By Kim Gammello (NAUD60B@prodigy.com)
Summary: While working with Clark on a story involving a crooked senator, Lois catches on to the Big Secret.
Author's note: Okay dokay, this was written when we were all in LCWS around the beginning of August. It was my first fanfic and I finally decided I wanted to share it with all you other FoLCs. I want to thank all my buds on Prodigy, especially Carrie Bowman, for finding me and welcoming all my writing into their circle of L&C fans. You guys were great to me and still are even though we're minus Jane's Brain now! Thanks you guys! Um, I hope you all like it as much as I enjoyed writing it! Any responses would be appreciated! You can reach me at NAUD60B@prodigy.com
***
"Lucy! I'm going to take a shower!" Lois yelled as she walked into the bathroom. She paused before she shut the door but got no response. Lucy was probably too wrapped up in her soap opera to respond. Just as Lois turned on the water she heard a knock on the front door.
"I'll get it!" Lucy shouted. Lois stepped in the hot water and let all her worries and troubles get washed away with her favorite lavender soap. As she washed her hair she started singing a little. She'd just seen the Sound of Music.
"Do, a deer, a female deer. Ra, a drop of golden sun. Mi, a name I call myself. Fa, a long, long way to run. So, a needle pulling thread. La, it follows after so. Ti, a drink with jam and bread. AND it brings us back to DO, DO, DO, DO!" As Lois continued to sing she slowly started getting louder. She didn't really care that Lucy was out there listening to her croon, it felt too good. After she shut off the water she was till humming. She dried off and wrapped herself in a towel. Lois then turned on the bathroom fan and opened the door.
"Mi, a name I call myself!" a voice said.
"Ahhhh! Clark!" Lois screamed as she bolted to her room. Lucy and Clark stood there laughing.
"Lois, I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself!" Clark called through her shut bedroom door.
"Clark, that was cruel! I can't believe you!" she said indignantly. "Plus, like you've never done anything like that before. Oh, I'll get you back… I promise!"
"Lois, what are you going to do? Are you going to come spy on me while I shower or while I sleep?" Lois put those thoughts of revenge in the back of her mind and opened the door.
"What are you doing here anyway?" Lois asked.
"Well, I wanted to see if you wanted to go out to dinner, but a kareoke bar would probably be better," he replied with a smile on his face.
"Shut up, Clark!" Lois said as she hit him. "I won't go anywhere with you."
"Come on, Lois, I was just teasing."
"Well… I will let you go get Chinese food and rent a movie and come back over here. But, this is only because I'm hungry."
"Okay, Lois, I will be back in an hour," he said as they walked toward the door. "I'll see you." He kissed her and walked out the door. She shut the door and sighed.
"Do, a deer, a female deer!"
"Shut up, Clark!"
***
About an hour later there was another knock.
"Coming!" Lucy shouted as her big sister continued getting ready.
As Lois finished getting dressed she heard the laughter and chatter of Clark and Lucy. She did one last look in the mirror. After an hour of make-up and changing clothes, just to relax in, she better look presentable.
"I look great," she whispered to the reflection.
"And… I agree," Clark said as he walked up next to her. A rose tone fell across her face. She hadn't meant for him to hear that.
"Thanks," she replied shyly and the two walked to the kitchen. "What did ya bring me?"
"Well, we have sweet and sour chicken and moo goo gai pan. Take your pick." They both got their individual cartons and went to sit on the couch, one at each end and both very unsure.
"What movie did you get?" Lois asked.
"Well, I decided on the Sound of Music." Lois shot him a glare. "I was just kidding, but I did get a classic… Casablanca. Is that okay?"
"Oh, I love that movie," she replied as she ate. "What does yours taste like?"
"You want a bite?" Clark asked as he scooted closer to Lois. He took a piece of chicken in his chop sticks and put it in Lois' mouth.
"Oh, that is delicious," she said.
"Lois, you have a little sauce on your cheek. Here, let me get it." Clark said as he scooted even closer to Lois. He gently wiped her cheek. By now they were sitting right next to each other, where they should have been in the first place.
