Epiphany
Folc4evernaday
Part 28
A/N: HUGE Thanks to NK and DC for helping me make this next part ahem...suitable for the PG side of the boards. (Which was not an easy task!) I hope you enjoy the next part. I promise not to leave you all in suspense for too long...
***
Agent Davenport held up a large blue vest for Sam Lane to put on. Sam nodded, holding his arms out, "This will keep you protected from the neck down. We'll have a protective unit on you at all times, Dr. Lane. Do not, and I repeat, do not try to evade your protective unit. That is your lifeline. That is your protection. You lose your protective until you lose your lifeline. Got it?"
Sam nodded his understanding, "I understand, Agent Davenport."
"Jack," Agent Woods chastised, "He's a material witness. Let's not scare him before we get him into protective custody, hmmm?"
Davenport locked his gaze with Sam Lane, "What you're doing is very brave, Dr. Lane. Follow the rules, and you and your family will come out of this alive."
"That's the goal." Sam acknowledged shakily.
***
Around the corner, Toni Taylor watched in a black SUV as four federal agents escorted Sam Lane into a Lincoln town car and pulled out into the street. Smiling to herself she followed keeping a safe distance to avoid detection.
***
Clark held Lois against him, examining the marks on her face critically. He was lying on his side with his arm propped to support his head as he watched her sleep. She hadn’t talked about it. He wasn’t sure if she’d ever be ready to talk about it. The scene he’d seen when flying above her apartment, trying to survey the scene before moving in had been enough to chill him to the bone.
Lois had pulled a gun on Luthor and Lucy had pulled the rifle on him. Lois was never one to give anyone an easy fight. From the marks all over her body, he could tell Lois had fought Luthor with everything she had in her. What he didn’t know was what could have possessed him to attack her. Luthor never did anything without a reason. So why now? It couldn’t be from jealousy or being rejected. That had been months ago. Why now?
She began to stir, squinting up at him with a slow smile, “Hey,” She whispered, moving her hand to stroke his cheek.
“Hey,” He outlined the side of her face with his palm, “How’d you sleep?”
She rolled over, so she was facing him, cradling her head in her hand as she propped herself up, giving him a flirtatious smile, “Really good surprisingly. I think it helped having my incredibly sexy boyfriend here all night.”
“Glad to be of service.” He whispered, leaning in to kiss her, cupping her cheek gingerly and running his thumb against her once swollen cheek. “Still tender?” He asked.
She shook her head, “The only part that’s sore is where that cut is from where I landed against the bookcase.” She rubbed the back of her head to prove her point, positioning herself in his arms. “Is it bad?” She asked cautiously.
“Is what bad?”
“The bruises?” She asked shakily.
He shook his head, looking at the marks on her face cautiously, “I kept the ice pack on it for most of the night. “It’s a bit tender, but it doesn’t look nearly as bad as it looked last night.” He glanced down toward her hip where the clear imprint in purple and black could be seen where a round object that looked a lot like the barrel of a gun was exposed.
She followed his gaze, pulling the sheet up over her, “So, no black eyes?”
“Yellow and purplish on the side.” He said hoarsely, clearing his throat, running his hand over the bruise on her hip, “You want to talk about it?”
She sighed against him, wrapping her limbs around him as he ran his hands up and down her back, taking in the bruises and cuts that had faded slightly since last night and the ones that had gotten worse. Her neck was covered in claw marks from where Luthor had his death grip on her throat. There were yellow and purplish markings showing his fingerprints against her neck.
He ran his lips against her throat lightly, keeping a close listen to her heart rate if he were to frighten her again like last night. He’d stayed up most of the night watching her to make sure her breathing remained level throughout the night. She’d stirred several times not quite awake, fighting the imaginary demons that plagued her mind. He’d held her close, reassuring her she was safe until she’d drifted off to sleep again.
“Lucy said he forced himself into the apartment then knocked her in the back of the head without even thinking twice.” She began slowly. “She was conscious though. The whole time. She said she was waiting for the right moment so she could either escape or get help.”
“Smart thinking on her part. Though she was pretty banged up.” Clark said stroking her cheek, “You both were.” Tears welled in her eyes, and he held her close, nuzzling her cheek, “It’s over.”
“I just don’t understand how I could be so wrong about someone.” She whispered hoarsely.
“Honey…” He moved to cup her face, seeing the tears falling down her cheek one by one.
“He had a gun, and he pointed it at my throat, and he tried to choke me again and again, and I tried to get away and I couldn’t. I couldn’t breathe.” She whimpered against him in giant sobs as he held her trembling body against him.
“I’m so sorry, sweetheart,” He whispered, pressing his lips against her forehead, “I shouldn’t have made you talk about it.”
“No, I need to. I need to tell you…” She argued, gripping his shoulders tightly as she rested her head against his chest. Her hand ran up his chest slowly, and her breathing was heavy.
“Lois?” He looked at her in concern.
“You remember the other night after the storm?” She prompted.
He smirked, “When I inadvertently created a walking superhero disaster named Resplendent Man? Yeah, I remember.”
She gave him a weak smile, “Yeah and we went back to my apartment and…” She stopped, taking a shaky breath trying to find her words.
“And you took advantage of Superman?” He smirked, wiggling his eyebrows at her, “Yeah, I remember that very fondly.”
“You weren’t exactly innocent.” She chuckled before her face fell again.
“Lois?” He cupped her cheek.
“When he was attacking…me.” She began tearfully, “He said he’d been….watching…us.”
His hand stilled against her cheek, “What??”
“There’s more.” She placed her hand over his, “He knows Superman has a secret identity …” He blanched at her statement, and she soothed, “but he doesn’t know who. He said something about the globe and you coming here as a baby and…”
He got up out of bed, scanning the room for any listening or video monitoring devices. After assuring himself, there were none he disappeared in a red and blue blur, “Stay here. I’m going to check your apartment. Don’t answer the door. Don’t answer the phone.”
“Clark..” She began to argue, but he was already gone.
***
“Lex!” Gretchen Kelly looked at the bloody and bruised figure of Lex Luthor as he stumbled into her lab. “What happened?”
