Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Lois & Clark Fanfic Nowhere To Run - Part 1

This is a fanfic based on the television show, Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. No copyright infringement is intended. I’m borrowing these characters for a little fun and not for any profit. I also use a number of lines and scenes from the various episodes in this story and in those cases, these are not my lines and credit should be given to the writers of those episodes. For complete disclaimer, go to: http://www.thompsonlawoffice.ca/Disclaimer.htm

As always, thanks to my faithful beta readers, Carol Malo and Gerry Anklewicz, for once again accepting the challenge of helping me with one of my stories. I don’t know what I’d do without the two of you to bounce things off and catch my mistakes. Thanks so much, gals.

Additional notes located at the end of the story were they can’t act as spoilers.

Two things must be distinctly understood or nothing wonderful can come from this story:
1. Herkimer Johnson does not exist (his mother decided to give birth to only one son <g>), and
2. the vibro-whammy was never invented.
(shades of the opening of ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens - although in his case, what needed to be distinctly understood was that Jacob Marley had been dead these seven years <g>)



* * * * * * * * *
Nowhere To Run
By ML Thompson
PG-13
mlthompson@lcfanfic.com
* * * * * * * * *

The sky, just above the point where it meets the ocean, was beginning to lighten more with every passing minute, shades of pink and orange lighting up the eastern sky. Night would soon give way to dawn. And when it did... what then?

With a heavy sigh, Clark floated down onto the steps of the cabin and turned towards the door. In an effort to clear his thoughts, he absently read the sign which had hung on this door for as long as he’d known about this place.

‘Welcome to our cabin. Feel free to use it, if you’re in the neighborhood.’

Of course, Clark wasn’t sure who else beside him would be ‘in the neighborhood.’ After all, the cabin was located on a small island in the Atlantic Ocean. Okay, so maybe the island was big enough to have a freshwater waterfall and a beach that seemed to stretch on forever. But it wasn’t as if there were any other signs of human life. Obviously, whoever had put the sign on the door figured that if people were ‘in the neighborhood’ they were likely to make use of the cabin, with or without permission, and that if they gave consent, they might at least cut down on vandalism.

Clark had been here a few times over the years and was always careful to leave the place in better condition than when he arrived. It had occurred to him on occasion to investigate who the owner or owners were, but it had never been a priority, so he’d never done it.

But when things in Metropolis had gone south the way they had, he’d immediately thought of this place.

He lowered his glasses and allowed the walls to disappear until he was looking into the cabin’s single bedroom. She was still asleep.

He’d expected that. After all, she’d been drugged. It was only to be expected that she would have to sleep it off. However, his hearing told him that her heartbeat and breathing were both strong. And besides, he’d never have dared to take a few quick trips back to Metropolis for supplies if he’d felt there was a danger of her waking.

With thoughts of what would happen when she did wake, Clark cringed. First, she was likely to have a hangover the size of Metropolis which wasn’t likely to improve her mood. But most important, she was going to be furious with him. That was why this place had come to mind for this operation. After all, if he knew Lois Lane - and he did - he could pretty much guarantee that the moment she felt strong enough, she would try to run.

But surely even Lois Lane wouldn’t try to swim the ocean just to get away from him.

He sighed. Get away from him. How had they ever come to this point where she would be trying to get away from him? He had to admit that this time he wasn’t entirely sure they would survive the firestorm to come.

But that was not important. That wasn’t why he’d done it. Oh, he wanted her love. In fact every fiber of his being craved her love. But more than that, he wanted her to be well. And that was why he’d done it. To see to it that she would get well.

Opening the door, he walked inside, placing several bags of groceries on the cabin’s wooden table. Once they were safely settled, he lit the lantern he’d found earlier, giving the interior of the cabin a soft glow. It would be an hour or more before it was light enough outside that the lantern wouldn’t be necessary.

He glanced around the cabin. Suitcases for both him and Lois sat in one corner. Beside it, a large box filled with albums, stories Lois had written as well as various other items.

Okay, so the cabin wasn’t exactly a mansion. But that wasn’t important. It was solid, had plush, comfortable furniture, and even had the basic amenities thanks to a generator that provided hot water and allowed for a small fridge. There was even a very functional gas stove. Still, looking at the lantern, he acknowledged that electric lights would be nice. Of course, the lantern did make the place look... cosy. If it weren’t for the circumstances... Clark sighed. No point in spinning elaborate romantic fantasies when there was a good chance that Lois would never speak to him again, even assuming she did regain her memory.

Part of him wished he could have taken her back to Kansas. But a quick stop there on his way back from Metropolis informed him that Sheriff Rachel Harris had already, at the request of the Metropolis P.D., talked to his parents to ascertain if they knew his location. Besides, if they were in Kansas, Lois would undoubtedly be on the first flight back to Metropolis - and back into the arms of Maxwell Deter - the instant she awoke.

