Far From Fiction

By Mozartmaid <mozartmaid@gmail.com>

Rated G

Submitted July 2013

Summary: Lois is left behind as Superman flies off to save New
Krypton. Tempus has a plan for her in an alternate reality where
Lois and Clark is nothing but a TV show...

Thanks to my betas, Female Hawk and KenJ and my GE, GooBoo!

***

Time stopped as my whole world disappeared out through the Daily
Planet window.

I was strong until that moment. Until the last flutter of his
cape had disappeared in a streak of red, I was able to hold on,
believe that our love would carry us through any disaster, any
eventuality.

But as soon as he was gone, really gone, I collapsed. Inwardly,
my heart broke into a million pieces as my one anchor to this
earth left, possibly forever. I buckled into the steadying arms
of his parents; mere proxies for the one I longed to hold me...
who I feared might never hold me again.

And I had stood there and let it happen! Because Clark had always
been my rock, I had been able to lean on him, trust his judgment
that helping his people was the right thing to do. His noble
nature had rubbed off on me, after all. But with him gone, I fell
immediately back into lost and lonely Lois Lane-- ;and I can't
believe I let it happen!

"It's over," I whispered brokenly, realizing what I had lost,
let go of because I had decided to be noble and
self-sacrificing--for a people and a place I'd never see. "I
shouldn't have let him go!"

Only in my deepest heart did I admit the hate I felt for those
Kryptonians for taking away my Clark, my husband in all but name.
They had snatched away our future happiness together by appealing
to what had always been strong in Clark, his need to help people.
And I hated them for it. I hated them for taking him away, and I
felt guilty because of that hate.

As the tears fell, I cringed at what Clark would think if he
could read my mind like his Kryptonian brethren could read his.
Would he be shocked? Disappointed that he had almost married a
woman so selfish?

I always knew that marrying Superman would mean I would have to
share him with the world. I just never thought that could mean I
would have to share him with the universe...

Jonathan Kent murmured to me, "A love that risks nothing, is
worth nothing."

I wanted to believe that, but Clark and I had already risked so
much. Our love had already been tested by amnesia, clones, and
psychopaths. Why must it be put through this trial as well?

***

I sat alone on the sofa for hours that night... first holding the
teddy bear Clark had given me during a long-ago fair in
Smallville... Our time together had been so short--it could have
been so much more meaningful if I had acknowledged the connection
between us sooner, instead of running away from him.

It doesn't matter. What matters is the time I had with him--and
the hope I must hold onto that he will return to me again
someday.

In my darkest despair, I could almost hear him calling to me... I
didn't know if it was my imagination, and I didn't care. My
heart simply reached out to the endless skies that separated us
as I stood up from the sofa and moved to the window. I wiped my
eyes, searching the starlit sky for his star. "Clark?" came out
choked and weak, speaking his name only burning a more painful
hole in my chest, as I feared I may never speak it to his face
again.

I heard him, though, in my soul, and despite how crazy it sounds,
I'm certain through the darkness and across the stars he'd
already traveled, I heard him say, "I love you." I hold on to
those words, bury them deep in my heart, a balm to the wound that
is still freshly there, a wound that can only heal with his
return...

Slowly, I made my way back to my sofa. As I sat, I idly watched
the curtains flutter, thinking of the many times Clark had come
in through those curtains as Superman. I can almost see his
reassuring smile, his majestic cape swishing behind him.

In retrospect, I wondered how many times he had come by my place
after a particularly harrowing rescue, before I had known his
secret. How many times had he come here because I had turned him
away as Clark? I never asked him about those nights, sensing that
he had felt embarrassed about that period of our relationship;
and I didn't want him to feel embarrassed that those visits had
been his guilty pleasure--they had certainly been mine . And in
my own way, I had tried to be there for him, even then, as best I
could without knowing the truth.

And now... when I needed him most, I had let him go... and all I
can do is trust that he'll come back to me.

***

I think I dozed off a moment. I looked up, seeing the curtain
still fluttering, and I thought I saw a figure on the balcony...

My heart in my throat, I called out, "Clark?" as I raced over.

Before I could get to the window, a tall blond man stepped inside
instead, and I felt my blood run cold with fear.

"Tempus," I whispered, dread surging through me.

"So good of you to remember me, Lois," he said with a snide
grin. "I know you must be awfully lonely without your fiance in
tights... so, I thought I'd give you a treat."

"What do you want?" I said steadily, trying to reign in my
fear. I didn't trust him any farther than I could throw him.

"Just for you to take a little trip..."

He grabbed my arm, and before I could protest, we were whisked
away...

***

I woke up in my apartment.

I sat up and looked around, suddenly remembering being abducted
by Tempus.

I began walking around, noticing that something... was off. The
walls around me seemed unnaturally flimsy, and the light outside
was a shade or two brighter than normal. I tried the sink, and
the stream that came out was a pathetic trickle. I'd have to
talk to Mr. Tracewski about that...

"Hey, thought you left already... I know the feeling. I'm gonna
miss this old set."

I froze, hearing that voice, a voice I'd know anywhere from
behind me. I turned, and there was Clark wearing a baseball cap,
jeans, and a t-shirt. I ran to him without thinking and threw my
arms around him.

"I never thought I'd see you again!" I cried, overcome.

"Teri, calm down. I told you, we'll keep in touch. " He pulled
back from the hug and looked me in the eyes. "What's with the
waterworks?" he asked gently.

I looked up at him, and really saw him, realizing that something
wasn't right. I stepped out of his arms and looked around the
apartment again. Was this a trick? Who's Teri? Where had Tempus
sent me?

Clark--or the man I thought was Clark-- had a concerned look on
his face. I wanted to crumple into tears right there. That was my
Clark's look of concern---but, he wasn't Clark.

I sat down on the sofa, which was much more uncomfortable than my
real sofa, and started sobbing. "Tempus! Tempus did this!" I
cried.

The man who wasn't Clark came and sat beside me. "Teri, what's
going on? Look I know, taping the last three episodes was a bit
insane, but we got through it. I thought you'd be on a flight by
now back to New York. Are you okay?"

I looked up at him, the man who wasn't Clark, with tears
streaming down my face. "Who are you?" I asked, shaken. "Where
am I?"

He looked at me with infinite patience, which only sent me into
more tears, as that's exactly how my Clark would look at me.
"Did you hit your head?" he asked kindly.

I shook it in answer, demonstrating that it had not in fact been
smacked. He took my hands, and I fought the urge to lean into
him. "Teri, I know it's been stressful... We both loved these
characters, and it's hard to let them go. I'm still trying to
get them to at least let me keep the cape, you know? Just to have
something to remember it all by... Look, why don't we go get a
bite to eat, get off the set, and shake it off, okay?"

Not knowing what else to do, confused and heart-broken, I
accepted his arm as we wandered out of my apartment and on to
what looked like a film set...

*DEAN*

Teri must be taking the wrap-up harder than even I am...

We stepped out onto the Warner Brothers back lot, and she looked
around, eyes wide.

"Where am I?" she whispered.

I took her by the shoulders, and steered her towards the parking
lot. "Teri, are you sure you are okay?"

She turned to face me, her eyes hitting me square in the chest.
It reminded me of a few of those long nights on set, when we were
both so exhausted yet would find a little bit of magic left --
usually in a scene that ended with a kiss. When the director
would yell cut, we'd always pull away like two guilty children.

Teri was married... and yet, this was work, our job. We were paid
to be in love.

How many times over the last four years have I had to repeat that
to myself?

But she turned to me with one of those intense gazes that always
gave me chills on set, when I really felt her channeling Lois
Lane.

She whispered something, and I longed to have Clark Kent's super
hearing just for a moment to catch it. I asked her again if she
was all right and she stopped in the middle of the parking lot.

"I'm Lois Lane," she said with desperate conviction that,
quite honestly, frightened me.

"Teri---"

Breathless, with tears in her eyes, she shook her head. "You
have to believe me -- I'm Lois Lane!"

Noticing some techies eyeing our odd little scene, I ushered Teri
into my car. I came around to the driver's side, buckled up and
started the engine.

Teri was in tears next to me. I couldn't just ignore her, but
people around the lot were starting to notice and I knew the last
thing Teri would want was gossip to stir up. So I quietly backed
my car out and started driving. I was tempted to turn on the
radio, but I didn't want Teri to think I was disrespecting her
grief.

When her tears subsided a little, I finally spoke. "Do you want
to talk about it?" I pulled out on to the 134 Freeway, which was
already jammed with the evening traffic. We'd be here a while.

"I don't understand what ha--happened," she stammered.
"Tempus... what did he do?" she whispered fiercely.

Teri is one of the sharpest people I know. She dove into her role
wholeheartedly as Lois Lane, but she could always turn it off and
relax after a shoot. This new Teri sitting next to me was
unnerving.

I glanced over at her, her doe eyes wide with fear and
trepidation. I couldn't let her continue to suffer like that. I
reached out for her hand. Her tiny one slid into mine, and she
seemed to breathe easier.

"You're just like him," she whispered. "But--I know you're
not..."

"Teri--what's going on?"

"I. Am. Lois. Lane," she said deliberately. "I don't know how
to explain it... I don't know how to explain you--and why do you
keep calling me Teri?"

The traffic was beginning to move a little. I shifted my Miata to
scoot around a few cars, but we ended up right behind all the
slow traffic a moment later.

"We acted together. In a show about Superman," I explained
patiently. "I played Clark Kent/Superman, and you played--"

"-- Lois Lane," she said numbly. "Tempus sure does have a sick
sense of humor..."

"Who?"

"Tempus. He hates everything about y--Clark. And this surely
tops his schemes..."

I sighed. Still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that this
might not actually be Teri. Unless--had Teri lost it? We both had
wanted the show to continue. We had all kinds of ideas that the
producers had been willing to discuss, and I had at least two
ideas for episodes I was thinking of writing...

But surely...

At last, traffic was starting to free up. But I had no idea where
I could take Te--er, Lois? "Do you want to get a bite to eat
somewhere?" I asked.

"I need to figure out how to get back. H-he'll come back, and I
have to be there," she said a little desperately.

"Who? Eh, Tempus?" I said warily, not believing I was having
this conversation with my co-star.

"Clark," she said, so brokenly, so full of lonely love and
isolation that my heart reached out for her -- whoever she was.
Had Teri really lost it? Or was this just a strange joke being
played on me?

But no matter. She was upset, and we were friends.

"Tell you what? We're only a few miles from my condo. Why
don't we go there?" I suggested, realizing that if we appeared
in public together we'd probably get mobbed, and if Teri started
talking like she was Lois Lane, well, the papers would have a
field day.

"I suppose so," she answered quietly, staring out the window. A
light rain had begun, and I switched on the wipers. The quiet
swoosh of the wipers across the windshield was the only noise in
the car.