“Just a….minor complication, my dear,” He soothed, hunkering down in the chair beside her computer. “This twelve-hour sonar monitoring system is getting old very fast, and I’m growing tired of waiting.” He spat.
“I’m working against science, Lex. You have the sun and the vaporization process that evaporates the substance. I’m working with a new soluble…”
“Let me see!” He reached for the vial in her hand with a harsh grasp.
“It’s a gel.” She explained. “It still emits the small dose of radiation that the other had but it’s staying power is longer….in the tests I’ve run.”
“How long?” He asked.
“Lex, it’s not ready for…”
“I didn’t ask for your opinion, doctor. How LONG???”
“Twenty-four hours roughly.” She watched in frustration as he stood up, striding out of her lab in a huff. “But that’s just an estimate.” She said under her breath.
***
When Clark landed outside Lois’ apartment, he did not expect to find Lex Luthor sitting in the middle of the living room with a smug smile on his face. His face was bloodied and bruised as he polished his pistol in his hand.
Clark’s jaw tightened as he advanced toward him, his cape billowing behind him as he grabbed him by the throat, hoisting him up from the couch. Something rolled beneath the sofa as he did but he was too focused on his rage at Luthor to pay it any attention. All he could focus on was his blind whole consuming rage. Knowing how he had hurt the woman he loved over and over again. “Luthor! You’ve got a lot of nerve…”
“Well, Superman, I’d like to say this is a surprise but given what I witnessed the other night…” Lex spat back.
The reminder that Luthor had been watching him and Lois, spying on their most intimate moments fueled his rage further. Intent on putting the fear of God into him and giving this animal a taste of his own medicine as a reminder of who he was dealing with he grabbed him roughly, skyrocketing through the window and into the sky, “Do you know how I easily I could kill you???”
He landed at the top of Luthor’s penthouse. The tallest building in Metropolis. Where he looked down on everyone around him and where he had issued his first warning a little over a year ago. Luthor looked down at the street below and hissed back, “Superhero breaking his code of ethics? My my that must be an impressive power Lois Lane holds over you, Superman.”
The blind rage he felt was consuming. It would be so easy to just snap him in two. “If you so much as breathe in her direction again I will hunt you down and make you wish you were never born!” His grip tightened on him, and he shook him in the air, tightening his jaw in a square as he scowled, fighting the urge to break him in half for what he’d done to Lois.
“I’ll breathe wherever I want.” Luthor snapped back, “You can’t be everywhere at once and getting what I want from Lois Lane won’t be hindered by you or your lackeys at the police department or that hack you call a friend, Kent…”
“Don’t be so sure about that!” With that he dropped him over the edge, letting Luthor fall down the three hundred story building as he screamed in terror. The same terror Luthor had put in Lois. Just as Luthor was about to hit the pavement, he grabbed him.
“You!” Luthor snarled back in a rage as he flew him back to the top of the Penthouse. This time on the roof.
“I know what you did you animal!” He hissed back, hoisting him up by the neck so he could see the street below them.
“You think you can break me?” Luthor taunted, “I am Lex Luthor! The…”
Clark threw him over the building once more, flying next to him as he fell to the ground, watching as Luthor’s face turned to terror, “You think you can do anything you want. Hurt anyone you want, and there won’t be consequences? You’ve gone too far, Luthor!” At the last second, he caught him again then flew in the air, just above the penthouse’s roof, “I’ve seen the marks on her neck. I’ve seen the bruises where you hurt her…” His grip tightened on Luthor’s neck, hoisting him up as Luthor wriggled in his grasp. He shook him in his grasp. It would be so easy.
He wanted to break him in half.
He wanted to give him a scar for every mark on Lois.
He wanted to make him so scared he couldn’t go to sleep with the lights off.
He wanted to make him cry the way he’d made Lois cry.
He wanted all of those things.
He just couldn’t do it.
It went against everything he stood for. He landed on the roof of the penthouse and threw him to the ground roughly, reaching down to grab Luthor’s collar and pulling him to him, so he was mere millimeters away from him as he issued a cold warning. “This is a warning; you stay away from her or I promise you next time I won’t be there to catch you.” He pushed him back to the ground.
Lex brushed himself off laughing, “Ah, the hero saving his heroine. Classic.” He spat back. “Do you really think that’s all it takes to finish me? Throw around a few threats, and I’m gone? I own this city. One call to a judge and I’m free. One call to a senator and the file and charges disappear. I’m unstoppable!” He came to a stop in front of Clark, so he was a few millimeters away from his face.
“That ego is going to be your downfall, Luthor,” Clark warned, crossing his arms over his chest in his famous Superman stance, floating in the air him. “I’m going to put you away for the rest of your miserable life.”
“To do that you have to have someone willing to go against me and trust me there is no one willing to take the stand against the great Lex Luthor.” Lex took a step toward him.
“There’s always someone,” Clark warned. “No one likes a bully, and that’s exactly what you are. A spoiled little rich boy that never got told he couldn’t have his way. I am going to be sitting front row when the judge sentences you and I will personally build your prison brick by brick and seal the lock with you inside.”
“Ah, the challenge. The battle!” Lex smiled, patting himself on the chest, “The day will come when you will bow down and kneel before me.”
“Your fear is showing, Luthor.” Clark hissed back, reaching to grab Luthor by the collar, “Come near Lois again, and I will break you like a twig.”
Lex chuckled, “So little you understand about the human heart and the depths to which a man will go for love.”
Clark scoffed, “If you call what you did to Lois love then you are sicker than I ever imagined you to be.”
“What a simple world you must live in Superman. An alien, unable to understand true love.” Lex snapped back bitterly, “You think I don’t love her? Too consumed with evil to feel?”
“Try too selfish to care about anyone but yourself.” Clark scowled at him. “You don’t hit someone you love. You don’t choke someone you love. You don’t hold captive someone you love. You don’t try to kill someone you love.” He hissed back at him in anger.
“Lois is a different creature. Independent and strong willed. Breaking that will takes a…special touch.” Luthor spat back smoothly. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Stay away from her.” He spat back coldly, “If you hurt her. I will hurt you. If you come near her again, I will make sure you feel pain in places you never thought could bleed.” He hit him roughly against the chest as he turned to leave.