Subconsciously, Clark’s jaw tensed at the mere thought of that man.

Pushing thoughts of Deter to the side, he turned to the groceries currently cluttering up the cabin’s wood kitchen table. He had purchased enough groceries to keep them going for a couple of weeks. After that... Well, he’d have to deal with that when they got to it. He suspected that even amnesia wouldn’t turn Lois into a cook. So maybe he could just take the odd trip back to civilization to pick up necessities when she was sleeping and she’d never know the difference.

Once he got all the groceries put away, he turned his attention to the rest of the cabin. Judging by the amount of dust on everything, no one had been here for quite a while. Taking a deep breath, he shifted into superspeed to remove the dust and sweep the floors, even going so far as to clean the windows, inside and out, in a matter of seconds. No point in giving Lois any other reasons to be mad at him when she woke.

Letting out a breath, his work finished, Clark shrugged out of his jacket and returned to the table. He picked up the folded copy of the Daily Planet he’d also picked up during his shopping trip and, after taking a breath to steady his nerves, took a seat in the comfortable stuffed chair in the small living room and opened the paper.

He flinched when he saw the headline staring back at him in bold faced letters.

LOIS LANE BELIEVED KIDNAPPED
CLARK KENT PRIME SUSPECT

Well, they really hadn’t tried to sugar coat it, had they? Not that he had expected them to ignore the story. He knew from a quick trip to Kansas that Lois’ disappearance had been reported and that, when the state of her room had been examined, the natural conclusion was that she had been kidnapped. It was also of little surprise that he was the prime suspect since he had actually tried to make it look that way. Still... seeing it in black and white, staring back at him from the front page of his own newspaper was a blow.

He checked out the byline. Perry had given the story to Eduardo.

Clark let out a breath. At least Eduardo would handle it fairly - he hoped. Or at least more fairly than someone like Ralph. So maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed at first blush. Still, surely they could have hidden the story somewhere inside the paper... page fifty-three under the obits would have been nice.

Not that he’d exactly expected that kind of coverage considering some of the headlines he’d seen plastering the front pages of the tabloids during his shopping trip.

JILTED BOYFRIEND ABDUCTS INSANE GIRLFRIEND
WHICH ONE IS REALLY CRAZY?

That was the one that stuck in his memory. Although his and Lois’ names had been on the front only in smaller print, the picture that had graced the cover had been horrible - a picture someone, probably someone like Joe Lamont, a tabloid photographer that he and Lois encountered occasionally, must have taken during one of the all too frequent arguments he’d had with Lois over the years.

Maybe, Clark thought, if he hadn’t kissed Lois and told her that he loved her, things wouldn’t have gone the way they had. Or maybe he should have kidnapped Lois and brought her here weeks ago. He had to admit, he was no longer sure of the right answers. Maybe he never really had been. On the other hand, he still couldn’t see any other solution to the one he’d finally chosen: kidnapping Lois Lane had been his only remaining option. After all, what else could he have done?

He turned his mind back to the Daily Planet, reading slowly as he tried to view it as an impartial reader might. Still, it wasn’t long before his mind was filling in the blanks, recalling all too clearly the events that had led up to this day.

Not that things had exactly been a barrel of monkeys in the proceeding weeks. Lois being replaced by a clone on their wedding day; Lois running off with Luthor; Lois losing all memory of him and their relationship while confessing her love for Dr. Maxwell Deter. No, none of the proceeding weeks had been particularly enjoyable to say the least. Still, that final day things had spiraled completely out of his control. Or at least they’d been out of his control until he’d finally had enough - until he’d finally kidnapped Lois.

Still... how had things gone so terribly wrong? His mind drifted back.

* * * * * * * * *
Twelve Hours Earlier
* * * * * * * * *

He’d kissed her. And she... she’d kissed him back! She really had. It wasn’t his imagination. Of that, he was certain. No, she’d been right there. Her lips probing his. Her heartbeat accelerating to keep pace with his. Yes, she had been right there, in that moment with him. Until, of course, she’d completely panicked and then taken off, muttering that she couldn’t love him because she didn’t even know him, leaving him standing alone on the sidewalk.

When Dr. Deter had told him that he wasn’t to tell Lois anything about her life, the good doctor - if that was really what he was - hadn’t taken into account the persuasive powers of Mad Dog Lane. Clark hadn’t stood a chance. So when she’d started pressuring him, picking up on the not-so-carefully hidden animosity between him and the doctor, he’d snapped and told her everything.

That he loved her.

And then, while she’d been staring at him in shocked disbelief...

He’d kissed her.

And she’d felt something, too. He knew she had.

In the stunned silence that followed, he’d told her that they were engaged to be married. For a moment, he’d thought he was getting through to her. Until she’d completely denied his assertion and, in typical Lois Lane fashion when confronting her personal life, she’d run.