"Thanks, Clark. Taste this sauce," Lois said as she dipped her finger into the sauce and held it out to Clark. He put her finger in his mouth tasting the sweetness of the sauce. By now, they knew that both had planned the situations but neither cared. Clark took Lois' hand and got the remaining sauce off her finger. Instead of stopping after the sauce was off, he started to kiss her hand… then her arm. He looked up at her with unsureness to continue. Lois ruffled his hair and their lips met, and met, and met. =)
"Whoa!"
"Ahhh! Lucy!" Lois said after she'd recovered. Clark quickly got the cartons and took them to the kitchen. "I thought you were leaving!"
"Sorry! I leave you two alone for one second and BOOM!" Lucy said laughing. "I am leaving… right now. Bye, Clark!" she shouted into the kitchen. To Lois she said, "Now don't get to rowdy, sis!"
"Good bye, Lucy!" Lucy walked out the door laughing.
"Well," Lois said, "You want to start the movie?"
"Wait, we haven't read our fortunes," Clark said as he gave her a cookie. She cracked it and it said… "A tall, dark and handsome man will come into your life. Do not push him away!" Clark looked over her shoulder as she read.
"Huh," she sighed. "What does yours say… oh, wise one?" Just as Clark broke his cookie a ring fell onto his lap.
"I wonder what this means," Clark said as he held it up for Lois to see.
"Clark… we've been through this before. I don't know."
"I need to know. I've waited and waited. I just can't live my life not knowing whether we're going to be together. I need an answer!" Clark said both hurt and angry. He felt he'd waited long enough. "It's either now or never!"
"Clark…" Lois said as someone rapped on the door.
"Lois, get the door," Clark said sullenly. Lois looked at him and the condition he was in.
"Whoever it is can wait," she replied as those deep brown eyes stared toward the door. Clark got up.
"Fine! I'll get it," he said as he opened the door. Outside, in the hallway, was Jimmy.
"CK, what are you doing here? Oooh, sorry. I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" Jimmy said uncomfortably.
"No, not at all. Come on in."
"Well, I can't stay. Chief just wanted to round you two up because you have an assignment. A leak about senator Wilson's affair and abuse of state funds came out. He's at an apartment building in the north end of Metropolis."
"Who was the leak?" Lois asked.
"Chief won't say. But, they set up an empty apartment right across from Wilson's building. You'll get a full shot of his room. It's empty and there's the bare minimum there. I think a bed and a lamp. No real furniture. Perry did get some food and put it in the kitchen for you because he felt bad for getting you guys on your night off." Jimmy replied.
"Well, I guess we better go," Lois said as she picked up a change of clothes and her purse. "Come on, Clark, I'll drive. We can stop at your apartment so you can pick up some clothes." Clark nodded.
"Bye you two!" Jimmy called as he walked down the street away from them. "Something is definitely wrong with them," he said as he watched them drive off down the street, neither one speaking to the other.
***
When they arrived at the apartment, barely a word had been spoken and not a word had been said about what had escalated before.
"Oh, this is a real nice place," Lois said sarcastically. "One bed… real nice."
"You can have it, Lois. I'll sleep on the floor," Clark said showing a little compassion.
"Thanks, Clark," replied as she turned on the video camera to record whatever happened through the night. "Geez, it's getting late. I'm going to turn in."
Lois went to the bathroom as Clark stared out the window, trying to see something. Nobody was in the room at the time. He continued to stare, replaying what had happened before through his head.
"Night, Clark," Lois said as she walked towards the bed.
"Night," he replied as he walked to the sleeping bag on the floor. The two laid down and attempted not to think about each other. It didn't work.
"Clark, do you want to sleep in the bed?" Lois asked sitting up.
"No, that's okay."
"It's really no big deal. We're both two mature adults. I think we can handle sharing a bed, don't you agree?"
"I guess so," he replied in a monotone voice as he stood up. Lois laid back down and rolled to one side… the side away from Clark. Clark climbed into bed and did the same as Lois. He couldn't bear to look at her. Her in her sweats and tank top. Her and her beautiful face and eyes and… lips. I love her, he thought. Lois too was thinking. How can I face him after what happened? Him and his muscular, unshirted I might add, chest and his deep soulful eyes. How can I?
