Clark jogged around the corner of the Planet building, into the familiar alley, full of hope and thankfulness. The Planet was returning, hopefully he could get his job back, and his friendship with Lois could be salvaged. As he tugged on his shirt buttons to begin the fast change into Superman, he felt an absolute sense of peace settle on him. A few days ago he had decided to let Superman die, now, as he leapt up the side of the adjacent building, he was delighted to be back.
Thankfully the victim was only a few blocks away, and he leapt between buildings, hoping his speed would hide his lack of flight from any security cameras on the roofs. Finding the woman, he jumped down into the narrow alley between two buildings.
At his noisy landing, the two men, one holding a woman, another rummaging through her purse, turned and tried to flee. Clark ran towards them, grabbing both of them by their shirts preventing them from leaving.
“Are you hurt?” He asked the woman. She shook her head no, but he could see the terror in her eyes.
Now he was stuck. He couldn’t fly everyone away, and he didn’t want to announce that Superman’s ability to fly was currently unavailable. He could take the two men towards the street and find a police officer to handle them, but he wasn’t about to leave the woman behind. Spying the railing of an external fire escape, he quickly let the men go while he grabbed a piece of the metal, wrapping one man's hands up before he had chance to react to his brief release. He repeated the procedure with the other man, then used another piece of the railing to bind their legs together. Leaving them secured, he offered a hand to the woman, who hadn’t moved from her cowering position by the building’s wall.
A crowd had gathered at the mouth of the alley and Superman, after gathering her purse, escorted the woman into the sunlight. There was a smattering of applause, some hushed and awed whispers of ‘Superman,’ something Clark heard regularly at any rescue that had an audience, but still disliked.
An officer approached, and Clark recognized her as one of the regular downtown patrol officers. She called for an ambulance and an extra car once Clark explained there were two men tied up in the alley. When the ambulance arrived for the still shaken woman, his statement given, and after cutting the two men free from their restraints so the police could take them to the station, Clark left, jumping onto the nearest building, the crowd having dispersed already.
Once on the roof, he heaved a sigh of relief, releasing fears he hadn’t realized fully that morning. As he’d landed in the alley a brief moment of fear had almost paralyzed him, imagining the man rummaging through the woman’s purse to pull out a chunk of glowing green Kryptonite. Until this morning he hadn’t considered Superman’s return, so the idea of running into a criminal who possessed the one thing that could kill him, hadn’t crossed his mind. Despite that one moment of panic, he’d felt good, comfortable, his usual self. As he leapt to the next rooftop, he felt gravity shift below him, and without a conscious thought, began soaring over the buildings. He picked up speed quickly and knew the sound of his flight was reverberating through downtown Metropolis. He laughed in delight as he sped high over the city, intending on heading straight for Kansas.
He stopped suddenly as he remembered Lois’s expression as they’d been interrupted, and cringed. He needed to go back, he’d stop by the farmhouse later today.
He returned quietly to the alley behind the Planet and quickly changed back into his normal clothes. As he turned the corner, he stopped and observed. Perry and Mr. Stern were talking, or more accurately, Mr. Stern was talking while Perry tried to interject, as they stood by the Planet’s boarded up entrance. Jack and Jimmy were standing at a safe distance from Perry, talking about the possibility of getting their old jobs back, and discussing moving in to their new apartment.
Clark sighed as he watched Lois. She was off to one side, staring absently at the graffiti on the boards, her arms crossed, her hands gently rubbing her elbows. It wasn’t a nervous habit, Clark knew those very well, but something she did when she was cold, or contemplating something. In this fine weather, she couldn’t be cold, so what was she thinking about? She’d been trying to tell him something before they’d been interrupted, and then he’d disappeared, leaving her with that crestfallen and confused expression. One he caused far too often with his disappearances. Maybe someday he’d be able to tell her why, but as much as he wanted to now, he didn’t dare. Everything was still too fresh and raw: his declaration of love, her refusal, her almost marriage, their fights and disagreements over the last few months. Neither of them had brought up his admission of love, part of him hoped she’d forgotten about it because he did not want to mess up their rekindled friendship so soon. Hopefully someday they would be solid enough to handle his secret, both of them, though right now was the time to build back their friendship. Determined to make things right, he stepped out of the shadows, and walked towards Lois.
