I think I'm in serious need of a BR, so if anyone can help me, I'd truly appreciate it!I hate messing things up because I'm new, it drives me bonkers so I can only imagine how irritating it must be to read those stupid mistakes.
Anyway, here is the last chapter. Thank you SO much for the comments I've gotten regarding this first attempt at writing fic! Oh and I was going to change POV's in this chapter but Sam wouldn't shut up. I hate it when that happens.
Chapter 3
Decorating a Christmas tree was something that Sam used to take for granted when his kids were young.
Not anymore. He had missed this simple tradition.
The entire evening had been further proof that miracles truly did happen. How else could he explain the complete lack of drama or tension while spending Christmas with the family that he‘d thought he’d lost so long ago?
“Well, it’s the finest Christmas I’ve had in a long time,” Sam admitted, giving his daughter an appreciative look. “Thank you, honey.”
Lois returned the sentiment with a smile. “Thank you, Daddy. For… making it that way for me too.” She wished she could tell him exactly how much she valued his actions, how much he had saved her by saving the man she loved…
But secrets had to be kept. She hated that part.
“Clark, who does Superman spend the holidays with?” Ellen asked innocently, adding ornaments to the tree Sam had brought over earlier.
“Friends… Loved ones… He’s a pretty lucky guy,” Clark replied easily, sharing a knowing and tender look with Lois.
Sam kept his smile to himself. Oh, if Ellen only knew… That Superman had his arms wrapped around their daughter at this very moment…
She’d never believe him.
The evening passed pleasantly. The very fact that his family could spend such quality time together again without discord a remarkable thing. And it was occurring without the numbing effects of alcohol, which had been such a focus of those last months of his marriage. Well, maybe a little champagne and eggnog, but certainly nothing compared to the previous drink-into-oblivion that Ellen used to indulge in - the only way she could stomach being around him. He wasn’t proud of his behavior during their marriage. Or after. He’d acted badly, had continued acting badly, not knowing how else to act…
Until last night.
This easy camaraderie and family intimacy was beyond anything that Sam had anticipated when he had barged into his daughter‘s holiday…. And he was determined not to blow it.
“I believe we‘re finished!” Martha announced. “Light ‘em up!”
The subsequent black out proved that it would take more than a serious lack of light to put a damper on their Christmas spirit.
“Just a second, take it easy.” Clark wondered if this was going to be a job for Superman.
“I guess it’s a one tree apartment,” Lois commented, not bothering to hide the fact that she liked having two trees. It seem to unify the beginnings of a family dynamic that just possibly could make sense again.
Sam grinned, this was something he could easily fixed. “No one panic,” he announced, gesturing to the couch. “Baby Gunderson… If you wouldn’t mind…”
He watched as his robotic creation took a seat, her insipid smile not wavering as Sam plugged the trees into her ears, beaming proudly as light bathed the apartment once more. That cheesy smile of his robot was something he definitely needed to work on. Nobody was that cheerful all the time.
Sam accepted the applause and cheers with a grin. At least his creation wasn’t completely without worth. He’d already explained to Ellen earlier that day the true purpose of Baby Gunderson - that she was part of a government contract he’d been given to create a robotic spy capable of blending in.
He had a lot of work to do, as Ellen so bluntly had pointed out. But then again, he already knew that. Baby Gunderson was a definite work-in-progress.
Sam watched as Lois and her fiancé slipped out to the fire escape, hoping that an opportunity would reveal itself where he could talk to Clark alone. Sam had kept a close eye on him all evening, looking for any ill-effects from the prolonged exposure to Kryptonite and the virus that had overwhelmed his system not even twenty-four hours prior. He may be Superman, but he was still Sam’s patient.
And the man who his daughter was very much in love with.
When Lois slipped back inside - alone- Sam took the opportunity given to him and headed for the window. He found Clark sitting on one of the steps that led to the apartment above them, his gaze fixed on the vast sky above them.
“Dr. Lane,” Clark greeted with a wariness that Sam had no trouble picking up on.
“It’s Sam.” He took a seat next to Clark and cast his eyes upward, marveling at the fact that her daughter’s fiancé’ had come from a place even further away than the tiny blips of light dotting the night. And yet… he was more human than most.
So, what did that say about the human race?
Nothing good, that was for certain.
They studied the sky for several moments, the silence becoming a living, breathing thing. Sam was at a loss as to how best to approach this sensitive subject. He knew that great lengths had been taken to ensure the protection of Clark Kent’s dual identity, and quite frankly, he didn‘t know the reaction he would get.
“How are you feeling? Sam finally asked, his tone slightly abrupt and to the point.
Clark jerked in surprise. “Oh, um… ok. I took a nap today so I think I’m all caught up on my sleep. I’m used to pulling all-nighters.”
‘Oh, I bet you are,’ Sam thought to himself, thinking back to all the times he‘d seen Superman‘s heroic acts live on the late night news.
