You’re back!
It’s back!
She rushed to turn on Clark's television, clicking through the channels until she found one with a banner proclaiming "Breaking News."
"--explosion at the Daily Planet. No word yet on the cause, or if there are casualties--"
Lois gasped and stood perfectly still, staring at the screen and willing the station to switch from the news desk to a correspondent at the scene.
The story of the year, hmm…okay…month…week? Anyhow, a major headline and she got scooped. By the local television station, to boot!
When the station began to air an advertisement,
Insurance for fire damage? Vacuum cleaners? The Metropolis Star?
She caught sight of Superman's red cape at the other end of the block and breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Wouldn’t it be awkward if it would flutter out from the side of a large pile of ruble that’s glowing slightly green from the inside?
"My darling, I've been so worried. How are you? Do you require assistance?"
Oh, look. His plan worked.
LEX: Yes, if I had known that all that was needed to get her to come to me was to blow up the Daily Planet… I believe I will have to write a special Christmas bonus for Nigel this year.
NIGEL: Too gracious, sir.
Lois turned to face him and saw his expression flicker when he took in the man's dress shirt she was wearing
Oops?
"I can't," she blurted out, planting her feet to prevent being towed along with him.
They might never find her!
"Why not wait somewhere less dangerous? My car is just around the corner."
So…let’s move closer to the burning building, then?
"I'll help you look." Lex's attention suddenly shifted to the scene behind her and his dark eyes narrowed.
Lois took advantage of Lex's distraction and stepped backwards to try and break his grip on her arm. He didn't let go, and she was even more worried when she bumped into something -- someone -- solid.
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/smilie/froehlich/c036.gif)
Look who’s here.
LEX:
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/smilie/konfus/a025.gif)
Huh, I never realized just how much like Batman Superman could scowl like.
She wondered what the other people in the group had thought when Superman suddenly zipped away up the street.
PEOPLE: Lois Lane must be in danger.
"I think she's in shock. Please help me to convince Lois that she should come away from here."
SUPERMAN: Lois, I really do think you should come away from Lex Luthor.
He loved the Planet with the same intensity that she did; it was one of his best qualities.
Superman's shoulders sagged a little. "Two people were killed, down in the basement where the blast originated."
Wouldn’t it be awkward if it turned out to be Jimmy and Jack?
"You look pale and shaky." Superman's hand again touched the small of her back, gently guiding her. "Please, come sit down."
That might also be from the knock-out drug Lex has given her via a pin he had glued to his finger when he pressed into her arm.
Superman frowned and stood up. "It has to have been deliberate. There's so much kryptonite in the basement that I can almost feel it from here."
Ooooooh!
Maybe she was really mad at Lex, and maybe it was shock, but Lois found herself spoiling for a fight, even if it meant fighting with Superman.
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/smilie/teufel/d090.gif)
I don’t think we’ve ever seen a fight between Lois and Superman where Lois didn’t know he was also Clark.
"Take you somewhere Luthor can't find you," he explained with mock patience, as if she were a three year-old.
To be fair, that’s her usual mode of petulance.
"I won't. I promise."
Superman touched her wrist, his dark eyes looking directly into hers.
Lie detector?
Jack's eyebrows rose as he registered that she was wearing a man's dress shirt. "What happened to you?" He looked closer and then grinned. "Wait a minute, that's Clark's shirt! Is he back?"
How does he…? How does Jimmy recognize Clark’s shirts?
Jimmy dug in his pocket and handed his cell phone to her.
Lois called information and asked for the Breakers Hotel. She wrote the number on a napkin using the pen she'd filched earlier from the mug near the register.
"Would you like me to connect the call for a two dollar charge?" the operator asked.
"Yes, please."
Oh boy. Jimmy’s so going to go into bankruptcy from this.
"You're telling us that Lex Luthor blew up the Daily Planet?" Jimmy unconsciously shook his head slightly as he asked the question. "Why? And what has he got against Superman?"
That’s why some people are relegated to repairing singing fish.
She hung up the phone and cracked her knuckles. Where in the hell was Clark? Had something happened to him? Had he been mugged and left for dead in an alley somewhere? Gone for a swim and been pulled out to sea by the riptide? Stepped in quicksand?
Maybe Clark’s playing ‘waterball’ with a couple of buxom beach bunnies?
Luckily, she didn't seem to notice that he was struggling.
LOIS: Hmm…turbulence. I wonder if he had beans for breakfast…
He wavered over telling her the truth, but he was too exhausted to face the aftermath. It had been too stressful of a day on them both to want to add anything else to the mix.
Hmmm…wouldn’t it be fun if he just started to change, take a shower and then relax in his Clark clothes and Clark hair, leaving Lois to stand there, mouth agape?
CLARK: You do know that I’m pretty powered out right now, right? And probably vulnerable?
"Equally?" He could hear the smile in her voice. "Is she jealous of me? Of how much time we spend together?"
Nah…she knows that he loves Lois like a sister.
LUKE:
JAMIE:
AEGON I:
Was she jealous? Clark was starting to think she might be, given how much effort Lois was putting into discovering her supposed rival.
He does realize that he’s keeping a secret from her and let her know that he’s keeping a secret from her, right?
CLARK: Weak. Kryptonite. Sleep…
"Would you rob a bank for her?"
Her unexpected question startled a laugh out of him. "Why would she ask me to do that?"
"I would."
"No, I'd ask them to rob one for me. Just to see what they'd say."
She’s quite the little delinquent, isn’t she?
Clark grinned. "Are you saying you can only love someone who'd commit a felony for you?"
LEX: I blew up a building for her!
"I never realized until just now that you're probably insane."
DETER:
![[Linked Image]](http://cosgan.de/images/smilie/liebe/a015.gif)
"You know what? You win. If you want knock off banks in your spare time, you have my unwavering support."
How Bonny and Clyde got started.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind the next time I'm knocking over a liquor store."
How that he’s likely out of a job, that might be earlier that he might have thought…
Clark took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He'd give anything for it to be tomorrow night now, to be legitimately home, to be near her.
But how are they going to say goodbye when they’re both in his apartment?
CLARK: From the couch into the bedroom, of course.
Michael