I heard her voice, but didn't hear what she said. "What?" I
asked quietly, turning off the highway as I headed for home.

"I'm not crazy... I just don't know--how to explain this.
Or--you," she said.

"It's okay... we'll figure it out," I said calmly, though I
had no idea how.

*LOIS*

He looked like Clark. He sounded like him -- but he wasn't him.

This world seemed so strange, so--- not right.

Clark had taught me to believe in the impossible and the
improbable. He had taught me to believe in miracles...

I had to believe that somehow either he or HG Wells would find
me. Even in this strange, alternate world, where Clark was- --
not Clark.

I surreptitiously studied the man next to me. "What did you say
your name was?"

He seemed startled at my question, but quickly recovered.
"Dean... Dean Cain," he said, shaking his head. "Are you sure
you're all right?"

I sighed, and sunk in my seat. "Fine," I murmured, meanwhile
feeling far from it.

At last, we pulled up to a gated house. Dean leaned out the
window to punch in a code. Whoever he was, apparently he was
important enough to need a gated house.

We drove into a garage and went inside. He led me to his kitchen.
A spacious, modern kitchen that might even make an incompetent
cook like me passable...

"Would you like something to drink? Orange juice... water...
wine?"

"Wine," I said immediately.

He poured us two glasses of Merlot and lifted his in a sort of
toast.

He glanced around the kitchen, seemingly at a loss what to say,
when he reached across the counter to check his blinking
answering machine.

"You have one new message: Thursday, November 24, 1996, 4:02 PM:
'Dean, hey it's Teri. Just wanted to let you know I got back to
New York safely--'"

Dean hit the button and glanced at me. I think my jaw dropped to
my toes -- that woman sounded just like me!

"That was--Teri?" I somehow managed to get out.

Dean looked just as shocked as I felt. He took his baseball cap
off and ran his fingers through his hair in an unnervingly
Clark-like gesture. "Yeah... so I guess that really does make
you ---Lois Lane," he said, though he still didn't seem to
believe it. "But how is that possible?"

I shrugged, still trying to understand how there could be a Clark
who wasn't Clark, and a me who wasn't me out there in the
world.

"I just want to get back to where I belong," I said simply, an
ache building in my chest as I thought about Clark, out
there--somewhere.

"Look, I don't know what to think. I mean, unless my answering
machine is faulty... that was Teri on the phone. So -- that must
make you --" he gestured his out towards me, and I nodded to
encourage him. "Lois Lane?"

"Yes," I answered softly. "Look, I don't get it either... I
mean, you look just like my Clark! But -- you're not him... " I
suddenly started to feel panicky. "You're an actor? And you
play Clark on TV?" I said, having just as hard a time as he did
understanding what was going on.

"I have an idea," Dean said, moving towards the living room.
"I have some tapes of our show--maybe watching them will help
you understand---"

"Understand what? That Tempus sent me to this alternate
universe--where Clark and I are a sitcom?"

"Not a sitcom... More of a family drama...er, well, it's a
family show..."

He dug through his large cabinet, next to his big screen TV.
Suddenly he turned around, a triumphant grin on his face. My
heart flipped --how could he look just like Clark, and yet not be
him?

He cleared his throat, perhaps seeing my slight discomfiture and
started getting the VCR ready. "What's it like?" he asked,
suddenly a little shy.

"What?"

He glanced over his shoulder, though not looking at me. "Flying
with Superman?" he said with a slight chuckle. He shook his
head, coming to sit by me on the sofa as he grabbed a remote. "I
can't believe I'm asking you that..."

"It's okay..." I said, even though I felt a lump in my throat
at the thought... Would I ever see Clark again? He was worlds
away, and I--was completely lost in another dimension.

I sighed, gathering my thoughts and reining in my emotions.
"It's amazing. He's--amazing."

Dean smiled slightly and seemed embarrassed. "I can't believe
any of this is real, but--" he said, pressing play.

We sat there for the next three hours, watching episodes of what
were essentially mine and Clark's lives. Not word for word,
mind, and the effects looked pretty fake- - but the shocking
thing was the events of our lives took the shape of plots in this
television series.

I was riveted to the screen, and made Dean show me episode after
episode, flabbergasted that a whole world existed where Clark and
I existed, but merely in fictional form.

After about the third episode and halfway through the second
bottle of wine, Dean turned to me, curious. "So--what happened
when you disappeared?"

I took another long sip of the wine, overwhelmed by the events of
the day, but eventually answered him. "Clark left... to lead his
people on New Krypton," I croaked out, the pain of his absence
still so raw. "And I--I don't know if I'll ever see him
again."

Tears were streaming down my cheeks as I looked helplessly up at
Dean. He grimaced sympathetically and reached across the table to
hand me a tissue.

"Thanks," I murmured. Suddenly, I had a thought. "Wait. If
your show follows our lives, albeit not exactly--but maybe I
could learn what will happen to Clark?" I looked up at him
expectantly, hope surging through me.

He gave me an apologetic shrug. "Sorry, I don't have the season
four tapes yet. But Lois, in our show, Superman does return," he
said, and then seemed to hesitate.

"What is it?" I ask calculatingly, seeing his guarded
expression. "What aren't you telling me?"

He cleared his throat, like a doctor about to deliver some bad
news, but his eyes met mine, "Clark comes back because a
Kryptonian named Lord Nor decides to attack Earth."

*DEAN*

I can't believe those words left my mouth, and that somehow,
somewhere, they are actually the truth.

I can see it on her face. The look of terror in her eyes, and I
immediately want to reassure her. "But it all works out in the
end, Lois. Clark fights Lord Nor and saves Earth."

Lois' tears returned, her eyes full of soulful sorrow. "But
that was a television show, Dean. Of course the hero wins. But in
real life?"

I sigh, still trying to wrap my mind around the idea that this is
the real Lois Lane, engaged to a real Superman, out there
somewhere. I laugh a little to myself, and Lois gives me a
reproving look.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing. I guess it's true what they say about parallel
universes and all that."

She looked at me with a wry expression, classic Lois Lane, in my
view. "But what are we going to do about it? I have to get
back!"

Even in her distress, I found her determined spirit charming. It
was unsettling, really. Teri had only played a character that I
had found disarming at times and had to work hard not to fall
for. But Lois Lane in the flesh? I was a dead man.

I wanted to help her any way I could, strangely because of Clark
Kent. I somehow could feel the expectation on my shoulders. I
looked like him, and therefore she expected that I would be like
him. And some foolish part of me desperately wanted to try to
be.

My pager beeped. I glanced down and saw it was Sharon, a woman
I'd been dating off and on. We were supposed to go out tonight.
But there was no way I was going to leave *the* Lois Lane alone
in my apartment, in a strange world. I knew Clark Kent wouldn't
want me to either.

"Can you excuse me a moment? I need to make a phone call," I
say, heading off into the bedroom.

*LOIS*

While Dean left to make his phone call, I tried to keep myself
from falling apart, worried about my world.

Clark would be back. And so would I.

I had to believe that.

I scanned the names of the episodes on the tapes, trying to work
out how accurate they may have been to Clark's and my real-life
adventures. Was Dean right? Would Lord Nor try to take over
Earth?

But how was I to get back? How would Clark know how to find me?

I felt so lost, only half-recognizing the titles of his books,
seeing how truly different this world was. I came across a
picture of him and Teri, dressed up like me and Clark and tears
caught in my throat at the striking resemblances. Sure, Clark's
Superman suit looked much more resplendent in real life, but
there was a genuine affection between the two actors that came
across clearly in the photo. I nosed around a bit more, but
didn't see any other photos.

Was Dean single?

My heart went out to him, somehow feeling like he was similar to
the Clark I had met in that other universe, the Clark who had
lost his family and his Lois... it broke my heart to think Dean
was alone in the same way.

I heard him clear his throat behind me. "That was taken after
Season 2, just before Teri cut her hair."

Almost subconsciously, I reached for my own pageboy hair, chilled
again by the uncanny similarities of our worlds.

"I always thought it looked better cut that way," he said
softly, gesturing to my current style.

I suddenly sighed, frustrated to hear the same tenderness in his
voice that I would hear in Clark's and yet know that he wasn't
Clark. "How am I going to get back?" I asked helplessly.

"I don't know. But we'll find a way," he said, again so like
Clark. It broke my resolve, and I was abruptly in a flood of
tears once more.

Dean hesitated a moment, but then suddenly wrapped me in his
arms, rubbing my back like a small child. "Please don't cry.
We'll figure this out. I promise."

"And you don't think I'm crazy?" I said, my voice sounding
muffled as I cried into his shoulder.

"I don't know what to think. But I don't think you are
crazy."

Eventually my tears calmed, held in his arms. I pulled away from
him, feeling guilty for having sought some solace there.

He cleared his throat, sensing the awkwardness and offered me
more wine.

I suddenly felt very sleepy and shook my head. "I'd just like
to go to bed, if it's all the same to you. I have no idea what
to do, but I know I can't think as tired as I am."

"No problem at all. There's a guest room upstairs. Follow
me."

*DEAN*

Lois Lane was sleeping in my guest room.

I smiled to myself as I jogged lightly back down the stairs.

What a strange world...

My kitchen phone rang and I reached to answer it. "Dean, hi.
It's Teri," came that voice that always made me smile. That
voice in the form of Lois Lane was even more extraordinary.

I steadied myself, resisting the urge to blurt out the fact that
Lois Lane herself had somehow found her way into our world and
instead listened to why Teri was calling.

"Did you have a nice flight?" I managed to get out, hoping she
didn't hear the edge of nervous excitement in my voice.

"First class is always better than coach," she quipped. "Hey,
listen, I was supposed to be back in LA by Friday for the
unofficial L&C farewell party, but my agent just called and I
have to stay in New York over the weekend. Is it horrible that
your co-star won't be there?" she said apologetically.

Normally, I would have been very disappointed, and I knew that
the rest of the cast and crew who had been looking forward to
another chance to celebrate and remember the show would be, too.
Yet, I had her replacement just upstairs...

"Uh, sure. I'm sure they'll understand," I said, smiling at
the idea of actually taking Lois Lane herself to the wrap-up
party. "Business is business, right?"

"Thanks. So you don't mind making my excuses for me?"

"No, don't worry about anything. I'll find another date."

"OK. Well, look me up next time you're in New York, and same
when I come back to LA."

"Of course. Take care, Teri."

"You, too, Dean. Bye."

I hung up the phone and sighed, my heart still racing at the idea
of Lois going to the party.

Would it work? Would everyone buy that she was Teri?

And would Lois mind?

I hoped not.

I had always enjoyed my co-star's company, but especially when
she was in the throes of playing Lois Lane.

Secretly, I had really enjoyed our fourth season -- when we were
married. I had been able to pretend Lois Lane was my wife, hold
Teri in my arms and kiss her quite frequently. There were a few
occasions where I had felt quite guilty afterwards, confused
between my acting and my own feelings of loneliness.

