By Farah Chisham <sac998@nwu.edu>
Summary: What really happened on the way to Lois' apartment — an in-between scene from "And the Answer Is …"
Scene from And the Answer Is: (Lois and Clark on the way to her apartment)
***
"Clark.. I just knew something was wrong." Lois looked at him in his leather jacket and black jeans. When she first began speaking to him, he was surprised and then dropped his hat. He also looked very handsome and she wondered why she hadn't notice how strong he was. Now, Lois! Get that hat for him. Don't let your mind wander in to the gutter!
Lois walked over to the hat and picked it up. "Now, first things first," she said, waving the wool cap around and pointing at him. "We have to get you changed, and back at the office.. to make phone calls."
"Yeah, yeah. I know. You take such good care of me." he commented, touching her nose. He got up from the stairs and began walking down the alley. As she was walking in front of him, he began looking at her and admiring her shape. She always looked so great in everything that she wore. Always so feminine…
"*What* are you looking at?!" Lois was smirking at Clark and knew exactly what he was looking at.
Clark stopped dead in his tracks, blushed and looked down. "I'm sorry. You're just, smiling, too.
"You *are* a strange one, Clark Kent. I think I have you figured out, though." Lois said, walking up to him and staring him down.
"What do you think you have figured out?"
"I think we should keep walking… Besides, I'm not telling."
"Well… Okay, then."
The two turned the corner on the street where Lois lived and began approaching her door when she stopped once again and flew around to face him. She caught him staring again. But this time, right in her eyes. They both stopped walking.
"I wanted to thank you," he stuttered, "for being a great friend to me. I really do need you."
"Anything for you."
The two looked at each other. Clark had never seen her so beautiful and took her hand in his. "Lois, I need to tell you something…"
"Clark, " Lois said, deep in thought, "What did you do with those diamonds?"
He shook his head and realized it may be a while before he could tell her. "The kidnapper told me to drop it in a fountain in the park."
"Maybe we can go get them.. or follow whoever picks it up?"
He put her hand down and looked in her eyes, "No, it's too late. I'm sure that…" He began to remember the first time he saw her. He was speaking to Perry White failing to get his first job, and she walked in. Those next few minutes were lost to him and he could only see her. He got up from his chair to get a better look at her. Then Perry said, "If she wasn't the best reporter here…" Gee, the best reporter here..
"Clark, " Lois's voice brought him back, "You're daydreaming." She grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, "Let's keep moving and I'm getting cool anyway."
"Sure." He felt her hand holding his and wondered what it would be like if she never let go. He then remembered that his parents are being held hostage by someone. Someone he couldn't find. The someone who knew he was Superman. He began to feel his face get wet, but it was only the rain; he was sure. Clark took off his leather jacket and gave it to Lois. "Let's get under this awning," he said as he pulled her next to the Macy's building.
"Are you warm enough?"
"Yes, just a little wet," she said, still holding his hand. She looked up at him and wiped a tear off his face. "Why are you crying?" She squeezed his hand and felt him squeeze back.
"Uh, I was just thinking about my parents."
Lois looked up a him and saw him scared. I can't remember the last time I have seen him worried or vulnerable. "Clark.. Like I said, I'm really sorry. I also feel bad that I was so short with you. I feel really bad," she said once again.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. I always try to take care of things by myself. I should have trusted someone else to help." He looked down at her and tried to smile, but all he could do was cry.
She reached up for him, "It's all right.. I'm here, now. " He accepted her hug and held her tight.
"Thank you, Lois. For understanding. Look at me," he smiled and released her, "I'm crying like a bride!" They both started laughing and waited for the rain to let up a bit.
"Okay, " she said, pulling him on to the sidewalk once again, "We're almost there. Just another block." She pulled his jacket above her head so the rain wouldn't damage her hair.
"You know what?" Lois suddenly thought. "We have to get rid of these clothes of yours. What if someone saw you?" She went to the edge of the sidewalk and tossed the jacket down the sewer. "Now, the hat and shirt." Clark looked at her and took off the hat and, reluctantly, his shirt and handed them both to her. "Okay, all done." She looked up at him and gasped quietly. Luckily, he was wearing an undershirt. "Okay, just around this corner…"
He noticed she was shivering as they walked up to steps to the apartment building. "Are you cold, Lois?" He put his arm around her. "Is this better?"
