By Peace (PEverett9@aol.com)
Summary: Clark is back from outer space and, with a sad look upon his face, sees just how Lois has been surviving without him. :-)
Funny sometimes how things work out — I was driving home from work, listening to a song on the radio, and thinking it would make an interesting basis for a story, got home and started reading through the Gorn's stories which I had downloaded earlier, and found she had used that same song in one of her stories. But her take on it is totally different from mine, so I decided to go ahead and write the story.
The usual disclaimers — the characters belong to December 3rd and Warner Bros. — and I'm sure the song belongs to somebody too, although I've no idea who. So only the situation is mine.
***
"Patience, my Lord Kal— *Clark*," admonished Zara in an amused tone. "We will be there soon enough."
Clark drummed his fingers against the console in front of him. He wanted to get out and push. Forget that! He wanted to get out and *fly*. But they weren't quite close enough yet, and despite his impatience, the ship was actually going several times faster than he could fly on his own. Besides, after three months away from the yellow sun that gave him his powers, he could barely levitate a foot off the ground, let alone go anywhere.
He stared out the viewport at the tiny blue-green ball that was their destination. /Home!/ he thought. /I'm going home!/
And then he was there. He walked up the steps to Lois' apartment, and rang the bell. No answer. Well, it was early in the evening, she must be out running errands or something. He dug around in his pockets, found the key she had given him, and let himself in. He wandered around the apartment, looking at all the familiar things in all their right places. He heard a key in the lock, and rushed over to the sofa, intending to look casually at home when she walked in.
The door opened, and in walked Dan Scardino.
The two men faced each other a moment, then Dan put down the sack of groceries he was holding and turned back to the door. "Honey, we've got company."
At that instant, Lois walked in the door. At least — he thought it was Lois. For a moment he almost didn't recognize her. Her hair was dyed red, and cut in an extremely short, spiky hairdo. She stared at him a moment, then went to the kitchen to put down the shopping bag she had carried in. Clark rushed to help her with it. Dan headed out the door, calling, "I'll get the rest of the stuff out of the car."
As soon as the shopping bag was down, Clark enveloped Lois in an embrace. There was music playing, but he didn't know where it was coming from. The tune was familiar, but he couldn't place it. It didn't matter. He was home, Lois was in his arms and all was right—
Lois pushed away from him, and began emptying the grocery sack. "So. You're back." She picked up an armload of cans and carried them into the pantry. "Why did you come back?" Her voice was flat, emotionless.
"You knew I would come back…" Clark couldn't believe his ears. "Lois, I love you."
"Yeah, and you left." Lois gathered up another armload of cans to take to the pantry.
Scardino walked in with another grocery sack, and set it on the table. He patted Clark on the shoulder. "Sorry, old man," he grinned, obviously unrepentant. "You snooze, you lose." He headed toward the door. "I'll get the rest of the stuff out of the car."
Lois emerged from the pantry and began emptying another grocery sack. "What was I supposed to do, Clark? Sit around and twiddle my thumbs while you went off playing Lord Kal-El, ruler of New Krypton? Crumble into little pieces, maybe? Lay down and die? I don't think so." She gathered up another armload of cans to take to the pantry.
Clark put his hand on her arm. "Would you stop with the groceries already? We need to talk about this!"
Scardino walked in with another grocery sack, and set it on the table. He patted Clark on the shoulder. "Sorry, old man," he grinned, obviously unrepentant. "You snooze, you lose." He headed toward the door. "I'll get the rest of the stuff out of the car."
"What is *up* with him?" Clark asked, as Lois headed into the pantry. "He sounds like a broken record! What's he doing here, anyway?"
Scardino walked in with another grocery sack, and set it on the table. He patted Clark on the shoulder. "Sorry, old man," he grinned, obviously unrepentant. "You snooze, you lose." He headed toward the door. "I'll get the rest of the stuff out of the car."
Scardino walked in with another grocery sack, and set it on the table. He patted Clark on the shoulder. "Sorry, old man," he grinned, obviously unrepentant. "You snooze, you lose." He headed toward the door. "I'll get the rest of the stuff out of the car."
And suddenly Clark woke up.
He sat up so abruptly that he fell out of his hammock onto the floor. /I've got to get home! I've got to get home *right* *now*!!/ The song he had been hearing in his dream suddenly flooded into his mind.
"At first, I was afraid…I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side But then I spent so many nights just thinking how you did me wrong And I grew strong I learned how to get along
And so you're back! From Outer Space I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key If I'd have known for just one second you'd be back to bother me
So, now go! Walk out the door! Just turn around now, 'cause you're not welcome anymore Weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye? Did you think I'd crumble? Did you think I'd lay down and die?
Oh no, not I! I will survive Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive And I've got all my life to live, and I've got all my love to give And I'll survive…I will survive…
fade to black
Well, Gorn, it's a vignette after all — but thanks again for helping me with the lyrics to the song!
Peace :::ducking the cyber-tomatoes I've been told to expect on this!:::
THE END
(survive.txt)