Eyewitness
Summary: An alternate end to Witness where Clark doesn't have time to run away to become Superman to save Lois. How is she going to react? Season 1.
Rating: PG for now.
A/N- I apologize in advance for any errors in this fic. I haven't been able to find a BR that is available now, but I appreciate all of those who were willing to help me! So this is not beta'd. Just a warning.
Eyewitness
Chapter 1
Clark was exhausted and more than ready to call it a day. Directing his gaze to the desk across from him, he frowned when he realized that Lois didn’t seem ready to pack it in - he could practically see the wheels of her brain spinning as she worked, finding her look of intense concentration more sexy than she would ever know.
God, he was worried about her.
It had been almost a full time job for him and Superman to keep Lois alive the past few days. Sebastian Finn was in jail - which allowed him to breathe a little easier - but something was telling him not to give up his careful vigil as her self-appointed bodyguard. That her life was still in danger.
Turning off his desk lamp and grabbing his coat, Clark closed the distance to her desk. She didn’t even look up at his approach and that gave Clark another moment to study her.
She looked tired. Even if she wouldn’t dare admit it, the multiple attempts on her life had taken their toll - evident by the dark circles under her eyes and the slightly haunted look that she took such pains to hide. Clark didn’t know what he would do if he lost her - how he would survive. And she had absolutely no idea how much she really meant to him… He needed to do something about that.
Her typical pig-headedness was making his job difficult though. She’d refused to accept his help until even she couldn’t deny that her life was in danger, finally willing to put up with his protection detail. He just wished - just once - that Lois would look upon him with the same gratitude and worship that she had bestowed on his suited alter ego earlier that day - when he’d snatched Lois from the brink of death. ‘You gotta love that guy,’ she had announced to Finn, her reverence for Superman clearly evident.
Well, maybe Lois didn’t look at him the same way as she regarded Superman - but it had been him, Clark, that she had begged to not leave her side when Finn had disguised himself as Lois’ landlord and had tried to kill her. It had been Clark’s arms she hadn’t wanted to leave her - not Superman‘s.
‘Please don’t leave me,’ she had breathed, the near-death experience having dropped her typical defenses and had left her wide open to be victimized by the reality of what had just happened to her. She had almost died; strangled at the hands of a competent assassin. It had been a rare moment between them - Clark had read so much in the frightened eyes that had refused to leave his face. Fear. Panic. Gratitude. For once, she had let him comfort her - and it had meant the world.
But, in typical Lois fashion, she refused to play the victim for long. All too quickly, she had gotten herself under control and had slipped from his embrace, her fear festering into a burning anger and a deep-sated need to seek the truth. And Clark had let her, knowing that this was her usual coping mechanism and how she dealt with things that left her scared.
It was one of the things he loved about her. And also one of the things that slowly drove him out of his mind.
“Ready to call it a day?”
Lois jerked her head up and regarded the man before her. There was such comfort in Clark - she didn’t know how else to describe it. He was… comfortable. Like her favorite old comfy sweatshirt. The only man she’d ever been able to be around for any length of time without feeling the need to push him away.
Ok, ok, so she had tried pushing him away - from the very first day they had met. But Clark wouldn’t go away. She’d done her best to keep him at arms length, except he had refused to stay there. Ever so slowly, he had crept beneath her defenses and had wormed his way into her life. Into her heart. If she was a different kind of woman, she might even be ashamed of the way she had treated Clark when they had first been forced to work with each other, using insults and scorn to try to put him where she felt he belonged - in a cornpone-lined cage. She was the sophisticated, experienced city girl - he was the country bumpkin.
Enough said.
Except… he hadn’t stayed in that nice, safe, cornpone-lined cage she had tried to shove him in. He may have been raised on a farm in Kansas but Lois had gradually begrudged the fact that there was more to Clark than met the eye. They had become friends… and not that she’d ever admit it to him, but he was probably the best friend she had ever had. And that said a lot because Lois didn’t have many friends. It took a certain element of trust to have friends - and trust wasn’t something Lois did well.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that Clark was easy on the eyes. She remembered the first time he’d directed that wide, friendly, boyishly-charming smile her way - it had almost taken her breath away. The man could smile, she’d give him that.
Realizing she had been asked a question, Lois tipped her head in his direction. He always looked so… concerned about her. She loved that about him. Wait - liked. Not love.
’Liar…’ her inner Lois tried to mutter, but she quickly ignored that annoying inner voice. She was good at that.
“Not quite. I’ve got a little more work.” She watched as he settled comfortably in the seat beside her desk.
“I’ll wait,” he informed her.
Of course he would. He was always there when she needed him - even when she didn’t know she needed him. Kind of like… Superman. Not that Clark was anything like Superman, she hurried to assure herself. Even if they both had smiles that had the ability to take her breath away…
Bringing her focus back to the man at her side, she gave him an appreciative smile. “Clark, there’s no need. Finn’s in jail. I’ll be fine.”
