**Part Three**
Kneeling beside her, a young man shrugged out of his denim jacket, placing it under her head, trying to make her as comfortable as possible. Concern flickered across his handsome face as his fingers lightly ran over her body, feeling for any major injuries. He breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that she didn’t seem to be seriously hurt.
Lois groaned softly as she opened her eyes. Her vision was fuzzy as she peered up at the man leaning over her. She could only make out his outline silhouetted against the fire-engulfed car. The fire grew brighter for a moment, and she could see more detail. A white t-shirt, pulled taunt over his broad shoulders, a trim waist, and when he glanced behind him, tilting his head as if he were listening for something, she glimpsed his strong profile and a pair of glasses. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
“Relax.” His voice was soothing as his hand caressed her cheek briefly. “Everything is going to be all right,” he reassured her, and she could hear the warm smile in his voice.
She blinked her eyes trying to see him more clearly, but his features were concealed by darkness as she lost consciousness again.
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The man pulled his glasses down slightly, looking at her intently, seeing as well as any x-ray machine. He scanned her with his vision, concluding that she suffered from a concussion, and only a few minor cuts and bruises. When he was satisfied that she wasn’t in any immediate danger, he sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms, cradling her as he pressed his handkerchief to the oozing gash on her forehead. Pushing some hair behind her ear, he spoke softly, trying to wake her up.
“Miss? Can you hear me? You have to try to stay awake.” His voice penetrated Lois’s fuzzy mind. She tried to raise herself up only to have his strong but gentle hand grasp her shoulder, pulling her back. “You shouldn’t move around. You have a concussion,” he informed her. “You need to stay still.”
Leaning back, she felt his hard chest behind her. Feeling strangely safe, she let her head roll back onto his shoulder. Her body started to shake from shock and his arms came around her, providing warmth and security. “What’s your name?” His voice rumbled against her ear.
“Lo, Lois…Lois Lane” she replied, her teeth chattering.
He draped his jacket over her, tucking it around her quaking shoulders. “Lois? Do you know what happened?”
She struggled to remember, her brow furrowed as she concentrated. “I was on my way back to Metropolis.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “I’m covering a big story, and I was heading back to the Daily Planet. One minute I’m driving along, and the next,” her hand made a swerving motion, “this car comes out of nowhere and hits me.”
“The Daily Planet? You mean the newspaper… you’re a reporter?” he asked excitedly.
She tried to shake her head but stopped, reaching up to touch her throbbing temple. “Yes, I’ve only been working there for a year or so…Perry is probably wondering where I am.” She got quiet for a moment and then she looked at the two demolished cars. “What happened to the other driver?”
The man wasn’t sure if he should tell her in her present condition, but couldn’t think of a way around it. “Uh, he didn’t make it,” he said sadly. He grimaced, “he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt.”
“Oh god,” Lois sobbed as nausea twisted her stomach.
“It’s ok, don’t worry about that now,” he tried to comfort her. “Just lie still, I think I hear the ambulance.”
“Perry is probably wondering where I am,” she repeated herself, and he, realizing it was a symptom of her concussion, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the flashing lights of the rescue truck coming up the road. He carefully repositioned her so she was lying on the ground, and got to his feet.
“Hey, where are you going?” The panic in her voice halted him.
“I’m going to go meet the rescue trucks. You stay still, ok?” He squeezed her shoulder affectionately, when he felt her reach for him. “You’re going to be just fine,” he reassured her.
“Wait! What is your name?” she asked, not wanting him to leave.
“Cla… uh, I’m a friend,” he answered hurriedly, as he disappeared into the surrounding darkness.
-to be continued-
