This is a chapter where I take some liberty with Sam Lane's character. Hope you guys don't mind.
+++++
From Part 4....
“Do you always attract trouble like this?”
Lois harrumphed, obviously disliking the feeling of helplessness.
“Only since I’ve met you,” She responded shortly, crossing her arms over her chest. The gesture looked so incongruous while she was being carried that Clark couldn’t help a short burst of laughter.
He was x-rayed her ankle and saw that it was not broken, though there was a nasty bruise covering the side. He sighed in relief. It probably wasn’t even sprained; the muscle looked fine, just severely bruised. She’d be walking after a good night’s sleep.
Part 5
Which meant carrying her like this was probably sort of pointless, but he was enjoying it. Lois snuggled into his arms, turning her face into his chest to avoid the bitter cold.
Clark walked with her in companionable silence for a while before she spoke, her voice slightly muffled by his jacket.
“I’m sorry Clark.”
Clark looked down at the precious bundle he was carrying.
“You don’t have anything to be sorry for, Lois.” His voice was uncharacteristically serious. Lois sighed and his sensitive hearing picked up her heartbeat increasing slightly.
“You’ve just been so… so kind to me. I feel like I don’t even deserve it. I’ve told you things I haven’t even told my best friend, why is that? Why do I trust you so much? I barely know you.”
Clark looked up skyward for a long moment, asking himself the same questions. He thought carefully before responding.
“You know, I don’t even know. But don’t think it’s one sided. I’ve… told you things too. I’ve had a tough time opening up to people… But I felt like I could tell you and you’d understand. I don’t know the answers to those questions any more than you do.”
Clark looked at her earnestly and Lois found herself suddenly terrified by the unfamiliar feelings fluttering around inside her body.
Her mind was a mess, her heart was full to bursting and her ankle hurt like hell. She had absolutely no idea what to do. She sighed in relief as they reached the house a few minutes later.
Clark shouldered the door open and brought her into the front room, depositing her gently on the sofa.
“I’m getting a slight sense of déjà vu…” he whispered softly in her ear as his hands slid from her. He quickly removed his two skates and then knelt by Lois’ feet.
“This may hurt, Lois,” he said softly. As gently as he could, he unlaced the skate on her hurt foot, and then eased one hand around her ankle. With a gentle tug, he pulled the skate off of her foot. She moaned slightly as the stiff leather rasped against her tender ankle and Clark felt like a world class heel. He quickly untied the other skate and pulled it off as well, before focusing on her swollen ankle.
“Clark! Lois, what’s wrong?” Both teenagers looked up at their names. Martha walked in from the back room, looking worriedly at her son.
“What happened? Are you alright?” Before Clark could answer, Lois spoke up.
“I’m okay Martha, I tripped when we were ice skating and bruised my ankle.”
Clark interjected with his own diagnosis.
“It’s swollen, but it’s not broken,” he turned toward Lois, still gently cradling her ankle in one hand. “You should be able to walk in a day or so, but for now we had better wrap that up.”
Elevating her ankle under a pillow on the coffee table, Clark disappeared into the house while Martha came to sit by Lois.
“Oh you poor dear,” She took one of Lois’ cold hands in her own. “I’m sorry this had to happen to you on your first day with us.” Martha turned a practiced eye on Lois’ ankle. “But Clark’s right you know, if he wraps this up for you, you should be able to be walking on your own tomorrow.”
Lois nodded, unsure of what to say. It felt like she should extend more gratitude… but she couldn’t put what she was feeling into words. This was a relatively new occurrence to her, as words were normally her forte.
The entire situation was new to her. To her extreme and utter horror, she found a few tears slipping down her face. She hurriedly bit down on her lower lip and quickly brushed them away with her sleeve.
She wasn’t fast enough however, Martha caught her arm and Lois looked at her, trapped. For a moment their eyes seemed to converse what their words were unable to express, and Lois found herself pulled into a motherly hug.