It was no surprise when Clark refused to budge. She knew that look in his eyes. That look that said that he was determined to save her - even if it meant saving her from her own stubbornness, regardless if he would incur her wrath in the process. He was a brave man. She shook her head wryly. “Fine. Stay.”
“I was planning on it.”
“Just don’t complain to me when you get bored, Kent.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
It had taken another hour to wrap up the research she was working on. She would have preferred to work longer, but fatigue had a way of making her brain unable to comprehend what she was reading.
She hated that.
True to his word, Clark had remained silent and allowed her to work. Not that she’d admit it to him, but she was glad that he was there. As far as bodyguards went, he was the best thing next to Superman. Of course she’d prefer having Superman there, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to ask him to stand guard over her. Not when she knew he probably had better things to do. Lives to save and all that. There was such a sense of utter security when you were with a man who was invincible... Plus he wasn’t hard to look at either. But as soon as those thoughts crossed her mind, she knew with absolute certainty that she wouldn’t have been able to concentrate if it had been Superman sitting next to her rather than Clark. She always felt a twinge of self-consciousness when she was in Superman’s company, like she was in the presence of somebody famous. She wasn’t able to relax and just be herself like she was around Clark. As much as she liked Superman, she didn’t like the way she always felt -and acted - like a groupie when in his presence. It irritated her - yet she couldn’t do anything to change the sense of awe she felt while she was with him. Or the way that she tried to second guess every single word he said to her. Talk about forbidden fruit…
Because he was… well, Superman. Did she need to say anything more? It made her giddy knowing that the Man of Steel had feelings for her - even if she couldn’t imagine having any type of meaningful relationship with him. He just made her too nervous. But she could always indulge in some nice fantasies - and did. Frequently.
“You finally ready?” Clark inquired, watching her face closely. He could always tell when her mind was running away with her. It was adorable, actually. Not that he’d ever tell her that, of course.
“Yep.” Lois switched off her computer and stood up, fatigue making her movements sluggish. “I’m beat.”
“Will you let me drive you home?”
Lois shook her head, smiling at the dark look Clark threw in her direction. “I’m driving - but I will let you come with me.” She laughed at the expression on her partner’s face. “I may be stubborn, but I’m not stupid.”
“No argument there,” Clark commented lightly, doing that boyish grin thing again that made her heart melt.
She knew he had been expecting her to put up more of a fight - but several near-death experiences in such a short time had changed her way of thinking. If Clark was willing to be there for her, the least she could do was let him. At least until they had gotten to the bottom of this and all appropriate people were behind bars and not able to threaten her life.
“Come on, partner.” Lois threaded her arm through Clark’s, thinking not for the first time that there was more to Clark than met the eye. That feeling of comfort came back to her and for once, she just let herself lean on him. It was kinda… nice. He was kinda nice.
She was lucky to have him.
They made their way past the security guard stationed in the lobby of the Planet, watching as he locked the door behind them. The night was slightly cool and Lois found herself shivering.
“Are you cold?”
Lois shook her head. “No, not really.” She paused for a moment. “It’s just… kind of weird thinking that there might be someone out there just waiting to try to kill me. Again.”
Clark spun her around so that she was facing him, gripping her upper arms as he regarded her seriously. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Lois. Ok?”
She gave him an appreciative smile. “I know you won’t.” And she did. She trusted Clark so completely, that sometimes it scared her.
Not that she’d ever admit that to him. A girl had to have some secrets.
They turned in unison and headed down the block where Lois’ jeep was parked. The hour was late and they were alone, yet that didn’t make Lois feel any more secure. She remembered her panic earlier when she’d regarded the crowd before her - wondering if any one of them was a potential assassin whose mission was to end her life; that feeling of helplessness and fear not one she cared to repeat. She hated feeling like she wasn’t in control of the situation.
“Can you stay with me tonight?”
Clark looked surprised. “I was planning on it, actually.”
“Then what’s with that look on your face?”
Clark shrugged and offered her a teasing smile. “I just thought I’d have a harder time convincing you that you shouldn’t be alone, is all.”
Lois bristled. She wasn’t that unreasonable, was she? Ok, maybe she was… especially where Clark was concerned. “Well, you’re just lucky I didn’t ask Superman to stay over,” she replied haughtily.
“So, why didn’t you?”
That caught her off guard. Why hadn’t she? “Well, because I knew if there was trouble, I could just call for him and he’d be there,” she retorted lamely, noting the pinched look on Clark’s face. He always acted weird whenever she mentioned Superman, which was strange since supposedly they were the very bestest of buddies. Clark could be so weird sometimes. Good thing she liked weird. “Besides, I’d rather have you there,” she revealed. “Superman can make me… nervous. You don‘t.”
“Oh, really?” His voice was only slightly patronizing and Lois decided to let it slide. Normally she’d call him on it. She hated it when Clark patronized her. Especially when he always did it so well.
