Ghost From the Past
Folc4evernaday
Part 19
***
Lois slowly woke up, looking around at the familiar room in the farmhouse. Her body ached. Everything hurt. She winced as she sat up, feeling the heaviness in her eyes as they began to adjust to the light. She slowly opened her hands, wincing from the pain as she stared at the reddened scabbed knuckles. Everything from last night came rushing back to her. Her breakdown. Clark. Jamie.
She looked around the room. Where was Clark?
A groan from the floor caught her attention and she spotted Clark slumped over in a chair near the window. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed, wincing as her knuckles hit the sheets. She stood up and staggered toward Clark.
“Clark?” She knelt down next to him, running her hand against his chest. His hand clasped around her wrist and she winced in pain, trying to tug it back from him.
“No…” He mumbled incoherently, tightening his grasp on her. “Lois…” His other hand moved to her throat tightening his grasp on her.
“Clark, wake up,” She pleaded, flinching as she struggled to release herself from his grasp.
His eyes shot open and she caught the look of fear in his eyes before he released his grasp, “I…I’m sorry. Are you okay?” He asked, examining her neck and wrists.
“Fine,” She said, grabbing her wrist back forcefully before he could get a good look at it. She stood up and walked to the other side of the room, “Another nightmare?” She asked shakily.
He followed her to the other side of the room, reaching for her wrist, “Let me see it,”
“No,” She said, crossing her arms over her chest as she tucked her wrists beneath her arms, trying to hide the red marks.
“Lois…” Clark breathed irritably, reaching for her.
“It’s nothing…” She said cringing as she showed him the red marks on her wrist.
“I’m sorry…” His face fell as he fingered the marks on her throat and wrist, “Lois, I’m SO sorry,” He hung his head in shame as he released her from his grasp.
“You were having a nightmare….it’s fine,” Lois shrugged.
“No, it’s not,” He shook his head angrily, “It’s not fine.”
“I’m done talking about this,” Lois snapped irritably, storming out of the room and slamming the door behind her.
***
A large group of suits escorted George Thompson through the back corridors of LexCorp. “Rouge is on the move…”
They approached a wall and one of the men held up a metal key card and waved it twice. A green light blinked and a door opened revealing a hidden lair. Once inside the door closed behind them and Thompson pushed past his security detail, “What’s the meaning of this, Luthor?”
Lex stood, giving a stern look to Thompson, “Watch your tone. You forget yourself, Mr. President,” Lex lit his cigar as he took a step toward Thompson.
Thompson stared at Luthor for a moment before turning to his detail, “Leave us,”
“But, Sir,” one of the security officers argued.
“Leave,” Thompson repeated. The security officers hesitated a moment before nodding and turned back toward the panel that Lex had opened for them to leave through. After the officers had left Thompson turned back to Lex, “Subtle,”
“Always,” Lex said, taking a puff of his cigar. “So, the reason for your visit? Prometheus,”
“Prometheus?” Thompson wrinkled his nose. “The space station?”
“No, the alien!” Lex retorted sarcastically, “Of course the space station,”
“What about it? Thompson grimaced as Lex paced around him, puffing the smoke of his cigar toward him.
“The United Nations has contracted a mission in space to launch a space station. I want that contract…” Lex said, stepping into Thompson’s face so that he was a few millimeters away from him.
“What makes you think I can make that happen?” Thompson snapped back. “It’s called the United Nations for a reason, Lex….or did you forget that minor detail?”
“You forget who you’re talking to, Thompson….I put you in the position you are for a reason. I can just as easily have you removed,” Lex slammed his arm against his chest, “Don’t ever forget that,”
***
After changing into a pair of jeans and a T-shirt Clark found Lois in the hayloft, staring out the window in silence. She looked back at him for a moment before turning back to the window, “I don’t want to talk about it,”
He nodded, climbing the steps to join her, “Okay,” He took a seat across from her, “but we’re gonna have to talk about it eventually, Lois,”
Lois glared at him, “I’m fine,” She shrugged, turning away from him.
“No, you’re not,” He challenged. “Neither of us are…fine,” He finished softly.