Lex’s face softened as he stared back at him intently for a moment, “Well, then until next time! Let the battle begin!” Clark ricocheted into the sky, heading back to Lois’ apartment to examine it for bugs Luthor may have planted.
***
Clark scanned the apartment for any sign of bugs.
No video monitoring.
No audio monitoring.
Nothing.
He looked around the rooms for signs of anything out of the ordinary. The low radiation he’d seen the other day from the Pest Control spraying illuminated off the walls with his enhanced vision. He frowned. There was no way that was from bug spray. It was too much, and it was …everywhere.
Remembering something had fallen from Luthor’s jacket when he’d picked him up earlier he checked under the couch and found more signs of the low radiation from whatever it was that was sprayed everywhere.
On the floor, he found a small vial of blue liquid. He knelt down to pick it up, examining it and found the same radiation he’d seen on the walls. Whatever it was he was sure STAR Labs would be able to find a way to remove it from Lois’ apartment. Until then it looked like she would need more than one change of clothes…
***
After dropping the vial he’d found at Lois’ apartment off at STAR Labs in the custody of Bill Henderson Clark did a quick scan around the city, ensuring himself there wasn’t anything going on that would require his attention. He’d ignored a few cries for help last night that ended up being minor, but he still hated ignoring any plea for help.
Outside the bakery he spotted Resplendent Man coming out with a bag of bagels, munching. He gave one of the passersby a weird look, “Superheroes have to eat too.”
He landed in front of the man with a loud thump, crossing his arms over his chest as he stared at him coldly, “We need to talk.” He said with a stern stare.
“I have nothing to say to you.” Resplendent Man shot back over his shoulder.
“You either come with me now, or you’re going to inherit a red, yellow, and blue shadow for the rest of your life!” Clark snapped irritably.
Resplendent Man gave an eye roll as he contemplated his next move. He took a bite of his bagel, “Fine. But I’m bringing the bagels.”
“Fine.”
***
Above the city, Clark paced around the roof top angrily, “Do you know what was happening while I was confronting you about your ridiculous behavior last night? A woman was being attacked.”
“That’s not my fault.”
“I’m not saying it is.” He shot back. “I’m saying your behavior has consequences.” Clark tried to implore. “Do you think I enjoy sitting here going over basic manners and decency with you? No! I have a life. I have responsibilities. People that count on me to do my job; which I cannot do if I’m constantly chasing you around.”
“Then quit doing it!” Resplendent Man shot back. “I don’t need you harassing me.”
“I don’t need you taking advantage of innocent citizens. If someone’s in immediate danger, you help them. You don’t negotiate prices or charge them for rescuing them. That makes you no better than any common street thug asking for money for protection against their gang.”
“I’m not a criminal!”
“Then act like it. Be a hero. Be a symbol. Do good.” Clark snapped back. “Do NOT take advantage of those weaker than you for your own gain.”
“I need to make money. I gotta have money to eat.”
“Then get a job!” He snapped. With that he ricocheted into the sky, leaving a very bewildered Resplendent Man behind him.
Unseen by him was a tall man in the shadows, watching from the shadows in the doorway of the roof access. He pulled out his phone and began to dial, “Mr. Luthor?”
***
Lois stared at her reflection in the mirror, fisting the side of the countertop as she glared at the marks. Bruises and scratch mark all over. Flashes from the night before came back in a whirlwind as she touched the side of her cheek where the swelling had been at its worst last night. It had faded for the most part but was still extremely tender. Yellow and purplish marks all over.
<<“You don’t leave…until…I….tell you….to ….leave…” >>
<< “I would have given you everything….” >>
<< “Don’t you understand I could commit murder in the middle of the streets in this city and get away with it." >>
<< “Nine months of being patient and you give it up for….KENT…” >>
<< “Give…me…his ….name!” >>
<< “I saw you take him in your bed, Lois. Spread your legs so willingly for that alien.” >>
<<"Tell me something, who excited you more, hmm? Kent or Superman?” >>
<< “You’re going to tell me his secret identity…”>>
<< “I know you know. I watched you spread your legs for him…so willingly.” >>
<< “Who is he? I know he has a secret identity. There is no other explanation. The globe messages talked of an infant coming to Earth…Give me his name!” >>
<<"Not even a call for your favorite superhero?” You try to call for Kent? What do you think he’s going to do?” >>She could still feel the cold hard metal of the Smith and Wesson in her hand from when she’d pointed it at Lex’s throat. If he hadn’t of stopped…
She shivered self-consciously, running her hand through her hair as she turned toward the shower stall to step in. The warm water ran down her back, and her mind continued to flash back to the events of the evening.
<<“I faked losing consciousness. I’m fine.” >>
<< “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you!” >>
<< “Be careful what you wish for, Kent,” >>
<< “I’m not leaving.” >>
<< “Ms. Lane, I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to remove that.” >>
<< “It’s gonna be okay.” >>
<< “Now about the stab wound…” >>
<<“Kent, let him go.”>>
<< “You’ll get soaked.” >>
<< “I’m right here, honey.” >>
<<“Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.” >>
<< “You won’t hardly touch me. You will hardly look at me. I’m black and blue all over and repulsive and…”>>
<< “There is nothing wrong with you. Nothing. You are the same vibrant, gorgeous, sexy woman I fell in love with and continue fall more and more madly in love with each day.” >>
<< “He hurt you and I wasn’t there to protect you.” >>
<< “If you want to stop just say the word.” >>Lois shivered against the water as her hair, face and back soon became soaked from the shower’s spray. She held herself, rocking back and forth, replaying the events from the day before over and over. Uncontrollable sobs escaped her lips as realization slowly came over her.
Lex knew Superman had a secret identity.
Lex knew she had a relationship with Superman.
Lex knew she had a relationship with Clark.
What if he put two and two together?
What if he figured out he was Superman?
What if…
“Lois?”
She heard Clark on the other side of the door. Wiping the tears from her eyes, she patted her face, trying to hide the evidence that she’d been crying, “Yeah?” She called out hoarsely.
“You okay?” He asked, cracking the door open. She could see the familiar red boot in the doorway.
“F-fine.” She said weakly, not really convincing even herself.
“Lois?” She heard him sigh, “What do you need?”