It wasn't easy being a good-looking TV star. You usually had
either starlets or local fans chasing after you, and neither
seemed to want to be with you for the right reasons.

So no wonder, sometimes between the moments of reality, under the
TV lights and with a make-believe super persona to back me up, I
enjoyed kissing my co-star.

There. I admitted it. She was happily married to someone else,
and I enjoyed kissing her. Her Lois Lane was so much fun, so
charming, and a part of me had fallen for her.

But Lois Lane herself was another level of amazing. And I looked
just like her real-life fiance. In her world, I was Superman.

I reached for the wine bottle, needing something to take the
nervous edge off my emotions. I sighed as I sat in front of the
TV and searched for a basketball game to watch.

But my thoughts kept drifting to the strange events of today. It
seemed that there actually were parallel worlds. What was fiction
here, was true somewhere else. This was ground-breaking -- if the
scientific community knew, they'd have a field day.

I could be famous for something other than playing Clark
Kent/Superman.

But the part of me that remembered what it was like to play Clark
Kent, who was scared of his origins, and feared getting dissected
like a frog, knew I had to keep this to myself.

If anyone actually found out that Lois Lane was really herself,
her life would never be the same.

I owed it to that real Clark Kent out there, and to the character
I had believed in for the last four years, to do everything in my
power to protect Lois -- and to somehow figure out how to get her
back where she belonged.

*LOIS*

I woke up to sunshine on my face.

The bed I was in was deliciously comfortable and I groaned at the
thought of having to leave it.

"Morning, sleepy head," came a familiar voice from the
doorway.

*Clark?*

My heart sank as I peeked from out of the covers, realizing I was
still in that other world, with a man who looked and talked like
my fiance, yet wasn't.

I sat up in bed and rubbed my eyes. Dean had a tray in his arms
and brought it over to me.

Eggs, bacon, and toast, along with a glass of orange juice. He
even had added a flower and a local newspaper.

My hands immediately reached for the paper. I glanced up at Dean,
and he smiled.

"I should have known that a true journalist would first be
hungry for the news in the morning."

My eager eyes devoured the headlines, unfamiliar with the
obviously important names. The differences in our worlds was
hugely unsettling. "President Clinton?" I squeaked out. Very
unnerving to be a top reporter and not even recognize the name of
the leader of the free world.

"A bit different than from where you're from?" he asked
sympathetically.

I nodded mutely and continued to read while I reached for a piece
of toast.

Dean cleared his throat, and I pulled my eyes away from the
newspaper to look at him.

"Uh, we don't know how long you'll be here... and uh, well,
Teri can't make it this weekend to the wrap-up party..." he
started, looking decidedly very nervous. "I was wondering -- if
you'd want to go?"

I set the paper aside and gave him my best
you've-got-to-be-kidding gape. "You want me to go to a party
where I pretend to be the actress who plays me on TV?"

He grimaced. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything --
I'll find another date--"

But I didn't want him to have another date. He was obviously
lonely, and I was worlds away from my Clark -- I suddenly grinned
up at him. "I suppose it would be something to do."

"So--you wouldn't mind?" he asked, looking a little hopeful.

"Well, it's not my first choice -- but neither is being sent to
a world I can't explain. But you know what they say about being
in Rome," I said gamely.

"You truly are an amazing woman, Lois Lane," he murmured.

The soft look in his eyes took me aback, suddenly reminding me of
Clark. If he was just an actor, he seemed to have an awful lot of
affection for either Teri or... me. "What was your relationship
like with Teri?", I blurted, and he gaped at me, clearly taken
off guard. "Sorry. I have a tendency to say what I think," I
shrugged apologetically, reaching for the orange juice.

He nodded with a sigh. "I suppose it's a fair question... Teri
and I had a great relationship. We had great chemistry -- lots of
fun on set. I--well, I guess--"

"Did you fall for her?" I asked, slightly amused. How ironic if
he had fallen for Teri much like Clark had fallen for me.

He shrugged. "I don't know... Often times, it was--confusing.
There was definitely something there between us, only--" he
glanced sheepishly at me. "Teri is married."

"Oh," I responded, beginning to understand.

"Yeah... but it's fine. I mean, Teri and I are great
friends."

Now it was time for me to grimace. "You sound a lot like Clark,
in the early days of our relationship. He always claimed that he
just loved working with me. But there would be days when... I
knew, you know?"

Dean reluctantly nodded. "Yeah... I know."

I reached for his hand before I knew what I had done, and his
eyes met mine, so like Clark's. "I met another Clark once," I
began softly. "He never met his Lois Lane... and though I can't
help you become Superman, I think you're a decent guy, Dean.
She's out there somewhere, I'm sure of it."

He stared at me a moment, I suppose searching for what to say. He
pulled his hand away from mine and stood up, walking towards the
window. "This is all so... strange, I guess... and I don't want
to drag you down with my own issues, Lois... Maybe it would be
better if you stayed here--"

I gave him a lopsided smile. "Did you really learn nothing
playing Clark?" I teased. "When do I ever stay put?"

He grinned back, seeming to relax a bit from the tension a moment
ago. "Fair enough. Besides, I was always curious what it would
be like to actually take you out."

*DEAN*

This has been the strangest day, and quite honestly, the most fun
I've had in a long time.

I took Lois out shopping, so she'd have something to wear for
the party. She admitted she hated shopping, but she was a lot of
fun on Rodeo Drive. We pretended she was Teri, as a sort of
warm-up for the party, and tried to avoid the paparazzi whenever
possible.

Lord knows what Teri would say if she saw photos of Lois and I
hanging out in downtown L.A.

Anyway, despite missing her Clark, Lois was able to let loose a
little bit as we joked and teased. I told her stories about Teri
and I on set, and she'd come back with these amazing parallels
to our fictional show. I'm still blown away by the fact that
she's really Lois Lane in the flesh, but I also feel like I know
her, as Teri had really captured the essence of her, especially
in our early seasons.

This Lois was just as bouncy, just as sharp, just as witty. She
had a quick mind, and a generous heart. Every now and then,
she'd get a bit melancholic, and I knew she was missing *him*. I
really did feel like Clark Kent, unable to measure up to
Superman... knowing that I could never win her affections the way
he had. And while I respected their relationship, I just
couldn't help feeling that I was a part of it somehow, a part of
them. What a peculiar thing to say, and yet, I did feel
connected. I thought that what Teri and I had created on camera
was at the very least, a glimpse into the love that these two
felt for each other. And somehow, I felt connected to that love,
as strange as it is for me to admit.

As we drove back to my place, after Lois had finally picked a
suitable dress, she drifted off to sleep. I hummed softly to the
radio, wondering if I should wake her when we arrived back at my
place.

When I pulled in the garage, she looked so peaceful, so sweet,
that I didn't want to disturb her.

I hesitated a moment, but then, telling myself that it was
nothing but altruism and a desire for her to stay resting, I came
around the other side of the car and lifted her out of the seat
and into my arms. Now, I had carried Teri any number of times on
set. But I wasn't ready for the real thing.

Lois Lane was cradled in my arms. Though she wasn't very heavy,
I suddenly felt her turn into my embrace, her head settling on my
shoulder, as if she knew exactly how to place her body with mine.
And I realized, she probably thought it was her Clark --
Superman, who carried her.

I wasn't sure if I should feel complimented that I so resembled
the hero, or worried that I was so attracted to her.

"Clar..." she murmured, nuzzling under my chin.

I simply couldn't believe this is happening. This was starting
like so many fantasies that I had on the set with Teri... but I
knew this wouldn't go anywhere, as I wouldn't dare take
advantage of the trust she had put in me.

And like Teri, we were just friends.

"Clark Kent is one lucky guy," I couldn't help whisper as I
laid her down in the bed upstairs.

"Come back to me soon..." she murmured, turning onto her side,
and I found myself smiling.

What a life... to be engaged to Superman. And she was so used to
him leaving at any and all times of day or night. Yet she knew --
he'd always come back.

I sighed. Her Clark was out there on New Krypton, I suppose. And
while things had resolved okay on our television series, I
couldn't help but feel a bit of fear for her.

I hoped she'd find a way back.

And I hoped that Superman would be there waiting for her.

*LOIS*

I was trying to shake myself from the nightmare... it just seemed
too horrific to contemplate.

Kryptonians had taken over Smallville... people were working as
slaves, building a fort for the Kryptonians...

Where was Clark?

Why wasn't Superman there to stop them?

"Clark..." I called out, and suddenly felt very lonely and
afraid. Clark was gone... he was on another planet...

I felt a hand on my shoulder, shaking me out of the dream.

"It's okay, Lois." I knew that voice... that was Clark's
voice. It pulled me out of the haze of my dream, long enough for
me to look into his eyes, to reach for his arms. He held me a
minute and I felt safe, secure... if Clark was here, then
everything would be all right.

But he gently disentangled himself from my embrace, looking
slightly guilty. "Lois, I--I'm sorry."

I looked at him, perplexed a moment, until the truth all came
rushing back to me. I was still in that other world, where Clark
was nothing but an actor and I--

"I have to get back," I said, looking straight at him. "I
think the Kryptonians are on Earth... I dreamed about them. We
have to stop them!"

Dean let out a heavy sigh. "I understand, Lois. But how do you
suppose we get back there? It's not like I have an
inter-dimensional time machine lying around here."

I felt the crushing weight of the truth heavy on my shoulders.
Tempus had certainly done a job on me, hadn't he? Dean was
right. There was no way back... not without the help of HG Wells.
And how was he to find me here?

I pulled my knees up and hugged them close to me. I had never
felt so hopeless in my life. I couldn't see a way out of this, a
way back to Clark or even back to my world.

"What does it matter? Even if I could go back, Clark is
gone..." I whispered, feeling tears clog my throat.

Dean, looking a bit helpless, sat down on the bed next to me.
"There has to be a way, Lois. I can't believe that you are
stuck here forever."

He didn't sound very convinced, and it just pushed my tears to
the surface. "I just wish... I just wish that Clark could save
me," I said brokenly, and fell into Dean's arms once more to
have a good cry.

*DEAN*

Lois eventually went back to sleep, but I was unable to do the
same. I went down to the living room and found myself drawn to my
Lois and Clark tapes. I thought I'd have to put all of that
behind me, and yet somehow, someway it had suddenly become a
larger part of my life than I had ever expected.

I put on a season 2 video, though I didn't really care what
episode. I just wanted to try and imagine what it must have been
like for Lois, if all of this were real. She had told me that the
story lines were roughly the same as events in her life, so I
knew things hadn't happened the same word for word and moment
for moment, yet still -- the extraordinary reality of Superman
being real was overwhelming to me.

As a kid, I had been a huge Superman fan, and I was enthralled as
the rest of the world had been by Christopher Reeve's Superman.
But the fact that I looked like Lois' Superman, so much so that
she confused us, was a lot to take in.

