Part Nine
Inside, Clark was benefiting from a deep restful sleep; the cat Pepper laid contentedly at his feet. Mrs. Harper’s family emergency had continued. His landlady had assured Clark another family member could take the gentle feline off his hands, but he wouldn’t hear of it. The two had become fast friends. Pepper was welcome to stay with him as long as possible.
Suddenly both man and animal raised their heads. Clark heard Lois’ feeble cries for help, along with her heart beating erratically. Instantly he flew to the front door. Flinging it open, looking down, he saw the crumbled, wet and bloody form of his partner.
“Lois!” Clark cried out, his throat tightened with alarm as he gently gathered her limp body into his arms and swiftly floated through the apartment into the bedroom. Gently he placed her onto the still warm bed. He saw the haphazardly wrapped arm and examined it. The bloody gash was severe, but his medical skills beyond the rough and ready emergency variety, could not help in this instance.
“Lois, can you hear me? I’m taking you to a hospital.”
“N…no hospital, police would find out! Please… help me.”
Clark was about to argue, when he thought of his childhood Smallville friend, Dr. Pete Ross. Reaching for the phone, he dialed New Troy General.
After waiting what seemed like an eternity while the operator put him through to the doctor’s private line, Clark heard the clear and steady voice of Pete Ross.
<<“Clark, old buddy! What do I owe the pleasure of this call…at 4:30am?“>>
“I need your help Pete… medically. Can you come over right away?”
The voice on the other end of the voice sounded confused. <<“Ah, can’t you bring the patient here?”>> He replied.
“No. This was not a Superman rescue… it’s my partner, Lois; she’s suffering from a – gunshot wound of some kind.”
<<”Lois… right. Okay, my shift ends in a few minutes. I’ll be over directly. Keep her comfortable and warm. There is a definite possibility of her slipping into shock. Then we have to bring her into the hospital. Oh, by the way Clark?”>>
“Yeah, Pete?”
<<“I want a full explanation. *Not* reporting a gunshot wound isn’t exactly legal.”>>
Clark closed his eyes in relief and said, “You and me both. Thanks, Pete.”
***
Pete mentally shook his head. <Clark’s invulnerability should protect him from anything… except kryptonite.> He was deeply concerned about Lois’ wounds, but thankfully even from Clark’s vague description they were not life-threatening. For as long as he had known Clark danger and adventure was never far behind him. But now that a certain brunette, had entered his life the ‘danger’ ante had been upped considerably.
***
The two friends hung up, and Clark went back to his patient. He tried to make her comfortable, carefully removing the wet shoes and socks. After a brief mental debate as to whether he should take off the wet outer garments he did so – at super speed. He felt like he was invading her privacy, but she couldn’t remain in those wet things. With that ‘unpleasant’ task, complete he finally covered her slight frame with one of Martha’s colorful quilts. Lois moaned softly under the covers, she was in pain. He never had a need for pain medication, since his Kryptonian physiology rarely experienced hurt of any kind. Feeling helpless Clark started pacing the bedroom floor it was all he could do until Pete arrived.
His mind ran on; what could Lois possibly be doing out on a rainy night like this, getting into a mess so bad she didn’t want the police involved? Her body moved again under the afghan, her delicate features contorted in discomfort. His heart twisted at the sight and felt his fists clutched in unaccustomed rage at the person who inflicted injury and pain upon her. If he found out who was responsible they would be very regretful. Clark’s eyes began to smolder a deep ruby red, eager to destroy by fire Lois’ tormentor.
<Stop! Whoever it was will pay for this later, right now Lois needs your comfort. If she sees your eyes, it’s bound to frighten her.> Clark fought hard to get his tumultuous emotions under control, gradually the super-charged alien eyes returned to their normal gentle human brown. He knelt down to the bed and gathered her into his arms. She drew closer to him, instinctly feeling loved and protected by his presence. Clark rocked her gently; suddenly a tiny voice emerged from the depths of blanket fabric and his arms.
“D… don’t let the police take me away. I only broke in for the story. Please don’t be angry with me.”
