Part 19
There's Always Something
By Xanabee
*****
“Superman!”
Dr. Bernard Klein tried in vain to prevent the papers on his desk from being scattered in all directions when Superman whooshed into his office.
“Can't you just walk in for a change? Look at what you've done! I just had these documents all sorted out – now I'll have to start all over again.”
“Sorry,” Superman grinned unrepentantly. He gathered the papers at super-speed and placed them in a neat pile on Dr. Klein's desk. “There you go, Bernie.”
Dr. Klein looked exasperated. “That doesn't cut it, Superman! Linda gave me one hour to deal with this pile. Now I'll have to start all over again. You'd better have a good excuse for barging in like this, Superman! Do you know how much paperwork I have to deal with since I became head of this department? Do you know how many times I've begged the Chief Administrator to give this job to some really ambitious guy instead? And do you – “
“I know,” Superman hastily interrupted Dr. Klein's whining; he'd heard the same lament more times than he cared to remember. “He still thinks you're the right man for the job, Bernie, and so do I. I'll tell Linda it's my fault; but I need to speak with you - it's really very urgent.”
“Oh, all right, go on then - you tell her! But please, Superman, if you have to twirl around like a Dervish, please don't do it in here!”
The scientist managed just in time to hold the papers on his desk together by hastily slapping both hands on the pile as Superman whirled out of the office in search of his secretary. Dr. Klein rolled his eyes. “Agh! He's just like Lois Lane – they never listen!” He hastily shoved the documents in a drawer and before he'd closed it shut Superman was back already.
“Linda says it's okay – we can take all the time we want and she'll see to it that we're not disturbed.”
“What did you promise her this time?” Klein said sourly, “Chocolate from Switzerland? Take-out from China?”
Superman grinned. “Both and then some! That lady drives a hard bargain, Bernie.”
“Tell me about it… and I mean that literally, Superman! I'm listening - what's so urgent that it couldn't wait? And please sit down – you'll give me a headache if you keep on walking around like that.”
Superman stopped his pacing to stand in front of Dr. Klein's desk with his arms folded across his chest. Now that the moment had arrived Clark felt very nervous. He knew and agreed with Lois that Bernie had to be let in on their secret - but wanting to do something and actually doing it was entirely another matter. He took a deep breath and decided to plunge right in.
“Bernie, do you remember I told you how ill I'd been? About five years ago?”
“Ill? You?” Dr. Klein frowned. “Oh! Yes, I remember – you told me you'd caught some kind of flu. I was angry with you because by the time you'd told me, whatever had made you sick had already disappeared from your system. Supeman, if you'd come to me straight away – “
“Yes, I know, I know! That was stupid of me. But it was Christmas time and you were off… anyway, it can't be helped now. But I know now what it was that made me ill, Bernie, it was a Kryptonian virus. And because I hadn't been exposed to it from the time I was a baby, it almost killed me.”
“A Kryptonian virus?” Dr. Klein was instantly alert. “Was it left behind by those Kryptonians who caused so much havoc the last time they were here?”
“No, they came from New Krypton, remember? This virus I'm talking about came from my birth planet Krypton.”
“That's not possible, Superman! That planet exploded, it doesn't exist anymore.”
“I know… Bernie, that virus traveled with me to Earth – in my spaceship.”
*****
“Well, that pretty much wraps it up, Perry. We'll keep close tabs on Mike Costanza at City Hall. He's bound to get instructions from Mrs. Church and hopefully he'll slip up and we'll soon have proof that Intergang is still active and under her leadership.”
Inspector Bill Henderson rose and looked down at Perry White with narrowed eyes. “I'll keep you posted and I expect the same from you, Perry. Clark couldn't wait to get out of here - does that have anything to do with his visit to that prison last night?”
“What? No, Bill, Clark's out on a new assignment and it's got nothin' to do with this investigation. You know why he went to that prison - he wanted to talk to Joey Bermuda about the murder attempts on him and Lois.”
