It's Not the Seconds 
By Jenni Debbage <jdse08662@blueyonder.co.uk> 
Rated: PG 
Submitted: November 2001


As most of you will probably know, this is a complete 
departure from my normal writing. I usually leave 'in-
betweens' and 're-writes' to other more talented authors. 
That said, I found this old notebook while clearing out 
some cupboards and, scanning through it, I found the 
beginnings of a story.

At the time I started it, L&C was still airing on tv, in 
fact, it was nearing the end of the 3rd season. I worked 
nightshift and this is the notebook I used to take to work 
with me. Clearly, I was very frustrated with what the 
series was doing with the wedding-arc and decided to write 
it up the way I would have liked it to go. However, as I 
hadn't access to the Internet at that time, my story 
somehow got forgotten about.

Now, I realise that this time frame isn't very popular with 
folcs, but I thought that this little story deserved to be 
finished. It takes the place of 'Seconds' in the wedding 
arc and continues into Dieter's treatment of Lois' amnesia. 
I think I should also mention that I've moved around some 
of the events in the latter part of my story.

So here goes... my version of that terrible time in the 
lives of Lois and Clark. I hope you like it and please let 
me know what you think. But remember, this isn't my genre 
and I'll probably fail miserably at a 're-write'.

*****

It's Not The Seconds...

Chapter One Confusion

Wanda awoke with a start from a crazy dream-filled sleep. 
It was cold and dark, and she was alone... at least, she 
hoped she was alone. Somehow, she just didn't feel up to 
coping with 'him' at the moment. Which was strange, given 
the fact that she'd chosen to go with him. Why should she 
feel so troubled? She was with Kent - - the man she was 
supposed to adore. So why was the only emotion she 
experienced when he held her... revulsion?

She had felt so much safer and more familiar with the touch 
of Clark! Yet he was, supposedly, the man who'd betrayed 
her; who'd made her life difficult with all his lies and 
abandonments and had finally attracted the attention of the 
MPD and God knows what other police force... not to mention 
the focus of her terrible twin. Just who was that woman who 
looked so like her, and why did she hate her so much that 
she would want to kill her?

Wanda sighed; she had so many more questions than she had 
answers and she instinctively felt that this was not a 
position she was comfortable with. And there was another 
more disturbing factor - - she didn't recognise a single 
face, including her own. Besides, given the little she did 
know about herself, it seemed that her life was like a 
third-rate novel... with most of the chapters missing. She 
was a singer in a dockside bar. At least, that's where Kent 
had found her. Just in time, too, to save her from her mad 
doppelganger, and from falling into the clutches of the man 
who'd brought her so low.

Her head ached and she shivered in the gloom. This skimpy 
robe just wasn't enough protection against the chilly air. 
Wanda glanced down at the filmy, gaudy material. Her dress 
sense was obviously straight out of the same steamy romance 
story, and the thing was, it felt no more comfortable than 
did her so-called identity.

She had to get out of this place where the atmosphere was 
clammy and stale, breathe some fresh air - - see the sky 
and stars. Oh boy, she must be going crazy, because she had 
the weirdest feeling she was pretty familiar with the 
stars. Well, maybe she was a little mad but she'd feel a 
lot less claustrophobic if she could see them now.

Quietly, she rose from the narrow bed in case she wasn't 
alone, but no one stirred in the semi-darkness. She let her 
eyes stray around the sepulchre-like room. Why in the world 
had Kent chosen this place for his bolt-hole? Mind you, if 
you were looking for a place to hide then this was a pretty 
good location. Wanda's brain cringed painfully as she 
thought of the long, twisted path they'd taken to reach 
this lair. They'd definitely gone underground - - way, way 
underground. This was an old abandoned subway station on a 
redundant line and she doubted if anybody ever came here 
any more - - she doubted that anybody even remembered it 
any more. One thing she was sure of - - she'd certainly had 
enough of it, and it was time to go.

Wanda took a few cautious steps. The ground beneath her 
feet was freezing and she quickly looked around for shoes. 
Argh! Red pom-poms! What had possessed her to buy these 
instruments of torture? Still, as there didn't seem to be 
another pair around, she slipped her feet into the 
uncomfortable shoes and continued across the room towards 
the arched exit. With the accompanying click of the high-
heeled slip-ons sounding like gun- shots in the silence of 
the eerie chamber, Wanda moved forward, all her senses 
focused on escape. She glided past two large monolithic 
shapes, now shrouded in white sheeting - - their drapes 
giving them the appearance of ancient sarcophaguses. Only 
these caskets didn't contain the long-dead - - these bodies 
were brand new and just waiting for their hosts.

