Continued from:
A ring of truth (1/?) Quick recap from part 1:
Lois & Clark are staying at the Honeymoon Suite of the Lexor Hotel. (sound familiar? LOL!) So far not a lot of differences from the actual episode... Perry gave them matching wedding bands and pronounced them "pretend husband and wife". Part 2 starts on the second day of their stakeout -- and again, there is no A-plot in here.
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It had all happened so fast that Lois wasn't sure how she had ended up there - under him, kissing him! Someone had come in the suite... At least, she thought someone was there, right? Yes, it was that maid... with towels again, she realized. Somewhat panicked at the situation, Lois tried to will the woman out of the room. <LEAVE NOW, PLEASE!> A fraction of a second later, the maid had excused herself and left, embarrassed at walking in on them like this.
Clark ended the kiss and got up. He walked over to the living room window, trying desperately to clear his mind. What could possibly have possessed him to throw her on the bed and kiss her like that? <Focus!> he ordered himself <it couldn't be helped... needed to hide the equipment! an airtight cover... It's not supposed to mean anything...> If he'd bothered to think about it just a fraction of a second longer, he may have found another way of keeping up the appearances. A way that didn't imply seducing his partner. <But it was so... amazing? incredible? ...life altering...?> He grabbed a corner of the drapes and absently tugged on it a little. <How is it that even though I can survive an explosion, just a touch from her and I completely fall apart? I am so in trouble!> He would have to be more careful in the future. Definitely. Lois wasn't about to enter into a relationship with him; she'd made that crystal clear on several occasions. Clark knew that he was setting himself up for a serious heartbreak just imagining things could be different.
Slightly shaken by the turn of events, Lois had sprung off the bed just as soon as Clark had removed himself from on top of her. "Doesn't anyone ever knock anymore?" she exclaimed, hoping to hide her discomfort. Once she'd been certain Clark wouldn't notice her doing so, she brushed a finger on her lips and let out a barely audible "wow", then stumbled her way to the bathroom. She turned on the faucet and splashed a few drops of water in her face. Looking at her reflection in the mirror she whispered, "Please don't let that happen again..." She grabbed a towel to dry her hands and face and continued "...I don't think I can... I wouldn't be able to..." <push him away? stay in control? oh, who am I kidding? I wouldn't have half the will power necessary to push him away if he ever tried *that* again. I am so in trouble!> She spent a moment just staring at herself and pondering. He could have come up with several different ways of distracting the maid's attention from the equipment. She could think of at least a dozen, off the top of her head and none of them implied anything intimate. So why a kiss? And why did it have to be so earth shattering?
Having regained most of her composure, Lois stepped out of the bathroom and into the living room. "I think we should... uhh... put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign on the door," she said, blushing.
"Oh.. right... good idea!" he stammered, and walked over to the door to do as she had suggested.
~.~.~.~.~
All in all, as Lois reflected on the last couple of days, things hadn't gone as bad as she'd imagined they would. They'd nailed the bad guys and managed to have a good time up in the suite. It really hadn't been that unpleasant to be cooped up in there with Clark. There were a few awkward moments, though, she reminded herself - very awkward, but just a few. <Well... that kiss was worth it, though, wasn't it?>
As she waited for the elevator to take her up to the newsroom floor, Lois found herself staring at the ring on her finger. She no longer had any reason to wear it and, in fact, didn't quite remember putting it on that morning. Over the course of the last two days, Clark had had to remind her countless times to put the wedding band back on, but it really wasn't her fault that she kept removing it all the time... It was so strange having to wear it; she just couldn't help but turn it and slide it, on and off her finger. These constant reminders to put the darned thing back on her finger probably brainwashed her into doing it this morning, Lois told herself. <Yeah, that's got to be why!>
It suddenly occurred to her that wearing the ring seemed to be perfectly normal to Clark. He'd kept it on his finger the whole time, hadn't he? <Yeah, but the guy probably dreams of meeting a girl, getting married and having lots of kids - and a picket fence, I'll bet - unlike me. Nah, I don't really want any of that.> Lois Lane certainly wasn't going to let herself be domesticated, not by any man alive! No *way*!
<Well, ok... maybe I do want something like that?> she reasoned, <oh, of course I want that too! Just not *right now*. Definitely not before my first Pulitzer, anyway! In a few years, you know... 5 or 10. If I find the right guy, of course!> She sighed heavily. <Finding the right guy... I'd have an easier time trying to find a needle in a haystack!> She knew perfectly well that 'Mad Dog' Lane was doing a great job of keeping men away. No wonder Lois couldn't even find an escort to the social event of the season! To think she had had to ask Clark to go with her... not that there was anything wrong with asking a guy to escort her to the Orchid Ball, but she'd known him for all of... 2 days? <Talk about being desperate! That was downright pathetic!>
There was a small 'ding' from the elevator as it reached her floor. <I need to send Mad Dog off on vacation so that Lois can get a life,> she realized. "Sounds like a great plan!" she said resolutely as she walked in the newsroom.
"Hey Lois, Perry was looking for you before. Said he had something for you," Jimmy told her as she was about to take place at her desk.
"Thanks Jimmy!" she said with a smile.
She strolled into Perry's office, expecting her next big assignment. "You wanted to see me, chief?"
The editor absently handed her an envelope, not bothering to look up from the copy he was reading. "Management's way of apologizing for any inconvenience suffered during your stay," he explained. "They're letting you have the honeymoon suite again for the night."
"Oh?" she asked, surprised. "Wow... that's nice of them, I guess. Thanks!" She took the envelope and got out of his office.
As she made her way back to her desk, Lois caught sight of Clark typing away at the keyboard and suddenly, she had an idea. She walked over to his desk and handed him the envelope.