“I don’t know.” She croaked out in tears. “I just…” Her voice trembled as the tears became too much for her. She heard felt a cool breeze against her face and in an instant two strong arms wrapped around her as the familiar male lips of the man she loved pressed against her cheek, “It’s okay. Just let it out.”
“Oh, Clark,” She turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him soundly. His hand moved to cup her face, fingering the wet strands of hair as she whispered her incoherent murmurs against his lips.
He groaned his approval, moving them against the back wall of the shower as he feathered soft kisses along her jawline. She rotated her head, giving him better access to her neck as he moved down, running his hands down her sides. She could feel the familiar tightness in her belly as the warm tingle spread through her nether regions. She ran her hand through his hair, feeling a greasy substance in his hair and wrinkled her nose. “You’re filthy.”
He laughed, pulling away as he reached behind her for the bottle of shampoo. She got a good look at him covered in grease and soot that was dripping down his back. “Oil fire on the pier.” He murmured, pouring the liquid in his hand to massage into his hair. She gave him a questioning look, and he nodded. “Everyone got out all right.”
The smell of the oil and soot mixed with the cool mist of his shampoo hung in the air as he began to massage the contents of the bottle into his hair. She glanced outside the shower and saw the Superman suit and boots equally dirty on the floor. After he’d rinsed his hair out, he hung his head down for her inspection, “Better?”
She ran her hand through the silky strands now smelling of cool mist, “Much,” She whispered, leaning into him as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “Oh, Clark,” She rested her head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. “I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He whispered, looking back at her.
“This is all my fault. If I had just listened to you in the beginning about Lex, none of this would have happened. Lucy wouldn’t be in the hospital, and your identity wouldn’t be at stake and…”
He silenced her with a kiss, tracing the frame of her face with his palm. The water from the shower spraying on his back, forgotten. He slowly pulled away, resting his head against hers, keeping his palm on her cheek as he spoke, “I want you to hear me. Really hear me. This is not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong. You called for help, and you did everything you had to to survive. I’m just sorry I couldn’t get there faster.” He let out a long breath before adding, “Luthor is the only one to blame here.”
Lois squinted her eyes tightly as she whimpered, “He was watching us.”
He let out a long breath, holding her close, “I think I found …something. I’ve got Henderson taking a look at it. Not sure what it was. For now, I think it’s best if you and Lucy stay here. I can get a better mattress for the pullout couch and set up a divider, so there’s a little privacy. It’s not much, but…” He shrugged.
“It’s better than going back to that apartment.” She smiled up at him weakly, “I don’t think either of us is going to be ready for that just yet.” He looked at her tenderly, cupping her face with his other hand. “Do you think they’ll let her get discharged this morning?”
He shook his head, “I don’t know, but we won’t find out sitting here.” He motioned toward the water behind him and flicked it at her. “It’s getting cold.”
***
“One billion dollars,” Lex said with a puff of his cigar, pacing in front of Resplendent Man. “You let Dr. Kelly repeat the transfer, and you’ll have riches beyond your dreams. A new home for your sister, what is it? Mrs. Lincoln?”
Resplendent Man looked at him nervously, “How do you know about my sister?”
“I make it my business to know everything about everyone I make deals with.” He said nonchalantly. “You won’t become rich with your penny here, penny there. You wouldn't be able to pay for that expensive home for long…even if you started charging double. No one likes you. No one needs you. Work with me, and you’ll have all the money you need to take care of Wandamae.”
“If I don’t?”
Lex shrugged, “Do you really want to go down that road?” A smile smoothed over his face, and he pulled out his checkbook, “So, I assume we have a deal?”
***
Lucy set her things down on the couch watching as Clark finished setting up the divider in the alcove. He’d set up a temporary rod for a makeshift closet and had sheets and blankets out for making up the couch. It had been a long and tiresome day. Once she’d been discharged, she’d tried again and again to talk to Lois about what happened but been shut down repeatedly.
She didn’t want to talk about it.
It had taken her what felt like hours to inch her way into the kitchen without being seen in order to get their granddaddy’s rifle. Her vision had been blurry and the room spinning, and she’d felt like she was going to hurl the entire time. She hated the fact that she hadn’t been able to do anything sooner.
“The fridge is stocked. Sheets and extra blankets are in the closet.” Clark pointed to the closet he was referring to and shrugged, “It’s not much, but…”
“Thanks, Clark.” She said, cutting him off.
It had been a long day for all of them. She’d been discharged then subjected to more questions from Detective Reed and Henderson. The night before she’d been too woozy to comprehend everything that was going on. The doctors had given her a sedative to calm her down, and she’d been useless on answering questions at the hospital. All her clothes had been taken in as evidence ….covered in blood. Her injuries photographed. It was humiliating.
Luckily Lois had thought to bring her a change of clothes when she and Clark had come to the hospital. It had been reassuring to feel her fuzzy robe and socks on her instead of the thin drabby old hospital gown. The bruises and marks on her sister… The things that man had done…had said…
She shuddered to herself. If she hadn’t already known Clark was Superman, there would have been a very awkward conversation for the two of them to have. Was that it? Maybe Lois didn't want to confront the accusations Lex had made against her? Maybe she thought …
“Luce, it’s gonna be okay.” He said, putting a hand on her shoulder. “Henderson said the case the FBI is building is pretty strong. With your dad testifying…”
“And going into witness protection,” Lucy added with a light chuckle that was more nervous than anything. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”
“Henderson said once Luthor and his lieutenants have been brought down he should be able to return to his life. It’s just …”
“Too dangerous.” Lucy nodded. “I know.” She grew thoughtful. “Does mom know?”
Clark shook his head, “Lois doesn’t want her worrying.”
Lucy could feel tears filling her eyes, “If that rifle had been loaded I would have blown him to smithereens.” She whispered hoarsely. “I have no idea how you kept yourself in control last night.”
Clark’s jaw tightened as he looked down at the floor, unsure of how to respond. “I wanted to kill him.” He admitted. “Still do.” He glanced toward the bedroom where Lois was sleeping.
“He’s monster.” She whispered shakily.
“He’ll spend the rest of his life rotting in prison for all the pain he’s caused.” He said firmly.
“How can you be so sure?” She asked.