To Deter.

Clark’s lips turned down. There was something about Deter that Clark didn’t trust. He seemed... too personally involved - as if he had his own agenda, his own stake in the results of Lois’ treatment.

Or, to put it more succinctly, that he wanted Lois for himself.

The way he looked at her. The way he touched her. His proprietary tone of voice when talking to her. No. There was something very wrong about Deter’s involvement with Lois. Just thinking about it set Clark’s blood to boiling.

“There is such a thing as bedside manner,” Perry said when Clark voiced his concern to his friend and boss.

“This guy’s bedside manner includes breakfast in the morning,” Jimmy responded.

Clark flinched. That was exactly what he was trying not to think. After all, unlike Clark, Deter had access to Lois twenty-four seven. Clark got a few minutes every other day. Nor was Superman allowed to get close to her. Even Clark’s parents had been turned away. The ‘good doctor’ was controlling every aspect of her life.

Even when Lois returned to work, Deter had been trailing along behind. What was that all about? Didn’t the man have any other patients?

“Zip it, Jimmy,” Perry demanded. “Now, Clark, listen to me. We all knew this was gonna be hard. Now with the cat outta the bag it might even be harder. I mean who knows what she’s thinking? Now with any luck, Dr. Deter is going to help her put some pieces together. But in the meantime, you gotta take it easy. Now do you think you can do that?”

“I don’t know,” Clark answered honestly.

“Uhh... look... just take your cue from the master of cool here, huh,” Perry said. “Slow and easy.” He sliced his hand through the air imitating the gradual, easy decent of an airplane coming in to land.

Clark had to concede that Perry was making sense. Besides, what else could he do? After all, he’d researched Deter. The American Medical Association had called Deter’s methods both ground breaking and effective. Surely he wouldn’t risk his reputation. Not that Clark was convinced of that. After all, Clark would risk anything for Lois.

Still, as much as Clark might hate it, getting all worked up wasn’t doing him any good.

The sound of a familiar voice caught the attention of all three gentlemen currently seated in the employees rest area. Looking up, Clark’s heart lifted, as it always did when he saw Lois. His eyes narrowed when he saw the man who was with her.

“Perry, Jimmy, Clark,” Lois said, ensuring she had the attention of all three before continuing. “I quit.”

Clark stared at her in disbelief, almost missing Jimmy’s response. He didn’t remember rising to his feet, but since he now found himself standing, he obviously had.

“You what?” Jimmy asked.

Clark felt as if he’d entered the twilight zone. Never had he believed he’d ever hear those words come out of Lois’ mouth. He didn’t even have to think about it. This wasn’t Lois Lane talking, not even as she went on to explain her supposed ‘decision.’ This had Deter’s paw prints all over it.

“I need to get away so I can totally recover,” Lois said.

“We’re leaving the country,” Deter added.

No. No. You can’t,” Clark said, amazed when he heard the controlled tone of his own voice. Getting mad right now, even tearing Deter’s limbs one by one from his body and piling them in a bloody heap on the floor would only make Lois more determined to follow her proposed course of action. He needed to keep his calm. Besides, this wasn’t Lois talking - at least not any Lois he knew.

“We’re going to the south of France,” Lois continued as if Clark hadn’t spoken. “Max has a home there, and he thinks that one-on-one intensive therapy...”

Perry lunged for Deter even before Lois finished speaking. Clark had to jump forward to hold him back from doing exactly what Clark was forcing himself not to do.

“What the Sam Hill are you doing?” Perry yelled. “You conniving little brain sucker.”

Lois stepped back, seeming completely caught off guard by Perry’s response.

“Lois, listen to me...” Clark said, keeping his voice even as he relinquished his hold on Perry to Jimmy while at the same time taking a step towards Lois.

“No. I know what’s best for me,” Lois said, interrupting him.

“Hey! What’s the deal here?” Perry demanded, still quite obviously out of control.

“Chief, calm down!” Jimmy said, holding on to the Chief for all he was worth.

“No, the gates are up and this cockamanie calamity train is gonna stop!” Perry continued, bringing his hand down as if he were a butcher chopping off the head of a chicken.

“Breath or something,” Jimmy said.

Clark felt as if he were reliving one of the dumbest decisions he’d ever made - the day he’d let Lois walk off with Luthor. “Lois, I can’t let you go. Not this time,” he said, his eyes still locked on hers.

“Clark, you have no choice in the matter,” Deter said.

Clark instantly turned to look at Deter. “Deter, trust me on this - you have no idea who you’re talking to.”

In his peripheral vision, he saw something flash across Lois’ face, some recognition, a memory, perhaps. Or maybe it was just disgust with him over his possessive words. But before he could decipher the meaning, the look was gone.

Deter, seeming to decide that the discussion was over, grabbed Lois’ arm, turning her back towards the elevator.

TO BE CONTINUED...