previously...

"It's simple really, Detective Lois Lane is too nosy for her own good. She had a relationship with Luthor, and that makes her an unacceptable risk. We don't want her asking any of the wrong questions."

Henderson nodded. He'd expected something like this. "Okay, she's my partner. I can keep a close eye on her and make sure to steer her away from anything that might lead her back to you... and me."

He heard that chuckle again. "Once again, you misunderstand us. We don't want your partner watched... we want her eliminated.

And Now....

To Protect and Serve II
by Tank

CHAPTER TWO

Lois lay in her bed staring up at the ceiling. Well, she was staring into the darkness above her, which eventually would have ended at her ceiling. She'd been tossing and turning all night. Her head literally ached from the jumble of thoughts and feelings that kept flitting in and out of her mind.

She'd been fretting over Bill's secretiveness. Why wouldn't he tell her who called? Why hadn't he shared any of his vacation stories with her? They were best friends, they always shared everything. Well, not everything. She certainly couldn't tell him about Clark's secret.

She sighed as that thought drove her mind back to Clark. She was confused when it came to Clark Kent. They had been dating for a few months now. Ever since Lucy had met up with that Mac guy from the Boynton lab and had left with him for California. Apparently he had family there, and much better job prospects than he would've had here considering he had been employed at one of Lex Luthor's illegal secret labs. Not that he'd known it at the time. He was largely responsible for Lucy's escape from the place and they had fallen in love. Lois didn't believe in love at first sight and was uncomfortable with Lucy running off with this guy, having only met him, and under dubious circumstances at best. Still, Lucy was an adult and she made it clear that her decision on the matter was not up for debate.

Lucy had worked with Clark, and he and Lois had met on that particular case. It had also been the case that had led to Luthor's exposure as Metropolis' most notorious crime boss. A fact that had shaken Lois more than she cared to admit. She'd been dating Lex at the time, and it had been a humbling experience to have misread his true character so badly. Her only consolation had been that she and Clark were largely responsible for his downfall.

Clark had known all along that Luthor was an amoral criminal, but he had the advantage of a first hand encounter, if you could call it that. Luthor had tried to kill him. Actually Luthor had tried to kill Superman, but Clark was... or had been Superman. Whatever Luthor had done to him had destroyed the Man of Steel's powers. Clark hadn't been killed but for all practical purposes the hero had been. With no more powers, there was no more Superman.

It was still quite a bit to take in for her. That the caring, funny guy that she'd been having such a good time dating had actually been the idol of millions was daunting. That a nearly all powerful being from another planet found her attractive and interesting enough to spend his time with was almost scary.

The thing was, she didn't see him as Superman. She'd never had a lot of contact with the super hero so she didn't have a history to compare the two sides of the man with. She only saw the wonderful, sensitive man that was Clark Kent. She had to admit, that given a choice, she would've preferred Clark to Superman every time.

A quick stab of guilt flashed through her. What if the powers came back? She knew that the world had lost a great deal when their hero disappeared. But Lois couldn't help hoping that the powers would never come back. She liked Clark they way he was. She didn't think she would want to have to compete with the rest of the world for his attentions. If their relationship continued on the path she suspected it was going on, she wasn't sure it could survive the reintroduction of Superman. She didn't think she could share him with millions.

Lois' eyes, which had drifted shut during her musings, suddenly popped open. Whoa! When had her thoughts about Clark turned so serious? He was a nice guy, but how well did she really know him? The fact that he used to be Superman should be a pretty good character reference, but what else? He was handsome, polite, funny, charming, and witty. But then, so had Lex been.

She shook her head in disgust for the unworthy thought. Comparing Clark to Lex was a fool's errand. Whereas there might be some similarity on a superficial level, Clark was the most compassionate and caring individual she'd ever met. So, what was the problem?

The problem was her... and the problem was Lex. She'd been burned badly by Luthor. She'd thought that he was every bit the near perfect man he pretended to be. If she could have been fooled so badly by one man, could she trust her feelings about another? No, it would be best to take things slowly. Control her raging hormones and get to know the man, the real man, better before she unlocked the cage around her heart.

Lois rolled over and looked at the small alarm clock on her night stand. It blinked its annoying message at her. She groaned as it registered on her brain that it was nearly four a.m. and she hadn't gotten a wink of sleep yet.

She was startled when the phone rang, the sound echoing unnaturally loud in the quiet of the early morning. Perplexed she reached for the receiver and picked it up. "Hello?" she managed to croak.

"Lois? This is Bill, I need to see you."