I watched my performance as Clark and the more self-assured
Superman and wondered how I measured up to the real deal. I could
see where I should have said a line differently, or when
something was off with the timing, but in reality, even without
considering the super powers, Clark Kent was a lot to live up
to.

And yet why did I feel I needed to live up to him?

*Because it's not every day that Lois Lane walks into your
life.*

I mean, obviously I knew that there could never be anything
between us, despite my fantasies and her missing Clark. But the
truth was, we didn't know how or when she'd return to her own
time and place. All I knew was that somehow -- she had to, and
while she was here, I'd try to be the best Clark Kent I could
for her.

*LOIS*

I stared at the dress Dean and I had bought yesterday. I can't
believe I am getting ready to go to a party, while who knows what
was happening back home.

I took a deep breath. It could all just have been a dream. I
could have just taken my insecurity and Dean's suggestions about
Lord Nor to heart and had a nightmare.

But something in my gut was telling me it was more than just a
dream...

I closed my eyes and thought of Clark. Somehow, he'd rescue me
from this... somehow, I would make it back and everything would
be all right.

Whatever was going on in Metropolis, I just hoped that at least
one thing Dean had said was true -- that Superman would indeed
return.

*DEAN*

Lois Lane came down the stairs looking more stunning than I could
ever imagine. Teri was a knockout, but there was something so
striking about Lois' spirit that shone through, no matter what
she wore. She had on the elegant black dress I had bought her
yesterday. It was a little low cut, but the creamy contrast of
her skin to the velvety fabric made me want to reach out and
touch her.

I didn't have to, though, because she took my arm and smiled up
at me. "Well, if we're going to do this--let's go."

She seemed to be forcing herself a bit and I turned to look at
her. "Lois, you don't have to go through with this. I can just
go to the party alone, really. You'll have to put up with people
referring to you as Teri. Are you sure you're okay with that?"

She shrugged, and her smile got wider, which made me worry even
more that she was forcing it. "If I stayed here I'd just wallow
in self-pity. At least at a party I can try to have a little
fun."

*LOIS*

The party was a little quieter than I'd expect for a Hollywood
event. However, Dean explained to me that this was just an
informal wrap-up party, so as to avoid the press, which was
probably for the best, all things considered.

I wasn't ready though to be referred to as Teri, while at the
same time being playfully called Lois by co-stars. It made me a
bit melancholic, actually, and I think I drank a few more
cocktails than I should have.

Dean found me about an hour in, wallowing in my own misery at the
bar.

"Do you want to go home?" he said, and then cringed. "Sorry.
Bad choice of words. We can leave whenever you'd like."

I didn't look at him. Already hearing how much he sounded like
Clark was too much, especially in my vulnerable state. But to
look up at him, in a suit, even without the glasses, and see that
compassionate gaze -- it would break my heart...

"Have you talked to anyone besides me?" he asked, sounding a
little nervous.

I sighed and downed the rest of my too-sweet martini drink.
"Don't worry, our cover is still intact. I spoke with Marth-- I
mean, K." I shook my head. "Maybe I should have stayed at your
place... this is all a little too weird."

*DEAN*

She looked so despondent, and I felt quite guilty for having
brought her here. All around us were pictures from the show, and
while I saw great memories and friends, she must see loved ones
and people she missed, people she feared she'd never see again.

It had been a mistake to do this to her, and for all the world, I
wondered what Clark Kent would do in this moment.

"Excuse me," said a diminutive male voice behind me.

I turned, and there was Terry Kiser, fully dressed as HG Wells. I
know he loved his character, and he had added a certain bit of
credible whimsy to the show, but the last thing Lois needed right
now was to run into someone in costume.

"Terry, how are you?" I asked, unenthused.

"Don't you start calling me Teri again," Lois grumbled and
then I shook my head, nodding in Terry's direction. Lois
followed my gaze, and then with a gasp, ran over to him.

"HG Wells? Is that really you?" she said, giving him a hug.

I cringed, fearing what Terry would think at Lois' display, but
instead he answered her as if it were the most normal question in
the world.

"Yes, my dear. I have been trying to track you down for days!
Without Superman on the planet-- how I normally locate you two--I
became entirely distressed. Do you know what has happened in your
world?"

"Wait, so you're actually HG Wells?" I asked, incredulous,
looking between the two of them. Would the whole real-world cast
of our show just keep popping out of the woodwork?

"Yes, my boy. But don't go anywhere... I may need your help as
well."

*LOIS*

I was so relieved to see that HG Wells had found me. It meant
that I had a way back! That all was not lost!

"Wait. So what happened?" I asked, momentarily distracted by
the prospects of going home, that I missed the implications of
what he had said.

"Well, my dear, I'm afraid that Major Zod is after Superman."

"Major Zod? Don't you mean Lord Nor?"I asked, glancing at
Dean, who I admit, was looking a little uncomfortable.

HG Wells gave me a puzzled glance. "I have no idea who you are
talking about... but Major Zod, he's holding Metropolis hostage.
We need to contact your Clark and bring Superman back, right
away!"

"But how? I mean, he could be anywhere," I answered sadly. "As
much as I want to go home, to go without Clark being there...
well, it would almost be as bad as being stuck here."

"Well, when I tracked you here, I realized that Clark Kent had a
copy of himself in this dimension," Wells said, glancing at
Dean. "Though he isn't Superman, of course, he could give the
city of Metropolis some hope."

"And risk his life to do it!" I interjected. "You can't
expect Dean to pretend to be Superman!"

"My boy, what do you think? Could you play Superman, just long
enough for us to locate the real one and bring him back to
Earth?"

*DEAN*

I stared at Lois, and then back at the real HG Wells. My mouth
went dry with fear, thinking of the implications... the prospect
of playing Superman again, in a world where he actually
existed... It was the chance of a lifetime, and yet, not without
its own risks.

I sighed, resting my hands on my hips as I thought. "I mean, I
could play Clark Kent, no problem. But to put on the suit, in his
actual world--" I shook my head. "I don't know. I mean, people
will realize pretty quickly that I am not the real Superman."

"I'll help you," Lois interjected, evidently warming to the
idea. "I mean, I've seen Clark when he's lost his powers.
There are ways... please, Dean. You would be that symbol of hope
for Metropolis, until we can somehow get word to my Clark. It
would mean a lot to me."

She looked at me with those doe eyes of hers, and I knew I
wouldn't say no.

It was the role of a lifetime, after all. I just hoped that I'd
make it through it alive.

"All right... when do we leave?"

DEAN

We had stepped out into the alleyway, and HG Wells pushed a few
buttons on a little device, and suddenly, we were there... in
Metropolis.

I looked up in awe for a few moments, trying to absorb the world
around me. The city felt vaguely like New York, but lighter,
somehow, maybe full of more innocence. I glanced at the shops
around us, not recognizing any of them. The billboards carried
advertisements for brands I had never heard of.

One thing was for sure. This definitely wasn't Kansas, Toto.

HG Wells handed me a pair of glasses, which I slipped on.
"Remember now, you are Clark Kent. You had been on assignment as
far as anyone at the Planet is concerned. You are engaged to Lois
Lane. We'll meet later to discuss how we'll use Superman.
Meanwhile, I will work on a way to try and contact him. Do you
think you can handle it from here, Lois?"

She beamed at Wells. "Yes. I just want to run home and change
clothes. I'll take D--I mean, Clark by his apartment as well.
Where are the Kryptonians though?"

"Oh they are around, I'm afraid. There is a curfew, I believe.
Stay together and you should be fine. Good luck, my dear."

Wells disappeared and suddenly I was standing alone with Lois
Lane, on the streets of Metropolis, ready to jump into a role I
knew inside and out yet was terrified to play.

"Now it's my turn to ask," Lois said with a smile as she
grabbed my arm. "How are you holding up?"

"All right, I suppose. Just... nervous. I mean... I'm really
not sure if I can do this..."

"You can. I know you can. Now, let's go get changed."

*LOIS*

I was breathing easier, being back in Metropolis.

Walking alongside Dean, I could almost imagine that things were
how they had been before. Clark and I on a story, off to save the
world...

I glanced over at him, and could see he was nervously looking
around. He was quite unsure of himself, and I felt a pang of
sympathy for him.

Clark/Superman were big shoes to fill. I could only hope that HG
Wells found my Clark soon, and hopefully before Dean got into any
trouble.

I felt a nervous flutter of doubt in my stomach about this whole
scheme. Dean was just an average guy -- an actor, no less! He
could play the role, but could he convince his audience?

"Here's my apartment," I announced. "You can come up if you
like. I'll just be a few minutes."

"Uh, I think I'd better. I'm still trying to wrap my head
around all this."

I gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Don't worry.
Things will work out. You can do this."

I smiled to myself, proud that I had been so encouraging. It
reminded me of the early days of Clark's and my relationship. I
was always telling him not to worry that he couldn't measure up
to Superman, never knowing how ironic my pep talks were. But Dean
was like the naive Clark I thought I had known. I'd have to do
my best to navigate him through these unfamiliar waters.

My apartment was just as I had left it, which was a relief.
Looking through my mail, it seemed I had been gone a few weeks,
even though to me it had only been a few days. I immediately
worried about what Perry must be thinking. I ran to my answering
machine and listened to my messages.

One from Lucy... two from my mother... Those will have to be
answered later. Ah, here we go -- Perry.

"Uh, Lois, we haven't heard a word from you in three days.
I've got Inspector Henderson investigating what's going on.
Without--- Superman I --well, we're worried about you is all."

My heart went out to Perry, who was like a father to me. I wanted
to call him right away, but I knew I needed to have a plausible
story lined up about my disappearance.

"Is everything okay?" I jumped at the voice, forgetting that
Dean was in my apartment.

"Uh, yeah. It's just Perry, my editor. But of course, you know
that... anyway, it seems I was gone for longer than just a few
days. I just need to listen to the rest of these messages."

There were a few more worried ones from Perry, and at least two
from Jimmy, all within the span of about a week. Had they given
up on me? Did they think I was -- dead?

I felt panic begin to rise. Maybe it was impulsive, but the
plaintive phone messages really shook me up. I had to at least
let Perry know I was alive.

I dialed Perry's direct line.

"Perry? It's Lois. I-"

"Lois! Where in the Sam Hill have you been for the last two
weeks?"

"Two weeks? Well, uh, Clark...we, uh--- well, we were on this
story and-"

"But you're all right?"

"Yes, everything's fine. Clark's back too, Perry. We'll be in
a bit later."

"Good. I need someone to investigate what's going on with
these... aliens. I wish to Elvis that Superman were here. They
claim to be from the same planet as him. Can you imagine? Well,
look, it's good to hear your voice. "

"Yours too, Perry."

