By TR <Tamr1212@yahoo.com>
Rated: PG
Submitted: December, 2004
Summary: In an alternate ending to Season Three's "Contact," the author describes what might have happened if Lois made sure Clark returned to listen to what she had to say.
This is set right after Clark breaks up with Lois for her "own good" in early season 3. The scene starts right after Clark flew out of Lois' window.
I don't own Lois and Clark, nor do I own any rights to the show, the Production Company or ABC. I'm doing this entirely for fun. No profit is being gained from this.
Honest Feedback is always appreciated.
***
Lois pulled the covers above her chest as a sob bubbled up from her throat. She stared through tear-blurred eyes at the window that Clark had just flow out of. Flown away from her, and out of her life. The headache that had been so prominent just a few minutes ago, dulled against the pain of her broken heart. How could he do this to her? Especially at this time, how could he do this? Her jaw clenched as she warded off another bout of tears. How dare he tell her that she would be safer away from him. How dare he walk away from her without even discussing it. She threw the covers off, intending to stand, but changed her mind as dizziness hit and clung. Instead she raised her head toward the sky, and called out at the top of her lungs.
"Clark Jerome Kent, you have five minutes to finish what you're doing, and be back here in this room! Or I swear to God I'll hand in my resignation to Perry tomorrow morning, and leave the country! You hear me? You get your ass back here, or you will NEVER see me again!"
Before she could utter another word, she heard a telltale whoosh, and he was standing in the room.
"You don't mean that." He said in a low voice.
She raised her jaw. Trying not to react to the tear tracks on his face. "Oh yes I do. And don't even begin to tell me what I mean and what I don't mean." She gestured to his suit. "Make yourself comfortable, this is going to take a while."
"Lois…"
"No! I'm talking now. You had your say, now it's my turn."
He pursed his lips, and nodded. Then spun into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt.
Lois shifted in the bed, preparing. She desperately wanted to get up and pace, but she didn't think she could stay on her feet. Forcing the tears back down into her chest, she cleared her throat, and began to speak.
"Clark, I could kill you for what you just did, but I'll forego that part because I just don't have the energy for it." She took a deep breath. "I've come to two conclusions. Either you got spooked, and your ever-annoying nobility gene kicked in, and you spouted off crazy things that you don't really mean. Or…" She looked him in the eye. "You just don't love me anymore."
"Lois you know I love you."
"Do I? You come in here and tell me that you love me, but can't put me in danger in anymore because of my association with you, and that we can't be together anymore. Well you know what Clark, that just doesn't make a damned bit of sense, because I'm already in danger. My life is dangerous. My work is dangerous. It was dangerous before you were here, and it'll be dangerous after you're gone. You have nothing to do with the situations that I choose to put myself in."
"Lois." He cut in. "I do have something to do with the dangerous situations you get put in because you're connected to me."
"And you think that's just going to stop? I'm already connected to you. I hate to break it to you, but the word is out. I'm already pin-pointed as Superman's girl in every tabloid. Everyone knows that you and I are dating. My goodness there are posters of us together all over the city. You think walking away from me is going to change any of that? And even if those things faded away, could you just turn off your heart? You told me that you're worried that I'll be somewhere being boiled in oil while you're out on a rescue. If you walk out of my life now, will you no longer be worried about me? Will you no longer care about where I am and what I'm doing?"
She stopped and stared at him. "Well will you?"
Clark hung his head. "I…I don't know."
"That's a lie Clark. If you love me like you say you do, you'll be worried sick all the time about me." She sighed and threw up her hands. "I don't get this. You're just setting us up for more disaster by walking away. I'll be in more danger, because you won't be near protecting me. And you'll be even more distracted when you're out on a rescue because you won't know where I am or what I'm up to." She sat back, putting even more distance between them. "You're an intelligent man. You think things through. I can't believe that you would think this is an intelligent idea. Which leads me to only one conclusion. The reasons you gave for wanting me out of your life, aren't the real ones. And…" She bit her lip, her throat worked to get the words up to her tongue. "You're just not in love with me anymore." She turned away, unwilling to see the confirmation on his face.
In an instant he was next to her. "Lois." He slid his arms around her back and pulled her against him. "Lois, please don't believe that. You are everything to me. I love you. I do. I just got scared. I know you're right, I'm just trying to protect you."
She turned to face him. "How can you protect me if you're not here?"
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. "I…I don't have an answer for that. I thought I was doing the right thing. But now…Lois I couldn't live with myself if someone hurt you because of me."
"Could you live with yourself if someone hurt me because you walked out of my life, and weren't here to protect me?"
He sat back and ran a hand through his hair. "No. Anyway you look at it, no, I couldn't live with myself if anything ever happened to you. If I couldn't protect you in time."
Lois' eyes softened. "Clark, you can't be everywhere all the time. If something happens to me, then it happens. Some things you just can't control, and some things you can. How will you feel if you don't get to me in time, because you are no longer part of my life?"
He paled, but gave no answer.
She reached and touched his cheek. "You're missing a whole other level here."
"What's that?"
"Other people. Clark, are you going to doom yourself to a life alone? If you and I part ways here, are you never going to be with anyone else? Will you not have the same problems with her as you do with me? She would be just as much at risk by being connected with you." She scooted closer. "More importantly, are you willing to sit back and watch me be with another man? Marry him? Have his babies? Is that what you really want?"
Clark's jaw quivered. "No Lois." His voice full of tears. "That would kill me."
"Then why are you doing this? You swear that you love me. You haven't been able to shoot down any of the points that I've made. Clark, why are you leaving me?"
"I don't know."
Lois' face crumpled. She'd given her all to talk him out of it, but it hadn't worked. "You don't know, but you're still going to leave me." She whispered, broken.
Clark gathered her to him and rocked her slowly. "No. I'm not going to leave you. I don't know what got into me. I'm not going anywhere, I promise Lois. I promise." He pulled back and wiped her tears. "Please don't cry." He whispered. "I never wanted to make you cry." Slowly he laid small kisses on her cheeks, erasing the tear tracks with his lips. "I love you Lois." He kissed her forehead. "I'm so sorry." He said against her skin. "Forgive me. Take me back." He ran his lips against her jaw and chin. "Please Lois."
Lois squeezed her eyes shut, and sent up a prayer of infinite thanks. "Never leave me."
"I promise."
"Never." She insisted.
"Never." He agreed.
"No matter what?"
"No matter what." He vowed.
Eyes still closed, Lois raised her head, seeking his mouth. He met her lips with fervor. Their kiss both passionate and gentle. Slowly he leaned over and laid her down on the bed, careful to lift his weight from her body. They kissed slow and deep for a long moment, before Clark pulled back and hoisted himself up on his elbows. Gently he stroked the hair from her face.
"I'm sorry Lois." He whispered.
"It's okay." She replied.
"We're okay?"
She simply nodded, then reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand. Fresh tears formed in her eyes. "I didn't think we'd ever be like this again."
Clark's brow furrowed with emotion, but he had no time respond before she went on.
"Don't ever do this again Clark, I don't think I could survive it."
"I won't. I promise." He whispered back to her, tears clogging his voice. He cleared his throat. "I think you need to get some rest, you've had a rough time of it." When he felt her arms tighten around him, he rushed to reassure her. "I'm going to stay with you." Carefully he moved to her side and wrapped his body around her, holding her safe against him.
Lois snuggled back against him and drifted into sleep.
End of scene.
THE END