Next post will be Christmas Eve...Unless I decide to go earlier... but we'll have to see.
Thank you again Nancy (anonpip) and Rel
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Both Sides of the Coin
Part 8
Clark smiled, “I figured... so what do you want to do instead?”
“Well... what was your take on Luthor during dinner?”
“Aside from the fact that he gave me all the notice you might give a fly?”
Lois smirked, “Besides that...”
Clark considered for a moment, “He reacted to your question about his first takeover... and he definitely wanted to distract you from his lack of answer...”
“Yeah... and it only took you two kicks to get my hint...” Clark rolled his eyes, “there’s also his comparison of ‘pleasure’ and ‘power’... but I found something else more interesting... he reacted to your name... not to your full name or your face but to ‘C. Kent’... why?”
Clark frowned, “I don’t know...”
“Are you sure? You didn’t encounter something on your travels maybe?”
“I did a lot of different things... but big time exposes weren’t one of them... I wasn’t really in any one place long enough to sniff anything out...”
“So... nothing? Nothing at all?”
“Well... there *might* be something... but he shouldn’t...” Clark frowned deeply, wondering just what Luthor might know about him or his family... and the alarming possibilities that knowledge might present...
Lois leapt on him, “What? Come on Clark... what could Luthor possibly have on you?”
Clark looked at her, “Not necessarily on me... as you pointed out... he didn’t react to my full name... and Kent isn’t exactly a unique surname... or he could have just read some of CJ’s research for all I know...”
Lois relented, “Fine... don’t tell me...”
Clark was still frowning. Lois poked him, “What?”
“What exactly did he say to you right before we left...?”
Lois went still, “He... it was creepy... it was as if he was commanding my total attention... he said something about how I could ‘transcend the mundane’... I felt like I was a fat mouse being appraised by a very smart predator...”
Clark moved forward and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, “What matters is whether or not he’s dirty... and what we do about it... and Lois?” she looked at him, “he would have had competition either way...”
Lois held his gaze steadily, then leaned her head into his shoulder, “What are you doing to me Clark?” He only smiled and placed a soft kiss against her forehead.
After a few minutes, Clark gently squeezed her before stepping back, “You know... maybe we should go ahead and write up what we have on Platt... then I’ll escort you home...”
Lois glared, “What did I say about a body guard, Clark?”
He smiled, “Humor my Kansas sensibilities?”
“...we’ll see...”
Finally finishing their article, Clark moved quickly to keep up with Lois as she tried to ditch him. They shared a glance in the taxi he just managed to catch after she beat him to the elevator. Lois’ lips twitched and Clark grinned widely.
At her apartment he waved the taxi away, causing Lois to frown at him, “I’ll walk home after you’re inside...” he explained.
“If you’re sure...” she approached the entrance to her building only to stop as Clark passed her, holding the door open. He followed her up to her apartment door, waiting while she undid the bolts. As the last one came undone Clark reached up and gently cupped her cheek, “I’ll see you tomorrow Lois...” He pulled away and walked towards the elevator.
“Clark...” He looked back. Lois had opened her door. She smiled at him and motioned him inside, “Let’s talk for awhile... farmboy...”
Clark chuckled as he followed her inside. Lois stopped as he shut the door and they both paused, their eyes locked.
Neither noticed Lucy entering the room, bubbling over in excitement. Upon seeing Lois’ companion she stopped and blinked in surprise. “Um... Lois?”
Lois and Clark pulled apart, their moment broken. Lois sighed and turned to her sister, “Yes Lucy?”
“Weren’t you supposed to go out with Lex Luthor...?”
Lois blinked, “Oh... yeah... the interview...”
Lucy frowned at her, “Interview?”
Lois scowled, “Yes... *interview*... I’m not interested in anything more from Luthor... though he certainly seemed to want something more from me...”
Clark cleared his throat, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Lois...”
Lois sighed, “Ok Clark, see you then...”
He walked out the door only to feel a tug on his sleeve. He turned to face Lois once more and she leaned up and pressed a swift kiss on his lips before pulling away and closing her door. Clark stared at the door dazedly for a few moments, idly hearing Lucy squeal inside. Finally Clark pulled himself together and walked down the hall, a huge smile on his face.
***************************
At the close of a long day, Lois, Clark and Jimmy were gathered in Perry’s office. It was the first time all day Lois had come within ten feet of Clark voluntarily.