****
Perry’s head was beginning to spin. This was too much for one day! He’d set up an appointment with Mr. Stern the previous day hoping to beg a favour and find jobs for Jack and Jimmy, never imagining this turn of events. The Planet was reopening! He would be the editor once more, and he was delighted, yet all this talk of modernization was just too much at the moment. He’d chased after Mr. Stern, trying to ask questions, but had received little clarification. Instead, he now had a meeting scheduled for Monday morning with Mr. Stern, and the various entities that would be involved in the physical rebuilding, as well as the rebuilding of the employees and board of directors. He’d also had a vague description of what exactly modernization meant, though he hadn’t understood much more than the upgraded printing equipment and new computers.
“Look, uh, Mr. Stern, I appreciate what you’re doing…”
“I’m not doing it for you. As I said, I rethought about what you said, and while it does irk me that Luthor killed the best newspaper Metropolis had to offer, there’s more to it. It was a profitable business before Luthor started meddling. I’ve had words with several of the advertisers that abandoned the Daily Planet, and they’re eager to return, thanks to yourself and those young men.” Mr. Stern gestured towards Jimmy and Jack, as he took a rare break in his non stop, one sided, conversation with Perry. “Where is the other journalist? Kent?”
“Uh, I’m sure he’ll be right back…”
“As I was saying, the logo is here to announce to the world that we’re back in business, but that’s just a start. I need headlines. How fast can you get something together?”
“To print?” Perry asked.
“Yes. While it will take some time for the Daily Planet to be printing in-house, we can still print newspapers. We will start with a weekly edition, and add more as you build up your staff again. They can write at home, submit their stories, and we can have them printed remotely.”
Perry couldn’t hide his delight, shaking Mr. Stern’s hand enthusiastically. “Yes, of course. We’ll get started right away! Is there someone I should be talking to about hiring the old staff back?”
“Yes, I’ll give you her contact information. She will want to conduct interviews with anyone being hired, make sure we get off to a good start.”
That startled Perry. There had been a few people in the newsroom that he wouldn’t have hired back, but most of the journalists had worked hard to get where they were, and were good employees. Those that used the Daily Planet as a stepping stone to the next step in their journalistic career never shirked, and while he was always sad to see those folks go, he never begrudged their drive. The idea of having to rehire his old team and sending them through an interview process bothered him. “Now, Mr. Stern, you aren’t going to interview all the previous staff are you? Some of these folks have worked for me, and the Planet, for most of, if not all of, their careers! They might not take too kindly to being asked back, and then interviewed.”
“Of course not. Submit a list of those that you want to rehire, and we’ll take it from there.” Mr. Stern looked down at his watch, and then over to where Lois, Jimmy and Jack were standing. “I want the Daily Planet’s first headline to be the exclusive on Luthor’s part in the destruction of the Planet, and of his downfall.”
Perry glanced over, spotting Clark as he emerged from the alley and rejoined the others. “Of course, I’ll get Clark Kent to…”
“Yes, yes, and make sure there’s something in there from you. That young lad, the one that was falsely arrested for the bombing, I want a piece from him too. We’ll have the story no one else does.”
“Well, now, Mr. Stern. Jack there isn’t a reporter…”
“Nonsense. If he can’t write it and it can’t be edited, then interview him for his story.”
Perry began to rub his hands in excitement, already seeing the various headlines and different angles they could report on. “We can do a Lane and Kent investigation series,” he gleefully proposed.
“Are you sure? Is she up to the task?”
Perry bristled at Mr. Stern’s tone. “Lois is one of the best investigative reporters I have ever worked with…”
“I’m not denying her skill, I have read her work, but she was to marry Luthor. Could she be impartial and report on his demise?”