“He didn't have to go there personally to hear from Bermuda that Mindy Church was involved, Perry. We know that already! Or does Clark still have doubts about that?”
“No, he's convinced about that too. Look here, Bill, if Clark doesn't want to talk to you about it I certainly won't. Leave it.”
Perry also stood up, indicating that the interview was over. But Henderson wasn't a policeman for nothing. “So it's a personal thing, hmm? Must've something to do with Superman then.”
Perry rolled his eyes. “Great shades of Elvis! Let it go, Bill! It doesn't concern you. We're not keepin' anything from you – you've gotta trust me on that. Now, go play detective on your own turf; if something new comes up I'll give you a call.”
“Okay, Perry,” Henderson shrugged and ambled towards the door but couldn't resist adding, “I'll let it go… for now. See ya.”
*****
“Yes, I can get that spaceship for you, Superman. That's one of the few advantages of being in a managerial position – I can pull some strings. I'll call right away and - ”
Excited, Dr. Klein reached for the phone on his desk but Superman stopped him by swiftly placing a hand on the machine.
“No, Bernie, not yet – you can do that later. There's something else I have to tell you… or rather, show you.”
Superman removed his hand from the phone and smiled apologetically at Dr. Klein, still seated behind his desk.
“I hope you won't be too angry or too disappointed, Bernie. I… oh, well – let's get it over with.”
Superman stepped back a few paces and, after a last, beseeching look at Dr. Klein, started to spin until he became a mere blur. It took less than a minute before Clark Kent, nervously fingering his tie, stood in front of the startled scientist who stared at him, speechless.
After an eternity that in fact lasted only a few seconds Clark decided he couldn't stand the tension any longer.
“Well? Say something, Bernie! Anything! You can throw something at me, I don't mind, but please… say something!”
Dr. Klein suddenly came to life. “Throw something at you?” He glared at Clark. “It won't hurt you one bit, now would it? Mr. Kent! I – “
“Clark, please.”
“Mr. Kent! I'm sorry, I'm not comfortable talking to you like this. Will you please change back into Superman? Him I can throw things at!”
“But "him' is me! I mean – you know what I mean! Superman… Clark Kent… they are one and the same person, Bernie, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner but I hope – “
“That's all very well, Mr. Kent, but I'd rather talk to Superman, so please, do that twirl thing again and bring him back in here, okay?”
“I don't twirl!” Clark said, affronted.
“Do you mind?!”
“Okay! Okay!” Clark rolled his eyes, then superspun back into the Suit, only to have Dr. Klein immediately pounce on the Man of Steel as soon as he'd emerged out of the colorful spin.
“Ahah! There you are – you… you… Superman! How could you! All these years you've let me believe – now I understand why Ms. Lane comes barreling in here every time there's something up with you! I should've known! Agh! The two of you are unbelievable!”
“Bernie – I'd like to explain - “
“Don't you "Bernie' me, Superman! So tell me – why did you suddenly decide to let me in on your big secret, hmm? Does Ms. Lane know about this?”
“Of course she knows! We're married, for Pete's sake!”
“That's not what I meant and you know it! Does she know what you're doing here?”
“Actually, it was Lois who – “
“Ahah! So Ms. Lane had to tell you to come clean with me! If it was up to you, you'd have kept me in the dark forever, right?”
Superman sighed deeply; Bernie obviously was on a roll. He decided to wait until the good doctor ran out of steam and would be ready and able to listen to him.
*****
“Really? His last name is DeAngelo?” Anna Johnston looked at Lois with raised eyebrows.
Lois laughed. “Yep, that's his real name – doesn't quite fit his chosen profession, now does it?” She handed Anna a small stack of family pictures of Joey Bermuda in happier days with his wife and child. “Here… you can see why he was dubbed "Bermuda' – he always wore those hideous shirts with exotic flowers and birds painted on them.”
