to help Clark.
“Lois, stay back,” Martha said, opening the front door for Jonathan.
Lois watched as Jonathan entered the farmhouse with Clark. She’d never seen him look so pale in her life. “Oh, my God, is he all right?”
“I don’t know…” Jonathan stammered.
“Here. Get this coat off of him; he’s sweating bullets…” Martha said. “Let’s get him over to the couch..” Clark still lay motionless when they laid him on the couch. “Lois, could you get me a damp cloth?” Martha asked.
Lois nodded mutely, grabbing one of the kitchen towels and dampening it in the kitchen sink. She handed the cloth to Martha, “What happened?”
Martha and Jonathan exchanged worried glances, “Uh, he fell off the ladder in the barn.” Jonathan said.
Martha felt his head, “He’s burning up. I think he’s probably got an attack of those allergies again too.”
“Real bad this time of the year,” Jonathan added.
Their story seemed almost rehearsed, but Lois tried not to think too much about it. “Mmmm…” Clark groaned, trying to move around a bit.
“Clark?” Martha’s face was filled with relief when his eyes opened, blinking repeatedly.
“Wha..What happened?” Clark asked, rubbing his neck as he tried to sit up.
“You fell off that old ladder,” Jonathan said. There seemed to be some unspoken message between the glance between Jonathan and Clark.
“I what?” Clark croaked. He pushed himself up on the couch shakily.
“You scared me out of my mind,” Martha added. “You have got to be more careful.”
Clark seemed to register a hidden meaning behind her words then nodded, “I’m sorry, mom.”
“Are you okay?” Lois asked.
Clark nodded. “I think so.” He caught her gaze. She could see an emotion she had never seen in Clark Kent’s eyes before. Fear. It was unnerving, to say the least.
The sound of the fax machine humming distracted her. She looked up, “I’ll be right back.” She went into the next room to check on the fax.
***
Clark watched Lois leave and sighed in relief, “What happened?”
“That rock…it..it made you pass out.” Jonathan said grimly.
“How do you feel?” Martha asked.
“Better. I think I feel better.” Clark said thoughtfully.
“What do you mean you think you feel better? Don’t you know?” Jonathan asked.
“He’s never been sick before. It’s a new experience for him.” Martha chided.
“I don’t understand. How can a rock that came from the same place as Clark make him sick?” Jonathan asked.
“Because it’s poison. That’s all we need to know….and we’re never letting it near you again.” Martha said sternly.
Lois reentered the room carrying a stack of papers. “The fax from the EPA. It’ s a working list of clean-up sites …Smallville’s not on the list.” She took a seat next to Clark, “Are you feeling any better?”
Clark gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be fine.”
“We should get to bed,” Jonathan said. “Do you need some help climbing the stairs, son?”
“No, I’m fine, Dad,” Clark said. He stood up to prove his point. “Go on to bed.”
“Okay.” Jonathan patted him on the arm then left. Martha gave him a quick hug then headed upstairs.
“You sure you’re okay?” Lois asked hesitantly.
“Sorta.” He said sheepishly. Lois stood up and wrapped her arms around him, giving him a long kiss.
“Better?” She asked.
“Mmmm hmm, much. I should get sick more often.” He teased.
“Come on, let’s get to bed,” Lois said, tugging on his arm gently.
***
Clark sank shakily into the mattress, wrapping his arms protectively around Lois. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.” He murmured, placing a kiss on her head.
She stifled a yawn. “It’s okay. She looked up and down his frame questioningly for a minute, “You sure you want to sleep in this?”
“I’m too tired to change.” He mumbled.
“Here.” Lois rolled over to help him out of his clothes. “You are kinda warm. What are you allergic to?”
“What?” Clark asked.
“Your parents said you had bad allergies that kicked in this time of the year,” Lois said as she finished unbuttoning his jean shirt. She tugged his arms out of the sleeves then threw the shirt to the ground.
“Lois, I don’t have allergies,” Clark said, taking a deep breath. He needed to tell her now before the lies got out of hand. It was one thing to omit the truth from her, but to blatantly lie…he wasn’t comfortable with that at all.
Lois unbuttoned his jeans and lowered his zipper, then turned to tug the jeans off of him. “But…Why would your parents say you had allergies if you didn’t?” Lois asked confused.
“There’s something I need to tell you, Lois, but you before I tell you anything you have to promise you won’t tell anyone. No matter what. You can’t even tell Lucy.”
“Ooh, this must be good,” Lois said, lying down next to him. He rolled over so that he was facing her as he spoke.
“I’m serious.” He said, cupping her cheek with his hand.
“Okay. I won’t tell anyone. What’s going on?”
“The best way to explain this I guess would be to start at the beginning. I want you to understand my sharing this with you is a huge risk. Trask is just one example of what could happen if this got out.”
“Clark, you’re starting to scare me. What’s going on?” Lois asked, moving his hand from her cheek to hold in her own hand.
“Okay, I never told you this, but I’m adopted.”
“That’s why you were doing that story about the adoptions?” Lois asked.
“Partially. It was an assignment and I had a curiosity about it, but I wasn’t your typical adoption.”
“What do you mean?”
“My parents found me in Schuster's Field roughly twenty-eight years ago…in a space ship. Neither of them knew where I had come from. They had a friend of the family create a birth certificate for me; telling everyone I was the child of an unwed teenage relative…” Clark sighed as he continued. Lois was listening with rapt attention. “I had it drilled into my head from the time that I was five years old not to tell anyone or I would be dissected like a frog by a government agency.”
“Oh, Clark…” Lois reached up to stroke his cheek.
“As I got older I started developing different abilities …heat vision, x-ray, the power to defy gravity…Lois, I’m Superman.”
Lois stared at him for a minute. For a minute he thought she was going to slap him. He knew he would deserve it. Instead, she erupted into peals of laughter, “That’s funny. You’re Superman? You almost had me there for a minute, Clark. I think you hit your head harder than you thought.”
“Lois, I’m telling the truth. I am Superman.” Clark argued.
Lois just laughed. “Sure. You’re Superman?” She asked skeptically. “Do something super. Fly.”
“I can’t.” He said solemnly.
“You can’t?” Lois asked.
“Well, there’s this rock..meteorite..they think it came from the same planet as me…it makes me sick and it took away my powers.” He explained hurriedly.
“How convenient,” Lois said sarcastically. She didn’t believe him. Here he was pouring out his heart, revealing himself to her and she didn’t believe him. “Clark, just try and get some sleep.” She gave him a peck on the cheek and rested her head on his chest. This was going to be harder than he thought.
TBC...
Last edited by folc4evernaday; 01/16/17 12:39 PM.