Perry hesitated, not because he doubted Lois’ skills, but he wasn’t sure how much to say to Mr. Stern. He was sure Lois had been blinded about Lex, but was now seeing him for who, and what, he had been. He wouldn’t ask her to write anything personal, of course, unless she wanted to, but for Lois to work on this series would be a great way for her to work out her questions, and start to heal after her ordeal. Hopefully having Lois and Clark working together would repair their friendship, and their working relationship, though as he glanced in their direction and spotted the shy looks they were giving each other, while the other wasn’t looking, he didn’t think that would be something they’d have to work too hard on.
“Mr. Stern, Lois and Clark are two of the finest reporters I’ve ever worked with. How they come up with half of their stories is beyond me, sometimes I’m not sure I want to know. Assigning them both to write a series on Luthor will guarantee this paper prints the exclusive no one else will be able to top. Trust me, Lois is ready to write this piece.”
“Well, I’ll leave it in your capable hands. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have another meeting to attend.”
“Uh, one more request, if I may," Perry asked.
****
Clark watched as Perry shook Mr. Stern’s hand, and the two parted ways. He’d resisted the urge to eavesdrop on their conversation as anything that pertained to them, Perry would let them know. Watching as Perry walked over to join them, wearing a huge grin, Clark trusted it was good news.
“Well, Chief, good news?” He asked.
“You got that right, son!”
Lois clapped her hands in delight. “What’s the plan?”
“They’re going to repair the building, update some old equipment, and we’ll be back in business!”
“All right!” Exclaimed Jimmy. “Uh, how long’s that going to take? I mean, I’ll be glad to be back, but I need to find some work soon.”
Clark couldn’t help but grin at Jack. While Jimmy’s frequent bouts of exuberance and downheartedness abounded, Jack would be sullen when he was unhappy, and even tempered, sometimes sarcastic, when he was in a good mood. Jimmy was almost walking on air with excitement, Jack’s body language and expression remained neutral. At Clark’s grin, Jack broke into a brief, small, smile, before commenting.
“Awesome, I can go back to errand boy. Thrilling. But he’s right. We need an income now. A job in a few weeks won’t feed us.”
Perry frowned in Jack’s direction at the initial sarcasm, before breaking out into a smile. “Well, you are both going to be meeting your new foreman this afternoon.” At Jack and Jimmy’s shocked expressions, Clark laughed as Perry continued. “The construction crew that will be working on the building is hiring. Mr. Stern will contact the construction manager and you’ll be heading to their main office this afternoon to get all the paperwork and safety stuff taken care of.”
“All right!” Jimmy hollered, as he and Jack hi-fived, Jack, Clark noted, less enthusiastically than Jimmy.
“I’ll walk you two over there now, but I need a minute with Clark and Lois,” Perry asked. Jack and Jimmy said their goodbyes, and wandered towards the truck, still preparing to unload its cargo.
Clark was surprised, and a little concerned, to see Perry’s expression turn serious. He glanced at Lois, who still wore a smile, but he could see her eyes reflect some concern also.
“What’s going on, Perry?” She asked. “We’re getting our jobs back, aren’t we?”
It wasn’t concern in her eyes, it was a bit of panic, Clark realized. What was she panicked for? She had been one of the best reporters there, and had years of seniority on him. She would be the first one hired back, he was sure.
“Yes, Lane and Kent will continue their investigative reporting, starting immediately. Mr. Stern wants to publish a weekly paper, the first edition coming out a week today. He wants the headline story to be the exclusive on Luthor’s demise.”
Clark nodded, as he heard Lois gasp imperceptibly. Perry, not noticing Lois’ reaction, continued. “This weeks edition will include the investigation we did to uncover Luthor’s involvement with the explosion at the Planet. We’ll run a series, so I need you two to find out everything you can about any criminal activity that’s linked to Luthor.”
Lois had fallen quiet, arms crossed, and Clark watched as Perry gently set his hand on Lois’ shoulder. “Lois, honey, this is a big ask, I know. If you want out, I understand. This edition will still need regular news stories as well…”
“No, Perry. It’s fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I need to do this.”