Anna grinned as she flipped through the pictures. “The kind of shirts men wear when they go on vacation… you should see my Dad and my brothers when they go on a simple fishing trip! Not a pretty sight.”
Lois laughed with her but sobered as she thought of one particular picture, showing a smiling woman holding a cute little girl on her lap, with Joey Bermuda looming over them, a possessive grin on his tanned face.
“Poor woman – it must've been quite a shock for her to discover that her husband's highly successful repair shop was in fact a cleverly disguised weapon arsenal. They don't call him the "Handy Man' for nothing. It's hard to believe, but that man could transform any ordinary kitchen appliance into a bomb. We've got to find his ex-wife, Anna.”
“Oh, I'll find her – you can be sure about that,” Anna said as she shoved the pictures in an envelope, a determined look on her face. “I'm totally committed to this search and I won't stop till we find her and her little girl. I'll make a file and let you know as soon as I have more information.”
“Okay. Thanks, Anna.”
Anna nodded and headed towards the elevator. Being told that Joey Bermuda had tried to kill her hero Superman had been all the incentive she had needed. The Chief telling her to keep quiet about this case had been superfluous – she wasn't a blabbermouth. Anna hoped she'd been able to convince both Lois and the Chief that if someone could find Sandy and Cheryl Marie DeAngelo, that someone was Anna Johnston.
Anna didn't have to worry about that because Lois truly believed she could pull if off.
"Or Jimmy – Jimmy would've found them too,' Lois reflected sadly as she turned her head and looked in the direction of Jimmy Olsen's empty workspace. "I miss you, Jimmy, and I know Clark misses you too.'
Clark… Lois glanced at her watch. He was probably still at STAR Labs. He'd told her he wanted to talk to Bernie Klein before involving her father.
After Clark had left Lois had immediately started to brief Anna on the Bermuda case. That had temporarily taken her mind off Clark and his difficult mission. But now that Anna had also left Lois found it hard to concentrate on her other tasks. Well, it was useless to mope around, wondering how Clark was faring – she'd better get busy.
She would deal with her email messages first, Lois decided, then she would call Megan. It was time she and Clark went to visit Jimmy at the hospital. Oh, and she'd better call Gareth Keyes too and ask him if it was okay if she went to see his wife…
Lois booted her computer at the same time Bill Henderson exited Perry White's office and started to walk purposely towards her desk, closely followed by the Chief.
The phone on Lois's desk rang and she waved at Henderson as she picked up the receiver. “Lois Lane! Hello Mother… you're where?”
Henderson hesitated for a moment as he considered waiting until Lois had finished the call but Perry firmly steered him past her desk towards the elevator.
“Bill, quit tryin' to pester Lois and Clark. I've got a newspaper to run here and you've got a major investigation on your hands. Let's get back to work, okay?”
*****
“Superman! I've just thought of something!”
In the middle of his tirade Dr. Klein suddenly slapped his right hand against his forehead.
“That spaceship of yours - maybe they cleaned it out already, maybe even sterilized it. Anyway, that's just what should be done, Superman. If we get rid of those germs and viruses, there's no need to make any vaccines. After that illness you're probably immune to them already. I'm surprised Dr. Lane didn't think about that right away.”
“He doesn't know yet, Bernie, I haven't spoken to him about the spaceship yet. I wanted to talk about this to you first.”
“So why the long face? You don't think that would be the best solution – to just sterilize that spaceship?”
“Well – maybe,” Superman looked doubtful. “But don't you think that sort of vaccine might help against Kryptonite? Bernie, nothing you've come up with so far has been effective. We could at least try it – if not for me, then maybe for the baby's sake.”
“Baby? What baby?”
“Bernie! You know Lois and I are expecting a child!”
“Oh… that baby! Superman, that's a human baby… Kryptonite won't hurt him!”
“She… it's a she… and what do you mean, Kryptonite won't hurt her? She's half Kryptonian!”