“Yeah, well, all things considered…”
“You can’t keep bottling everything in,” He interrupted.
“What do you suggest I do?” Lois asked bitterly. “I can’t talk to anyone about….anything that’s happened,”
“Maybe you should,”
“What?” Lois breathed.
He shook his head determined, “Maybe we both should,”
“Clark…” Lois looked at him in concern.
“Lois, I can’t trust myself when I’m not awake.” She looked away uncertainly and he fingered the marks that were still on her neck, “I could never live with myself if I …”
“You didn’t,” Lois cut him off. “You woke up and…”
“…and I grabbed you so hard you have a bruise,” He cut her off.
“You didn’t mean to,” Lois argued.
“…and that’s what scares me,” He said softly.
***
One Week Later... “This is Brock Thompson, with an LNN Special Report. It has now been revealed that the unidentified men found in an abandoned warehouse in Metropolis, New Troy last week have been identified as agents for an agency known as ‘Bureau 39.’ So far the White House has not responded to inquiries regarding the role this agency takes on within the government or what the agency was doing in Suicide Slum. In other news, it has now been one week since the rescue from our mysterious flying friend. No one has heard from him. As questions continue to rise arson and muggings appear to be on the rise in Metropolis…”
Martha clicked the television off and looked around the empty room. She heard the creak of the rocking chair from the porch and grabbed a coat before stepping outside. She spotted Jonathan in the rocker staring at the night sky, rocking back and forth as he listened to the familiar sounds of the crickets chirping on the farm. He took a sip of his coffee as he rocked, mulling over the events that had taken place for the last week.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Martha asked, taking a seat next to him.
“Just thinking….how much has changed,” Jonathan said softly.
“For the better,” Martha emphasized.
“Yes, for the better,” Jonathan nodded. He turned to look at her, “How’d you know Clark would go back to his apartment?”
“I didn’t know for sure, but I know his habits. I just hoped it would work…dumb luck I guess,”
“Well, they’re finally talking,” Jonathan said, looking up at the night sky with a small smile.
“Yes, they’re finally talking,” Martha echoed. “They’ll work through this. I know they will,”
“I hope so,” Jonathan sighed.
***
Lois stared at the empty office walls uncertainly as she tapped her foot against the desk she was sitting in front of nervously. She and Clark had agreed to start counseling. They were doing both one-on-one therapy to deal with everything. It seemed to be helping, but the doctor she’d been referred to for her one-on-one counseling had been trying to push drug therapy on her. She’d thought she was past this. She’d thought she was better. She was wrong.
“Ms. Lane,” The elder woman looked at her in concern, “It says here you’re refusing any drug treatments for the depression,”
“Yes,” Lois said narrowing her eyes. “I, uh, used them the last time and …all it did was numb me.”
“That’s the point. To make life a little bearable….What you’re going through…”
“That’s the problem right there,” Lois cut her off. “I don’t want drugs. I don’t want to be numbed. I want to feel the grief. I want to feel the pain.”
“Ms. Lane…”
“I will go to another doctor if I have to…” She warned.
“Then perhaps you should find another doctor,” The woman crossed her arms over her chest.
“Fine,” Lois said, narrowing her eyes at her.
***
Lex stepped onto the terrace of his penthouse, looking down on the city of Metropolis as he took a puff of his cigar. A soft feminine hand wrapped around him from behind and he smiled, “Antoinette, sorry to have woken you,”
“Come back to bed Lex,” She whispered seductively.
He caught her wrist, meeting her eyes, “I don’t respond well to demands,”
She rolled her eyes and whispered, “Please,”
***
One Week Later…“I don’t want to talk about it,” Lois said fidgeting in her seat as she looked away from the stare of her doctor.
Dr. Stephens nodded, “You can’t run away from this, Lois,”
“I’m not running,” Lois said, shaking her head.
“We’ve talked about everything, Lois…everything but what happened between you and Clark last month,”
“He didn’t mean it,” Lois argued.
“We’ve dealt with the trauma of losing your son, Lois,”
“His name is Jamie,” Lois snapped back angrily.
“We’ve dealt with the trauma of being held captive by a terrorist group….”