And then the tears came. Lois buried her face in the soft flannel of Martha’s shirt, dually embarrassed and relieved by the tears. It had been so long since she had been able to cry on a mother’s shoulder. She had had to be strong for so many people, for so many years. Her father, with his constant absences and cruel, biting comments, her mother with her drinking problem, her sister Lucy because her big sister Lois was the only one she could turn to… It sometimes seemed like she was a calm rock in the middle of a raging sea, steadfast but being chipped away, bit by bit with every ragged wave. These bottled up emotions, coupled with the death of her beloved grandmother, the shock and terror of the car crash, her burgeoning feelings for a country boy and the dull throb in her ankle seemed to swell up all at once, overwhelming even her usually unfaltering courage.
Clark rushed in at the sound of Lois sobs, medicine tape in one hand, the other balled into a fist, ready to attack either friend or foe who was making Lois cry. He paused awkwardly, his fist dropping loosely to his side when he saw Lois in a tight hug with his mother. He wasn’t sure whether to rush over and see what was wrong or bolt.
His mom caught his eye and motioned for him to leave. He was reluctant to abandon Lois, especially since he hadn’t taped her ankle up yet, but his mother eyed him sternly and he scampered out, leaving the tape on a nearby table.
Lois hadn’t even noticed, and Martha held her quietly, gently stroking her hair. After a few minutes, Lois’ sobs subsided and she pulled back, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
“Thank you…” she sniffed slightly. “I don’t… that doesn’t really feel like enough for all you’ve done for me. I’m sorry to break down on you like that, I hardly ever cry. I don’t understand why I’ve been so emotional lately.”
“Lois you’ve been under a ton of stress. You’re in a new place with new people and far away from your family. It’s no wonder you’re a little upset!”
Lois hung her head and nodded a little.
“You’re right, of course Martha. I’m being silly with this crying. You and Jonathon have been so wonderful to me. And Clark…” Lois drifted off slightly at Clark’s name, the rush of unfamiliar and foreign feelings threatening to bring her under again. “Clark has been super,” she finished thickly.
Martha gave her a smile and patted her hand. She reached around the table and grabbed the medicine tape. Pulling Lois’ leg onto the couch, she swiftly bandaged the ankle.
“He’s a pretty super boy,” Martha said as she wound the tape around her leg. “I’ve never seen him take to someone as quickly as he has with you. He’s so wary, so untrusting. And he’s the best friend that anyone could ever hope for.”
Lois stared down at her now fully bandaged leg. “I can see how he would be… but why Martha? Why is he like that? So alone?” Because now Lois had fully identified the gleam she had seen in Clark’s eye. He was afraid of losing his new friend because he was terribly lonesome. “He’s so great… what could he have done to alienate himself like this?”
Martha was silent for a long moment before patting Lois’ shoulder.
“That’s not my story to tell.” She smiled apologetically and then stood. “Now, can I get you anything?”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“Where are you off to now, son?” Jonathon Kent leaned against the heavy duty shovel he was using to scrape the ice off the driveway and wiped his brow. He was been chipping away at the ice for well over an hour, but so far he had only cleared a small portion.
“I was thinking about going down to Lois’ car and getting her suitcase. I’m sure she’d feel better with her own toothbrush and clothes.” Clark shuffled restlessly. “She hurt her ankle when we were ice skating.”
“Is she ok?” At Clark’s quick nod, Jonathon continued. “And you two went ice skating? Where did you go?” Jonathon looked up, interested at this new information.
“She’ll be fine. But Da-ad, we went to the pond out back, where else would we go?” Clark shuffled his feet.
“Clark, that’s your place. You haven’t let anyone set foot over there since you were--”
“Fourteen, I know,” Clark cut in roughly, feeling his face start to flush.
Jonathon just gave him a knowing grin. Clark didn’t answer, grabbing the shovel from his father. In two seconds, he had the ice stacked neatly alongside the driveway and the entire length smooth and dry.
Dusting his hands off on his jeans, Clark shot a cocky grin back at his father and sauntered away, tipping an imaginary hat. His father burst into laughter and yelled a thank you as Clark trotted down the street to Lois’ abandoned car.
When he reached the vehicle, he shivered slightly at the crunched metal in the front. When he had found Lois, he had been so intent on getting her warm and to safety that he had completely forgotten to check the state of the car. It looked like a pretty bad wreck.
Maybe that means she’ll get to stay a little longer than expected…
Clark hushed the small voice in the back of his head. Having her around was dangerous. He… forgot himself. When she was around he almost believed that he was normal, could have a normal life. Friends… a girlfriend. For a moment he allowed himself to relive the feeling of her fingers massaging his shoulder and he stifled a groan.