Clark understood that statement, and was relieved that Lois would be doing this story with him. Luthor had controlled, manipulated, and hurt, both of them, and working to expose him would hopefully answer questions, and help them heal. As he started to think about the different stories and angles they could write, he groaned.
“Clark?” Asked Lois.
“I promised my parents…”
“You were going home to help them this week.”
“Well, uh, I’ll leave you two to figure it out. I need something by Thursday.” Perry stated as he began to walk away, before stopping and turning back. “Run this by Henderson too, get some quotes, whatever information you can. If he clams up on you, remind him we practically gave him Luthor.” With a wink, Perry walked towards Jack and Jimmy, and all three left.
“Well, partner, we’ve got all weekend.”
Clark savoured the word ‘partner’ as Lois spoke it, his heart skipping a beat or two in delight. He had his job back, he could fly again, and he was once again partnered with Lois Lane. The last few months, especially the last week, had been a horrible nightmare, but he’d survived, they’d survived. It was a chance to begin again, and he wasn’t going to take it for granted.
****
She gasped when she saw Clark sitting in the booth. He’d looked so relaxed, his eyes closed, leaning back in the booth, his fingers tapping a beat on the side of the coffee cup he was holding the only indication he wasn’t asleep.
“Lois,” he exclaimed as his eyes opened.
“I’m sorry, I’m here to meet Perry. He’s over there chatting and said he’d be back here in a minute.” She hadn’t seen him since their argument last weekend, and began nervously fidgeting with her purse, looking for her planner, while trying to surreptitiously check to see how his burns were healing. “I didn’t mean to startle you, or intrude. I’m sure I have the time right. Were you just finishing up?”
“I just got here. Have a seat, the server is heading here now for your order.”
For a moment, she hesitated. She was sure she had the time right for her meeting with Perry, he’d told her to take a seat while he finished up and hadn’t mentioned the time being wrong. Perry had to have arranged for them both to be here together. Resigning herself to having a conversation with Clark now, she put her purse down and took a seat. Her coffee ordered, she fiddled with a napkin, wondering what to say, not wanting to mention that she’d talked to his mother a few times over the week, or discussing that she’d been fired from LNN.
“How are you doing?”
“So, how’ve you been?” Clark asked at the same time.
“I’m ok,” he replied.
“You look… well,” she said, immediately wondering how he would take that. Since the wedding she’d shoved her realization of her feelings for Clark deep down, trying to cope with everything else that had been happening. Now, faced with him in a relaxed environment for the first time in months, she felt her heart rate flutter a little as she allowed herself to appreciate the man in front of her.
“Thanks, it’s mom’s home cooking, and the farm work,” he joked.
“Farm work!” Lois exclaimed. “But you were hurt? Why didn’t you rest? How are your…” she broke off, gesturing to his chest. Just because she couldn’t see any injuries, didn’t mean he had healed completely.
“Oh, I’m fine.”
Lois almost scowled at his brush off, but kept a neutral expression. “That’s good to hear. Your folks?”
“They’re well. Gearing up for the harvest.”
Lois nodded as the server arrived with her coffee, and then sipped, while Clark slurped, their coffees. The lack of easy conversation was awkward, and Lois longed for their easy banter. All week she’d had bouts of blaming herself for everything that had happened, from accepting Lex’s proposal, to pushing her friends away, and taking for granted everything she had had. Clark had tried to warn her, more than once, subtly and not so subtly, about Lex, and she’d ignored him, which had resulted in all of this mess. It was her fault that Clark had been hurt, assumedly by Lex.
“Lois,” Clark began.
“Let me go first,” Lois forged ahead, not wanting him to go first. “I wanted to apologize for…”
“CK! Lois! What are you guys doing here?” Lois groaned as she heard Jimmy’s voice over the general hubbub in the bistro. He had an incredible knack of showing up at the worst possible time. She watched as Perry quickly ended his conversation with his acquaintance, confirming her suspicion that he had set this up so she and Clark could talk.
“Jimmy! I thought I told you two to meet me in half an hour,” Perry bellowed, as he approached them.