“Bureau 39,” Lois corrected. “They weren’t a terrorist group,”
“You’ve been through a lot,” Dr. Stephens pressed.
“Nothing I can’t handle,” She shrugged, rubbing her hands up and down her shoulders.
“Being attacked and drugged in college….losing your fiancé…your son…It’s a lot.” Dr. Stephens continued softly, “but what happened last month….”
“He was having a nightmare!” Lois fumed angrily, standing up and pacing around the room,
“You had bruises,” Dr. Stephens reminded her.
“He had a nightmare! He stopped when he woke up…” Lois continued.
“Even so, having the man you love hurt you like that….Lois, you can’t continue to hide from this…”
“I’m not!” Lois fumed angrily.
“Really?” Dr. Stephens challenged, “When was the last time you saw him?”
“I’ve been busy,” She brushed her off.
“Talked to him?”
“Last week…” Lois winced as she spoke. She didn’t want to talk about Clark. He’d been avoiding her since they’d returned to Metropolis.
“You can’t keep hiding from what happened and you can’t keep hiding from him. You have to deal with it.” Dr. Stephens pressed.
***
Clark stared at his hands folded in front of him listening as Dr. Friskin spoke, “Have you had any more nightmares?”
He shook his head, “No, not that I recall,”
“How are things between you and Lois?” She pressed cautiously.
“We’re…taking it slow. After what happened a few weeks ago….I’m afraid of hurting her,” He said softly.
“Have you two talked about what happened?”
He shook his head, “No,”
“What about Jamie?”
Clark’s body immediately stiffened at the mention of his son’s name, “What about him?” He croaked.
“Do you talk about him?”
“What’s there to talk about?” He asked, “He’s gone,”
“Uh-huh,” She grew thoughtful for a moment, “So in the last two weeks how much time have you spent with Lois?” He shrugged and turned away, refusing to meet her gaze. “Don’t you think ‘taking things slow’ should require some time together?” She asked.
“I still …talk to her….” He began softly.
“Right,” she nodded. He let out a shallow breath and she continued, “You were kidnapped and held captive for five years while your fiancée and parents were brutalized. That’s a lot to come back from. You’ve made tremendous steps towards recovery. The nightmares used to be an everyday occurrence now they’re not…”
“That’s not enough…” He argued, “I could hurt her,”
“Or you could lose her,” she pointed out. “The men that held you captive are gone. The danger is gone,”
“Am I supposed to be happy about that?” He snapped angrily.
“I don’t know,” She shrugged, “I can’t tell you how to feel,”
“I don’t know how I feel,” He said bitterly. “The things they did….They….I hated them…I wished them dead….Now, I feel guilty.” He gave a bitter laugh, “How messed up is that?”
“It’s a normal reaction.” She said, leaning forward as she spoke. “What you’re feeling is normal, but it’s time to stop sitting around afraid of your own shadow and start taking the scary steps toward recovery.”
“How?” He asked.
“Taking the first step…taking a risk…” She said softly.
“I can’t do that,” He shook his head. “I can’t hurt her again,”
“She’s hurting too. She lost just as much as you did that day...” She reminded him.
“You have no idea…” He shook his head angrily.
“No, I don’t,” She said, catching him off guard. “I have no idea. Just like everyone else in the world…except Lois. The one person that can understand is the one you’re shutting out.”
***
“Perry, you can’t be serious!!” Lois snapped angrily as she paced in her editor’s office.
Perry looked at her calmly, “Lois, this is for your own good. Desk duty while you get back on your feet. It’s only your first day back,”
Lois could feel the tears stinging in her eyes as she fought valiantly to put up a tough as nails front. “Perry…”
“I don’t want to hear it, Lois..” Perry held his hands up to stop her from arguing with him. “You had an emotional breakdown…You need to give yourself time. What you and Kent have been…what you ARE going through….You can’t expect to get over it over night.”
‘Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.’ She told herself.
“I don’t need to be coddled. I need a story….” Lois argued.
