Title: Witness Protection
Author: Sue S.
Rating: PG
Earlier this month I was browsing through all the story ideas/snippets that I've started but never finished. Some of them are beyond lame and will never see the light of someone else's computer screen. This one, though, seemed like maybe it might be worth salvaging. Originally the idea was to look at every (or almost every) episode of the first two seasons because each of them had a moment (or moments) where Lois could have figured out Clark's secret.
But then, as these things often do, it took an unexpected turn. Or I grew lazy. Or both.
I wrote my first few stories in first person POV. I, personally, love writing that way because there's an immediacy and a pace to it that you simply can't accomplish with an omniscient voice. Some people have told me that they find it distracting or weird. If you're one of those people then you shouldn't read any further.
All my gratitude goes to DJ. She understands my madness and my method. Even better, she supports them. <g>
This takes place during the episode, 'Witness'. Any dialogue that you recognize is lifted directly from that episode, but no copyright infringement was meant.
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It wasn't that long after Clark left that the phone rang and I answered it. "Lois Lane."
"Hello, Lois. Barbara Trevino here." Her voice is calm, but I can practically hear her smirking.
My blood runs cold and yet I manage to answer flippantly. "I missed you after the press conference."
"No, I believe it was I who missed you."
What does she want? I decide to cut to the chase. "Do you want to tell me what this is all about?"
"I think I'll tell you when I see you. And that should be soon. Very soon."
I look over at the elevator doors, but Clark is long gone. I stayed too late tonight. There's no one else here. I grab my purse and run for it, going down the long hallway to the back stairs. If she's outside, she'll be expecting me to come out the front of the building.
In the alley behind the Planet I stand with my head cocked, listening for the slightest noise. There's nothing.
Where do I go? I can't go home. I'm not even sure I can bear to walk in there after what happened this morning. Thank goodness Clark had decided to check on me on his way to work this morning. I would be dead right now if he hadn't shown up when he did.
<It's okay. I'm here. I'm right here.>Clark. I'll go to Clark.
I scurry out to the street and hold my hand up for a cab, all the while looking around nervously for anyone suspicious. A taxi stops and I give the driver Clark's address. The ride to his apartment seems to take ages as I continue to watch out the windows for Trevino. Can she disguise herself, too? Is she following me?
I practically run up the stairs to Clark's apartment. I can see light through the shades over his doors and I'm so relieved that I almost cry. I knock on the door, trying not to sound frantic. It takes him so long to get there that I start to wonder if perhaps he isn't there. Then I see his shadow against the blinds before the door opens and I take a deep breath to steady my nerves.
"Hi, Clark."
"This is a surprise." He's lost his tie and rolled up his shirtsleeves. He lifts the blender he's holding in invitation. "How about a smoothie? It'll only take a second."
"Oh, I'm, uh, I'm not thirsty." I follow him inside and down the stairs as my eyes dart around his apartment looking for any hint of danger.
Clark looks at me and his expression softens. "Lois, what's wrong?"
I want to tell him, but I can't find my voice. I take a deep breath. "Don't take this the wrong way, Clark, but..." I can't even form the words. Please, Clark, know why I'm here. Don't make me ask.
"What?" he asks gently.
"I guess I'd just feel better if I could..." I still can't ask. I glance over at his couch and pray that he'll get my meaning.
"Stay here tonight?" he finishes for me.
"Yeah." I hate that my voice cracks and I know I'm about three seconds away from falling apart. It's been this way all day. The knowledge that I almost died this morning is constantly at the back of my mind. I keep remembering the cold, grim determination in the fake Mr. Tracewski's eyes as he attacked me. I can't stop wondering at the sheer luck that Clark was there at exactly the right moment.
I stumble forward and Clark puts his arms around me. The blender comes to rest against my hip as his other hand cups the back of my head. The comforting and familiar scents that are Clark envelope me along with his arms and I'm taken back to this morning, when he held me and rocked me. I find I can't hold back a sob anymore.
"She called me," I whisper into his collar. "Barabara Trevino called me and said she was going to see me real soon. After this morning, I just, I couldn't go home tonight. I didn't know what to do." Simply telling him seems to lift some of the weight of fear from my shoulders.
Clark tightens his arms around me. "I should have waited for you at the Planet."
"No." I shake my head against his shoulder. "You couldn't have known. I really did think that it was all over. I just... You don't think she followed me here, do you?" I pull away from him and swipe awkwardly at the tears on my cheeks. "I don't want to put you in danger, too, Clark."
"No one is going to hurt either of us," he says evenly. "I promise."
He's so earnest and I believe him. I absolutely believe him.
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Much later, after a smoothie and some Thai takeout, we settle onto his couch with our feet propped up on his coffee table and watch a late-night talk show. I'm far too nervous to sleep and Clark seems to sense this. The host is running through his monologue but I'm not really paying attention. I can't stop thinking about dying this morning. And - if Clark is right - Sebastian Finn tried to kill me last night, too. I fight the impulse to shiver. I've had death threats before but they never seemed so personal.
I lean closer to Clark, letting my cheek settle lightly against his upper arm. His hand is resting on his leg and I slip mine into it. He squeezes my fingers reassuringly and murmurs something soft that I don't catch but it feels comforting nonetheless.