“We’re done, we’ve got the place, so we thought we’d head down here early.”
Lois watched Clark as Jack and Jimmy began to chat, not paying much attention to what they were talking about. He had been about to say something too and she wanted to know what it was. She was flooded with memories of that day in the park, as well as those that had come to mind as she’d realized she couldn’t marry Lex. Was he going to make some excuse for what he’d said, retract his feelings for her? He’d tried to warn her about Lex, had that been his last ditch attempt to stop her from marrying the man? Feeling her face warm from embarrassment, once outside the café, Lois started to pull away from the group. “I should get going.”
“You got somewhere to be?” inquired Perry.
“No… I…” She stammered as she noticed Clark watching her.
“I’ve got another meeting in about a half hour, with Jack and Jimmy. I was planning on walking over as it’s just past the old Planet building.” Without waiting for an answer, Perry began walking, shouting at Jimmy and Jack to follow. Clark shrugged at Lois before following. Despite fearing the worst, she wanted to know what Clark had been about to say. Curiousity won, and she hurried to catch them.
“I’ll be in Kansas next week, and then I’ll have to figure out what I’m doing,” she heard Clark say as she caught up to them.
“Kansas?” Lois asked. “Weren’t you just there?”
“Dad wants to harvest next week, I said I’d help,” Clark answered with a shrug. “It’s not as though I have something to do here.”
She felt her smile waver at the thought he’d be gone again so soon, hopefully they could talk in private before he left.
“Perry, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Get some career advice…”
Again, another reminder that this reunion was only temporary, she thought. They all needed jobs, but where would that be? She had enough money saved to wait a few months, maybe do some freelance work, and work on her novel, but what about Clark? With the Planet gone, would he move to find work?
In no time they’d arrived at the old Daily Planet building. Lois hadn’t been down here since the explosion aftermath. At the time it had been too painful, then she had been caught up in wedding plans, and a new job.
“I wish they’d just get it over with and tear this place down,” Jimmy stated gloomily.
“Yup, too many memories,” Perry said sorrowfully.
“Most of them good,” interjected Lois.
“Well, you know there’s a lesson to be learned in all of this,” Perry began.
Jack laughed and interrupted. “Why am I not surprised”
Perry glared at Jack. “We should appreciate what we’ve got while we’ve got it.”
Yup, Lois agreed silently as she ran a hand over the concrete pillar at the entrance. She’d walked through these doors for years without ever truly appreciating what this building, and the people inside it, meant to her.
“I know I’ve said this before, but I just hate it that Luthor got his way in this one thing.” Perry said with a touch of anger.
“He didn’t! Look!”
Lois turned in surprise at the voice, recognizing Mr. Stern once she saw him, standing in front of a truck with something large on the trailer.
“What is that?” Jack asked as several workers began to detach the tarp.
“Great shades of Elvis,” Perry gasped as the tarp fell to the ground and revealed the large Daily Planet logo that once hung over the entrance. Lois couldn’t hide her delight, and clapped along with several others.
“We’ll start on the building next week but first I thought we’d announce to the world we’re back in business. I reconsidered your proposal, and I agree with you Mr. White. Metropolis does need the Daily Planet. Besides, one more nail in Lex Luthor’s coffin will suit me fine. I do have some ideas about modernization…”
“Uh, modernization?” Perry queried, as he followed Mr. Stern. Lois, still smiling, turned to see Clark gazing at her.
“I’ve never seen something so beautiful in my entire life,” Clark blurted out.
For a moment she wondered who, or what, he was talking about, before deciding it didn’t matter. Meeting his eyes, she gently crossed her arms and walked towards him. “You never gave up. On the Planet, on your friends, on me.”
“I couldn’t. You’ve just named, probably everything in this world that’s precious to me.”
Her heart leapt at his words and she hoped he still meant every word he had said to her in the park. “I don’t think I’ve ever, will ever, meet anyone, quite like you.” She was close enough to him she could reach for his hand if she wanted. Nervousness kept her from doing so,
“Lois,” he began, as once again she spoke at the same time.