*******************

Clark sat in the moonlit cast shadow of the Daily Planet's famous globe, gazing out at the luminous splendor that was Metropolis at night. He knew it was quite late, but he couldn't sleep. He often found himself coming up to the roof of the Planet building just to look out over the city. It was the closest approximation of the views he'd gotten used to when flying over the city. He didn't fly anymore, but he could still appreciate the beauty, and the life, of his city from above. Sometimes it had a calming affect on him, but tonight it didn't seem to help.

He was confused. The last few months had been a whirlwind of emotional conflict for him, and at the center of it was a certain dark-haired police officer. Detective Sergeant Lois Lane was an incredible woman, and if Clark wasn't careful he could easily fall head over heels for the her... that was, if he hadn't already. He had to admit that he found her beautiful, exciting, intelligent, passionate, and the most amazing woman he'd ever met. But did he really know her?

Their initial encounters had been intense. Worry for her sister, coupled with his insistence that Lex Luthor, a man she had been dating, was the root of all evil hadn't led to a great deal of trust between them. Add in the fact that she'd known he was hiding something from her. It was surprising that she hadn't arrested him right then and there. But they had put aside their personal differences for the sake of Lucy, and had eventually grown closer because of the forced intimacy the investigation had required.

There was no denying Lois' determination and passion for her convictions. Once she was convinced of Luthor's true nature, she threw herself into the investigation with both feet and a total disregard for any negative personal consequences. But then, that was the way she approached all her cases. It was a wonder the woman was still alive. He'd gotten her to admit that she'd been wounded in the line of duty three times in the last five years. The sudden thought of Lois being killed sent a cold chill through his soul. The thought of anyone dying was anathema to Clark, but in the case of Lois, just the possibility sent him into a panic. Especially now that there was no longer a Superman to rush in and save the day.

Clark approached the low wall that rimmed the roof of the Planet. Leaning his arms on the concrete top, he gazed out over the city as if searching for something. A sigh escaped into the predawn quiet. Superman. The hero of Metropolis, and the idol of millions. Where were the cheers and the accolades now?

Superman had been gone from the scene for over six months now. In the first few weeks there had been quite an uproar about it. People wondered where he was, what had happened, and if he was ever coming back? As the weeks progressed the furor died down. The Man of Steel was presumed dead, and people got on with their lives.

Clark watched the first rays of the coming dawn begin to stain the waters of Hobbs Bay. He turned and headed back to the roof access door. It hadn't taken the citizens of Metropolis, and the rest of the country for that matter, long to forget about Superman. He wasn't sure what that said about the impact he'd made in their lives. Maybe it didn't say anything. People have to face decisions and events that affect their lives everyday. The smart ones adapt to the changes and move on.

Maybe it was time he did so, also.

********************

"Hang on, I'm coming." Lois wrapped a robe around her as she moved from the bedroom toward the front door. There had only been a couple of sharp knocks, but she knew who it was.

Without further comment, she pulled open the door and stepped aside as her partner, Bill Henderson, walked into the apartment. She closed the door and followed him into the living room. Sitting on the edge of the couch, she watched as he paced a circle like a caged cat. She waited in silence for him to speak. Finally he stopped. He looked at her, his eyes conveying a sadness she'd never seen from him before. "I'm sorry, Lois."

She returned his gaze. Hers betraying her confusion. "I don't understand? What are you sorry about?" The look on her partner's face was beginning to scare her. "What is it? What's wrong, Bill?"

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if trying to compose himself. "I've managed to get myself into some trouble, and I've unintentionally dragged you into it."

Lois patted the cushion next to her, inviting Bill to come sit next to her. He remained standing where he was. "Come on, Bill, we're partners. All for one, one for all. You know. Whatever trouble you're in is my problem too. I'm your friend. Talk to me."

He shook his head sadly. "After today, I don't think you're going to want to be my friend anymore." He began pacing again. She let him, content to wait for him to talk. "I went way over the line this time, partner. I was arrogant and stupid. I thought I was clever enough to play with the bad guy's matches and not get burned. I was a fool, and I've put you at risk too."

Lois' head was swimming. "Slow down. You're not making any sense."

Henderson slowly sat in the chair opposite the couch. He stared down at his hands for a few moments before raising his head to meet Lois' troubled gaze. "A few months ago I was approached by Nigel St. John. Nothing too overt, or obvious; just a feeler. Somehow he'd known that I wasn't enamored with his boss, and wondered what I'd be willing to do to bring Luthor down."

"Lex?" Lois shook her head. "Why would he think you'd want to bring down Lex?"

"Because I did." He grimaced and studied his hands for a moment again. "Ever since Luthor burst onto the scene as this big philanthropist billionaire, I've never trusted him."

"Bill, you don't like anybody who has money or power."