There were dozens of questions running through his mind. Where did she go? Who shot her? He wanted to ask, but instead he brushed long fingers through the tendrils of her damp hair and kissed the sweet forehead. “Shush baby. No one is taking you away, not as long as I’m here.”
“Oh Clark!” She sobbed. “I made such a mess of things, putting my life in jeopardy, just to get a scoop. I kept imagining what everyone might think and say if the guards caught me. But mostly I thought about you and how much I wished you were by my side. I won’t try anything crazy like that again. Next time I *will* check the water level.”
He smiled softly thinking to himself that Lois Lane would never ‘check the water level’ no matter what the consequences when it came to covering a great story. “Let’s not worry about that now. Your arm needs medical attention and… “
“No! The police will ask questions. Inspector Henderson and that – that DA Drake will get involved.” She began to struggle in his arms, her heart beating like a frightened bird.
“Shush, no its okay. Remember meeting my old friend from Smallville, Dr. Pete Ross? He’s coming over to look at your arm. Lois, I trust Pete with my life. He will take excellent care of you.”
She stopped fighting and lay her head on his shoulder. “I don’t deserve you as a friend Clark.” He cupped his hand under her chin and with his enhanced vision, gazed lovingly down into the melancholy, tear-stained face. Words came to mind, but he decided on action instead. Very slowly, he brought his lips to hers and brushed them gently in an innocent kiss. Lois responded softly, but Clark pulled away whispering huskily. “That’s what friends are for. Now just be quiet and try to rest. Pete will be here soon.”
Lois; too tired and emotionally drained to argue, cuddled closer to Clark and gradually her breathing slowed and she fell into a light sleep.
He held her thus for what seemed like an eternity, watching the sky outside gradually lightening with the promise of a new day.
Pepper sat quietly at the foot of the bed, his green eyes carefully watching his guardian and the other human with keen feline interest.
“Meow?’ The cat asked.
Clark looked down at the little animal, reached over, and scratched the fur behind his ears. “Just ‘another’ adventure with Lois, Pepper. It’ll be okay.”
Abruptly the distant sound of a car door slamming reached his ears. Clark gently extracted himself from Lois, exited the bedroom, quietly floated across the apartment and up the short flight of stairs to the front door. Opening it, he could hear a man’s heavy tread approaching, a few moments later the powerful frame of Dr. Pete Ross came through the door.
“At last! Come on, she’s in the bedroom!
The other man immediately went into doctor mode when he saw Lois’s small body lying on the bed and started examining her.
“How did this happen?” the MD said as he bent to his work. “Wait, don’t tell me. She was investigating some story?”
“Pete, I honestly don’t know what happened. I was sleeping when I heard her calling me. By the time I got to the door she had already lost consciousness.” Clark said as he ran his fingers through his hair.
Clark watched as Pete worked, first he carefully removed any of the remaining fabric from the sweater stuck in the gash. Then he disinfected the deep ugly injury, swabbed the wound with antibiotics, he had to give her a few stitches to close of the worst of the injury. Finally, he wrapped Lois’ arm with clean gauze and placed the arm in a sling.
All the while, Clark watched intensely as his friend worked. It hurt him deeply that Lois would probably have an ugly scar to remind her forever of this escapade. Inwardly he sighed; thanking the heavens, she was now safe, the outcome could have been much, much worse.
“Lois is very fortunate; the bullet grazed the arm and hit a few veins but no main arteries, blood loss was scary looking, but minimal and there will be no permanent muscle or nerve damage. I say as long as she keeps the arm immobilized and clean in a couple of days she should be just fine.”
Clark exhaled the breath he did not know he was holding and thanked his friend.
“Oh don’t thank me just yet. As a doctor, I am legally bound to report gunshot wounds – even if it is a nasty graze. Since she’s unconscious we still don’t know the circumstances of the shooting. As her partner, you must have some idea of what she was working on?”