“Because I believe justice is more than just how many politicians you can buy off. It’s about truth and decency. You can only push the boundaries so far.”
“I hope so.” She whispered, running her hands up and down her shoulders, rocking back and forth. She glanced toward the bedroom. “She won’t talk to me. Not really. Not like she used to.”
“I know.” He sighed, running a hand through his hair, “Just give her time.”
She pointed toward the stack of file boxes in the corner, “Is that all of them?”
“Yeah, I don’t think Lois is going to feel like going into the office anytime soon so I thought I’d bring everything here so we can keep working on this.”
“Determined as ever to bring the scum bag down, right?” Lucy gave him a weak smile. “I really hope he gets a cell mate with a love for beating up abusers.”
“One can only hope.” He sighed, “Night,”
“Thanks, Clark,” She whispered, watching him disappear behind the pocket doors of the bedroom.
***
Bruce Wayne stared at the vial in front of him, “What is it?”
“I was hoping you could tell me,” Henderson said, folding his arms over his chest. “It was found in the victim of an assault’s apartment. The scientists at STAR Labs were stumped when I took it over there yesterday.”
“Then why bring it to me?” Bruce asked skeptically.
“Wayne Tech has the most innovative scientists on its team. Hiring the brightest of the brightest. I thought maybe you could see what they couldn’t.”
Bruce eyed the vial uncertainly, “I’m going to need some time, but I’m juggling a lot right now, Inspector.”
“The assailant was Lex Luthor,” Henderson added, hoping the extra incentive would be enough for Bruce Wayne to put this at the top of his priority list.
“I’ll get Lucius on this and get back to you,” Bruce said, closing his fist over the vial.
***
“Kent?” Perry knocked on the door, opening the office to see Clark huddled in a mountain of paperwork, “Uh, what is all this?” He asked eying the large stack of files on one side of the desk.
“Police reports,” Clark explained glumly, not looking up.
“O-kay,” He said cautiously, looking around the office uncertainly, “And where’s Lois? She call in sick again?”
“She’s working from home,” Clark said, looking up as he folded his hands on the desk, propping them up on his elbows.
“Uh-huh,” Perry eyed Clark and the stack of papers, “Everything…okay, son?” He arched his eyebrow at him.
“Sure.” Clark shrugged.
Perry peered over Clark’s shoulder, eying the report in front of him. “Who’s Monique Kahn?” He asked.
Clark sighed, “One of the witnesses in the first case against Luthor.” He held up the picture of her face beaten and bruised, “This is why she refused to testify. The FBI is working with her now to see if they can get her to change her mind.”
“And this one?” He asked, flipping through the file, “Dr. Alfred Carlton? I thought this was a drug overdose.”
“So did the medical examiner.” Clark bit out, pulling out the pictures, “But look at the ligature marks on his hands. He was tied down.”
“And you’re thinking this is all Luthor?” Perry drawled, taking a seat next to him.
“He didn’t give them to himself,” Clark muttered bitterly.
“Uh-huh, and while you’re…” He gestured to the stack of files around the desk, “working on this. What is your partner doing?”
“She’s…uh, working on research from home,” Clark explained. “She and Lucy are working on trying to disqualify the witnesses in Jimmy’s case.”
“Clark, son,” Perry set a hand on his shoulder, “You sure there isn’t something you want to talk about?”
“No,” Clark turned his attention back to the police report in front of him.
“Okay.” Perry got up, heading out of the office. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but something had happened. “If you need to talk my door’s always open.”
***
One Week Later… Lucy glanced toward her sister as she fired shot after shot with a cold stare toward the target on the firing range. Everyday this is what she did. Every morning they came to the shooting range, and she fired one after another, shots at the targets.
The buzzer rang, and she stopped, pulling her protective glasses back as the target moved toward them to examine. “Nice. Almost all in the red.” Lucy commented.
Lois gave her a weak smile. Her bruises had all but faded, and the marks on her neck were all that were left, noticeable only if you tried to look for them. She still wouldn’t talk about it. “I think I’m done for the morning.” She said, packing up her pistol and unloading the cartridge.
“You were kinda a badass out there,” Lucy said with a smile. “Getting really good.”
“That’s the idea,” Lois said in a noncommittal tone.
***
Lois took a sip from her coffee, taking a seat at the dining table. It was hard for her to go out even for a cup of coffee so Lucy and grabbed them some from the coffee cart down the block. She still felt so vulnerable being out in public, having everyone see what Lex had done to her. The reminder of what had happened. The reminder of not being in control.
“Lois?” Lucy waved her hand in front of her face, “Did you hear a word I just said?”
“Right, I heard you.” She smiled. “Henderson said they're looking to set Jimmy’s court date. I get it.” She took another sip from her coffee. “It’s not that I don’t care. I’ve been ….distracted lately. I’m ….”
Lucy placed a hand on hers for a minute. “I know, but this is serious. We’ve got to get back to work. It’s been a week since the attack. Clark is doing what he can, but ….Lois, I miss my sister.”
“I’m here.” She shrugged, not so convincingly.
“No, you’re not.” Lucy shot back bitterly. “You don’t talk. You don’t smile. You’re like….this shell of a person that looks like my sister, but you certainly don’t act like the Lois Lane I know.”
Lois bit her lower lip, fighting the urge to snap a retort back that would be equally as offensive. The problem was she couldn’t. She couldn’t think. She couldn’t eat. She couldn’t do anything but relive her nightmare over and over again. She couldn’t look in the mirror without being reminded, and she couldn’t’ go out without people staring. She had yet to go into the office since it happened. She hadn’t talked to Perry. She was stuck.
“I’m sorry, Luce. I just….I can’t right now. I’m…”
“He is going to get away with everything if you don’t snap out of this!” Lucy fumed.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Lois hissed vehemently. “I know. I’m reminded every day when I turn on the news, and I see his smug face on there talking about rebuilding the police department and supporting the city as if he’s some sort of savior.”
“Then fight! Do something. Don’t just sit there and shoot at targets and stay on the sidelines. You keep on with the small stories here and there, but you won’t touch anything related to Lex.”