"Yeah, but this was different." He shrugged. "I don't know, there was just something about the guy that set off all my alarms. At first I looked into his dealings pretty closely. There were hints here and there, but nothing concrete. Nothing one could hang a decent accusation on." He sighed. "So, I forgot about him. I knew he was dirty, but there was nothing I could do, so I ignored him and just went on with my job. That is, until..."

"I started dating him?" Lois reached out her hand to him, but he didn't seem to see it.

"Yeah." He stared at her. The look of longing in his eyes was so intense Lois had to look away. "Suddenly it became very important to me that I expose Luthor for the criminal that I knew he was." Lois could hear the frustration in Henderson's voice. "I spent weeks - months, trying come up with something - anything, that would cast Luthor in a negative light. But he was too careful. Not even a parking ticket."

He flopped back into the chair. "My sideline investigations must have been noticed because a few months ago St. John approached me. He was soliciting my help to bring Lex Luthor down."

Lois was still confused. "But why? Nigel worked for Lex."

Henderson shrugged. "Why else? Greed. He and his new partner had a plan to expose Luthor, leaving his wealth and his empire behind for the taking. But they claimed to need my help."

Lois spread her hands as if inviting an explanation. "So... what? You went to the Chief and set up a sting operation? How come you didn't tell me?"

He shook his head. "No, I didn't go to the Chief. I couldn't trust him. I knew that Luthor had a lot of guys in his pocket. Chief Andrews could have been one of them." A sad smile crossed his face. "You? I was supposed to tell you? Crap, Lois, you were going out with the guy. Why do you think I was willing to go cowboy on this?"

Lois sucked in a breath. "I knew that you never really liked Lex, but I just figured you were playing big brother. You never liked any of my dates."

His chuckle was hollow. "That's because you always dated creeps." He held up his hand to keep her from responding to his observation. "Lois, believe it or not, I do care about you, and I just couldn't see you and the slime together any longer. At best it could only lead to heartache, and at worst, it would have destroyed your life."

Lois had to fight back a tear that burned at the back of her eye. She'd always known that Bill cared about her. Heck, she cared about him. He was her best friend. But she had never figured he'd go to such lengths. Were his feelings for her more than just those of a friend? That line of thought just confused Lois more. She and Bill had tried the dating thing and it hadn't worked out. Both of them had acknowledged that they were just meant to be friends... hadn't they?

She forced her mind back to the present. "So, what's changed now? Why are you telling me about this now?"

Bill dropped his head, not looking at her. "Because it's no longer just my problem. You're in danger... because of me."

Lois folded her arms across her chest. Her voice was calm and level. "Explain."

He sighed again, then met her gaze. "As I said, I was arrogant and stupid. I thought I could dance just the one dance with the devil then leave the ball. Compromise my normal ethics for the greater good, so to speak. I should have known better. They don't want to let me go." He spread his hands and arms in a gesture of helplessness. "I told St. John that I wanted nothing more to do with them, but he threatened to expose my true role in the Luthor investigation."

Lois was appalled by what she'd been hearing, but this was still Bill Henderson. He was still her partner and best friend. "So, go to the Commissioner. We've all gone cowboy on occasion. Use what you know to bust St. John and his new cronies. I'm sure you could work something out. I'll help you."

His smile held just a hint of the man she had known for so long. "Of course you would. But you don't understand. I was so desperate to bring Luthor down that I crossed lines that shouldn't be crossed. I'm not going to say that, in hindsight, I'm not ashamed of some of the things I did. Even so, given the same circumstances, I'd do it again, but I'm not ready to go to jail for them."

"What kind of lines? What did you do?" Lois was very curious but even more, she wanted to help her friend.

He shook his head. "No, it's best you don't know. I don't want to involve you any more than I have to."

She frowned at his refusal to share, but didn't push it. "So what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to disappear." He took another deep breath, gathering the courage to continue. "That vacation I took was a scouting mission. I was checking out a few places where I might become just another anonymous tourist who decides to stay for a while."

Lois was very distressed by what she was hearing, but she was still confused. With her brow furrowed, she sought out his eyes. "So..."

"So why am I telling you this now? Why am I making you an after the fact party to my indiscretions?" She nodded. "Because you have to know. I couldn't just disappear and not let you know why. You deserve to know the truth. Also, I had to warn you of the danger you're in." Her look of sympathy changed to one of puzzlement. "St. John gave me one way out. They would leave me alone if I did one last thing for them."

"What was it?"

"For some reason they feel you are a threat to them. I'm supposed to kill you."

Lois seemed to shrink back into the couch cushion. "Oh." She bit on her lip. "You aren't going to... are you?"

He shrugged. "Well, look at it from my standpoint, Lois. It is my way out of this mess."