“Superman, please – you know you can't have children with an Earth woman! Mind you, I'm not saying Ms. Lane is cheating on you – obviously she's gotten herself artificially inseminated and I think that was a splendid idea! I know how much you wanted to be able to have children – I just didn't know you wanted to have them with Ms. Lane!”
“Bernie, this is my baby and I assure you she was – umm - conceived in – ah - the natural way. I'm sorry, but you were wrong when you concluded from those tests you took that I wouldn't be able to make babies. It took us a few years, I know, but – “
“Superman, I took numerous tests with your DNA and crossed it with numerous samples of female Earth women – they just didn't match! So how come it was possible with Ms. Lane? Is she Kryptonian too? Have you been keeping that a secret from me too?”
“Bernie, you know Lois isn't Kryptonian – I'm sure she'll be happy to prove it to you. You can examine her DNA if you want to. I don't know how Lois suddenly got pregnant. I mean – I know "how', obviously, but not "why'. We've bounced some theories off each other and our parents of course, but so far we haven't been able to figure it out. Maybe you and Dr. Lane - “
“Do you have a photo of a scan for me? I take it Dr. Lane is also taking care of monitoring the development of the baby?”
“No… no, he isn't. I am. With my special vision.” Superman said proudly.
“You? You don't know anything about babies!”
“I know enough to know that the baby is healthy and developing just as she should. This is the only way we could think of doing that. Lois can't go to a regular doctor or to a hospital so she's going to have the baby at home. Her mother is a trained nurse and her father – “
“Yes, yes, I understand all that, Superman. It would be disastrous if word got out that you and Ms Lane are married and having a child. You wouldn't be safe anymore. What I don't understand is why you felt you couldn't trust me to know all this sooner! Now you're telling me only because you need that spaceship and – “
“No, Bernie, not just because of the spaceship. Lois and I have been talking about this ever since we found out that she's pregnant. We've always kept this secret from everyone, even from Lois's parents. And Perry White. Only, he says he's known for years already.”
“Well, he's a newspaperman… what do you expect! I hadn't a clue – I'm not used to seeing and talking to Clark Kent – and now I know why! It was always just you and Lois Lane. I've often thought you two acted like a married couple, Superman, but obviously I was too stupid not to – “
“Not stupid, Bernie, just blind. People see what they want to see, you know that. Lois only found out after working with me rather closely for more than two years. So you shouldn't feel bad about it.”
“She found out - all by herself? You didn't tell her? Hah! I bet she was furious!”
“She was angry, yes, and hurt. But she forgave me, eventually. I hope you will too, Bernie. You're one of the very few and trusted friends we have – Lois and I need you, and so does our baby.”
For a long moment Bernard Klein stared closely at Superman. All of a sudden he noticed the nervous movements of Superman's hands, the tense line of his lips and the pleading look in the dark eyes that stared beseechingly back at him.
Unexpectedly, an overwhelming feeling of compassion for the gentle giant standing so anxiously before him tore at Klein's heart. The most powerful man on Earth had to beg people for their friendship and loyalty.
More than most people Dr. Klein was aware how hated and hunted by the villains of the world Superman was – he'd provided him sanctuary at STAR Labs more than once.
Slowly, Bernard Klein began to understand how carefully and painstakingly the lonely alien had managed to carve a niche for himself in a hostile world. He was even gradually letting people in and by doing so he was taking grave risks for his own safety and that of his loved ones.
In a society where greed often let men to sell out even their own blood brothers it had to be an alarming prospect to entrust such a tremendous secret to another living soul. And when he'd finally summoned up enough courage to do so apparently they all lashed out at him.
Suddenly, Dr. Klein felt deeply ashamed of his crabby reaction at seeing and hearing about Superman's dual identity. He straightened in his chair and coughed a few times, trying to get rid of the lump that had formed in his throat.
