First, let me give a huge "thanks!" to everyone has commented. I really appreciate the feedback, both good and bad. And yet, I've dithered all day about whether to say anything or not. In the end, discretion lost and I'm going to address what I felt was a gross misreading of the story.
The thing that struck me most about that scene the first time, and every time, I've ever watched it is the *emotion* on both of their parts. Have you seen it, Ann? If you haven't, I'll gladly send you the clip that DJ sent me so you can watch it. To me that scene was *never* about what Clark, or Superman, was doing. It was about Lois - what she was willing to do for *Clark*.
It saddens me that you can't seem to get past what you feel are Clark's sins to see how absolutely brave and amazing Lois was in that moment. That's what this story is about - Lois' courage and determination. I feel it cheapens her to make it seem like this was Clark's selfish decision/act.
Lois knew, she absolutely positively *knew* before he froze her that he was Clark. She knew and she gave him one last watery smile and then closed her eyes because, to her, it wasn't about him being Superman. It was about helping three people that she loved (Clark and his parents). She had the utmost confidence in his ability to freeze her. Like she said, she had seen it done before. In IGACOY he froze the Toasters at the end of the episode and, apparently, none of them died.
It was never Clark's idea to freeze her. Clark wanted her to get on a plane and leave town. The idea was hers - and hers alone. To deny her (as Superman) would have been to lessen something that only *she* could do for him. It wasn't just any body he was supposed to bring to Jace and Nigel - it had to *Lois*. Lois knew that. Personally, in my mind, she trusted him *more* in that last moment before he froze her *because* she knew he was Clark.
I loved Terry's story, "She". I lost my best friend and husband seven years ago and I find reading stories like "She" and "Quiet Regret" (and writing stories like "Frozen") cathartic.
If I didn't, I just wouldn't read (or write) them.