<...why is she avoiding you?>
<Well... we kissed last night...>
<Go Clark!>
<...doesn’t seem like such a good thing right now...>
Perry was reading over the article he and Lois had written the previous evening. Still looking over the story he addressed the three reporters, “Now... let me get this straight...” he murmured, “You want me to... publish a story that says that the Prometheus Project is being sabotaged... that the Space Transport Messenger exploded...” Perry placed the papers on his desk and began to mime his words with his hands, “...and that the transport carrying the habitation module to space station Prometheus...” he finally looked at the other occupants in his office, “...that is scheduled to be launched in less than...” he held up three fingers, “...three days... is probably also going to... blow up...”
<This sounds bad...>
<It is...>
“...and all of this information is based on a report from Samuel Platt... a man who was banned from the scientific community... underwent *psychiatric* treatment, and committed suicide... oh wait... he was ‘probably murdered’...” Perry looked back at the papers on his desk. “Now... does that about sum it up?”
“Chief...” Lois began hesitantly.
“Hard facts!” Perry lifted his hands, emphasizing his words by shaking his clenched fists, “*Hard facts!* That’s the name of this game...” his eyes were wide as his face began to turn red.
<...wonder if he invested in those paava leaves...>
Perry’s voice dropped to a low near-whisper, “Now get out there and find me some...”
Lois nodded and rushed out followed by Clark and Jimmy.
Lois quickly headed for her desk, planning her attack as she went, “We have to get that evidence...”
Clark frowned, “I could call Dr. Baines... see if we can get in...”
“I doubt it after she threw us both out the other day...”
“You’re right... so what’s our plan?”
“First... Jimmy... go see if your buddies at Star Labs can get something to back us up, Clark come with me...”
Jimmy rushed off while Lois and Clark headed for the elevator. Once inside Lois sighed and leaned her head on Clark’s shoulder, “...I didn’t need this tonight...”
Clark enfolded her in his arms, “...we’ll find what we need... somehow...”
Lois pulled back and grinned at him, “How would you feel about sneaking in to EPRAD?”
Clark raised a brow, “I’d ask how you planned to not get caught...”
<I’ll second that!>
<Why? Want to come, Jay?>
<Not with a cop for a wife, Cal...>
***************************
Once at EPRAD, Lois and Clark managed to sneak past security. Unknown to Lois, Clark provided a slight distraction for the guards with a little bit of manipulative breath. They quickly made their way to the hangers on the property. They peered through several windows before locating the wreckage of the shuttle. As they got a closer look at the rubble they both paused in shock. “Clark? That’s not the wreckage we saw before...”
Clark nodded slowly, “...I know... I guess that handles the conspiracy...”
Lois took a deep breath, “...yeah... let’s find a way inside...”
They moved around and found a side door. Lois pulled out a paper clip and inserted it into the lock. Clark stared, “You can pick locks?”
Lois answered distractedly, “...yeah, Jimmy taught me...”
Clark’s brows climbed, “Jimmy?!”
“He said he was in Reform School on a bum wrap...” she focused on her task and in moments the lock clicked.
Clark shook his head as they entered the hanger. They explored the crowded space and came across the original wreckage. Lois sighed and pulled out a camera, “I can get more pictures... but we need more... see if you can find something...” she began to snap photos while Clark looked around the hanger for any trace of paper records.
Clark was across the hanger when he heard sounds of a scuffle. He whirled to find himself face to face with Dr. Baines.
She smiled at him, the gun in her hand never wavering. “I’m disappointed in you Mr. Kent... its such a shame to get rid of such a fine specimen...”
He frowned as she motioned him towards where he had left Lois. As they reached the original wreckage they found Lois being restrained by a muscled henchman who held a knife to her throat. The man sported a few rapidly darkening bruises on his face and arms courtesy of his glaring captive.
Dr. Baines raised a brow at her goon and before congratulating his captive, “Very impressive Ms. Lane... these days a woman must learn how to defend herself...” she motioned the reporters towards the back of the hanger, “...if either of you look like you’re going to fight or bolt... I’ll shoot... starting with Ms. Lane...”
The man secured them to a pole. Clark was wrapped in chains while Lois was secured with airplane seatbelts. Dr. Baines smirked at them, “Sit tight... take this opportunity to... commiserate... your coming deaths...”
“Why?” Lois snarled.