Clark rubbed the back of his neck, he trusted Pete with his secret identity however; did he want to drag him into this situation? Mentally making the decision he said, “It could be one of three on-going investigations Pete, but until she regains consciousness I can’t be sure exactly which one she’s working on. Let me find out what it is then I shall get back to you. Promise”
Pete nodded, and started packing up his medical bag. Clark turned on the TV intent on listening to LNN’s early morning news. He was shocked to hear Gloria Campos start the hour with a burglary at the LexSolar facility in the LIP. The report revealed nothing stolen and there was some speculation of it being corporate espionage or a disgruntled former employee.
As the story was about to end it was briefly mentioned ace investigative reporter, Lois Lane, of the Daily Planet was present and tried get the scoop, but security guards and the police turned her away.
Clark groaned loudly. Pete faced him with a questioning look than said. “That was the investigation? Breaking into a corporate facility? One owned by Lex Luthor? No wonder she does not want the police involved. Your partner is in major league hot water, my friend.”
“Don’t I know it! Because there are bound to be many uncomfortable questions, especially from Perry wondering why Lois ‘Mad Dog’ Lane meekly left a hot story.”
“
Can’t you write the article yourself?” Pete asked.
A voice, feeble, but determined growled from behind them. “Don’t even think about it Buster!”
The young men turned around to see a disheveled Lois coming out of the bedroom, clutching the quilt around her. Physically, she was a wreck, but those dark brown eyes flashed dangerously. Clark knew from experience ‘Mad Dog’ Lane was making a meager attempt at being heard. Injury, be hanged.
“Lois, what are you doing out of bed?” Clark shouted.
“Doing what any good reporter would do… saving my story! My bag… where’s my bag?” She tried walking into the living room searching for the item, than stumbled, all her previous bravado drained away.
Clark ran at slighly faster than normal speed and gathered her flaccid body into his arms. He hoped she was too disoriented to notice. “This is getting to be a habit,” he said to Pete. “She refuses to sit still.”
Pete said firmly, “Put her on the couch. The last thing she needs is to tear those stitches.”
Clark eased her down onto the couch. “Where’s my bag? Lois muttered again. “The answer to the Shackleton hijacking is in it.”
Clark indicted to his friend that the bag was leaning just inside the apartment front door. Pete understood his meaning and quickly brought the wet bag to Lois.
“Here you go.” He said handing the wet leather bag over somewhat gingerly.
Lois grabbed it hastily and with her right hand reached inside, only to pull out a handful of soggy, ink-stained papers. Unfortunately, in her haste to leave Dr. Scott’s office, she had forgotten to zip the bag closed. The torrential downpour effectively soaked everything inside. “No!” A strangled, hoarse cry escaped from her throat. “I risked my life and reputation, for this?”
“Lois, calm down, everything will be all right.” Clark said as sat by her side and placed his reassuring hands on to her shoulders. “Let these papers dry in the kitchen. Remember how we collated Dr. Platt’s notes? We can do the same here. Come on, go back to sleep, that arm needs to stay in the sling for a couple of days. I’ll talk to Perry in the morning.”
“But Perry will want to know what happened. I was there and didn’t report it, th…that cop lied to me!” Lois cried out.
Pete asked curiously, “How would you know?”
“Because *I* was the burglar! The only reason why I’m admitting this is because you are a life-long friend of Clark’s.” She attempted standing to pace the small living room, but her arm’s pain, and sleep deprivation was beginning to take its toll.
“Pete, as a Doctor will you *please* talk some sense into her? She’s got to rest.” Clark said in frustration and not a little bit of alarm. She had done exactly what he told her not to do…break-into Luthor’s corporate facility with trigger-happy guards. Groaning internally, he wanted Lois to sleep. He wanted Pete to leave, so he could figure out what to tell Perry. He wanted this crazy night - correction - morning to settle down.
After no small amount of coaxing, Lois was tucked into bed with a mild sedative. Pete bade his friend good night, he promised to look in on Lois before going to work that evening.
Clark laid the wet documents on various surfaces in the kitchen alcove. The sodden papers held incriminating evidence about the hijacking, important enough for Lois to risk her career stealing them. All Clark had to do was ‘quick dry’ them with his heat vision. He listened for Lois’ breathing to make sure she was sleeping than slowly warmed the papers until they dried.