"Bill!" He laughed, probably for the first time in weeks, as she reached over and punched him. "Seriously, though, what are we going to do? I still think we need to take Nigel down and claim you were under deep cover."

Henderson shook his head. "Won't work. Who authorized it? No one is going to let me get away with this as a solo operation."

Lois stared at her hands, thinking furiously. "How about we go to the Commissioner with the idea that we suspect Nigel of taking over Luthor's criminal empire. Tell him you have a way to infiltrate Nigel's organization. Get him to authorize the investigation. No one has to know that you're already on the inside."

He reached out and grabbed her hands which had begun to flail about. "Lois, calm down. I appreciate your willingness to help. But I can't let you get involved in this. It could adversely affect your career."

She shrugged. "Too late, I'm already involved. I'm your partner, and your friend. I'm not going to let you face this alone. Part of the reason you're in this fix is because of a misguided desire to protect me. What kind of friend would I be if I let you down now?"

Henderson rose from the chair. "Listen, Lois, I don't want you to get anywhere near this. I only told you about this because I think you're in danger. If I just disappear, and you stay away from Nigel and his enterprises, I hope they'll just forget about you."

Lois shook her head sadly. "You don't really believe that do you?"

His head dropped. "No, but I don't know what else to do." He sighed. "Just promise me you'll stay away from St. John."

Lois scrubbed her hand through her hair. "Bill, you've told me that Nigel has taken over Luthor's criminal pursuits, at least some of them. How can I stay away from him if I know he's one of the bad guys?"

Henderson stared at the ceiling and sighed. "I knew this was going to be a bad idea." He moved toward her front door. "Lois, I'm sorry about all this. Please, stay away from St. John."

Lois followed him to the door. She placed a hand on his arm, holding him from leaving. "Promise me you won't leave just yet. Give me a chance to come up with something. *We* can come up with a way out of this. You don't have to throw your career away over this."

His smile for her was melancholy. He reached out and stroked her hair. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Take care of yourself, kid. Watch your back. I'm sorry I put you in danger. And I'm sorry I won't be there to help protect you." He let himself out the door and started down the hall.

Leaning her head out into the hallway, Lois pleaded with her friend. "Bill, don't do this."

He looked back at her. "Hang onto Kent, he seems like a good guy." He turned and quickly moved down the hall and left her building.

Lois thought about running after him, but didn't want to draw the attention to them. It was early, and she didn't want to risk waking any of her neighbors. She just had to hope that Bill would think about what she'd said and not disappear just yet. She hoped that he'd come to work, and she'd get a chance to talk some sense into him.

Closing the door, a shaken Lois Lane began to get ready for another day. A day that might just change her life significantly.

********************

Clark felt a little foolish leaving the Daily Planet building when he was just going to have to return within a few hours. The first rays of the dawn hadn't yet been able to broach the barrier of the taller buildings, but the sky had turned from the black of night to the gray of impending day. He'd only gotten a few blocks from the Planet when he heard a commotion coming from the alley he'd just passed. Stopping and retracing the few steps necessary, he peered into the still heavy shadows of the urban canyon between the two tall monoliths of commerce.

What he saw brought him instantly to anger. A group of young toughs were pushing an elderly lady around. They were laughing as they pawed through her purse, and taunted her, as she begged for them not to hurt her.

Clark quickly rushed into the alley. "Hey, leave that lady alone. Give her back her bag. What's wrong with you kids, anyway?"

The largest of the group of four turned to face Clark, a sneer on his face. "Hey look guys, grannie has a hero." He stepped closer to Clark. "Is that what you are... a hero?" His friends laughed.

Clark ignored the fellow and went over to help the elderly lady back to her feet. "Are you all right, ma'am?"

She gave Clark a weak smile, then he saw fear reflected in her eyes. He turned in time to see the same bigger youth launching a fist toward him. Clark sidestepped the main force of the blow, but it caused him to stumble a bit. The young tough followed it up with another punch which landed solidly in Clark's side. This drove him to one knee.

"Hey, hero. You don't look so heroic now, do you. Maybe you need a lesson in minding your own business." The fellow tried to lash out with his booted foot. Clark managed to catch the foot and with a grunt shoved back causing the young hoodlum to fall flat on his butt. That didn't set too well with the fellow.

Clark stood. Even without his powers he was still a large, well-built man, but he had no real experience at fighting. Especially street fighting. Also, it was one against four. As it turned out there were only two good things that came out of the situation. The woman was able to get away while the street punks were focused on Clark. And they didn't feel any need to use more than their fists and their feet to deal with 'grannie's hero'.

After a few minutes of 'fun', the young thugs got bored and left Clark lying battered and beaten in the alley. It wasn't starting out to be a good day.