“No, what you need is to work with the copy editors on getting copy ready for the next edition,” Perry said handing her a large stack of unedited stories. “Get crackin’,”
***
After his appointment with Dr. Friskin Clark headed toward the Planet, staring up at the globe that had caught his eye so many years ago. When he’d first come to Metropolis his dream was working at the Planet, finding someone to love and starting a family. It hurt. Knowing he’d had everything he ever wanted only to have it snatched from him.
After returning to Metropolis he had begun his sessions with Dr. Friskin and Lois had begun sessions with Dr. Stephens trying to piece everything back together. It was hard to deal with everything and still keep parts hidden but for the most part, it seemed to be helping. Lois was supposed to start back at work today. He still hadn’t seen her. Every time he thought about seeing her he stopped himself, recalling how he’d hurt her during one of his nightmares. He stared up at the globe sadly. Maybe visiting her at work wasn’t the best idea.
***
“LexCorp is the face of tomorrow. Changing and adapting as the technology we use everyday changes. Everything we do is geared toward challenging ourselves and taking that next step. Pushing toward that next breakthrough…”
“Mrs. Cox?” Cat interrupted, “I appreciate your boss gave you a little speech and probably gave you a couple of prompts for this interview but I don’t care about LexCorp. I was promised an exclusive interview with Mr. Luthor,” She narrowed her eyes at the woman in front of her, “and unless he’s undergone some serious surgery,” She gave a wink, “you’re not him.”
“Mr. Luthor doesn’t give personal interviews, Ms. Grant,” Mrs. Cox smiled back.
“…and I know that’s a lie too,” Cat shot back. “He gave an elusive one on one interview with Lois Lane five years ago…”
“That was different,” she shot back with an edge in her tone.
Cat rolled her eyes, “Sure it was,”
***
Lois pulled out the first story to begin editing. “What an egotistical, arrogant, self-righteous…” a familiar voice raged through the newsroom. Lois looked up and saw Cat slamming her purse on her desk as she threw herself into her chair angrily.
Lois looked over at her cautiously, unsure if she should even bother. Cat caught her gaze and stood up, brushing herself off as she approached her, “First day back,” She gave her a forced smile.
“Yeah,” Lois said mutely. She’d actually been excited about returning to work before Perry had benched her to desk duty. “Five years climbing the ladder and one breakdown lands me right back where I started,”
Cat twisted her mouth for a moment before leaning against her desk, “Well, you DID have a breakdown, Lois,”
“…and I DID get cleared by a doctor to return to work…” Lois muttered angrily, “If everyone would just stop trying to coddle me…”
“Perry said you were refusing any drug treatments…”
“I was tired of holding it in,” She said gruffly. “Dr. Stephens said the only way I was gong to move past everything was to deal with it. So I dealt with it,” She could feel the tears threatening to escape and shook her head, casting a glance at Clark’s old desk.
Cat nodded, “How’s he doing?”
Lois shrugged; not willing to go into details of how strained her relationship with Clark was at the moment.
He didn’t want to talk….well not about what had happened to him…or Jamie. He wanted to talk about everything but what was important. He was seeing a therapist to deal with the trauma of being held captive for so long.
Cat glanced at her cautiously, “It must be strange having reporters mob you all the time about everything. I mean, you’re probably used to doing the mobbing then to have it turned around…”
“Cat is there a reason you’re hovering over my desk like a vulture?” Lois asked irritably. Off Cat’s hurt look Lois sighed, “I’m sorry. I just… It’s just hard. Harder than I ever thought…”
Cat placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded, “I know. I couldn’t imagine going through even half of what you guys….Just take it a day at a time.”
“Easier said than done,” Lois said softly.
***
‘Take the first step,’ Clark reminded himself, knocking on Lois’ door. He wasn’t sure how to even begin talking to Lois, but he knew he needed to try.
The door swung open and he saw Lois on the other side of the door still in her suit from the day, “Hi,” She said softly, surprised to see him.
“Hi,” He repeated, giving her a weak smile.
“Uh, come in,” She said, gesturing to the apartment. He nodded, stepping into the apartment with her. She closed the door behind him and locked the deadbolts before turning to face him.
He took a seat on the couch and looked up at her. She seemed a bit nervous. He hung his head, shaking his head, “I should have called. I’m sorry I…”
“No, it’s fine,” Lois interrupted, taking a seat next to him, “It’s fine,” She repeated.