"Owww!" Lois cringed in mock pain. "My back… it's cramped up."
"Here let me see," Clark said as he began to gently massage her back. "Better?" he asked.
"Much… thanks," she replied. Both laid back down. "Clark, you are such a sweetie."
They both turned so they were facing each other. Clark reached out and touched Lois' face and she reached and ruffled his hair. They stared at each other knowing full well what was to come. They kissed each other in a way they had never done before. There was something else with it now. It wasn't just love for each other, it was a passion. Their kisses began getting deeper and deeper. Lois ran her fingers along Clark's soft, brown hair and his hands ran down her slender back. His hand slowly went up her shirt caressing her soft, milky white back. With that Lois kissed his muscular chest and leaned her head against it, stopping what was to come. Clark drew his hand away and touched her hair, moving the pieces of stray hair away from her face. He kissed her head and sighed.
"I love you, Lois," he said, but no response came. He enveloped her in his arms and shut his eyes as he drifted to sleep.
"I love you too," Lois replied with a smile and went to sleep.
***
In the morning the two lay next to each other in bed soundly sleeping. There was a soft knock at the door but no one heard. It was Jimmy coming to retrieve the Daily Planet's two star reporters for a busy day of work. Taking the keys Perry had given him, he unlocked the door. He opened it and entered.
"Oh my gosh!" he said startled at what he'd seen. Jimmy slammed the door.
"What the…?" Clark said as he got out of bed and walked to the door.
"Huh?" Lois said quietly.
"Go back to sleep, Lois." She obediently rolled over, taking up the whole bed. Clark opened the door and found Jimmy.
"Hey, CK," he said nervously.
"Hi, what's up?"
"Oh…nothing." Suddenly Clark's foggy brain cleared.
"Oh…you think… Lois… me…" he stuttered laughing.
"What?"
"Nothing. And that is exactly what happened last night… nothing."
"But…" Jimmy started.
"I know what it looks like but you are so far from wrong. Okay, maybe not that far," Clark said with a smile.
"So, what did happen?"
"Well…"
"Whatcha two doin'?" Lois asked as she opened the door.
"Oh, nothing," Jimmy said. "By the way, Chief wants you two at work pronto. Big story or something. I'd hurry, you two."
"We'll be there. Come on, Clark," she said as she pulled him inside.
"Bye, Jimmy!" Clark said. Jimmy just laughed.
"When the two walked into the Planet together eyebrows raised. When Clark found Jimmy after the morning meeting he was a little suspicious.
"Jimmy…" he started.
"CK! I only told Perry what I saw and what you said. I swear!" Jimmy said as he ran off. Clark sighed and went to his desk. On it was a dozen red roses. He opened the card and it said…
I'm sorry about last night.
We need to talk.
Your place at seven.
Love,
L.L.
He smiled. He knew tonight everything would be settled, but what would Lois say?
***
After the paper went to bed both Lois and Clark were still working busily at their desks. It was about 6 pm and they were about to leave. Lois got up and gathered her stuff.
"Clark, I'm leaving. I'll see you around seven, okay?"
"Yeah. I'm just going to finish this up and I'll be there. Did you want me to pick up something to eat?" Clark asked.
"No, we just need to talk. I'll see ya," she said and kissed his head.
"Bye," he replied as she left in the elevator.
***
When Lois arrived home, Lucy was sitting in front of the TV.
"Hi ya, sis," Lucy said. "How was last night?"
"It was," she started, "I don't know."
"How can you not know?"
"We got in an argument about the marriage deal again," Lois replied.
"I swear, Lois! You have a good looking, sweet, honest , employed man throwing himself at you and you don't know!? What is wrong with you!?"
"I really don't know. Maybe… maybe I'm just scared," Lois said with tears in her eyes. "I do love him you know!"
"The what's the problem?" Lucy said and stared back at the TV. Lois went to her room to change.
***
Back at the Planet, Clark was gathering his stuff together.