I hung up the phone with a sigh. I'd have to have a story
prepared for Dean to give Perry as Clark. I know Clark's writing
style inside and out, but that wouldn't help unless we came up
with a plausible story.

I wandered back into the living room, and saw Dean sitting on the
couch, looking uncomfortable in his new environment.

"Are you all right?" I asked, still a bit taken aback at how he
looked just like Clark.

"Sure. I suppose so," he said, and then breathed out a heavy
sigh. "So what did Perry say?"

"Just that he wants us on this alien invasion story, which is
fine by me. I'm hoping they know how to reach Clark. Or will
give me a clue as to how to reach him."

Dean suddenly looked up at me, an anxious expression on his face.
"Wait. You're not planning to talk to them, are you?"

I nodded firmly. "Absolutely. They are from Clark's planet.
Hopefully that means that they know him. I mean, what are the
odds that the people from the same planet as Clark's would end
up on Earth without knowing something about him?"

Dean's face suddenly went pale with fear. "Lois, you know that
I am not really Clark. I am just an actor. I can't--protect you
should anything go wrong."

His concern for me was touching, and reminded me of Clark in the
days before I knew his secret. Of course then, Clark could have
indeed protected me and I always knew that Superman was looking
out for me.

"I understand the risks, Dean. But even if I were captured, word
could get back to Clark and--"

Dean looked at me in shock. "Wait. That's your plan, isn't it?
To get captured so Clark will have to come back. Lois--"

"I know what I am doing. Well, sort of... I just mean, if I can
bring Clark back, then it will be worth it."

*DEAN*

I stared at Lois a long moment, completely flummoxed by her
proposal.

She was crazy.

And daring.

And... amazing.

No wonder Superman fell for her.

I sighed as I stood up off the sofa.

"So... what do you want me to do?"

"The easy part," she said with a smile. "I'll write up some
notes for a story and I'll try to call if I can to update you.
You go to the Planet, write the story -- you can write, can't
you? -- and play the distressed fiance of Lois Lane."

"Uh, yeah, I can write passably. I wrote a screenplay for our
show once. Not that it was the best, but--"

She tore off a piece of paper and slammed it into my chest as she
made a grab for her coat. "Great. Then you have experience."
She handed me a wad of cash, which looked very different from
standard American dollars, and a pocket map of the city. "The
Planet is only a few blocks from here. You can walk. Here's some
money for food and odd ends. Oh, and here's a key to the
apartment. I'll be back if I can. If not, please don't worry
about me. I have to bring him back, Dean. Surely you
understand?"

Her fingers were resting softly on my chest, and I suddenly found
it hard to swallow. Her brown eyes were kind, yet there was a
fire lit there, and I knew she wouldn't stop until she got what
she wanted. I nodded, feeling numb. I was an actor in a play. I
had my lines, and yet the reality of what she was about to do was
overwhelming. She would march right into the enemy's camp, and I
wouldn't doubt much more, in order to bring Clark Kent back to
Earth. I couldn't help but admire her for it. It was one thing
to stare down a foe on television, and something else entirely to
see that courage real and raw before your eyes.

"Just--be careful," I managed to say, and she answered me with
a sad, small smile.

"You sound just like Clark. Before--before I knew, you know?"
she said, looking vulnerable and beautiful at the same time. But
like someone had dropped a curtain, the look was gone, replaced
by steely determination. "Everything will be fine, Dean. You've
just got to trust me."

*LOIS*

My words to Dean echoed in my head as I left him to his own
devices: *You've just got to trust me. *Trust me to do what? I
knew I was being irrational and foolhardy, especially when there
was no Superman around to catch me if I fell into the wrong
hands... but what I was hoping was that being captured would lead
me to Clark. I didn't know how -- he could be light years away
by now -- but I knew I had to try.

It was easier than I had expected to find the alien base camp.
They were set up right in the middle of the city, overseeing all
the goings on of Metropolis. They held the mayor and the chief of
police hostage, and threatened to kill them should the city try
to reach for outside help. I learned this from a few passersby
who were trying to warn me to stay away.

The Kryptonians had taken over the old City Library building, and
I tried to head around the back to see if there was an unguarded
entrance. But it was swarming with Kryptonians. It was either
present myself to them or turn around and head back, and I
wasn't about to run away.

"Who's running this popsicle stand, anyway?" I asked boldly to
one of the guards.

"Step away, Earth woman," he warned, lifting a strange rifle in
my direction.

I lifted my hands in what I hoped was also the intergalactic
symbol of surrender and tried to take on a more mild demeanor.
"Sorry... I guess what I was trying to say was -- 'take me to
your leader.'"

"Major Zod does not speak to Earth people. Move along," he
said, turning away from me.

"No, you don't understand. I'm Lois Lane. I'm Cl--I mean,
Kal-El's fiancee."

This garnered some interest from the guard, and he signaled to
someone else who ran into the building.

"Wait here," he said sternly.

Well, at least this seemed like progress.

A few minutes later, the man who had run inside returned. "Major
Zod wants to speak with her."

I was suddenly grabbed by the arm and led into the building. They
led me through several corridors until we came to the main
library hall. This Major Zod character had set himself up on a
makeshift throne of sorts, mostly made of books and nineteenth
century furniture. It would have been laughable if the man
himself hadn't been so imposing.

"Lois Lane... You are just who I wanted to see."

"Well, that makes two of us... I guess," I said lamely, fearful
as to why exactly he wanted to see me.

"I knew Kal-El's father on Krypton. We were actually old
friends... until he betrayed me to the Council. My chance at
revenge is in taking over this planet -- and seeing Kal-El kneel
at my feet."

"Kal-El stands for peace. Whatever...issues you may have from
the past, he will only try to make peace with you, not war," I
said, frightened by the dark look of hate in the man's eye.

"But he will fight me. He will have to," Zod said darkly.

"Only if you continue to try and take over the Earth. I know
Kal-El will find a way to stop you!"

"I only need this city... and you, my dear, are the other piece
of the puzzle. As we speak, word is being sent to Kal-El that you
are my prisoner."

*DEAN*

Walking into the real Daily Planet was amazingly weird. It looked
a lot like our set, except much busier, and the building had a
more imposing sense of history to it. The wood paneling didn't
just look old, it actually was built in the early twentieth
century. In the main hallway, famous articles on everything from
World War II to Jimmy Hoffa to the moon landing covered the
walls. I was a bit in awe, and felt a tad overwhelmed at the role
I was about to play. Even if I had gotten comfortable playing
Clark Kent over the last four years, stepping into the man's
actual life was entirely different.

I reached the bullpen and tried not to look like I was trying to
figure out which desk was mine. I spotted Lois' name plate, and
had to do a little circle until I worked out where mine was; it
was catty-corner to hers. I sat down in his chair, and got chills
up my spine.

This was Superman's desk. He actually existed, and I was playing
his alter ego in real life! I let out a huge puff of air, trying
to calm myself enough to start writing.

I started to log on to the computer and realized I didn't have
Clark's password. I felt a moment's panic, worrying that our
little scheme was going to unravel even before it had begun, all
because of a password!

I typed in a few obvious ones: LoisLane? Nope... Smallville?
Nada. Krypton? Bingo.

I smiled to myself, proud that I had figured out Superman's
password. I mean, for a man with many secrets, you'd think he'd
be harder to figure out. But like I had played him on the show,
what you see is what you get. And I found that oddly comforting.

So now that a small disaster had been averted by finding his
password, it was time to get to work.

Lois had handed me a write-up on a story that they-- er, we
supposedly had been working on. Luckily, it actually sounded
somewhat familiar. Something about Senator Harrington... I used
her notes and tried to write up a cohesive story, not having a
single clue as to how long it should be or if it was in Clark
Kent's style. But I figured she'd edit it before it went to
Perry.

Speaking of Perry, he was heading to my desk, and my first test
of an actor was about to begin.

Perry White in person was quite impressive. He had a tall, stocky
stature and a stern expression to match. You could see that he
had seen it all -- wars, presidents, scandals... you name it. The
history he had witnessed was stamped on his face. But there was
also a kindly, grandfatherly manner about him that reminded me of
our Perry on set. I immediately breathed a little easier,
stepping back into the role as a sort of adopted son.

"How you been, Clark? Lois tells me a story has been keeping you
two busy," he said, though a question seemed to be in his
voice.

"Yeah, I'm just writing it up now, Chief," I said, hearing
Clark Kent in my head once more.

"Are you sure that's all? I know it's been strange around here
since Superman left... I mean, is Lois handling it okay?"

Poor guy. Clark Kent, I mean. He's constantly compared to
Superman. He must be one hell of a confident guy to deal with the
constant put downs. Clark Kent was Lois' fiance after all.

"Yeah, she's fine, Chief. Really. I mean, we did take a little
extra time. Just the two of us to get away. And sorry if you were
worried about us. But everything's fine."

I have no idea what made me add in that embellishment, and I
regretted it the moment it escaped my lips. Because now I'll
have to remember to tell Lois that I had said that, and we'll
both have to think of where we could have disappeared to.

"Where is Lois? I thought you two were coming in together."

"Uh, she wanted to investigate these aliens. I told her not to
go alone... but she thinks she might be able to reach Superman if
she speaks with them." There. Fully convincing that I was part
of this bizarre world. Perry looked like he believed me, and I
suppressed a smile, feeling almost dizzy that I was really part
of a world where men flew and aliens invaded the Earth.

"I wish you had gone with her," Perry started.

I sighed, playing up my Clark Kent. "I tried, Chief. But you
know Lois..."

Perry nodded. "Yeah, I know. You can't convince her to do
anything she doesn't want to do. Let's just hope her scheme
works... And let me know if you need anything, okay?"

"Sure, Chief."

*LOIS*

This really wasn't one of my better ideas...

Zod had dismissed me as carelessly as if I were some offending
insect. His guards carried me away, down into the basement of the
library. Never had I feared libraries before, but I thought I
might develop an aversion to them after this...

The basement smelled damp and was quite chilly. We headed into a
poorly lit hallway filled with small caged rooms. I realized this
was a book storage area that had been converted into their
makeshift prison. I passed by the mayor and the chief of police,
both of whom recognized me.

"What's happening in the city, Miss Lane?" the mayor asked
anxiously, though he was quickly silenced by the guard with a
wave of his strange weapon.

A guard was tugging me roughly by the arm down the hallway, but I
wanted to say something to reassure him. "Keeping in good
spirits, sir."

I was jerked harder for speaking. "Some evolved people you are!
Still treat women like chattel!" I grumbled as they tossed me
into my book storage unit -- um, cell.

I slumped onto a tiny shelf, which I realized would also have to
double for a bed if I ended up stuck here for too long. The
entire width and length of the cell was no more than about four
feet. Great if you need to store books. Crappy when you want to
store people.

Being captured had been my plan. But for some reason I hadn't
really thought through the reality of it. And word was being sent
to Clark that I was a prisoner. That was hopeful, even if it was
designed to torment him. It would spur him into action
nevertheless, and assuming he wasn't galaxies away, he would
return to Earth to rescue me.

