Hi Terry!
Thanks for continuing to read!
The "driven Lois crazy" thing was, indeed, a mostly deliberate choice of words. Mostly because I would have described it that way anyway, but within the confines of an asylum, it made all the bigger impact. No, it wasn't meant for humor (despite my love of dark humor). But it just kind of hammered home the "insane" thing. My muse likes the darkness.
You're right, of course, it's very possible Clark may never heal. His body - of course there's potential there. Lois will be sure to feed him and get him back to a healthy weight/bring him back from malnourishment. His mind is where the terror really lies.
Lois has, as you said, mostly put her own life on hold. You can assume she's dated (I nearly wrote something in about how this idiot, Dan, couldn't handle her need to find Clark - mwhahahaha!) but nothing's really stuck. She would have been too busy, too preoccupied, and still grieving. She's built a solid career for herself - she hasn't JUST searched for Clark - imagine, if you will, a more crowded space in her Kerth closet. But Clark has always been there, a ghost in the corner, haunting her.
However, you point out her age. Just going to throw it out there that, yes, Lois is in her mid-forties now. But, depending on her body, she COULD still have a slim chance for a baby - with Clark or with anyone. I have two cousins who had children in their mid-forties. Risks certainly get higher with age, but unless she's fully gone through "the change," the opportunity is out there.
You can bet that Lois wants to bring down all the forces of Heaven and Hall alike on whoever hurt Clark. If only she had any kind of lead to use...Let's just say, Luthor might be harder to reach/pin things on than one might think, even for the great Mad Dog Lane.
As for your plot bunny - I LOVE it! It's so DARK and TWISTED! I look forward to any revenge you may want to enact on Luthor in response to what he's done to Clark.