“I can’t,” Lois argued back, tears forming in her eyes as her emotions began to bubble over. “Do you think I enjoy this, Luce? I had to sit there and watch you lie in a puddle of blood. I had the barrel of his pistol pressed so hard against me it’s still black and blue. I have claw marks and finger marks all over my neck from where he tried to choke me. Scars on the back of my head from where he beat me. I can hardly stand to be touched because it just reminds me of him on top of me trying to choke the life out of me. I am doing the best I can under the circumstances!”
Tears fell down her face as she recalled how much had been taken from her that night. Try as she might she couldn’t bring herself to let Clark hold her for more than a few minutes. They hadn’t made love since before the attack. Here they were sharing a home, a bed but unable to share their bodies as they had so easily once before. She hated herself for it. She hated Lex for it. She hated it.
“Don’t you think I know that?” Lucy hissed back, “God, I wish I could forget it just once, but we don’t have time to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. They are going to set a court date, Lois. Jimmy is going to be convicted and sent away for the rest of his life for something he didn’t do!”
“Luce…” She brushed the tears from his cheek.
“I know it’s tough. I know it’s painful, but you’ve got to do something to snap out of it. Get into counseling. Talk to someone, or hell go drag Clark into the bedroom for a few hours....Release it. Do whatever you need to get rid of that stick up your ass but do something! Jimmy’s life is at stake!”
“I have to go.” With that she got up from the table, grabbing her purse and slamming the door behind her.
***
“Steven McQueen.” Mayson read off as she paced in front of the elderly man, reading from the file in front of her. “Divorced three times. Two kids. Two houses. Known amongst your peers as ‘Steve the Sleaze’” She made a face of disgust as she set the file down on the table.
“That’s me.” He chuckled nervously.
She took a seat across from him, tapping her fingers on the table, “Something you want to get off your chest, Steve?”
He eyed her legs crossed beneath the table and leered, “Yeah, where do you dames get those skirts? Stuff like that just mmm mmm mmm…”
Mayson ignored the comment, pulling out a tape player and opening it to place a cassette in it silently. Without a word she stared him down pushing play, “I didn’t know what was in the bag. I didn’t ask questions. I delivered it to the Planet ... A guy named Steve McQueen. I had no idea, Bill. You gotta believe me.”
She hit stop and looked up at him, “That’s the recorded statement Detective Jenkins made a few hours before his death. Putting you with a bag at the Planet the day it exploded.”
“Don’t prove nothing. We went to the same gym. He was bringing me my gym clothes. Nothing else.”
“So, if I get a search warrant to search your house for this gym bag? I’m going to find it?” Mayson asked.
“Search away. I ain’t got nothing to hide.” He sneered.
***
“Okay, thanks for letting me know,” Clark said, hanging the phone up with a click. He shook his head in disgust, throwing the pencil across the desk. Nothing. The police had done a search of Steve McQueen’s apartment and found nothing linking him to the bombing of the Planet. No sign of the gym bag with the explosives but they did find his membership to the gym, proving his story of getting gym clothes from Jenkins. Since Jenkins had been linked to the escape of Toni Taylor his confession to Henderson wasn’t going to hold much water.
A knock at the door caught his attention. He turned to see Lois standing there in her sleeveless high collar button down top and matching capris. “Hey,” She said, closing the door behind her. “I figured with it being lunch hour I could come in here without drawing a crowd.”
He gave her a half-smile, eying the way her white capris molded her curves perfectly, “I think you’ll always draw a crowd.” He got up to walk toward her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “How are you feeling?”
“Okay.” She shrugged, toying with the top button on her top. “How is…?” She glanced toward the files, “It seems like that stuff just doubles overnight, doesn’t it?”
He nodded, resting his hand on her shoulder as he led her to her chair to have a seat. “I’m going over some of the police reports on all the deaths we’ve had related to our old stories. Trying to see if I can prove a connection. Henderson said the FBI is pretty close to tying everything together and making an arrest that will stick.”
“That’s good, right?” She whispered nervously. He swallowed hard as he saw the top button of her blouse come undone. It had been over a week, but it might as well have been a year. It was torture being this close to Lois and not being able to hold her and touch her the way he wanted; the way he always had. He hated that Luthor had taken that from them.
Another button came undone. He looked away. What was she doing? He could hear her heart hammering in her chest, but her tone remained subdued.
She leaned forward, offering him a perfect view down her blouse and causing his body to respond. “I mean, the sooner they make an arrest, the sooner we can put all this behind us?” Another button came undone, and he could make out the hint of white lace on the edge of the cotton fabric.
He could feel his mouth going dry as he fought to form a coherent sentence, staring at the ivory flesh that had become forbidden for him to touch for the past week. “Yeah, but we’ve still got a lot of work on proving Jimmy’s innocence. I just spoke with Henderson. They, uh….” He swallowed hard watching as she toyed with another button, seeing the lace playing peek-a-boo with him and furthering his desire for her.
“They what?” She asked, running her hand down the front of her blouse seductively.
“They, uh,” He swallowed hard, watching as another button came undone, revealing her white lace bra to him. “They, uh, didn’t find anything at Steve’s house.” He watched her in anticipation as she ran a hand down her abdomen, resting on the waistband of her capris. He was unable to take his eyes off of her. He glanced toward the door, seeing that the blinds had been closed and the door locked. He could feel his body temperature rising, shifting in his chair uncomfortably as his desire for her grew more unbearable. He would definitely need a trip to the Arctic to cool off.
The zipper lowered, and he spied the white lace on the waistband of her panties and groaned. “I miss you.” She whispered seductively as the cotton capris fell to the floor.
He couldn’t help but groan in response when he saw her stripped down to her panties with her top half unbuttoned. “I miss you too, baby,” He whispered, watching as her hands moved up and down her body seductively.
She grinned impishly, “Do you want to touch me?”
His mouth went dry as he struggled to find his voice, “Only if you want me to.” He bit his lip, watching as she finished unbuttoning her blouse.
She stood up, walking over toward him as she shed her blouse, brushing it off her shoulders. He swallowed hard, taking a deep breath as she slid onto his lap, so she was hovering above him. He leaned in to kiss her. She grinned back nervously, and he cupped her face, “You sure about this?”
“Does this answer your question?” She ran her hands up and down his chest, tracing the length of his silk tie, sighing as she fumbled with his belt buckle. He leaned forward, brushing his lips across her chest. She gasped out in pleasure, “Don’t stop.”