“No, let me go first,” Lois tried to insist.
“No, no, not this time. Lois. I’m sorry, about a lot of things, I wanted to bring Luthor down, but I never wanted to hurt you. I shouldn’t have said anything about the way I felt towards you. It put you in an incredibly awkward position.”
“No, Clark, I really….”
“No, Lois. Please, let me finish. Luthor was a criminal who needed to be exposed but had I known how it would have ended…”
“Clark…”
“Lois, I’m sorry Luthor died. If I could have done anything to save him, I would have.” He paused before continuing. “I couldn’t say anything to you about what we discovered, I was afraid if he found out…”
It took a moment before she fully understood what Clark was hinting at, and she realized how afraid he had been for her safety, and knowing he was right. Lex wouldn’t have hesitated had he realized she knew about his criminal activities. She could see the fear in Clark’s eyes and she gently took his hand in hers, trying to reassure him she was ok, before releasing. “I know, I understand. I want to say I was sorry for not believing you all those months ago. So much of all of this could have been avoided if I’d have listened to you.”
“Lois, this wasn’t your fault. None of this was.”
“But how did I miss it? Clark, I’m an investigate reporter and I almost married the biggest criminal in Metropolis! I need to understand…”
“It’s ok, Lois…”
“I haven’t ready any of the papers, or watched the news. There were reporters camping outside my apartment… I didn’t want to see what they were writing about me. Selfish, I know.” She’d been so afraid to read what others had written, knowing that this could ruin her reputation as a reporter. She felt Clark’s hand enclose hers, giving her a comforting caress before she continued.
“The police interviewed me, but when it was obvious I had no idea what Lex was doing, they stopped asking. Jimmy told me some of what you had discovered, but Perry stopped him from saying too much.” She paused, looking down at their joined hands. “I need to know, Clark. Can you…?” She trailed off, unsure how to ask, wondering if it would be too hard for him to tell her himself, especially as he’d been hurt in the process.
“If you’re sure.”
She could hear the wariness in his voice, and hoped it wasn’t reluctance. “I’m sure. I need someone who I can trust to explain the truth, without the sensational headlines.”
“Ok.”
“Partner,” she said with a slight grin, trying to lighten the mood.
“Partner?”
She missed the warmth and comfort of his touch as he let go of her hand. “Well, seeing as the Planet is going to be opening again, I assumed we’d be working together again.” Lois paused briefly, suddenly unsure. Maybe she had no right to assume he’d want to work with her again. “Unless you have other plans. You had asked Perry for career advice, and I’m being presumptuous to assume you haven’t had other offers already…”
Clark laughed before agreeing. “Partners.”
“Friends?” She asked hesitantly.
He smiled, one of his full smiles. “Friends.”
She felt her heart skip again. “There’s something else we need to discuss…”
“Isn’t this great, guys!” Jimmy walked up behind them, interrupting Lois, and slung an arm around her shoulder. “Hopefully we can all get our jobs back.”
“Yeah, it’s great,” Lois replied with a slight smile, looking at Clark, frustrated that she’d been interrupted again.
“Um, can you guys excuse me for a second? I have to go… Uh, I’ll be right back.”
As he dashed away, Lois’ heart fell. He always did this, running off without an explanation, or a poor one. Had he known what she was about to say to him? There was only one subject they hadn’t really talked about, and while standing in front of the Planet wasn’t the ideal spot, it would have been nice to take a walk, find somewhere a little more private, and have that conversation. She sighed and listened as Jack asked her a question.
“Who’s that guy?”
“Mr. Stern.”
“You know him?”
“Not personally. I’ve met him several times, mostly the large events, charity functions, and the like. I interviewed him once, almost two years ago now, for a story.” She frowned as Jack merely nodded. While Jimmy’s constant barging in on conversations and sometimes complete oblivious nature drove her nuts at times, Jack’s sometimes sullen, keep to himself, flying under the radar personality could be equally as annoying. “Why do you ask?”