Curious, using his microscopic vision
Clark ‘read’ the faint ink impressions remaining on the purloined document’s paper. As he read the material, his interest piqued. <WOW! She was right, there was information as to the what, where, when and how, but we need to know *who* bankrolled Dr. Scott’s hijacking plans?>
Gloria Campos’ voice cut through his thoughts, the TV reporter had started recycling the main stories of the day, chiefly the LexSolar theft. His mind went back to another problem. Telling Perry why the Lane half of the ‘hottest news team in town’ allowed herself to be scooped - especially since she was right there in the LIP. <More importantly,> Clark thought gloomy, <how was he going to explain her presence in the area at 3:30 in the morning?>
***
After what constituted a very difficult night into morning Clark arrived at the Daily Plant newsroom earlier than usual. He looked into Perry’s office and saw the senior editor sitting down at his desk going over copy with a red pen. But even without his enhanced hearing Clark heard the strains of ‘Are You Lonesome Tonight’ emanating from Perry’s battered old cassette player.
Still in a quandary as to what to tell Perry regarding Lois’ absence today, Clark walked determinedly down the ramp to his office. Taking a deep breath, he mustered up courage and knocked gently on the door.
“Come on in Clark.” The older man said while turning down his cassette player. “Here I thought I was the only one to come in with the chickens. What’s on your mind?”
“Huh, chief. Lois called this morning and asked me to tell you she won’t be in for a couple of days. She’s not feeling very well.” Clark winced internally, hoping Perry would accept his word and move on.
“Uh huh.” There was a momentary pause as Perry stared at the younger man suspiciously. “Son, I know she’s your partner and all but since when do you make excuses for Lois?”
“Sir? Clark asked as he self-consciously touched his glasses and smoothed down the tie.
Shaking his gray head, Perry continued. “How many times do I have to repeat myself? I didn’t get and *keep* this office because I can yodel. I watched LNN this morning and heard the cheap shot they took at her. They knew she didn’t get the story…and it will be confirmed when it doesn’t appear in the Daily Planet’s morning edition.”
Clark feeling his face flush was compelled to say something began, “Ah well…she -”
“Let me finish. Either she’s found evidence of an even bigger story or something happened to her.” Perry’s facial expression suddenly became quite still. “Son, want to tell your ‘ole editor what your partner was doing in the Luthor Industrial Park at that hour…in the pouring rain?”
Clark fumbled with his tie trying to think up a decent story. But, he couldn’t lie to Perry, not about this.
“She huh… she broke into LexSolar. Apparently she thought they might have information on the Shackleton hijacking.”
“Judas Priest!” Perry exploded. The older man stood up came around his desk and advanced toward Clark. “Something told me she would try a half-baked stunt like this! Man, why didn’t you try to stop her?”
“I tried when she first mentioned it two months ago. Remember our feud? That’s what those two chilly days between us was all about. But you know Lois, once she gets something in her head…”
“…she won’t let go.” Perry concluded. “Is she all right?”
“Uh, that’s the other thing… shots were fired and... a bullet grazed her left arm.”
Badly frightened, the blood drained from Perry’s face, he leaned shakily against the desk. “Good lord. What hospital is she in?”
“No hospital. She came to my place directly from LexSolar. She was afraid going for medical attention might involve the police. I called a doctor friend of mine to tend to the injury. Her arm is immobilized for a couple of days while it heals.”
Visibly relieved, Perry asked another question. “Why aren’t you there with her? She might need some help!”
“Believe me Chief, I thought about that. Imagine how suspicious it would look if *both* of us were out of the office. Besides, the sedative she was given should let her sleep until noon. I’ll check back on her then.”
“That’s fine for now. Let’s just hope Inspector Henderson or worse yet Mayson Drake doesn’t come around here looking for Lois and asking a lot of very uncomfortable questions. Look son, tell Lois to take all the time she needs to heal. In the meantime, I’m going to finish editing one of her lighter pieces to cover her absence.”
“Good idea Chief and thanks. Lois will appreciate the help.”
“Yeah well, she’s going to get a ‘world-class’ chewing out when she gets back to the newsroom… *especially* if she doesn’t deliver the rest of this story!”