“Why what? Why are you going to die? Or, why did I sabotage my own program? Oh well, the answer is the same: profit, Ms. Lane, profit... I was well paid to destroy Prometheus and you two are threatening to cut off my mission... and my money. After all, space is just another frontier... whoever arrives first will ‘seize the high ground’.” She walked over to Clark and leaned down to him, trying to press a kiss to his lips. Clark’s jaw tensed and he jerked his head to the side. She sighed, “Such a waste...” and left with her hireling.
When they were gone Lois let out a long sigh, “I’m sorry Clark...”
Clark looked at the chains on his hands and casually snapped the padlock, “It’s ok Lois...”
“I meant about today... in the newsroom...”
Clark frowned, “Lois... you got spooked... that’s ok...”
“Yeah... but... maybe it will help if I tell you why...”
Clark looked at his hands, “Lois... I...”
“Clark... please... we might die tonight... I just want to...” she choked back a sob.
Clark made his decision: he pulled the rest of the way free and began to free Lois. She stared at him, wide-eyed, “Clark...?”
Clark helped her to her feet, “I made sure he tied me too loose...”
She frowned and shook her head, “Let’s go... I think this counts as the ‘hard facts’ we needed...”
Clark smiled and they left the hanger. About 10 feet from the door an explosion consumed the building behind them, Clark grabbed Lois and lurched forward, dropping them into the dirt a safe distance away from the building.
Lois turned wide eyes to the hanger as they heard the sound of a helicopter. They looked up only to see the helicopter explode into flames as well.
“...how...?” Lois choked out.
Clark just shrugged, stunned at how close he had just come to loosing this special woman.
***************************
The pair were kept at EPRAD for hours... they dealt with the police... Perry... the fire department... and seemingly anyone else with an interest in the space program... When they were finally allowed to leave, Clark escorted Lois to her apartment. Once there, Lois stumbled in and sank onto one of her loveseats. Clark followed behind her, his shoulders stooped with exhaustion and his eyes still glazed with the shock of the explosion. There was no sign of Lucy.
Clark took a deep breath, “Lois? I’m going to go get some sleep...”
“Wait...” Clark looked at her. She motioned to her loveseat and he sank down beside her. “I still want to tell you what I started to in that hanger...”
Clark frowned, “Lois, you don’t have to...”
Lois held up a hand, “Clark... I *want* to...” she took a deep breath. “You seem to be serious about whatever is happening between us. But I... don’t do relationships well... you see... my Dad cheated on my Mom for years before they finally got divorced when I was a teenager... they were miserable together... my Dad wanted a son... and my Mom wanted a real husband... after the divorce though... my Mom turned to alcohol...” Lois’ eyes closed in pain, “She... died of alcohol poisoning when I was 16...”
Clark sucked in a breath and pulled her into a tight embrace without interrupting her confidences.
Lois leaned into his shoulder and relaxed into his embrace, “Lucy and I lived with Dad... and his endless parade of girlfriends...” she swallowed, “It was then that I made a decision... I wasn’t going to get... physically serious in a relationship until I was... *sure*... and I know that guys don’t understand that...”
“Lois...” Clark cupped her chin, turning her face to his own. She looked into his eyes questioningly, “I made the same choice at about the same age... I had my own reasons which I won’t go into right now... but I’ve... waited too.”
Her eyes went wide in wonder, “Clark...” she returned her head to his shoulder and nestled against him, “I can’t believe you...”
Clark smiled into her hair, “Whatever you feel you can give me is enough, Lois... I’ve never felt like this before...”
Lois sighed, “However, that was mostly just background. When I first started working at the Planet... I met a freelancer named Claude at some press conference... he was charming... French... and he played me like a violin... like Lex tried to do last night...” she paused to gather her thoughts again, “But... he pushed me for more than I was ready to give... when I kept saying no... he dumped me... and that hurt... but... he managed to steal my notes for a huge story I had uncovered... he wrote it up... and used it to get a job at the Planet...”
Clark tightened his arms around her, “I hope you know I won’t...”
“Clark no! I wasn’t...” Lois sighed, “I was trying to tell you why it’s so hard for me to trust men... and myself... in relationships... both professional and personal...”
Clark placed a kiss against her forehead, “What happened to him?”
“Well... he won an award for the piece he stole... and used that to get a job somewhere else... I never found out where... I was just glad he was gone...”
Clark pulled Lois into his lap as she began to cry softly, letting out years of pain.
tbc...
