Thanks, Sara, Sara, Patrick, and Michael!
Yes, Sara, Lex saw the first part of the message in canon (leaving the museum when Superman got there before Kansas was mentioned).
I added his asking Lois about it both because in this story we don't see anything Clark, Superman, or Lois sees, so this was a way to show that Lex had seen it, but mostly because it fit in well with the Lois/Superman issues running through these chapters.
Sara - I think it was Beth who brought up the fact that it's nice for Clark and Superman to be around each other, I just used that.
It's an idea explored a little in the next fic I'm writing as well (also stealing the idea from Beth), but in the show Clark doesn't really have any close male friends who are sort of equals. Perry and Jimmy are his boss and kind of like a kid brother, respectively.
I think Superman is a little like a big brother here, but they are more equal then any other male friends we've seen him with.
I'd forgotten about the EIC change, but I guess it's catching on.
Patrick - Yes, I agree, Superman is unreasonably worried about the timeline. That will actually lessen over time. You've already seen him decide to ignore it before - with GGGOH, Nightfall, etc. In addition, of course, to all the Lois stuff.
It's interesting that you're looking forward to a bad thing happening to Lois and Chad. It's coming, although still a few parts away yet.
Michael - Are you home again?
As you already guessed, I'm sure, what happens with Chad is something I'm keeping to myself a little longer.
See above for how I changed the plot - it was really a minor change, but it did give things a different feel, didn't it?
And yes, definitely Lois' being in love with Superman, or thinking she is, will definitely have further repercussions.
Look for 42 and 43 later today.