"Hey, Clark!" Jimmy said.
"Hi ya, Jimmy. What's up?"
"Nothing, I was just going to ask you the same question."
"What do you mean?" Clark asked.
"Well, you and Lois, roses, the way you've been acting all day…" Jimmy said with raised eyebrows.
"I laid it down on the line last night. I told Lois I needed an answer. I can't keep wondering if she's going to say yes or no. If it's no, I can't just wait around for that answer. I need to find someone else," he said.
"Whoa," Jimmy said shocked. "I can't believe that." Clark looked at his watch. "I'd love to chat Jimmy but Lois is coming over so we can talk about everything."
"Good luck, CK."
"Thanks… I'll need it."
***
Lois was at Clark's apartment a little early. She'd wanted to see him because Lucy's words had struck a chord. She knocked on the door but there was no answer.
"Well, I'll just let myself in. I told him I'd get him back for spying on me. Well, here's my chance," she said and smiled. Lois fumbled through her purse for a bobby pin. After she found one, she picked the lock and let herself in Clark's roomy apartment. Lois locked the door behind her so Clark wouldn't suspect anything when he came home. She put her purse down and began to look around. She didn't find anything exciting in the living room so she went to the bathroom. There wasn't anything exciting there either. Lois continued to snoop and went to his bedroom. She went inside and was looking at pictures and other things on his dresser. Lois proceeded to look in his closet.
"What the…" she said as she pushed some clothes back and opened the door wider. "Why does Clark have…"
Suddenly she heard the front door unlock and open. She ran and hid under his bed. "Oh my gosh… my purse!" she said under her breath.
Clark entered the room whistling. He started to change his clothes while Lois lay there with her mouth agape.
"Oh geez," Clark said as his super sensitive hearing detected someone screaming. In a whirl he was in his Superman outfit.
"Oh!" Lois said in a small shriek.
Clark jumped at the sound. He peered under the bed only to find a totally shaken Lois.
"Oh my gosh," he said as he held out his hand to help her out. She crawled out and sat on his bed dumbfounded. "Lois, I'll be back in a one second. Don't move! We REALLY need to talk!" Superman flew out if his window.
He was back before Lois could even collect her thoughts. With one quick spin he was in jeans and a T-shirt and ready to talk.
"Lois, are you okay? Lois, say something!" Clark pleaded as he took her by the hand into the living room. She sat down on the couch still not speaking.
A tear trickled down her cheek.
"Oh, Lois, I never meant to hurt you. I just didn't think you should know. I knew how you felt about Superman and how you er… didn't feel about me. I was hurt by that in itself. I couldn't say it was ME you loved, it was just Superman." He attempted to put his arm around her but she jumped away. "Lois, come one. Please don't be that way. It's still me. It's still Superman. Please don't let this ruin our relationship."
Lois stared out the window. "How could you? How could you keep this from me the whole time? I thought you cared about me… I thought you loved me, Clark. All this time you've been running off to save people and making dumb excuses so I wouldn't know."
"I made those excuses to protect you. I didn't know what the reaction would be if you found out."
Lois turned to him. "You did all that for me?" she asked softly as she walked up to him.
"Yeah," he replied quietly.
"Well, that's all you're doing for me! Stay away from me, Clark Kent! Oh! I mean Superman!" Lois shouted. She picked up her purse and left the apartment with a door slam. She didn't leave right away though. Lois stared at the door she'd just slammed. Inside, she heard soft crying. What had she done and what was she going to do?
Lois went home and made herself a cup of tea, put on her pajamas, and sat on her balcony overlooking the city.
Clark, on the other hand, had flown to Smallville in need of some consoling.
"Clark, everything will be okay," Martha said to her son.
"That's the thing, mom, I'm not sure it will be. She told me she never wanted to see me again. I think she was serious."
"That's crazy, son! Lois loves you and you love her. Everything will be fine," Clark's father said.
"Dad! No, it won't! I don't think I can bear seeing her again. Dad, she hurt me and I hurt her. It's not going to be that easy. Why do you both always say it's going to be okay? It's not this time!" Clark yelled. He stormed out of the house and flew into the night.