Clark cleared his throat, “I’m sorry I haven’t been around….the last few weeks…” He gave her an apologetic smile, “I’ve been…”
“I know,” She nodded, “It’s a lot….for me too…” She said softly, “This is weird, huh?”
He nodded, “I’m sorry,” He apologized, taking her hand in his. “I love you,” He whispered, “I never meant to…”
“I love you too,” She said softly. “…and I know…”
He cleared his throat, opting to change the subject to something more neutral, “So, today was your first day back at the Planet?”
She nodded quietly, twisting her mouth as she spoke, “I got grounded to desk duty,” Lois said resignedly. “Perry thinks I need to ‘ease’ myself back in,”
He gave her a look of sympathy, “I’m sorry. I know that can’t be easy,”
She shook her head, “It’s fine. I’ll pull desk duty and …”
“Sneak off to cover a big scandal?” Clark teased.
Lois grinned back at him, “I wish,” She sighed, tapping her hand against his, “It’s been kinda quiet lately,”
“Well, maybe that’s a good thing,” Clark smiled.
“I don’t know,” She sighed,
He nodded and she looked around the empty room, “Have you thought any more about….I mean, they’re still asking questions…”
“Let them,” Clark said bitterly. “I’m not…” He shook his head, “I can’t,” He finally said firmly.
“Clark, she squeezed his hand, moving closer to him, “Trask is gone.” Lois reached over to stroke his cheek, “You don’t have to hide from them anymore,”
He shook his head, “It’s not just them.” He whispered, “There’s so much hate out there….everywhere….It wasn’t just Trask…”
“What do you mean?” Lois asked.
“I…I mean, it wasn’t just him…”
“Clark, you can’t do this. You can’t just hide….If there is someone else out there that was responsible then we need to find them and…”
“And what?” He asked. “I have no idea what they know or what they did. I was in and out of consciousness the whole time. If I gave myself away…” He shook his head. “I can’t,”
“You didn’t have any problem before…” She said quietly.
“There wasn’t a mob of public and media pointing the finger and asking questions,” He said quietly.
“Why is that a bad thing?” She asked, “Maybe use it to your advantage,”
“Lois…” He began.
“Clark, they’ve already taken so much from us….I hate….” She did her best to suppress the tears, “You shouldn’t have to hide…the suit…It was a good idea….”
“It was a dangerous idea,” He corrected. “Can we please just drop it?”
“Fine,” Lois said, crossing her arms over her chest, “Consider it dropped…How are the sessions with Dr. Friskin going?”
“Good,” He nodded, “I haven’t had any nightmares recently,”
“That’s good,” She nodded.
“She thinks I should start taking ‘steps’ back into my regular life,” Clark said softly.
“That’s good news, right? Getting back into your old routine?”
“I guess,” He shrugged, “It’s just strange,”
She gave him a smile, “Well, it will be nice to have my partner back,”
He sighed, quiet for a moment before choosing to speak, “Lois, I’m sorry. I know these past few weeks have been hell. Do you think you’ll ever be able to forgive me?”
“I don’t see any way around it,” Lois sighed, “I’m gonna have to…especially if I plan on marrying you, but…”
He smiled, “You still want to marry me?”
“Of course,” She said softly, stroking his cheek, “I love you, Clark Kent. I never stopped.”
He leaned in to kiss her, stroking her cheek. “I love you too,”
***
Antoinette Baines laid a report on Lex Luthor’s desk, meeting his gaze as he looked at her with a questioning gaze, “We have a problem, Lex,”
“We?” He gave her a half smile.
“Don’t play cute with me, Lex,” She snapped. “Platt found out about the sabotage to Prometheus’ launch pad. He filed a report…”
Lex took the report from her and dropped it in the shredder, “What report?”
“Lex…” she began to argue. “I can’t just….”
She began to argue but he pulled her into his arms and whispered, “You’re a brilliant scientist…on the verge of having all the fame and accolades you’ve dreamed of. Are you willing to let an engineer like Platt get in your way?”
“I guess not,” She relented.
***
TBC...
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