She listened as Jack told her about a mysterious phone call he’d received, warning Perry to stop trying to sell the Planet to other possible buyers. After everything Jack had been through recently, she didn’t blame him for being a little wary. She reassured Jack that Mr. Stern, while abrupt in nature, was a sincere and honest businessman, unlike their recent experience. Jack relaxed a little, content to let Jimmy babble about possibly getting their jobs back. In the distance she heard the unmistakable sound of Superman in flight. Remembering their last awkward conversation and grimacing a bit, she looked up to see if she could spot the superhero in flight. “I’m not done with you either,” she muttered, wondering if he could hear her. She would need to contact him, sooner rather than when she found herself in trouble, and apologize.
Clark reappeared from the alley as Perry finished up with Mr. Stern. Once the group was together, Perry announced the Planet would be back in business as soon as repairs were completed. Lois was thrilled, especially as it would take several weeks to be up and running. By then another, or several other, scandals would have happened, and the story involving her almost marriage to Lex would have fallen from recent memory. Hopefully she could find a story that had nothing to do with Lex to sink her investigative teeth into over the next few weeks, and the first paper would run with a solid story uncovering another crime in the city.
“What’s going on, Perry?” She asked as Perry essentially dismissed Jack and Jimmy, his tone turning serious. “We’re getting our jobs back, aren’t we?” There was a moment of panic as she wondered if Mr. Stern perhaps didn’t want her back on the reporting team.
“Yes, Lane and Kent will continue their investigative reporting, starting immediately. Mr. Stern wants to publish a weekly paper, the first edition coming out a week today. He wants the headline story to be the exclusive on Luthor’s demise.”
At first Lois felt a wave of relief that she would be rehired, and that she and Clark would continue as partners. However, the idea of plunging straight in to do an investigation into Lex made her gasp involuntarily.
“This weeks edition will include the investigation we did to uncover Luthor’s involvement with the explosion at the Planet. We’ll run a series, so I need you two to find out everything you can about any criminal activity that’s linked to Luthor.”
She felt sick. She wanted to find out what happened, but privately, with a friend, not as a reporter, and having her name linked with Lex once more. She felt Perry gently set his hand on her shoulder and forced herself to look at him.
“Lois, honey, this is a big ask, I know. If you want out, I understand. This edition will still need regular news stories as well…”
“No, Perry. It’s fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. I need to do this.” It wasn’t the first article she wanted printed with her byline, but she knew that working with Clark would be beneficial to both of them. Perhaps she could add some insight, that didn’t include details on her relationship with Lex, and she could be there for Clark as he would have to face whatever he had been through last week.
“Clark?” Asked Lois in concern as she heard him groan.
“I promised my parents…”
“You were going home to help them this week,” she finished for him, remembering what he’d said earlier.
“Well, uh, I’ll leave you two to figure it out. I need something by Thursday.” Perry stated as he began to walk away, before stopping and turning back. “Run this by Henderson too, get some quotes, whatever information you can. If he clams up on you, remind him we practically gave him Luthor.” With a wink, Perry walked towards Jack and Jimmy, and all three left.
“Well, partner, we’ve got all weekend,” she said as lightheartedly as she could, trying to lighten her mood. He grinned at her as they walked back the way they had come. “My Jeep is parked near the café.”
“Are you hungry?” Clark asked.
Lois was, but wasn’t in the mood to return to the café. Perry had reminded her, with his comment about Henderson, that she needed to go to the precinct and claim her bags that had been at LexCorp Tower. She’d put it off all week not wanting to deal with it, but now they had to go to the precinct anyways, she may as well take care of it now, with Clark there as moral support. “How about a hot dog?” She asked as she spotted the regular street vendor around the corner.
Back at the Jeep, hot dogs devoured, Lois proposed they go to the station. She explained to Clark that she had to go regardless, but was reluctant to tell him why. She dug around in her purse for her keys, and shakily put the key in the lock of the Jeep. She’d barely opened the door when she felt Clark’s arms engulf her, and she fell eagerly into his embrace. Neither of them said anything for several minutes, Lois trying to calm herself enough to not burst into tears, and push back the panic she had felt since Perry announced the line of their work for the next several weeks. Eventually, Clark loosened his hug, and she stepped out of his embrace.