It wasn’t as convincing a plea as she normally made to him when they made love, but it was encouraging. She wasn’t pushing him away. He heard a hike in her heart rate as she ground her hips against him, turning him on more and more with each movement but something in the back of his mind kept shouting at him to stop.
She moved closer, supporting herself on her knees as she unfastened his belt buckle. “I love you, Lois,” He whispered against her.
“I love you.” She whispered hoarsely, fingering the hairs on the back of his neck.
“You’re so incredibly sexy,” He whispered, brushing his lips against her neck lightly. She flinched slightly, and he pulled back, looking at her in concern, “Lois?”
“Just a little skittish.” She explained, pressing her body against his as she lowered the zipper to his trousers. “I’m fine.”
There it was again. The voice nagging in the back of his head. Something was wrong. He moved to cup her cheek, “Lois, you’re not fine. What’s wrong?” She looked down, and he whispered, “You’re not ready, are you?”
“I’m sorry,” She whispered ruefully. “I want to. I miss you so much, but…” She looked down tearfully, “I thought if I just forced myself it would make it easier.”
“Force yourself?” He shook his head, disgusted at the thought that Lois thought she had to force herself to do anything with him, “Honey, I don’t want you to have to force yourself to do anything. You were assaulted. It’s going to take time.” He reached for her blouse forgotten on the floor. “When we make love again it will be because we both are ready.” He gestured to their current predicament, “Why don’t you get dressed before someone tries to break the door down coming in here.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
“I’m sorry, Clark,”
He shrugged, “I’m not. This will give me a little….inspiration.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her as she got up, to put her capris back on. She perched herself on the edge of the desk, and he watched as the white lace disappeared behind the long line of silk buttons.
[i‘So close.’[/i]
Lois bit her lip, watching him for a moment, “I guess I should go.” She pointed to the door.
He nodded, watching her leave with regret. He hated this.
***
Lois readjusted her hair, so the side of her face was covered as she stepped into the office space that had become the makeshift newsroom of the Daily Planet. So close. They’d been so close. Then she’d panicked and…
She shuddered recalling how Clark had felt pressed up against her just moments ago. It was clear how badly he wanted her. Her body still tingled from where his hands had been…his lips….
She keyed in her code for the door to leave when she saw the one person she’d been trying to avoid for the last week; Perry.
‘Crap.’ “Whoa there! Hold on, darlin’.” Perry said, when he saw her trying to leave. “Lois? Where in tarnation have you been? I can’t get any answers out of Kent. What in the Sam Hill…” He stopped mid-sentence when she shot him a pleading look. She met his gaze and realized he had seen it. The bruises. The marks.
“Perry, I really don’t want to talk about this right now.” She said hoarsely.
He was already examining her neck, “Who did this to you??” The vein in his forehead was already popping out of his forehead.
‘Who did this to you?’
Was this the question she was going to have to answer every time someone saw the scars?
Biting her lip, she bit out her assailant’s name venomously, “Lex.”
“My office…now.” He whispered hoarsely, not giving her a chance to argue.
“Great.” She muttered.
“Kent!!” Perry bellowed as he guided her toward his office.
‘This just keeps getting better and better.’ She thought to herself.
***
Lois watched as Clark closed the door to Perry’s office then turned his attention toward Perry, “What’s up, Chief?”
“What’s up?” Perry mimicked outraged, “What’s up is your partner looks like she’s been run over by a stampede of wild buffalo with marks all over her from Lex Luthor and I’m apparently the last to know! What is going on??”
“Chief…” Clark started.
“That was my idea.” Lois interrupted.
Perry sighed, trying to portray a calm he obviously didn’t feel at the moment, taking a seat at his desk and folding his hands on the desk. “Your idea?”
He looked toward Clark who nodded, placing a supportive arm around her. “She didn’t want anyone to know what happened.”
“And when I asked you if there was something going on earlier last week you said nothing?” Perry prompted, holding a pencil up and staring at it intently.
“Yeah,” Clark said, tightening his hold on Lois, “I was respecting Lois’ wishes. You know how quickly gossip flies around here.”
“Okay, I can understand that.” He began, looking to Lois. “You didn’t want anyone to know?”
She shook her head, “No.”
His lips tightened as he asked, “What happened?”
“Luthor broke into her apartment and attacked her and Lucy,” Clark said, running his hand down her shoulders.
“Judas Priest!” Perry lowered his head in his hands, “Lois, honey, why didn’t you just tell me what was going on? I need to know these things. What did you think I was going to do? Tell Ralph??”
Lois shook her head, “No, I just…I don’t know.”
“Okay, okay,” Perry shook his head, “Have you been checked out? The doctors?”
Clark nodded, “She and Lucy were both examined at the hospital.”
“Lois, are you okay to work or do you need to use some of your time off?” Perry pressed. “If you want to work from home that’s fine. I just need to know.”
She glanced toward Clark, holding his hand before turning back to Perry, “I want to work. I want to help bring him down and nail the bastard to the wall.”
“Okay,” Perry nodded, “Then let’s do it. Why don’t you two update me on what you’ve got?”
***
Lois sat curled up on the bed in one of Clark’s old t-shirts watching as he got ready for bed. That afternoon had been awkward, to say the least. Going over everything they’d learned about Lex with Perry and giving him the reader’s digest version of what had happened during the attack with Lex along with his knack for getting out of custody with Metropolis P.D. He’d signed his own bond releasing him on an OR bond with the condition he stayed away from Lois. It wasn’t’ much, but for the most part, he seemed to be following the orders.
“So, Lucy said Jimmy’s supposed to be getting a court date soon.” She began slowly.
He nodded, shaking his head as he climbed into bed with her, “I know. I still can’t believe how many brick walls we keep hitting on this. Henderson said they didn’t find any sign of explosives at Steve’s place.”
“Well, why would they when they were all planted at Jimmy’s?” Lois asked, leaning back against her pillow, rolling on her side as she watched Clark toss his t-shirt on the floor and climb under the covers with her. She watched the way his muscles rippled beneath the skin, letting her gaze linger over his pectorals and recalling how he felt pressed up against her earlier.
