Corrina,
First, thank you for your kind words.
Now, on to the feedback:
I have so many questions! They are not questions I want you to answer here. They're questions I anticipate finding the answers to as I read along. (I can still remember our teachers, way back when, forever drilling it into our heads to "be an active reader".
)
Does Clark know Lois's name now? She was sitting in the staff room, with the door wide open when she called Scardino and said, "This is Lois Lane." Clark's powers are returning, but not yet 100%. Could he hear her?
I keep going back to why Clark isn't talking. I understand the psychological explanation, but I'm still wondering if there isn't something physical. Kathy, you made an excellent point; I'd forgotten that Clark is Superman! duh. Once he becomes "Super" again, any operation could heal, and he'd be good as new. Now, I'm leaning back towards my original theory... that the operation did something to his ability to talk. Maybe he can talk already and doesn't even know it.
On the other hand, I keep going back to the conversation Shadbolt had with Lois awhile back, where he told her that it was his understanding that the alien had spoken at one time, but that he, personally, had never heard him speak. Yet, Shadbolt was one of the two who performed the operation. Wouldn't he have mentioned that?
I don't know...
Next question: Why does Clark shrink back from the door? Again, I understand the psychological explanation, but could there be more? Perhaps *this* is what the operation was about. Could they have implanted something that would activate if Clark goes through the door? Something that causes him pain, or that releases kryptonite in his body, or something like that?
Or, maybe he's been told that if he leaves the cell his parents will pay the consequences. It has to be something powerful, because of the way he withdrew his hands the second they reached the threshold. He didn't push Moyne all the way through, even though he knew Lois would have to struggle (painfully) to get him the rest of the way into the staff room.
I can't help but wonder why Longford cannot change his schedule. This is the second time he has said it is impossible for him to do so. It could just have been a way for you to get Lois on the day shift, but I wonder if there is more.
And, of course, I'm curious to see what Lois gives Clark in the upcoming chapter that makes him smile. Possibly the candy? Or, could she have written something in her next note that amused him?
I loved this:
[N]ow she was much more driven to ensure that the world didn't hurt him.
And to do that, she had to stay.
She had to stay long enough to safeguard his future.
and this:
When Moyne had pushed her into the cell, Mr Kent had chosen to help her.
[...]
[H]e'd instantly and unequivocally sided with her.
He'd stood over her ... not to threaten but to guard.
Clark protecting Lois, and Lois safeguarding Clark's future. That is the way things are supposed to be.
More, please!