"I'm worried about him," Martha said.
"So am I. He's never acted like this before. We'll go to Metropolis tomorrow."
***
The next day Lois walked into work an hour and a half late.
"Lois, where have you been?!" Perry shouted as she sat down on her desk.
"I'm sorry, Perry. It'll never happen again," she said softly.
""You're right it won't! Now where's Clark!?"
"You mean he's not here?" she said with tears welling up in her eyes.
"Well, I would figure you would know…" Perry started. "Lois, what happened between you two?"
"We got in a huge argument," Lois replied sniffling. "I told him I never wanted to see him again."
"What brought that on?"
"It's a long story and I don't feel like talking about it," she replied quickly. She glanced at her partner's desk. Nothing was on it. "Where's Clark's things?" she said as she ran over to his desk. She opened the drawers and everything was gone.
"Oh my gosh! He took what I said literally! He left, Perry! What am I going to do!?" she cried, tears rolling down her cheeks. Perry took her in his arms and walked her to his office.
"Now, Lois, you know Clark…" he said as he sat down at his desk. "Hey, what's this?" He opened a note that simply said…
Good bye.
CK
"Well, he really did leave! We'll find him! We can't lose half of our star reporting team. Lois, you go home and wait to see if he calls. I'm figuring you'll be the first Clark calls."
Lois obediently got up and left his office. Will I ever be able to find the only person I've loved, she thought as she left the building.
"Clark, about that question… yes." she said aloud, but will I ever be able to tell him?
While all of Clark's closest family and friends were looking for him, he sat at the Metropolis cemetery. Clark sat at Mayson's grave thinking about everything.
"I could have had you. You loved me, not Superman. I could have had you… but I would have lost you. Why do I lose everyone I love? If I'd known this was going to happen, I would have gotten involved with you. Why me?" he said to himself.
Clark sat there while Lois was trying to get to her apartment. When she arrived at her house there was a message from Clark's parents on the machine.
"Lois, this is Clark's mother. He's not at his apartment and all his things are in boxes. We know what happened and everything. We'll find him, don't worry. Please call soon, we need your help." Lois went to the phone and called.
"Hi Martha," Lois said.
"Hi Lois. Clark is nowhere to be found. He left Smallville very upset with us last night."
"I'm so sorry! It's all my fault…" she started with tears streaming down her face.
"Lois, it's not your fault. Couples have arguments. It's okay. Why don't you come over here and wait for him to get back? All his stuff is still here."
"Okay, Martha. And… thank you."
"You're welcome, Lois. We'll see you. Bye!" she replied. Lois hung up and grabbed her keys and purse and went to go to Clark's house. As she walked to the car someone came up behind her and grabbed her.
"Ahhhhh!" she shrieked.
"Quiet, unless you want to die now! We know you found out about senator Wilson and the money… and Intergang isn't very happy about it. You should have kept your nose out of it!" he said gruffly as he tossed her into an unmarked van.
"Help! Help, Superman!" she shouted as they tied her arms behind her back and her ankles together.
"Yes, Lois! Scream and yell so your darling Superman comes and saves you! We're depending on that!" the driver said as he took out some kryptonite. It glowed in fury.
"Oh no, no, no!" she said starting to cry. Will I ever see Clark again… or alive for that matter?
As Clark sat mourning his losses, he heard Lois' shrieks. He went at super speed looking for her. I won't lose her this way, he thought as he flew. When he found the white van that she was in, he grabbed the bumper and stopped it. He pulled open the door.
"Lois!" he said as he climbed in. The door behind him slammed. "You think this can keep me in?"
"No, but this will!" the driver said laughing as he produced the kryptonite. Clark fell to the ground in pain.
"Superman, no!" she said as she scooted closer. The man driving pulled the van over to the side of the road and dropped the kryptonite on the floor next to Lois.
"Bye, bye, Superman! Oh yes, and bye-bye, Lois!" he said as he locked the doors. A film of chemical smoke streamed into the van. Lois coughed and tried to undo the rope, nothing happened.