I close my eyes and let out a sigh. I wish I could go home - and yet I don't want to be there. Especially if I have to be alone. Only yesterday I told Clark that he wouldn't be my first choice if I needed protection. I'm deeply grateful that he's not reminding me of those hasty words tonight. For all the things he isn't, Clark is a decent guy. I can't think of anyone else I would trust enough to snuggle up to this late at night without having to worry that they'd try and take advantage of the situation.
If I wasn't so tired, that might actually be a shame.
I snuggle a little closer to him and wonder what it would feel like to sit this close to him in a more romantic setting. Clark is solid and - though I try not to think about it too much - he's pretty ripped. I saw him in nothing but towel once and, well, let's just say he's almost as buff as Superman. I've kissed him, too. Clark, I mean. Well, okay, I've kissed Superman as well. They're both good kissers. But Superman isn't here tonight - Clark is. And, even though I'd never admit it to his face, Clark is a lot like Superman. I feel safe with him in the same way that I do around the Man of Steel.
"I should let you get to sleep now," Clark says softly but he doesn't move.
Something in his hesitation drives my pulse faster and I tighten my fingers on his. "Am I keeping you awake?"
"No."
"Can't we just stay like this? Just for a little longer?"
His cheek comes to rest against the top of my head. "Sure."
The studio audience on the television guffaws, but I haven't a clue what was so funny. All I can think about is that Clark is probably going to wait until I'm asleep and then he's going to slip away to the comfort of his own bed. I wish I could tell him that I feel secure for the first time today and that I want to sleep in his arms but I know how that would sound.
"Clark?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for letting me stay here tonight. You didn't have plans, did you?"
His head bobbles against mine as he shakes it. "I didn't have plans. Did you?"
I smile and flex my fingers against his. "I was going to take a bubble bath and read a book."
I can hear the smile in his voice as he replies. "Those are big plans. I'm honored you'd give that up just to sleep on my couch."
"It was a fair trade." I lift my head and kiss his cheek before I can think better of it. "I don't suppose you have any bubble bath?"
He turns his head to answer me and I feel a little shimmer of heat low in my belly at how dark his eyes have become. "I don't even have a bathtub," he says. "I only have a shower."
"That's..." I can't even finish my thought. All I can think about is how close he is, how solid he is and how nice it would be to kiss him. My mouth has gone dry and I lick my lips.
His eyes follow the movement of my tongue and the urge to kiss him becomes irresistible. I close the short distance between us and press my lips softly to his.
His lips part and there's a warm sensation against my mouth as he sighs. His fingers are still tangled with mine and he squeezes them. For a frightening second I think he's about to politely move away. But then his head tips so that the softness of his mouth is slanted over mine and his free hand cups my cheek, tilting my head back just the tiniest bit so that he can kiss me more fully. The gentle pressure of his mouth against mine increases and I swear the world starts spinning faster when he moans deep in his throat.
I'm about to kiss him again when he tips his head back and breathlessly asks, "What book?"
I'm feeling a little dizzy and it takes me several seconds to realize that he's asking about the book I was planning to read tonight. The answer is 'Love's Savage Treasure', but I'll be damned if I'm going to admit that to him. My mind races to find something erudite to tell him but I can't think clearly when I'm still fuzzy with curiosity and desire.
"Book?" I pant, trying to buy myself some time, but no title comes to mind. "I don't know. Just whatever."
It occurs to me that maybe he'd rather I read something than kiss him. My heart sinks and I dare a glance at his eyes. All my doubts that maybe Clark doesn't want to keep kissing me disappear. The hero in the trashy story I'm reading has frequently smoldered at the heroine, but I never thought that could happen in real life. And yet it is happening. Clark is smoldering and I'm exquisitely aware that my partner has never hid his feelings from me very well.
In a breathless moment of clarity, I realize that Clark is actually protecting me. He knows I'm feeling vulnerable and frightened and he's not going to take advantage of it.
"Thanks, Clark," I say quietly.
"For what?" His voice is huskier than usual and it sends a wave of longing through me.
"For... everything. For saving my life this morning and, I guess, my virtue tonight. I owe you."
His jaw flexes and he gives me a wicked smile. "You're welcome."
I narrow my eyes at him; something has clearly amused him. "What?" I ask.
He shakes his head so I slap his shoulder and ask again. "What is it?"
Clark lets out a smothered laugh and leans away from me. "It's just, well, you know how they say that when you save someone's life, they owe you that life? I was just wondering if that would apply to your virtue as well."
This time I slap his shoulder harder. "In your dreams, Kent."
He catches my wrists so that I can't smack him again. "Only in the good ones." Clark leans in to kiss my cheek and whispers near my ear. "Good night, Lois."
Disappointment filters through me when he releases my wrists and stands up. He gives me one last smoldering look and then walks away. I sink into the cushions of his couch and blindly stare at the television.
You're perfectly safe, I mock myself. Safe from Barbara Trevino. And safe from Clark.
Right about now I could use a little danger.
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End
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But where's the revelation? OMG - didn't she say this was a revelation fic at the beginning? Yeah, I did. Remember the part about my growing lazy? I did write more. But no matter how many times I read through it or played with it, I just couldn't find a way to end it. So I cut it.
Originally I had the deleted scene here, but Lara Moon finished the story for me and it's fantastic.
Witness Protection 2