"Yes, but if we get inside, I would be much warmer, along with you." She noticed he wasn't cold at all, despite the rain. She fumbled to get her keys out and opened the door.
"After you."
Lois headed in and headed for the elevator. She pushed the button to her floor.
"I didn't know about this elevator… I've never needed a key to get in, either," Clark said.
"Well, this elevator takes me right to my balcony. That's why you have to have a key, and I have to have a key to the elevator to take me to my floor. It's a private entrance. That's one of the reasons why I took this place. Besides, we went through the back. Not the front entrance."
"Oh, we're there," he said. The elevator opened up directly to her balcony. I have to remember this entrance.
"Here we are. Help yourself to the television and fridge; I'm going to take a shower." She said walking in to the bathroom. "But stay away from the Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sundae ice cream. That's mine!" She yelled.
He watched her leave and did exactly what she said. He stretched out on the couch and fell asleep instantly.
***
"Clark!", Lois called. "Clark?" Lois walked out in to the bedroom with a robe and pajamas on and peered at her sleeping partner. "Oh, Clark," she said as she sat down on the couch next to him. "You always can sleep anywhere, can't you?"
She began to run her fingers through his hair and she removed his glasses so he wouldn't break them. She happen to look through them and notice they had some spots on them. Probably from the rain. She walked over to the sink and grabbed some dish washing liquid and proceeded to wash them. After she finished, she looked through them to make sure there were no more spots. Well, there weren't any spots.
She placed the glasses on her coffee table and sat by him again. He looked so peaceful sleeping and didn't want to wake him. She began to get up and go to her room, but Clark put his arms around her before she could leave. She also realized he was awake.
"Mine!" He said, playfully. He then noticed his glasses sitting on the table, grabbed them, and wrestled her to the floor. "Gotcha!"
"Oh, no, you don't, Mr. Kent. We both need some sleep. Besides, we have to get to work early and make some phone calls, okay?" Lois said, sitting up.
"Did I tell you anything about this person?" He began playing with her hair.
"What about him?"
"Well, he apparently flew overseas and also, received an orchid from this airline."
"Do you know which airline?" She asked, trying to distract herself from his touch.
"Yes, " he began, "That's who we'll be calling tomorrow. I've tried them already, but, of course, they put me on hold forever."
"Don't worry, Clark," she said, laying down next to him, "I'm here."
Clark looked into her big brown eyes and hoped she would always be. He then put his hand behind her head and put his face above hers. "May I kiss you, Lois?" He said softly.
"I hope so." She said to him. With that, he laid a gentle kiss on her lips and was drunk with love from it. She sat up and kissed him back and her knees were trembling and she noticed his hands were shaking, also. They both sat away for a moment and looked at each other. Lois took one of his hands a looked at them.
"Why are you shaking, Clark. You're not scared, are you?"
"No, I'm not scared. I don't want to scare *you* off! I'm just a little nervous.. I.. I have always wanted to do that, ever since the last time. And, well, I want to do it again. If that's all right?"
As Lois neared him, her grabbed her and pinned her down on the floor again and smothered her with kisses. "Gotcha!"
Lois giggled, "Clark! Clark! You are so goofy! You scared me."
Clark looked at her and smiled. He leaned down and gave her a full kiss. One that explored her mouth and desires. One that he wished would last forever. Then he remembered his parents, once again. He quit kissing her and sat up.
"Clark? Are you all right?"
"Yeah, fine. Just worried. About Mom and Dad. We should get to the office. I want to get started on calling." He leaned down and kissed her again.
Suddenly, Lois turned him over and pinned him down, kissed him on the nose and whispered, "Gotcha." She smiled at him as he put his arms around her petite waist and pulled her close to him.
He could feel her body against his and could hear her heart pounding with excitement. He kissed her again and as she let her full weight on him, he discovered he wasn't shaking anymore. He felt complete. Something he had never really felt before. He liked it. He hugged her and whispered, "I hope so."
He closed his eyes and began thinking about what it would be like to be married to this woman. To have her with him every day like this. To be with her for the rest of his life. Yeah, it felt right. He was complete.
"Clark?"
Clark came out of his trance, "I'm sorry, Lois. I was spacing."
"That's okay. Shouldn't we get to the office and get to work? We have a lot to do."
"You're right." Completely right.
THE END
(missing.txt)