"Here," she said. "Perry gave it to me, but I'd like you to have it... you're the one who never got to have the bedroom."
"Huh?" He looked at her, confused. "What's this now?"
"Ah... humm... free stay in the honeymoon suite at the Lexor tonight. You know, as an apology for their obvious lack of security.... You should have it," she explained. "I... already had my turn in the bedroom," she added, giggling.
He flashed that sweet smile of his. "Lois... I can't accept this. Perry gave it to you, didn't he? You've definitely earned it. Seriously. Go out there and relax!"
"I don't think I could stand to relax that much more," she replied, smiling back at him. "You should have this, really. Take it," she added, waving the envelope in his face somewhat nervously. <Come on, I'm trying to be nice here. Work with me, Kent!>
"I couldn't", he said shaking his head. "What am I going to do there anyway? I can relax just fine at home, myself... I don't need to be in a fancy hotel room to be able to do that."
"Please!" she insisted, placing the envelope on the corner of his desk. "You must have had a couple of really awful nights there on that couch, let me make it up to you..." <...you lunkhead!>
Why was she suddenly being so considerate, he wondered. Oh, she was usually nice to him, but this was slightly beyond what he was accustomed to. She seemed so adamant... Was there a catch? There had to be, right? Was she trying to get him out of the way while she ran off on some big story she hadn't told him about - probably risking her life in the process? Wouldn't be the first time... That was typical Lois Lane behavior, right there.
That's when Clark noticed something odd... Lois still had the wedding band on her finger. <What on earth?> he asked himself. <What's that supposed to mean? She can't keep it on her finger when she needs to, but she's wearing it now?> Ok, *that* wasn't anything near typical Lois Lane behavior. What was going on here? His mind was racing, trying to analyze the ramifications of this strangely pleasing situation.
His 'reporter-mode' kicked in; "On one condition," he answered. He was determined to find out if there was any meaning to her wearing the ring and if she actually had planned to get him 'out of the way' for the evening.
She raised an eyebrow. "Condition!?" Lois was seconds away from changing her mind, picking up the envelope and marching right back to her desk. <I'm offering you something out of the goodness of my heart and I have to agree to something so you'll take it? I could just strangle you, Clark Kent! You're *so* lucky I gave my nastier other self a vacation!> She stood there, arms crossed, foot tapping, waiting for him to explain himself. <Mad Dog Lane is on vacation,> she told herself repeatedly, as a sort of mantra, <Mad Dog is... on... *vacation*>.
For a brief second, as she stood there staring at him, she found herself lost in those beautiful brown eyes of his. Her breath caught. All traces of the irritation she was feeling were gone. She looked away, blushing madly.
"Lois... there's no way I'm spending an entire evening there all by myself just to make you happy.... Will you at least join me for dinner?"
"Oh," she whispered. Of all the things he might have said, this was definitely not what she had expected. Dinner? With him? Seriously?
"Well... you know, just to keep me company so I don't go out of my mind with boredom or anything." He laughed.
Lois barely heard him, busy as she was considering his proposition. <It can't be that bad, right? It's just dinner...> They'd had a few meals up there in the suite already, she reminded herself. <It was even rather pleasant, wasn't it?> But this was... well, this was... different. This wasn't work. And whatever wasn't work usually ended up in disaster for Lois Lane. Socializing outside of work with him could only lead to misery and heartache - it always did. Never mind that Clark Kent was the kindest, most considerate <...gorgeous, single...> man she'd ever crossed paths with. Never mind that right at that moment she could think of nothing more than being in his arms...
<What about Superman?> a little voice inside her head asked. <What about him?> another little voice answered <Ok, so he's all that - and then some! - but let's be real here... He's *Superman*. There's no way in a million years I could possibly have any sort of future with a man like that. I mean, come on! He's way, way, WAY out of my league. We're talking on a galactic scale here!! Clark, on the other hand... Besides, isn't this exactly why I've sent Mad Dog off on vacation? So I can get a life? Well, Lois, this is life, knocking at your door. You should try letting this guy in, see what happens...>
For what seemed like an eternity, she stood there looking everywhere but directly at him. She had an odd conflicted expression on her face. Clark wished he could take back his comment. How stupid of him... as if that's what he thought of her, some distraction to keep him from being bored! <Real smooth, Kent! No wonder she wants nothing to do with a guy like you, you have *no* idea how to talk to a woman!>
"I mean.... unless.... you don't want to spend time, you know... together?" he finally said, breaking the silence. "I'm sorry... I think maybe I shouldn't have..." he continued, barely trying to hide how uncomfortable he was.
"No, no, that's fine, Clark. I'd be happy to," she stopped him, placing her hand on his shoulder. She smiled. <He's real cute when he gets embarrassed.>
His eyes widened - he had all but expected to be turned down. She wasn't trying to get rid of him after all? He wasn't sure what to think anymore. He smiled at her. "Great!" he said, hoping to sound more confident than he really felt. "How about you meet me there, let's say 7:30? Give us time to finish up here and.. well, I guess I need to stop at my place before I head on there anyway."
"Ok! It's a date! uh, I mean... I'll meet you there at 7:30." She turned around and made for her desk as quickly as her legs could take her, hoping to hide the fact that she was blushing like mad again. <A date? He hasn't said anything about a date! Great going, Lane, you're spoiling everything again!> Grabbing the first phone message note on her desk, she started dialing the number as if her life depended on it.
<A date? ...is that what she thinks this is? Uh oh.> Clark picked up the envelope and placed it in the inside pocket of his suit jacket. <Hey, wait a minute... that means... she was willing to go out on a date with me?> It was all he could do not to break into a blinding smile. Things were definitely looking up!
~.~.~.~.~
To be continued... (note that part 3 isn't finished yet, it may take a couple days before I can post it...)
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