“The problem is proving that though.” Clark sighed, leaning over and placing his glasses on the nightstand. He turned back to her, cupping her cheek, “Maybe I can see if we can find any surveillance footage near Jimmy’s apartment and see if anyone saw anything.”
“Mmm hmm,” She wasn’t focused on what he was saying at the moment. Instead, she was focused on his shoulder, recalling the many times her nails had dug into it as he’d….
‘Bad thoughts.’ Another thing that had been taken from her.
Lucy was right.
She needed to do something.
She needed release…somehow. She wasn’t particularly fond of the idea of talking to someone about this. The idea of losing herself in Clark’s arms had its appeal, but how was she supposed to do that when she could hardly stand to be touched?
“Lois?” He whispered, tapping her on the shoulder, “You okay?”
“Yeah,” She said a bit too quickly. His hand moved down her arm, and she closed her eyes, focusing on the warmth of his touch. He leaned forward to kiss her, pressing his lips against hers. She smiled against his lips, feeling his tender touch against her cheek. He nuzzled the side of her face with his nose, running the bridge against her cheek.
“I love you, Lois,” He whispered, brushing his lips against her jaw.
She took a deep breath, pulling him toward her. He groaned his approval against her lips, allowing her to guide him to her. She sighed, feeling him as his torso settled in-between her legs. She could do this. She needed to do this.
His hands ran up the side of her thighs, kneading the flesh gently. He lowered his head, inching himself down her body until he was eye level with the hem of the t-shirt that hugged her curves, running his hands over her hips seductively.
Her mind briefly flashed back to the attack as his hand ran over the bruise on her hip. He lowered his lips to the black and blue skin, kissing it tenderly.
‘Clark.’ She reminded herself.
‘Don’t think about the attack. Just think about Clark.’He moved his attention to her abdomen, running the edge of his tongue against the sensitive flesh. “Clark…” She sighed his name, feeling her body begin to relax like it hadn’t in over a week against his soft caresses.
He ran his hands up and down her legs, and she sighed, feeling his hand brush between her legs, nudging them further apart. “You okay?” He asked.
“Yes,” She breathed in a raspy whisper, running her fingers up and down his shoulders, feeling the velvety smooth skin against her palm. His body pressed against hers and she felt her blood run cold, recalling the events from her attack in whirlwind flash. Her breathing became ragged, and he ran a hand down her side.
“I’ve got you.” He reminded her.
His fingers began to slowly stroke over the front of her shirt, kneading the soft flesh beneath the cotton. “Yes, Clark,” She whispered, feeling her defenses slowly fade away as she concentrated on the feeling of his magical fingertips moving against her.
“Let me love you, Lois,” He lowered his head, dipping it beneath the hem of the oversized shirt she wore, running the edge of his tongue up her abdomen.
“Cl…” She cried out, feeling the doubly surreal feeling of his mouth and hands on her like they hadn’t been in weeks.
“Let me love you,” He repeated, whispering against her abdomen. He crawled his way downward, hovering over the purplish bruise on her hip in the shape of the barrel of the pistol Lex had pressed against her.
He ran his hand over it gingerly before pressing his lips against the wounded skin, moving further down until he was settled in-between her legs. She could feel his growing arousal pressed up against her and sighed her approval as he ran his hands up and down her thighs, inching himself back upward, kissing each layer of skin in his wake until he was lying next to her at eye-level. His hands moved to cup both sides of her face, outlining it as if he were trying to memorize it and he whispered, “Do you want me to stop?”
“No,” She whispered hoarsely, “Just make me forget.”
He brushed his lips against hers tenderly, caressing her mouth with his. She moved her hand to trace the hairs on the back of his neck, wedging the silky strands between her fingertips. The tip of his tongue traced the outline of her lips, nudging at the part of her lips for entrance. His hands fingered her hair gingerly as he slipped his tongue inside her mouth, teasing her with his taste.
He rolled them over, settling himself in-between her legs. She could feel him press against her and sighed happily, “Yes,”
“Let me love you.” He whispered again, leaning back into her, settling his weight fully on her. He felt good. So very very good pressed up against her. He also felt…suffocating as his lips pressed against her jaw.
“Cl…”
<<“You don’t leave…until…I….tell you….to ….leave…” >>
<< “I would have given you everything….” >>
<< “Don’t you understand I could commit murder in the middle of the streets in this city and get away with it." >>Flashes of Lex hovering over her ran through her mind as she struggled to focus on the present. His lips caressed her jaw, moving down to her neck and she whispered.
“Clark…”
<<"Not even a call for your favorite superhero?” You try to call for Kent? What do you think he’s going to do?” >>His lips caressed the side of her face, nibbling at her earlobe and she tensed,
“Stop.”He pulled away, looking at her in concern, “Lois?”
“I’m sorry…” She whispered tearfully, unable to find the words to explain what had happened.
“It’s okay, honey. Shhh,” He soothed, smoothing the sides of her face with his hands.
“No, it’s not.” She whimpered against him tearfully. “I need…” She reached between their bodies and he stopped the path of her hand midway.
“It doesn’t matter. What does matter..” He ran a tentative hand over her shoulder, “What happened?”
“I don’t know.” She admitted nervously. “I was fine one minute and then…I wasn’t.” She looked back at him tearfully, “I’m SO sorry, Clark, I…”
He rested his head against hers, “It’s okay. We’ll get through this. It was just…too soon. That’s all.” He placed a kiss on her forehead.
“I think it had to do with you being on top of me.” She admitted remorsefully.
He looked at her confused, “But this afternoon…”
“You were kissing my neck.” She whispered tearfully, “I hate this.”
“It’s just going to take time.” He whispered, leaning in to kiss her before pulling away.
She stared down at his boxers as he sat up trying to regain control of his body, “I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay; really.” He leaned in to kiss her before getting up from the bed. “I’m gonna take a shower and… I’ll be right back.”
Lois nodded, watching him leave with regret. She sighed against the pillows, reaching for her t-shirt from earlier. She listened as the shower turned on from the bathroom. She could make out Clark’s soft moans. She closed her eyes, focusing on the familiar sounds that were now so far away.
It wasn’t
fine. Nothing about this was
fine. ***
TBC...
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