At least, I hoped so.

As much as I knew Clark loved me, there was a tiny part of me
that worried about him not wanting to return. What if he felt
more whole with his own people? I know he longed to fit in, and
what if his leaving Earth had given him that?

These were my deepest fears, but I knew they were unfounded.
Clark loved me. And he loved this planet. If we were in danger, I
had to believe that he'd do all in his power to return as soon
as could.

And Dean?

I wondered how he was faring at the Planet. I hoped he was able
to play a convincing enough Clark to fool Perry. Though I know
that not much got past our intrepid editor, it would be way too
complicated to try and explain how a Hollywood actor who played
Superman on TV ended up in Clark's desk.

I sighed, standing up in my tiny cell, as I tried to look down
the narrow hall to see the mayor or the police chief. Some guards
were blocking my view.

I looked down at the lock on my cage, and suddenly wished I had
long curly hair that required the wearing of bobby pins on a
daily basis. The lock was a typical locker padlock. With a small
pin, I could pick that thing in no time... Too bad my hair was
bone straight.

I sat down again, wondering how long I'd have to wait here until
Clark returned. Hours? Days? Weeks?

Dear God, I'd go stir crazy if I had to be here longer than a
day.

I sighed again, deciding to try and conserve my strength. I
closed my eyes and tried to just think about the moment I'd see
Clark in his blue and red coming to rescue me...

*DEAN*

After I finished typing up my piece, I started to relax a bit,
feeling like pretending to be Clark Kent wouldn't be so
difficult after all.

Colleagues pretty much ignored me, and I was able to sift through
some of the archived pieces that the real Lois and Clark had
written.

Their writing was really quite good, and after the early pieces,
you could start to see how they influenced each other's writing
style. Yet, no matter how real the articles were, it was still
absurd and astounding to see Superman in the headlines.

I heard the elevator ding open, and saw HG Wells head towards my
desk. I got the feeling that every time he showed up, more
trouble lay ahead.

"Can we talk privately, my boy?" he asked politely. I nodded
and we headed into the conference room. "Well, I believe the
Kryptonians are heading to the Planet any moment. I think they
plan to get out their message of... well, dominate rule over the
people through this paper."

"How did you manage to beat them here?" I asked.

"Well, actually it's conjecture and speculation, really. They
took over LNN, and I figured their next logical target would be
the Daily Planet. But I have a plan, and I need your help to make
it happen," he said, suddenly making me nervous with that
determined look in his eye. "We have to make them think that
Superman has returned... we need to go to Clark's apartment and
stage a little... scene. Are you up for it, my boy?"

I sighed, feeling more anxious than I would have liked. "I guess
I have to be. It's why I came, isn't it? Okay, let's get out
of here..." I said, as we made our way towards the elevator.
"Have you seen Lois?"

"No, I'm afraid not. She may have been captured."

"I think that was her plan all along," I said grimly. "I
don't know how Clark puts up with it. Her rashness would drive
me crazy," I admitted, knowing full well that I wasn't the Man
of Steel, capable of dealing with such an impulsive fiancee.

"No doubt, my boy. No doubt," Wells chuckled.

"Maybe we should take the stairs. It might be faster?"

***

I was dressed as Superman, standing in the real Clark Kent's
apartment.

It was a bit homier than the one I had 'lived' in on set. For
one, it had carpet, and a real working dishwasher. It was a bit
smaller than the one we had used, and didn't have that cement,
basement-like smell that plagued the set. I couldn't help
noticing all the details that made the real thing different from
the imposter from my world.

Including myself.

I was the imposter here.

Yet I had to be convincing enough to a group of aliens that they
couldn't take over this planet; that its protector had
returned.

The suit suddenly felt too tight, and I could feel myself cooking
up a sweat. Superman doesn't sweat. They'll notice I am not
really him. Surely there are a million tells...

Yet, this was a world where no one connected the fact that Clark
and Superman looked so much alike. This world was used to being
fooled by simply stating what should be the truth.

But would the same logic work on an alien race?

I had to believe that it would.

"Dean? Are you ready, my boy?" HG Wells called from the living
room.

I took one last glance in the mirror, wiping my forehead of any
sweat that might be there and took a deep breath. It was now or
never. I'd had four years to prepare for this role, and now
millions of people counted on me making this work.

"They are going to want to meet with me," I hedged, as Wells
handed me what would be my script for the ruse.

"Yes, they will. We will delay it as long as possible. And
hopefully, Clark is already on his way back to Earth. Are you
sure this camera is set up right?" Wells said, looking warily at
the hand held camera set up on a tripod.

"Yeah, it will work. Just press the red button... Let's get
this over with and sent to LNN as soon as possible."

"Right. All right. I am going to press it in 3, 2--"

The red light came on, and I suddenly felt like I could do this.
I had, after all, acted the role a hundred times in front of the
camera. What was one more little scene?

We set up the recording space to be in front of a blank wall, so
that there was no way to verify where I was speaking from.

"Fellow citizens of Krypton, this is Kal-El. I ask that you
leave the people of Earth be, that you leave this planet. I have
heard of your taking over the city of Metropolis, and how you
have tried to cower its citizens. It will not work. The citizens
that I love so dearly are courageous and indomitable. I am
returning to Earth to stop you. We will meet soon, and this
matter will be settled, once and for all."

I nodded to Wells, who then hit the red button again.

"Well done, my boy. Superman would be proud."

I smiled wryly. "I only did what I have been doing for the last
four years. Speak someone else's words. Now let's take this to
LNN and get it broadcast right away. Then, I am going to see what
I can do about getting Lois Lane set free."

*LOIS*

It was almost nightfall. The basement was dark, but there were a
few small windows, high on the wall down by where the guards kept
watch.

We had been offered just a bit of bread and water, and eating my
meager meal, I suddenly realized how foolhardy I had been.

What had I been I thinking, provoking them like that?

Clark was light years away, and I had no way of knowing if he
could come back to Earth. Perhaps we were doomed...

I sighed, hating myself for giving into wallowing. I knew that
Clark would want me to stay strong, to believe in him. Of course
he'll come back, and he'll put Zod and all the rest of these
Kryptonians in their place.

I just had to keep believing that...

*DEAN*

LNN broadcast my video all over Metropolis. As soon as I left the
LNN building, I changed out of the Superman costume, suddenly
nervous about what we had done. If Superman -- the real
Superman--didn't come back, I would have to face General Zod,
and I knew I would be quickly discovered as a fraud.

Still, I also knew that Lois had gotten herself captured and I
felt I had to do something about it. I had learned a trick or two
playing Clark Kent. I felt I should at least try to rescue Lois.
Worst case scenario, maybe Superman would come back in time to
rescue us both -- it sure had worked often enough for Lois.

Even as I thought it, I shook my head at the absurdity of the
situation. I was going to rescue Lois and Superman himself would
rescue us if I didn't pull it off?

Where were the cameras? Surely this was a joke, a movie to
capitalize on the end of our series... cause no one would believe
this back home!

I headed back to the Daily Planet to see if I could dig up a map
of the library where Lois was being held. If I was going to be
foolhardy, I at least wanted to try to be prepared and
foolhardy.

"Kent! In my office, now!" I heard Perry bellow as soon as I
hit the bull pen.

No doubt he wanted the Superman scoop, now that the video was out
there.

"Yes, Chief?" I asked, stepping into his office where he was
wearing a track in the floor with his pacing.

"What do you know about this Superman video? Has it been
authenticated?"

"I don't know, Chief. I just saw it on my way back over
here."

He stopped a moment in his pacing to look at me. "Back? Where
had you been?"

"Uh," I said, uncomfortably, getting a taste of what the real
Clark must feel like lying to his editor every day.

"Where's Lois? Have you heard anything?"

"Yes, Chief. She's being held by the Kryptonians, down at the
old City Library. I think she went there to try to talk to
General Zod."

Perry snorted a half laugh, "Yeah, she would do that, wouldn't
she? So... what are you going to do?"

"Well, Chief--"

I didn't have time to tell him my idea, as I saw him suddenly
distracted by something going on in the newsroom.

"Great shades of Elvis, I don't believe it," he grumbled,
moving past me to head into the bull pen.

I turned around, and was momentarily speechless as there stood my
Doppelganger, the real Superman. I felt chills up and down my
spine, seeing him in person. He seemed a little taller than me,
and his uniform looked a lot sharper than the one I had worn on
set, or even the one we had dug up to make the video.

I had this weird feeling of relief, seeing that he really was
real -- that there really was a Superman out there, somewhere.
During the time I played Superman, I would run into fans quite
often. The adults of course understood that I was just an actor,
but it was the kids that were always the hardest to meet with.
They'd look up at you with hero worship in their eyes, as if you
could solve all the world's problems. And you'd have to explain
to them that Superman wasn't really real, that you couldn't
really fly. And I hated those moments, as it always killed
something precious and pure -- their innocence about the world.

And yet, here was standing before me, the real deal. I felt a
smile light up my face, knowing that from now on, I could always
tell them that Superman did really exist, that I was just his
stand-in.

The whole newsroom buzzed to life around Superman, but I saw his
eyes searching for one person.

Lois Lane, of course.

I suddenly felt guilty for not making sure Lois had remained
safe. How was I to explain that I let her walk right into a
trap?

His eyes eventually lit onto me. He had a puzzled expression,
which I had expected. With just a hand gesture, he excused
himself from the crowd and motioned that I follow him into the
conference room.

I didn't know what to say, just staring at him, thinking of all
the millions of Superman fans back in my universe who would kill
to be standing in my shoes just at that moment. And yet, I would
have done anything to change shoes with any one of them. I was so
worried that he'd be angry at me for not looking after Lois.

"Are you the Clark from the other dimension, the other
Superman?" he asked eventually. It took me a moment to realize
what he meant. The story arc we had had on our show with a second
Clark, who was also Superman...

"No," I said hastily, lest he think I have superpowers.
"It's... even weirder than that..."

He crossed his arms on his chest, waiting expectantly for me to
explain. Again, his resemblance to me unnerved me. How many times
had I used that pose of intimidation on camera?

"My name is Dean Cain... I... I'm actually an actor, and in my
universe--I played you on TV," I managed to get out, the words
feeling foreign in my mouth as I tried to wrap my head around
what was going on.

He looked at me like I had two heads. I knew that our plots had
been often weird and contrived, and I imagined the real Superman
had seen any number of strange things and improbable
circumstances, but I definitely had him stumped by that
admission.

"You played me... on TV?" he asked.

"Yeah... look, Lois can tell you all about it when--"

At her name, his questions about my origins suddenly took a back
seat. "Where is she? I went to her apartment first, but she
wasn't there."

