There's nothing better than coming home after a very long day at work and seeing that the feedback fairy has come to visit.
mozartmaid - Thank you for being first! I was starting to despair since I'd posted the story and, a few hours later when I checked before bed, there still wasn't a nibble.
I agree with you completely about seeing Clark vulnerable because of Lois. There's more where that came from.
DW - And, in return, you made my day so much better.
Thank you!
Artemis - Awwww!
You write the nicest things. I'm glad you like the banter and the inner monologue because those were some of my favorite moments to write.
Lynn - Clark has only begun to struggle with his limitations and regrets.
The episode you're thinking of is "All Shook Up". That did enter into my calculations, but so did his claim at the end of "I'm Looking Through You" where Lois rhetorically asks him how long he can hold his breath and he replies (out of her earshot), "A very long time." I took dramatic license because it flows better to say "nearly an hour" than "twenty minutes".
Emily - Yay! You came back! I laughed at the "f… er… finessed". That totally had not entered my mind, but it sure will when I read through the story again to edit for archiving.
Michael - Your posts always crack me up! First I giggled at the "noooooooo!" all over again. And then I nearly choked on my drink at the mental image of two shadowy criminals nodding hello as they carried their hapless victims. Then you closed with all the bad, bad people. At least I'm in excellent company.
Pam - Oh, it's so nice to see you here! Twice! I was immensely flattered to see that hours later you were still thinking about the story.
I promise that there is more nookie to come. As to the whys and ifs, some of that is answered in the next part and all of it is answered by the end. If you think this is the hard way, you're gonna freak later.
Evelyn - I've done a lot of terrible things to Lois. I've burned her with lit cigarettes and electroshocked her into a miscarriage and even broke the fingers of her left hand one by one, but I can't bring myself to violate her that way. Geez, though, looking back sure makes me feel guilty. I shall try to be nicer to her in the future.
Thank you all for your comments. Let's keep those cards and letters coming!