“Superman, there's nothing to forgive. I realize how hard it must be for you to decide who you can trust – you never know, do you? I've been betrayed quite a few times myself – by people I thought I could trust completely. But for you… it's a matter of life and death. You wouldn't have a life if this became public knowledge.”
“That threat will always hang over my head,” Superman admitted, “Bernie, you don't know how grateful – “
“No, Superman, I'm the one who's grateful.”
Bernard Klein stood up and walked over to where Superman was standing. “I'm honored that you'd consider me worthy of your friendship, Superman. I'm sorry I tore at you like that and called you names. It was peevish and childish, to say the least.”
“Don't worry about it, Bernie, I understand. Shock will do that to you.”
Superman took the hand Dr. Klein proffered and shook it warmly. “Does that mean you're also ready to accept that I'm really Clark Kent?”
*****
“You know, Clark, it's not such a bad idea after all,” Lois said pensively as she watched her husband getting ready to join her in bed.
“What is, honey?”
“Letting Bernie take a photo of the baby. If he's sure that machine he designed especially to scan your body will not harm me or the baby... we'll just have to trust him on that.”
“Only if you're really sure you want to do this, honey.”
The mattress dipped as Clark jumped into bed. He reached out his arm to turn out the light, then turned on his side, propping his head on his hand to face Lois.
“You said you're perfectly happy to wait and be surprised on the day the baby decides to come out and greet us. Did you change your mind?”
“No, I don't mind waiting. I was prepared to do that anyway. It's just – I know our parents would be thrilled to see at least one scan and now Lucy's suddenly asking for one. She sent me an email today. Then there's Alice White… she called to tell how well Jimmy is doing and would I please take a scan with me when I go to the hospital to see Jimmy tomorrow and – “
“Honey, calm down! You don't have to do this if you don't want to. I don't care about what other people want, Lois, not even my Mom and Dad. If you're not comfortable with it then don't do it. We'll just keep telling everyone that we think this is too private to share with other people.”
Lois sighed. “That won't work for Lucy – or Alice White. They will be hurt. I think I'll take Bernie up on his offer, Clark, as long as I don't have to take off all my clothes.”
“I don't think that will be necessary, honey, I don't have to strip. The only thing I take off is my cape.”
“I've never seen that particular machine. What's it like?”
“It resembles a tube. First, you lie down on a bed not unlike that "birthing' bed your father made for you. Then Bernie puts a cover over it - some sort of tube made of special glass. You can look through it and watch everything Bernie's doing. He then uses this swerving arm, which is some sort of scanning device, and zooms in at the particular spot he wants to scan. The whole process takes about half an hour, tops, before the photo is good and ready.”
“So… if we go there tomorrow – say at lunchtime – we'll walk out of STAR Labs with a scan of the baby in about… an hour?”
“I think so… Lois, are you sure about this? Bernie understands that you need time to think this over. There's no rush. You don't have to do it tomorrow already.”
“Yes, I think I do. We're going to see Jimmy tomorrow evening and Alice and Megan will be there. Most probably nosey Eileen Vaughan will pop in too. Let's call Bernie first thing in the morning and tell him – Oh no! All that paperwork you told me he was trying to deal with when you went to see him… Clark, do you think he'll even have time for us tomorrow?”
“I'm sure - and Linda won't mind too much either. Which reminds me… I'll have to zip to Switzerland for some of her favorite chocolate – and maybe get lunch for her and Bernie in Milan… Aaaagh!” A huge yawn caused Clark to flip onto his back and stretch out his powerful body. He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.
Lois inched closer and put her arm around his middle. She planted a soft kiss on his chin and rested her cheek on his chest. Clark's arms stole around her as she snuggled against him.
“God, Lois,” he breathed above her head, “I'm so tired…”
“I know, sweetheart, you've been on such an emotional roller coaster these last few days. Go to sleep now, we'll talk in the morning… I love you.”
“Love you too....”
*****
(Tbc)