He had never been so rampantly attracted to someone. In fact, he had never really been attracted to anyone before. For a long while he had figured it was a part of his Kryptonian heritage, but now… His mind’s eye called up her beautiful raven hair and warm brown eyes. He raked a hand through his hair. This was madness.
Trying to distill the images from his mind, he opened the trunk easily and pulled out a large suitcase. He then scoured the inside of the car, picking up the loose items on the floor that had fallen from her purse.
Once Clark was sure he had gotten anything she could possibly need, he shut the trunk and car door again. They would have to call someone to pick up the car soon. He made a mental note to call later when the phones were up, and then hefted the suitcase over his shoulder. A small burst of super speed later, and Clark was casually walking up the front steps of the farmhouse. The sky was a dusky blue, the sun having just set. Before he entered the house, he leaned against the door and breathed in the crisp air. It bit sharply at his mouth and lungs, but was refreshing nonetheless.
He hoped Lois was all right. But at least she was in the capable hands of his mother. Martha Kent was the queen of alleviating worries. If Lois was upset about something, there was no one else Clark would recommend her to go to. …Except for himself. He thought about holding her closely and wiping her tears away and sighed. If only she’d let him in a little, see that he wasn’t here to hurt her.
But then again, did he want her to get too close? His heart was screaming yes, a whole hearted yes, but his mind was violently revolting. Close meant discovery… discovery meant rejection. He had been a young boy when Jeff Denoso had abandoned him and it still wrecked havoc on his mind four years later. What would it do to him if Lois Lane did the same?
He automatically dismissed the thought. Lois would never intentionally hurt him the way Jeff had set out to do. But a fleeting look of horror on her part might undo him more than a thousand Jeff Denoso’s could.
Clark shook his head to rid the thoughts from his mind. He was obsessing… again. Twisting the doorknob, he entered the house, hoping that the sounds of crying would have long abated. He was in luck. Lois was standing next to his mother in the kitchen, leaning on a pair of his old crutches and watching intently as Martha tried to explain the finer points of cooking.
They both turned at the gust of cool air Clark had let in. Clark’s eyes were immediately drawn to Lois, anxiously eying her ankle.
“Hi Clark!” Lois was grinning happily, and the smiled eased Clark’s fears.
“Hey,” he said as he moved forward and shut the door behind him. He produced her suitcase and purse with a flourish. “Your belongings, Miss Lane.”
Lois let out an excited squeal and immediately tried to hobble over as fast as she could on Clark’s crutches. He had injured his foot when he was twelve, in the period just before his invulnerability kicked in. Clark chuckled to himself when he remembered how much of a pain those things were. He met Lois halfway.
“Lois you shouldn’t be up at all!”
“Clark you worrier, I’m fine.” She eyed her suitcase joyfully. “I can’t believe you went to the car and dragged this huge thing out! Thank you!” Balancing on one foot, she leaned the crutches against the nearby couch. Before Clark could think to ask what in the world she was doing, her arms were around his waist, giving him a tight hug.
For a moment Clark felt like his heart had stopped. He responded a shell shocked second later and drew her as close as he could without hurting her. For a brief, beautiful moment he was holding her in his arms of her own accord. Not because she was injured, in danger of freezing to death or because of her lack of prowess on ice skates. But because she had thrown her arms around him for a hug. For a too short moment he inhaled the scent of her hair and tried to memorize the feel of her against his chest.
Then it was over, she was pulling away, obviously thinking nothing of the hug that had wrecked such havoc on his equilibrium. He mutely handed her the crutches and lifted the suitcase again.
Lois was still babbling and Clark had to smile. “That was so sweet of you Clark, you could have frozen! It’s so cold outside… oh but thank you! I’d kill to brush my teeth right now.”
Clark had a sudden, not quite unbidden image of kissing her squarely on the mouth to halt the string of excessive words. He was willing to bet it would work. Oh how he wished he could try it.
Instead, he addressed his mother, who had been innocently chopping vegetables while all of this had been going on. The knowing look in her eye nearly made him blush, but with a Herculean effort he managed to avoid that embarrassing impulse.