The reminder of the reason for their presence caused Wanda 
to shiver once more, but out of repugnance rather than 
fear. Swap bodies! Kent was planning for them to transfer 
both their souls into the clone-bodies. Was he nuts? Even 
if it could be done - - and she wasn't convinced of that - 
- she wasn't totally sure she wanted to leave her own body 
behind. It might be a little thin for some people's tastes, 
and she had the occasional bad hair day, but shucking her 
body for another seemed a bit extreme. Okay, she'd admit 
that she'd sometimes thought of becoming a blonde but, hey, 
that was through the use of the dye-bottle.

And could she be certain that this assistant of Kent's... 
this Asabi guy knew what he was doing? It was fine to pour 
water from one jug to another but transferring souls seemed 
to her to be a lot more complicated, and she wasn't sure 
that just seeing him floating in the air was reason enough 
to trust him with her soul. Besides, floating didn't seem 
all that unusual to her... which really was strange. Maybe, 
she was the one who was nuts! She had to get out of here 
and find a place she could be alone to try to figure all 
this out. Wanda had the distinct impression that she was a 
girl who liked to make her own decisions, and so far, it 
felt like she was being manipulated by Kent. And that was 
wrong... they might love each other, but that didn't give 
him the right to run her life for her. Of course, she could 
just ask him to let her go for a time. Yet she was fairly 
sure that he wouldn't be too pleased with that suggestion. 
He'd make a fuss and tell her it was too dangerous for her 
to go walking about on the surface - - that Clark or that 
murderous female might find her, or the police. Right now 
though, Wanda felt sufficiently insecure in this place to 
take her chances.

The exit loomed in front of her and she peered guardedly 
round the edge of the red brick arch. The passageway was 
slightly better lit than the room. Slowly she edged her way 
along the dirty concrete wall... this place stank of damp 
and crumbling cement work and in the gloom she could just 
make out wide traces of dried-up rivulets that meandered 
down the old walls. It was a good bet that hours after it 
rained on the surface this place would probably be awash 
with running water. All the more reason for her to 
hurry....

The hum of voices in serious conversation wafted through 
the dank air, accompanied by the soft fall of footsteps. 
Kent was coming back! Soon he would be turning into this 
side corridor. It was too late to go back and she daren't 
let him suspect that she was trying to steal away like a 
thief in the night. Pasting a bright smile on her face, she 
raised her voice as she went to meet the source of the 
sounds.

"Kent? Is that you?"

"Lo... Wanda, my dear! Were you coming to meet me?" Was the 
smile that lit up his face as false as the one she was 
wearing? "Are you feeling better?" He was all solicitude. 
Could she be wrong to feel suspicious of him?

She allowed him to slide his arm around her shoulder and 
redirect her back to the dismal chamber. "Oh, not so bad, I 
guess." Wanda wiggled her hand in a seesaw motion. "I have 
a headache."

"Poor dear! I'm sure Asabi will have something that can 
help with that. You know you really must rest, my dear. 
You've been through a terrible trauma and you need to 
regain your strength for the next stage in our plans."

Making a mental note not to take anything that Asabi might 
give her, Wanda pouted prettily. "I'm bored, Kent, and I 
miss you." That shouldn't be a lie but it was.

Kent, though, seemed completely taken in. "I'm sorry, 
Wanda, to be ignoring you like this. But there's much to be 
done before we can leave Metropolis."

"Then let me help you! There must be something I can do?"

"My dearest, I value you far too much to allow you to put 
yourself in danger." Kent had escorted her all the way over 
to the bed and he gently but firmly pressed her to sit. "Up 
there, on the surface, you'd be in danger...."

"But I told Clark that I didn't want to be with him... that 
I chose you. Why would he continue looking for me? He knows 
that it's over between us."

"Clark is a very persistent young man," he explained 
patiently, as if talking to a petulant child. "Now, please, 
do as I say and very soon you'll have all the freedom you 
want."

"Oh yeah! I've always wanted to be a blonde bimbo!"

"You don't like the body I've chosen for you? Well, to be 
honest, blonde wasn't really my choice either but we had to 
accept what Dr Mamba created. Once we're free and clear you 
can be whatever colour you want... be whatever you want. 
Besides, beauty is only skin deep... it's your spirit that 
I love, Wanda." Kent bent his head and captured her lips in 
a sensual kiss, yet Wanda found herself squirming inside. 
Surely her reaction was all wrong? She loved this man... 
she should love everything about him, especially his 
kisses.

Wanda pulled her head back but offered him a melting 
smile... it wouldn't pay to antagonise this man. However, 
she quickly changed the subject. "So what's all this stuff 
that you have to do?"