Sam studied the super hero at his side, the moonlight revealing features far less peaked than earlier that evening. “Look, son… I may not have practiced actual medicine for quite some time, but doctor/patient confidentiality is something I still take very seriously,” he trailed off, not quite sure how to proceed.
“You know.” It was a statement not a question.
Sam nodded. “Yes, I know. And that is why I needed to ask if there were any ill effects that I should know about? You gave us quite a scare, you know.”
Clark shook his head warily, wondering where this revelation was going to take them. A slight lingering weariness was all that remained from his trip to oblivion. “How?”
“How do I know?” Sam clarified, proceeding when a curt nod was sent in his direction. “I may not know you or your parents very well, but I do know my daughter, Clark. Her reaction to Superman’s illness wasn’t exactly… typical. I would have been blind to not notice that Superman loved her - and more importantly - Lois loved Superman. It was the only explanation that made sense. Lois wouldn‘t kiss another man in her own fiancé‘s bed with his parents in the next room without a darn good reason.”
“Oh. You saw that?”
Sam nodded his head in response, taking note of the tightly clenched fists of the man at his side.
“Your secret is safe with me, Clark. I just want you to know that. And it would be safe even if we didn’t have doctor/patient confidentiality. I won‘t betray that trust. I couldn‘t.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that.” Clark slowly let out the breath he’d been holding. His worst nightmare was coming true - his secret revealed because he couldn’t control the depth of his feelings for Lois.
“No need to thank me, Clark. I’m the one who should be thanking you. You saved my daughter this morning.”
A small smile tugged at Clark’s lips. “Well, it wouldn’t be the first time.”
Sam chuckled. “And I suspect it won’t be the last, either, if I know my little girl.”
“She… has a penchant for getting into trouble,” Clark admitted wryly.
“Well, I’m just glad that she has you in her life,” Sam revealed. “Both of you.”
“Daddy?” There was a hint of uncertainty in the question.
Sam turned and gave his daughter a tender smile, not hearing her approach. “Lois. I was just having a few words with Clark.”
“Oh?” Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
“He knows.” Clark took the glass of eggnog that was held out to him and tugged Lois onto his lap, pressing a quick kiss to her temple.
Startled eyes flew to her father’s face. “You do?” she questioned, wondering what her father would do with this information.
Sam nodded. “As I was telling Clark, his secret is safe with me.”
Tears threatened to spill down Lois’ cheeks. “Thank you.”
Martha Kent appeared at the window, interrupting any further conversation. “Time to come in! It’s time to open those presents we didn’t get a chance to open this morning,” she announced, shivering. “Besides, it’s too cold to stay out there, you’ll catch your deaths.”
“We’re coming, Mom.” Clark pushed Lois off his lap and got to his feet, turning to Sam Lane. “I never really got a chance to thank you, Sam. I don’t know what would have happened to Superman if you hadn’t been there.“
This was a moment that Sam would remember for a long time. His life had felt like a worthless mess for longer than he cared to think about - but being credited for this one thing that he’d managed to not screw up went a long way in restoring his fractured self-esteem. “I’m just glad I was able to help,” he replied simply as he followed his daughter and her super hero betrothed into the welcoming warmth of Lois’ living room.
Much to Lois’ surprise, the evening hadn’t digressed into a feuding nightmare that had plagued more than one of her family’s holidays. She couldn’t wait to tell her siblings about this miracle of civility, feeling fortunate that she’d been the one to witness this particular phenomenon. In fact, her life was feeling pretty darn perfect, if she did say so herself - although the second cup of eggnog might have been partially responsible for her warm thoughts. Her living room was a disaster, littered with brightly colored wrapping paper and empty boxes. She wasn’t bothered by it though, sometimes it was handy having a fiancé who could move at super speed - even if he did frequently get stuck with her more mundane chores. He never complained about it though.
Yep, she was a lucky woman.
Clark pressed a quick kiss to her lips and murmured, “Don’t move.” Lois watched him disappear into her bedroom before returning with a large, brightly colored box and her lips curled into a wide smile.
“Is that for me?” she asked happily. She loved presents. And she especially loved big, colorfully wrapped presents given to her by the man she loved.
“Yep,” Clark replied, setting the gift at her feet. “I know how much you like big gifts.”
She grinned cheekily and kissed his cheek. “Bigger the better.”
Sam watched this byplay with interest, his appreciation for Clark growing with each passing moment. Even without the added bonus of her daughter being engaged to Superman, it was quite clear to him how much his daughter was loved - cherished, even. It was a rare thing.
Watching Lois tear the paper away in a frenzy that was reminiscent of when she’d been a child, he smiled. Some things never changed.
And just when he didn’t think his esteem for Clark could get any more impressive, he realized he was wrong as Lois managed to rip the remainder of the paper way, her accompanying happy squeal music to his ears.
Superman had given his daughter a new microwave - her previous one orbiting space, most likely.
Yep, his daughter was in good hands.
The End