“Where should I put this mom?”
“Put it in your room,” Martha said without looking up. “I already changed the sheets and made up the bed, you’ll be on the couch Clark.”
Clark nodded and went to drop the suitcase off. When he returned he found Lois protesting. “Clark shouldn’t have to give up his bed just because I foolishly tried to drive in the snow! He--You all have already done so much for me. I can’t in good conscience take the bed.”
“Oh honey, you know we love having you around! Heavens, it’s been ages since I’ve had another woman to talk to in such an informal setting. I love Clark and Jonathon to death but if I have to spend another Saturday watching football…”
Lois giggled slightly and nodded. “That’s true but--”
“But you’ll take Clark’s bed,” Martha completed. “Dear, Clark’s been walking on air since you’ve been here. He loves the company.”
Clark, having heard the whole thing thanks to super hearing, but had only been reasonably expected to hear the last part because he had just entered the kitchen, blushed a bright red.
“Mom…” He said warningly, wishing he didn’t have such fierce reactions. It was a wonder Lois knew his true skin color at all with the amount of blushing he seemed to be doing.
“It’s the truth and you know it Clark Kent. Honestly, we’ve all been much happier since you’ve come here Lois.”
Clark couldn’t argue with that, so he nodded his agreement. Lois was incredulous as the apparent sincerity the words were spoken with. Were these wonderful people talking about her? Mad Dog Lane? Most people ran screaming for the hills. Hell, her own family acted like they didn’t even like her most of the time. Why did she mesh so well with this particular country family in backwater Smallville? When she thought of her family, she was ashamed slightly. She hadn’t been completely honest. Lucy did care about her, a lot actually. They fought incessantly, but under it all, both knew they could count on the other. Lucy must be worried sick. And her mother too, probably was upset. As much flak as Lois gave her, she was secure in the knowledge that her mother really did love her. Her father on the other hand…
“Excuse me Martha; do you know if the phones are up yet? My family is probably starting to get worried.”
Clark moved past Lois to the kitchen and picked up the phone. A faint dial tone buzzed loudly enough for the room to hear. “There’s your answer.” Clark motioned toward his room.
“There’s a phone in there if you’d like to use it.”
Lois nodded and excused herself while Clark joined his mother chopping vegetables. They chopped in companionable silence for a moment, Clark idly listening to the sounds of Lois’ voice in the next room.
He wasn’t trying to eavesdrop; the soft tones of her voice merely relaxed him. He was grinning off into mid air, listening to the comforting thrumming of Lois’ heartbeat when he was suddenly aware it was rapidly quickening.
Clark’s hearing instantly tuned into her, her quick intake of breathing and her pacing footsteps. Scarcely thinking of the possible repercussions for eavesdropping, Clark’s super hearing took a mind of its own and listened in on Lois’ conversation.
Lois was speaking. “Dad, they’re not crazy murderers! I’m perfectly fine here!”
The voice on the other end was harsh. “It’s just a man and wife?”
“And a boy my age,” Lois interjected without even thinking. A moment later she wished she hadn’t. Her father’s words were slurred and cruel. It didn’t happen often, as her father preferred just to throw himself in his work, but every so often he got drunk… and he scared her.
“A boy? No wonder you don’t want to leave, you damn slut.”
Clark heard that and froze, mindlessly squeezing the knife in his hand. It crumpled like tinfoil. His mother gasped, unaware of what was causing the reckless loss of control for Clark but she had to snap him out of it. She lightly touched his shoulder, but he didn’t respond, merely furrowed his brow and listened.
“—it’s not like that Dad! He saved me. I almost died.”
“Right. The car crash. That was your mother’s car! You’re causing so many damn problems. If only you’d have been a son. He’d have managed to make it through a little road trip without crashing the car.”
Lois was crying softly, horrified and yet unable to hang up.
“Cry you damn bitch. Just like your mother. Go get down on your knees for some country hack and enjoy a little roll in the hay. Then come crawling back to me when you’re pregnant and alone.”
Her father angrily slammed the phone down and Lois sat for a moment, shell shocked and shaking.
Two rooms away, Clark stood, frozen. The large paring knife was a ball of crumpled silver and when he released it, the knife clattered to the floor, unrecognizable.