"Oh, different things," he replied evasively, but seeing 
that she wasn't about to be put off, he explained, 
reluctantly. "Make our travel arrangements; close a few 
business deals before we go...."

"We're going somewhere?"

"Yes, we're going to Switzerland. I have a lovely residence 
there, which, I feel sure, you'll feel very comfortable 
with. Just as soon as I conclude a few financial 
technicalities and Asabi has worked his magic, then you and 
I will be heading for Geneva."

Switzerland! Someone else had spoken of taking her to the 
Alps - - a fortress in the Alps! She was no happier to hear 
of that now than she had been before... but before what? 
There were huge gaps in her brain, gaps which needed to be 
filled, and she doubted that going to Switzerland would be 
conducive to that.

Yet Kent had evidently caught her uneasiness, as a little 
annoyance was broaching his smooth facade. "It won't be 
forever, Wanda. Once this furore has died down and Clark 
has given up his search, then we can return. Once we've 
grown accustomed to our new personas, then we can go 
whereever we wish. Just think, Wanda, the world will be our 
oyster... we will have no boundaries." Kent spread his arms 
expansively.

Oysters! Ugh! She didn't really like oysters, considering 
them vastly overrated. However, Wanda was aware that she'd 
alerted Kent to the fact that she wasn't wholly enamoured 
of his plans, and that wasn't wise. She had to convince him 
that he had her complete cooperation, if she wanted to 
escape this place. Wanda forced a pleased smile onto her 
face.

"Switzerland! I've always had a fancy to visit 
Switzerland... all that snow and fresh air... and cow-bells 
and cuckoo clocks...." Wanda's knowledge of the country was 
somewhat limited.

"I'm so pleased, my dear, that you feel that way. I take it 
that you won't have any objection to our marrying in that 
country?"

"Marrying?" Wanda squeaked, finding it more and more 
difficult to maintain her lover-like front with each one of 
Kent's revelations.

"Yes, dearest! I felt sure you wouldn't mind, given the 
fact that we would now be husband and wife if Clark and his 
associates hadn't barged in on our last wedding day."

Wedding day! That answered one question. She'd dreamed of 
walking down the aisle in a white lacy wedding dress.... No 
wait! That wasn't quite accurate. She'd dreamt of two 
wedding dresses in two different locations. Oh, this wasn't 
good - - she was developing a migraine.

"Wanda, darling, you're looking very pale. It's my belief 
that you should try to get some more sleep. We have a very 
busy time ahead of us and it's important that you're in 
good shape for the transfer. I'm sure Asabi would agree 
with me here." The Indian gentleman didn't speak, but bowed 
in acquiescence. Kent seemed to accept this somewhat 
subordinate salute, then turned back to Wanda. "I'll say 
goodbye for now. I have a number of business deals to 
settle before we can leave. Please try to rest and 
recuperate some of your strength, dearest, as the time for 
our changing bodies is very near now."

Kent dropped a quick kiss on his dearest's upturned brow 
and Wanda struggled not to flinch from his patronising 
caress, realising that she had to convince him of her 
sincerity. If he believed that she was completely in his 
thrall, perhaps he would relax his guard on her. And 
convince him she clearly did, for he pulled her into his 
arms and deepened the once chaste kiss. Panic started to 
rise like bile into her throat. What if he wanted more than 
a kiss? That would be so much more than she could take. 
However, he reluctantly pulled away after a few moments.

"Don't distract me, my dear! You were prepared to wait for 
Clark till you were wed, so you obviously believe in the 
sanctity of marriage." His hand held her chin between his 
fingers with more pressure than was necessary and a tic 
jumped in his clenched jaw. Kent didn't view the thought of 
her liaison with another man with equanimity. "So it shall 
be with us. We will be married in Switzerland. Till then, 
Lois, I must ask you not to put temptation in my way. I am, 
after all, a man and you are a very desirable woman. 
Farewell, my sweet, until later."

Kent turned on his heel and swaggered from the room, 
followed by an enigmatic and sedate Asabi. Wanda was 
stunned! There it was again... he'd called her Lois when 
her name was Wanda Detroit. Who was Lois? And, according to 
Kent, she'd been prepared to marry Clark. Well, that would 
certainly account for the two wedding dresses in her 
dreams. Only that led to another conundrum. She was a grown 
woman of the world with evidently a lot of experiences she 
could well do without... why should she stipulate waiting 
for her wedding night? This was the nineties; wasn't that 
an outmoded idea?

The number of questions that assailed her kept on growing. 
It was time that she discovered some of the answers and 
that entailed getting out of this tomb. She waited a short 
while to let Kent and the Indian mystic leave - - bumping 
into either one of them would foil her plans. Once again 
she crept from the bed. If she were to escape she'd fare 
better in something other than the skimpy robe she was 
wearing. Wanda set out on her first stage of escape, 
searching for more suitable attire.