I sighed, really hoping he was as good a guy as I had always
imagined him to be and that he wouldn't grab me by the collar
when I told him this next part. "You know Lois... She..."

"Just tell me where she is, Dean," he said in a stern but calm
voice that sounded so close to my own, yet still had the power to
drive fear into me.

"She went to talk to Zod and got herself captured. She's being
held at the City Library. I tried to talk her out of it--"

Superman suddenly smiled, and I had this weird deja vu feeling as
I recognized the emotion on his face -- it was one I had often
summoned up when secretly admiring the derring-do of our beloved
Lois Lane. I felt a smile cross my face in answer, and I wondered
why I had worried before about his reaction.

"I know. She didn't listen... Don't worry, I'll get her
back... But maybe you can do something for me," he said,
beginning to pace. I could tell he was formulating a plan.

"Sure, anything," I answered, feeling a little bit like a fan
boy. *I get to help Superman!*

"I will need kryptonite to defeat Zod," he said in all
seriousness, adding to the whole weirdness of this turn of
events. "Go to Star Labs and explain everything to Dr. Klein...
Would you mind reprising your role as me just one more time?"

*LOIS*

I paced in my tiny cell. I was too nervous to try and lie down to
sleep, and too cramped to remain in one position. I needed to get
out of here!

Perhaps if I demanded to see Zod I'd at least get a chance to
walk around...

I looked down the narrow hallway, easily seeing what was going on
elsewhere in the room, as the room was just lined with book
cages. I still couldn't believe they thought these tiny cages
were suitable to hold a person, even if I was a prisoner.

I suddenly had to go to the bathroom, and seeing as they hadn't
provided me with any kind of privy, perhaps they'd let me out to
use the facilities.

"Hey, you!" I called, drawing the attention of one of the
guards.

He stood up from his makeshift desk, towering over the lesser
height of the book cages, and glanced at me. The chilling hate in
his eyes shook me to my core. I was reminded that these
Kryptonians all had Clark's powers. I have and never will be
afraid of Clark, but I understand the capabilities of his powers.
And those powers wielded in the hands of someone intent on
hurting someone was an intimidating prospect, to be sure.

The guard stared me down, waiting for me to continue.

"Um, any way a girl can use the restroom around here?" I said
weakly, suddenly trying to convince my bladder that it really
didn't need to be emptied at the moment.

My eyes caught a flash of color, and I blinked quickly a few
times, not sure of what I had seen. Was that a streak of red and
blue? I felt a lurch in my heart, afraid of letting myself
hope...

Then, a green glow caught my eye, down by where the guards were
standing, causing them to double over suddenly in obvious agony.
As quick as light, from the other end of the room, my hopes
coalesced as I finally saw him... My Superman, my Clark.

The green glow to my left was gone, and suddenly I was whisked
away, down the opposite hallway.

Before I knew it, I was soaring over the spires of Metropolis,
held in Clark's arms.

My mind could barely process what had just happened. How had
Clark managed with the kryptonite? Was he really here? And would
he stay?

I stared at his familiar features, unable to speak for a moment.
He had come back to me, just as I knew he would. He was here, and
he was real...

As much as Dean had resembled my Clark, there was no replacing
him. The way my Clark cradled me to his body, the way his eyes
searched mine, as if seeing into my very soul -- all told me that
I was at last home and safe.

We didn't speak until we reached my balcony. He gently set me
down in front of him, leaning his forehead against mine, each of
us breathing in the other's presence. At last, he whispered
against my temple, "I missed you."

I looked up into his warm, chocolate eyes, feeling my heart melt
into them. My arms slipped around him, under his cape, pulling
him close to me. "You returned," I exhaled, my soul filled with
relief.

I pulled out of the hug, but didn't let him go. His eyes
searched my features, as if reassuring himself that all of me was
here too, just as he had left me.

He leaned down, and inevitably, our lips met. He kissed me, full
of earnest passion. His arms held me close, gentle yet insistent,
his forearm supporting my back. I answered him in equal measure
as happy tears slid down my cheeks.

"You came back to me... you came back," I whispered in between
kisses.

"I had to... you knew I would," he reassured me, his lips
alternating between my lips, my neck, my chin, like warm points
of light surging through my body.

He pulled out of our kisses after a moment, his eyes serious, as
his thumb caressed my cheek, my face cradled in his hand. "Lois,
I have to go back. Dean--"

My head was still dizzy from his kisses, and it took me a second
to remember Dean. "Oh! So you met him?"

He smiled wryly. "How else do you think I managed with
kryptonite nearby? But I have to go back. I have to face off with
Zod, and Dean is going to help me do it."

"Clark, are you sure you can do that? I mean, with kryptonite so
close..."

"We've already got a plan worked out. Just... promise me,
you'll stay out of the way," he said in that patronizing way
that annoyed as much as comforted, knowing he was just trying to
look out for me.

"Why do you even say that? You know I need to get this
story..." I challenged him, but with a smile -- still thrilled
beyond words that he had returned.

"Lois..." he grumbled. "Fine. But stay out of the way," he
conceded, sweeping me up into his arms as we flew back towards
the library.

*DEAN*

I stared at the kryptonite in my hand, mesmerized by its very
real existence. It was darker than how Hollywood had imagined it,
and the crystals were less pronounced. However, it had amazingly
done the trick and incapacitated the Kryptonians guarding Lois.

It would also keep me safe from any other Kryptonians until
Superman returned so we could finish the rest of our plan.

My mouth went dry with anticipation, wondering how I could
explain all this to anybody when I get back. Who would even
believe me?

Just then, I saw Superman landing a safe distance away from me,
carrying Lois. I felt a smile on my lips, seeing the two of them
together. It was like seeing a reflection of Teri and me, and yet
there was so much more there. Perhaps what I was seeing was the
love they had for each other.

"Are you ready?" Superman asked, as Lois approached me.

"Are you sure you know what you are doing, Dean?" Lois said
skeptically, eyeing the kryptonite in my hand.

I shook my head. "I haven't a clue... but he seems to," I
said, gesturing towards Superman.

She nodded with a sigh. "OK, so what is the plan?"

"You stay with Dean," Superman said, still keeping a safe
distance from the kryptonite. "I will go in and confront Zod. I
will have to fight him, to prove to the other Kryptonians that I
am their leader. When I hear our back-up arriving -- I informed
the authorities of our plan -- Dean will follow with the
kryptonite. If I can get Zod to yield and promise to leave Earth,
then it will be over..."

"And if you can't?" Lois asked pointedly. "What then? He
doesn't seem like the type to concede easily."

Superman sighed, and for the first time, I saw the man under the
suit, the man who isn't always sure of his choices.

"I will do what I have to do to see that Earth is safe," he
said quietly.

They say reading about heroes makes you feel like you can be one
of them. Seeing one in person, gives you the humility to realize
that it is never easy to be a hero. I understood that now.

Superman glanced at me and nodded. "All right. I'm ready.
Let's finish this."

*LOIS*

I kept eyeing the kryptonite in Dean's hand, worried how this
would all turn out. How could we be sure that Clark could get far
enough away from Zod before Dean had to use it?

I touched Dean's arm, to get his attention. "I know you
pretended to be hurt by kryptonite on your show... But Dean, the
real thing... it's --"

His warm hand covered mine, reassuring me. "I know. Don't
worry. I'll be careful," he said in warm tones, sounding so
much like Clark.

We had hung back quite a bit to ensure that Clark wouldn't be
affected by the kryptonite. When he reached the main library, we
made our way to the other side, through the hallway that
surrounded the main stacks. We would be behind Zod, hopefully
giving Clark the advantage if there were residual effects from us
being nearby.

Superman was confronting Zod, and Zod did not seem at all amused
that he had returned. "Why ever should I leave? These people are
serving me nicely... here, I can rule. Here, I have power!"

"I exercise the Right of Challenge, Zod. I have the right to
fight you... and I demand to have that right acknowledged," I
heard Clark demand.

"Indeed," came the smug answer. "Fine, the victor that emerges
from this chamber shall rule Earth."

"I don't want to rule Earth. But I will fight for the right for
the people of Earth to live free."

"So shall it be done."

*DEAN

*So, they would fight each other, much like I had fought Lord Nor
on our show. But Clark had had no training in physical combat,
like I had had with Ching. Clark may not understand how ruthless
Zod would be. He would fight to the death, and Clark would do all
in his power not to let it end that way.

"Lois, Zod will try to kill him... Clark has to understand
that," I whispered to Lois.

She was peeking around the bookshelves to watch what was
happening with her hero. "It's up to him now. And us..." She
turned to me suddenly, "Who is the back-up we are waiting for,
and when are they coming?"

"Inspector Henderson and a dozen or so police. But they can't
get near this place without kryptonite... They are in the process
of trying to secure the rock that Lex Luthor had... I took the
only rock from Star Labs. I think Luthor's is held in a vault at
the Courthouse, but there is some bureaucratic tape that must be
dealt with first..."

She looked at me with a shocked expression. "Do they understand
what we are dealing with here? We don't have time for
bureaucratic tape!"

"Lois, the less kryptonite on the scene, the better, actually. I
am hoping it won't come to them needing to back us up... If
there is a lot of it in the area, it could hurt Clark as well."

She nodded her understanding, and I could see the memories of
other times when Clark had been confronted with the green poison
evident in her eyes. "I know...," she said softly. "So, what
is your plan?"

I handed her the kryptonite. "Hold this while I go change, would
you?"

She took it, horror crossing her features as she tossed it back
to me. "Dean! You can't -- I mean, he'll know you are not
him!"

"I know... that is the point. Fake him out for a moment, so I
can get close enough to expose Zod to the kryptonite. Don't
blame me. It was your fiance's idea."

*LOIS*

I don't know what is worse... Clark acting foolishly or Dean
following suit...

*DEAN*

I put on the spare suit that I had worn to make the video
earlier. Clark had given me a yellow belt with a small pouch that
I put the kryptonite in, hiding it behind my back under the cape,
along with my Clark Kent glasses. I would have the appearance of
Superman, yet the kryptonite would render Zod powerless.

Still, it didn't mean that I wasn't nervous about playing the
part...

I was in the hallway changing, but I could hear things were
heating up inside. I heard the sound of fighting and the clang of
something like swords.

I knew I was taking too long to get into the suit, but the cape
was giving me trouble. I usually had someone to help me put it
on.

Giving up on putting it on myself, I stepped inside, seeing if
Lois could help me, when I heard her scream. I glanced over to
where we had been crouching, and saw that one of Zod's goons had
grabbed her. The cape was slung over my arm, but I tossed it
aside as I ran over to her. The kryptonite sitting in my belt
pouch, weakened the soldier, and Lois gave him a swift kick in
the groin.

Just as she assured me she was safe, I saw her eyes grow in alarm
as she pointed over my shoulder. "Clark!"