"Clark, you're not going to die! I'll get this stuff out of here somehow. Do you have enough strength to burn this rope?"
"I think so," he said weakly as he focused on the rope binding her ankles. With a weak stream of power it burned enough to unravel. Lois pulled her feet apart and grabbed the kryptonite between her feet. She kicked the glass window next to her.
"Oww!" she said as the glass cut her foot.
"Lois, don't do this… don't hurt yourself," Clark said trying to get up. Lois, of course, didn't listen. By now the gas was taking a tolling effect. She'd gotten weak and barely had enough strength to throw the kryptonite out of the jagged, broken window. With that, Lois collapsed. Clark got up and grabbed her. With the kryptonite out of the picture he broke through the door. Lois passed out in his arms.
"No! I am not going to lose you again! You're not going to die!" he shouted as he laid her in the grass. With that he began to give her mouth to mouth. "Lois, Lois!" he called.
"Cough, cough!"
"Oh my lord! I thought I lost you," he said as he enveloped her in his arms.
"Clark, I love you," she said softly.
"I know," he said as he flew her to her apartment.
"I'm sorry for everything," she said weakly. "Your parents are at your apartment. They're really worr… worried."
"Shhh. Lois, just relax. We can talk about this later. We need to get you where you can get taken care of." Lois fell asleep in his arms as they approached her home. "I'll be back," he said as he laid her on the bed. He then flew quickly to his apartment.
When he got there Martha and Jonathan ran up to give their son a hug.
"Where's Lois?" his mother asked.
"She's at home. We just had some trouble with someone who wanted us both dead. They had kryptonite, well… it's a long story. Mom, please go over and take care of Lois. She's a little woozy from the gas and she has a bad cut on her foot," he replied.
"I'm on my way," she said as she grabbed her keys. She ran out the door and was off to Lois'. Clark changed into his normal clothes and went to the Planet before he went to Lois'.
"CK!" Jimmy shouted as he ran to him.
"Hi Jimmy!" he said as he sat down at his empty desk.
"I can't believe you're leaving! Don't do it, CK!"
"Don't worry, Jimmy, I'm not."
"So you talked to Lois?" Jimmy questioned with a smile.
"Yeah… sort of. We still have a lot more talking to do though. I'm actually on my way to see her. Can you give this to Perry and tell him I'll talk to him later?" He asked as he scribbled something on a piece of paper and handed it to Jimmy. Jimmy took it as Clark ran to the elevator.
"Bye CK!" he called and looked at the note. It simply said…
I'm back!
CK
Jimmy smiled!
***
When Clark got to Lois' his mom was there taking care of her.
"Hi son," his father said as he walked inside. "She's in her room. I figure you want to talk to her."
"Dad, I'm sorry," he said as he gave his father a hug.
"Hi Lucy! Hi mom!" he said as he went to Lois' side. "Um, I'd like to talk to Lois… alone, please."
"Sure," Martha replied as she ushered Lucy out of the room. "Talk as long as you want." When the two had left, he sat down next to Lois.
"Clark, I want you to know…" she started.
"Shh! Let me say what I have first. I almost lost you and I'm sorry. It's my fault about all of this. I pushed and pushed you… until you cracked. I had no right."
"No, Clark, there's where you're wrong. I was the one whose fault it was. I needed to be pushed. I was scared, but I realize there's no need to be. I love you, Clark, and that's what matters."
"What are you trying to say, Lois?" he asked as he stroked her hair.
"That… that… yes, I'll marry you, Clark. I love you," she said as she stared into his deep brown eyes. Clark looked at her in shock. That hadn't been what he expected. With that she sat up and looked deeper in his eyes.
"I love you too," Clark replied. With everything being said and done, there was still one more thing needed. Clark took the ring from his pocket and slipped it onto Lois' slender finger. A tear trickled down her cheek. The two kissed passionately. All of a sudden, three people toppled through the door. Lucy and Clark's parents looked up with red faces. Lois and Clark laughed.
"What's so funny?" Lucy asked as she got off the floor.
"Nothing. We have wedding to plan though," Lois said with a huge smile.
THE END
(trial.txt)