“Are you ok?”
No, she wanted to say. “Here,” Lois said instead as she handed him the keys. “You drive, I’ll explain.” If they were writing this piece, she had to tell him what was going on. As Clark started the Jeep and reversed out of the parking space, Lois began telling him about the last week. She started with the reporters harassing her outside of her house, her fear that her reputation as a reporter would be ruined by what was being written and said in the media. Her experience of being fired from LNN came tumbling out next, the frustration that Lex had contrived the termination the morning of their wedding, and despite his death, the termination had stood. There was nothing her one ally in HR had been able to do, and she wasn’t eager enough to return to LNN to pursue legal action. Finally, she talked about the shock of watching Lex die. It was a topic she hadn’t broached with anyone, but had relived at least once every night in her nightmares. It haunted her that Lex had chosen to die rather than face the consequences of his criminal actions, most of which she was sure they hadn’t uncovered yet.
Clark hadn’t interrupted her throughout her monologue, and by the end she was crying, not the sobbing or hysterics she had felt the night of her almost wedding, but hot, slow tears that cascaded down her face as she tried to wipe them away. In the midst of her tears she had noticed Clark pull over and park, and now she had stopped speaking, he handed her a tissue. She wiped her eyes, blew her nose, and hesitantly glanced at Clark. The compassion she saw in him almost started the waterworks again, but there was something else in his expression. Was it guilt?
“Thanks Clark, for listening. I’ve not told anyone most of this. I mean, Perry knows some, my mother knows some, and Mar… I’ve talked to one or two others…” She’d almost let it slip she’d been calling his mother. She wasn’t sure how he’d take it that she’d been trying to find out how he was doing, but at the same time desperately wanting someone to talk to. Martha, even though the conversations had been brief, had been able to calm her, reassure her, especially when the awaiting ambushing reporters had made her feel like the walls of her apartment were closing in on her. “If you don’t want to write this story with me, I understand. How can I be expected to write a story about a man who completely manipulated and played me for a fool, and be taken seriously? I wouldn’t want your name to be dragged down too.”
“Lois,” he began as he grabbed her hand. “I couldn’t imagine writing this story with anyone else. Why don’t we deal with your belongings at the precinct, find out if Henderson is around, and then take it from there.”
She smiled weakly at him as he put the Jeep in gear, joining the building early afternoon traffic. As they drove she inspected the damage to her makeup, carefully touching it up after digging in her purse for her makeup. Once they arrived at the precinct the evidence of her tears was almost non-existent, except her eyes were a little redder than usual. Parking was scarce so she suggested Clark drop her off at the entrance, and she’d start dealing with her bags while he found a parking spot.
She stood in line somewhat patiently, waiting for her turn, trying to see if she recognized any of the officers wandering around. Once at the desk, she informed the officer who she was, and why she was there. Another officer recognized her and explained she’d get the bags and would return right away. Lois tried to object, saying she didn’t want the bags, she just wanted whatever paperwork she needed to so the contents could be donated or disposed of. Frustrated, she shifted from foot to foot as she waited, trying not to imagine that the eyes of the people in the waiting area were all watching her. Eventually, even though she rationalized it hadn't been that long of a wait, another familiar face emerged.
“Lois?”
“Henderson! Can you help me. I just want to sign whatever paperwork I need to so I can get rid of those bags. I don’t want them; I don’t want to see them. Then, Clark and I have some questions for you.”
“Clark?” Henderson asked. “He’s here?”
Lois became annoyed as Henderson started to look past her into the waiting area for Clark. “No, he’s outside, parking my Jeep. Apparently there are no parking spaces out there… Hey!” She exclaimed, as without a word, Henderson took off through the entrance doors.
“Ms. Lane?” Lois turned and was faced with her bags. Letting out a growl of frustration, she decided not to follow Henderson to see what was so urgent, instead pasting a smile on her face as she faced the officer, and asked for the release forms.
****
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