“Yes, really.” They had reached her lone vehicle and Clark took the keys from her hand, unlocking the driver’s side door, opening it to allow Lois to slide in and get herself settled in the driver’s seat before gently closing the door behind her. He remembered the first time he had done this for Lois, back when they’d first met. His show of manners had obviously annoyed her and she had called him a boy scout, like that was supposed to hurt his feelings somehow. He’d merely informed her that he had been a boy scout - an Eagle scout to be exact - which had only served to irritate her even more. He had quickly learned that the best way to get under Lois’ skin was to not react to her many barely veiled insults. He’d actually become quite adept at it and if he was honest with himself, it was her overbearing and disrespectful taunts that had first managed to capture his heart. He wouldn’t want her any other way.
With a quick glance around to make sure they were truly alone, Clark headed around the jeep to the passenger side, wondering if he should have pushed the issue about letting him drive, especially with her obvious fatigue. But he knew he was better off letting her drive for now, knowing instinctively that Lois needed to feel like she still had some control over her life. He opened the passenger door, pausing before getting inside. Something had caught his attention and he did another quick sweep of the area. As far as his extra senses could tell, they were alone, yet something seemed to hum in the back of his awareness - something that put up his guard.
“Come on, get your butt in, Kent,” Lois complained, putting the key in the ignition. “Or I won’t let you make me a chocolate milkshake when we get to your place.”
Clark’s eyebrow lifted. “We’re going to my place?”
“Well duh. If someone was going to kill me, it’d make more sense to kill me at my place rather than yours, don‘t you think?”
Clark snorted and ducked his head as he settled himself in the passenger seat. Lois gave him a brief smile before turning the key in the ignition, the loud beep that accompanied her actions had her turning wide eyes in Clark’s direction.
“Clark?” she whispered, watching as he tugged his glasses down and studied the floor, not realizing that he was staring right into the mocking countdown of the bomb planted underneath the jeep that was intended to take their lives.
10... 9... 8...
The look of fear that transformed Clark’s face terrified her, Clark didn’t get scared. Ever.
“Get out now, Lois!” he ordered, throwing his door open.
Oh god, oh god, oh god, Lois chanted in her brain. She’d been a reporter long enough to know that any strange beeping that occurred when a car started was never, ever good. Her fingers were useless to her as she clawed at the seatbelt buckle that was keeping her trapped inside her vehicle. She didn’t have to be a genius to figure that her jeep was about to explode, and probably within the next few seconds. Her life literally flashed before her eyes - not for the first time that day, of course - but with a certainty that these were going to be her last seconds on earth. There was no hope that she’d be able to survive this. Superman was fast, but not even he could get her out of this mess. She regretted not telling Clark how she really felt about him - and now she wasn’t going to get the chance. She knew he had already gotten out of the vehicle and just hoped that he wouldn’t do something stupid like try to save her life - and get blown up in the process. He didn’t deserve that.
Still clawing to free herself from her seatbelt, Lois cursed it. The stupid thing was supposed to save her life - not hold her hostage. Each second that ticked by making it more and more unlikely that she would survive.
A gut-wrenching screech sounded to her left and Lois whipped her head around, her jaw dropping as she saw her car door ripped from its hinges and tossed aside like it weighed nothing. Like it wasn’t made of steel, glass and bolts.
Superman.
Thank god.
Except it wasn’t the familiar and vibrant blue, red and yellow that met her eyes, instead it was the boring blue that Clark had worn that day, her eyes bulging as she witnessed Clark lean in and rip apart the offending seatbelt like it was made of paper.
“Clark…?” she whispered, not quite believing what she was really seeing.
“I’m sorry, Lois.” The words were so quietly spoken that Lois barely heard, her brain struggling to wrap around the concept that it wasn’t Superman who was coming to the rescue, but her partner who she had just told would be making her a milkshake later that evening.
It didn’t make any sense. And yet… it made perfect sense.
Knowing that time was not on their side, Clark reached inside the jeep and gathered Lois into his arms, wrenching her from the vehicle as quickly as he could. “Hang on,” he told her, spinning around and launching himself into the air, the woman he loved held securely in his arms.
Lois barely had time to blink before finding herself airborne, her arms instinctively finding their way around Clark’s neck. The speed that they were traveling was far quicker than any flight Lois had taken before, the wind ripping tears from her eyes.
Before her brain could fully wrap itself around the fact that Clark could fly and the significance of that, a loud boom interrupted her scrambled thoughts and Lois tore her gaze from her partner’s grim face to the ground below, watching as her jeep exploded before her very eyes. The shockwave of the blast struck them midair, leaving Lois to realize that they had barely gotten away in time. She watched as Clark shielded her with his body from the force of the explosion, the shockwave passing over them without causing her any harm.
Clark had saved her. Again.
And… oh god… he was Superman.
tbc
Comments are always appreciated!! Oh and they make me write faster also, just uh, FYI. :p
Oh and if anyone reads this and suddenly feels compelled to BR for me, please let me know! I've got the next chapter mostly done and I'm seriously second guessing the way it's going.