I turned around and saw that Zod had Superman on the ground,
backed into a corner. If I neared them, Superman would also be
affected by the kryptonite. However, if I didn't do something,
Zod might run him through anyway.

"Zod! I'm over here!" I called across the room using my best
Superman voice. My heart was going a mile a minute with a sudden
kick of adrenaline. I felt exposed as well without the cape on my
back.

Zod looked up, looking puzzled a second as he realized there were
two Supermen. It gave Clark the chance he needed to get away,
though I noticed he didn't fly, but rather stumbled off towards
Lois. I think the kryptonite must have affected him a bit, for
when I turned to Zod, he too looked weaker. He gave a better
effort at not showing it, though. As I neared, he fell to his
knees.

"What... are you doing to me? Who--"

I took the handcuffs off the belt Clark had procured earlier from
Inspector Henderson and put them on Zod. "Your rule here is
over, Zod. Leave Earth," I said, relishing the words. "Kal-El
has returned, and he has bested you. If you have any honor, you
will leave peaceably."

I forced him to his feet, though I felt a bit guilty at how badly
the kryptonite was affecting him. I had imagined it many times on
set, what it must feel like, and I had always conjured the
feeling of a splitting headache with all over muscle weakness.
But seeing the effects in real-life, I think it must be even
worse than that.

Superman and Lois were nowhere to be found, as I had assumed they
wanted to clear out if the authorities came with even more
kryptonite. Though I felt a bit nervous, knowing I had the
Kryptonian leader at my mercy. If his soldiers attacked me,
despite the green poison, would I stand a chance?

I headed outside, and much to my relief, Inspector Henderson and
MPD were standing by. Before we stepped outside, I put on
Clark's glasses, hoping to reinforce the illusion that it was
just Clark Kent helping out Superman. Maybe not having the cape
on would help that image as well. As we stepped onto the library
steps, half of the police force held some small portion of
kryptonite, leading me to assume they had obtained the rock and
busted it up to split among them.

"What do you want to do with him, Henderson?" I called, though
attempting to sound a little more like mild-mannered Clark Kent.

Henderson approached, motioning to his men to stand down. I saw a
group of Krptonians surrounded by guards with kryptonite. We had
them at our mercy now, to be sure.

"General Zod, is it?" Henderson asked my captive warily. "Will
you and your people promise to leave this planet?"

"Kal-El has won..." Zod said weakly. He mumbled something in
what I assumed was Kryptonian, and a huge shadow appeared over
the library out of nowhere. It seemed something sinister was
going to happen, but suddenly, all of the Kryptonians vanished
into thin air. The shadow overhead fell through the clouds,
revealing a large, black spaceship. It hovered over the library
for a moment, causing all nearby to look up in fear.

Then suddenly, with a whoosh sounding like fifty helicopters
taking off, it disappeared into the sky.

The police slowly lowered their weapons, staring at the sky above
us as we all tried to make sense out of what had just happened.

When they seemed to think the aliens were gone for good, a few
men moved into the building, presumably to free the remaining
prisoners.

Dr. Klein appeared, coming out of one of the patrol cars.
"Clark! I'm glad it worked!" He carried with him a large lead
box. "I'll collect the kryptonite. The City has agreed that it
will be safer at Star Labs, where only Superman can have access
to it."

I nodded in agreement, wryly handing over my piece of the strange
green rock. I almost wanted to take it with me when I go back...
but I knew I would see Clark and Lois first, and I simply
wouldn't bring it near them again.

"Thank you for your help, Clark," said Henderson. "I know you
are eager to get back to the Planet to write your story, but I
have just a few questions..."

***

I made my way back to the Planet, actually quite thrilled with
the idea of writing up the story. I know Lois will want to have
her stamp on it, and I kind of relished the idea of writing up my
own Superman story.

I was formulating in my mind how I should begin the story, when I
saw HG Wells appear, a few blocks before I reached the Planet. I
felt a wave of disappointment, knowing that my time here was
coming to an end.

I sighed as I approached him. "Do I at least get to say goodbye
to Lois and Clark first?"

"Of course, my boy. Of course."

***

As we walked along to Lois' apartment, I tried to imprint in my
mind as much of the city of Metropolis as I could. I wanted to
remember this place forever, knowing that it was unlikely I would
ever see it again.

The sounds of the cars, the height of the buildings... even the
blue sky -- all seemed different to any city I knew back home,
rendered as they were against the backdrop of being Superman's
city. Here, you can even believe a man can fly...

We climbed the steps to Lois' apartment and rang her bell.

"Dean! I was afraid you had left us already!" Lois cried,
giving me a hug in greeting.

Clark was in his normal clothes, sitting on the sofa. He nodded
in my direction as I came in.

"Thank you for your help today. I don't know how I would have
managed without you."

"You would've found a way."

"Maybe..." he said, though he looked doubtful. Lois came to sit
next to him. Their eyes met, and Wells and I both felt a little
like intruders.

"So... I guess it is time to say goodbye," I said reluctantly.
"I don't think 'thank you' are the appropriate words... yet
somehow, they are right."

"How so?" Lois asked.

"Well, thank you for being... you, I guess. It was so hard for
me to let the show go. But this experience... it is one I will
carry with me forever."

"Oh Dean! Thank you for taking care of me! When Tempus--" Lois
suddenly jumped up, looking at Wells. "What are we going to do
about Tempus?"

"Don't worry, Lois," Wells assured her. " I caught up with
him before I found you and he is standing trial, even as we
speak. Well, sometime in the future anyway."

"Then I guess there is nothing left but to say goodbye," Lois
said softly, coming over to me. She gave me a hug, and I could
see Clark looking on, a knowing smile on his face.

"What?" I couldn't help asking.

He shook his head, laughing. "Nothing. It's just ...did you
really play me on a television show?"

"Yep. You're a big deal where I'm from. Everything from comic
books to movies. You're an American icon."

"Hmm... An American icon, huh? Well, I guess that means if I
ever need a backup career, there's always television!"

*LOIS*

After Dean left, Clark went to get us some Chinese food from that
nice little place he knows... in China.

He flew back a short while later, giving me the time I needed to
change into a cute black dress and light a few candles. I put on
a Frank Sinatra CD, and the song that Clark and I had danced to
on a night long ago started to play...

*Fly me to the moon

Let me play among the stars

Let me see what spring is like

On a, Jupiter and Mars

In other words, hold my hand

In other words, baby, kiss me*

"Would you like to dance?" I asked him, suddenly feeling
breathless.

Still in his Superman suit, he set the Chinese food down on the
table and took me in his arms. We danced quietly a moment,
enjoying being together again. "I saw many things on my time
away from Earth... and I'll tell you about all of it some other
time," he said softly, his breath warm on my cheek. "But for
now, all I want to do is hold you close to me."

*Fill my heart with song

And let me sing for ever more

You are all I long for

All I worship and adore

In other words, please be true

In other words, I love you.*

We swayed to the music, and I suddenly felt us lift off the
ground, ever so gently. "Now this is dancing," I said, my heart
filling with anticipation.

"That's my line," he teased gently, leaning down to kiss me.

We lingered in the air, moving to the music, lost in the moment.
As the song ended, Clark brought us back down to earth. I felt a
sense of melancholy fill me, and I could tell he sensed it.

"What is it?"

I moved over to the table and started unpacking our dinner,
courtesy of Superman Express. "I just... I just can't lose you
again, Clark. I have to know... you are staying, right? You
aren't going to leave me again at the first sign of trouble on
some distant star are you?" I feared I sounded clingy and
insecure, but I couldn't help it. I had to know that he was
committed to us... not just me and him, but Metropolis. Earth.
"I mean, you didn't meet some other woman while you were out
there, did you?"

He looked at me incredulously, and I suddenly felt very foolish.
"Lois, I couldn't wait to get back to Earth. It was all I could
think about... I tried to fit in with the other Kryptonians, but
-- I am Clark Kent, first and foremost. And all I want is to get
married to you."

"Really?" I asked in a small voice, not trusting myself not to
cry.

"Really...now, let's have some dinner... and then, perhaps we
can play among some stars of our own."

*DEAN*

I was back.

HG Wells disappeared in a small spark of light, and I was back,
standing in my condo alone.

I let out a sigh, trying to process all that I had witnessed.

Superman was real.

Lois Lane was an amazingly real woman.

I walked over to my collection of video tapes, thinking I might
watch an episode of my show, but I suddenly didn't really want
to. I had the memory of seeing those characters that I loved so
much, that I had poured so much heart and soul into, become
real.

A picture caught my eye on the mantle, one I didn't remember
putting there. It was me and Teri. Or so I thought... but upon
closer inspection, I realized it was from the night of the
wrap-up party, when Lois herself had accompanied me.

"You sly old man," I said aloud, marveling at how I thought it
had gotten there. It had to have been Wells.

I had a memento to carry with me forever.

To remember a dear friend, and a character I deeply loved.

"Thanks, Wells. Wherever you are."

***

A few weeks later, Teri and her husband were on their way over
for drinks and dinner. As I straightened up and planned for
dinner that day, the picture of me and the real Lois at the
wrap-up party kept catching my eye. I debated whether I should
leave it out, knowing that Teri might eventually ask about it.

I played out the scenario a dozen times in my head:

*"Dean, I don't remember this photo. When was this taken?"*

I would flounder a moment, unsure where to begin. Then I'd sigh
and walk over to her, with her husband looking on.

*"Teri, you're never going to believe this..."*

Every scenario I played out ended badly. She'd laugh, or say I
was drunk. She and her husband would worry I was obsessing over
the show, or worse, her. No matter how I tossed it around, I
always came up looking crazy or desperate.

So right before they came, I took the picture and hid it in a
desk drawer.

We talked and reminisced for hours that night. We all joked and
laughed and told stories, though I kept one story entirely to
myself.

I also realized something else that night that was entirely
revelatory to me.

As much as loved talking to Teri and enjoyed her company, I was
relieved to realize that I wasn't in love with her. I never had
been.

It had been Lois Lane that I was crazy about.

Teri had brought her to life, and I had fallen for the
character.

I felt so... free.

For months I had carried around all this guilt that I had stepped
over a line with my feelings for Teri. She was such a good
friend, that if she ever had noticed, I know she'd never say
anything. Neither would her husband.

And they were both so in love.

What an idiot I had been... wallowing in all that guilt.

Still, there was a hole in my heart, as I longed to find someone
who could play my co-star in real life.

And even though I know a real Lois Lane is out there, I know she
has found her Clark Kent.

I was reminded of a story line we had wanted to do, if we had
continued on for five seasons. We had intended on finding the
Clark Kent from the other universe -- the one whose parents had
died when he was a kid -- his Lois Lane, by having HG Wells time
travel to save her from being killed on a story in the Congo.

If there are parallel worlds -- and my experience proved to me
there are -- then there seems to be just one logical answer.

My Lois Lane was out there somewhere.

And all I needed to do was find her.

THE END