*****

Chapter Two Enlightenment

Ellen Lane couldn't sleep! She was anxious, and, although 
that wasn't a particularly unusual state of affairs for 
her, this time she knew that things were very wrong. Ellen 
didn't have much faith in the 'happy-ever-after' kind of 
love, but even she was surprised by how quickly things had 
fallen apart for Lois.

Her daughter, with her new husband, ought to be enjoying 
their honeymoon in Hawaii, but, according to Martha, Lois 
had cancelled the reservations when hearing of Lex Luthor's 
escape from prison. Actually, the dreadful man had seemed 
to be pardoned and only later was it discovered that the 
'President' who'd signed the papers had been an imposter, 
but it had been too late to recapture him. Now Luthor was 
at large and the whole of the Metropolis Police Department 
was looking for him.

Actually, Lois' actions hadn't surprised Ellen one bit... 
it was just so Lois to put her work before her private 
life. In that respect, Lois was just like her father! Well, 
it was wrong, and Ellen had immediately decided to tell her 
daughter so. Ellen wouldn't stand by and let her daughter 
make the same mistakes as Sam Lane.

But passing on that advice had proved to be more difficult 
than she ever could have imagined. Ellen had gone to the 
Daily Planet building, hoping to confront her errant 
daughter, but had been told that Lois had just left. So, 
having failed to confront her desired quarry, she had 
sought out her son-in-law. Usually, Clark was such a 
pleasant young man and had always been very respectful 
towards her; however, on this occasion, his treatment, at 
best, would have been described as offhand and, at worst, 
as downright rude. He'd given her some ridiculous excuse 
and had run off towards the stairwell and that was the last 
she'd seen of him... and he'd refused to answer all her 
telephone messages.

Thankfully, young James Olsen had taken pity on her. The 
also rather shell-shocked researcher had escorted her into 
the conference room and provided her with a strong black 
coffee, clearly understanding that she would need some 
sustenance when she heard the strange tale he had to tell. 
And what an absurd story it was. Clark Kent had accused 
Lois of not being his wife - - of not even being Lois Lane! 
Such nonsense! Only it hadn't been nonsense.

That had been a few days ago and, though the riddle of the 
duplicate Lois Lane had been solved, neither Clark, nor the 
police, nor Superman were any nearer to finding Lois or Lex 
Luthor.

Ellen shifted in agitation on the uncomfortable sofa. These 
contraptions might look pleasing but they hadn't been 
designed with comfort in mind. Ellen doubted that comfort 
had been high on Lois' list of priorities when she'd bought 
these things, as her daughter had spent most of her time at 
the Planet or chasing down scoops. Ellen could only hope, 
when things were sorted out, that Clark's homey influence 
would rub off on Lois. Perhaps, when organising the move of 
Lois' furniture, Ellen could contrive to lose these bone-
breakers. Meanwhile, if she couldn't sleep, at least she 
could continue packing Lois' personal belongings.

A soft tapping at the door caused Ellen to jump! The 
thought of a stiff drink invaded her senses but Ellen 
pushed it resolutely aside. A couple of aspirin might not 
go amiss, though. The tap-tap continued, growing more 
impatient and demanding. Ellen was frightened. Who would be 
calling at this time of night? Oh, get a grip, Ellen! No 
wonder your daughter doesn't confide in you when you 
dissolve into a mass of quivering nerves at the least sign 
of trouble.

Steeling herself, Ellen walked to the door and peered 
through the peep-hole. Lois - - it was Lois in the hallway! 
Or could it be the clone? From what she could glean, Clark 
had taken the clone out of Star Labs, but for what possible 
reason she had no idea. Could Clark have decided to take 
the substitute as his wife? Somehow that scenario just 
didn't ring true. The knocking was growing ever louder. 
Well, for the first time, Ellen had a chance to discover 
things for herself... with determination, she started on 
the various locks.

*****

Wanda stared at the wooden-panelled door as she listened to 
the sound of locks and bolts being opened. She had no idea 
who was behind the door. In fact, she had no idea why she 
was here. It had taken her quite some time to find her way 
out of the tunnels, taking a few wrong turns more than 
once, and having to be careful not to bump into Kent or his 
weird assistant. Finally she'd emerged from the 
underground, only to find herself in an unfamiliar but 
definitely sleazy neighbourhood. The road before her had 
been long, potholed and with very few working streetlights, 
while in the doorways of squalid apartment blocks lurked a 
few drunken down-and-outs.

It was dark, yet Wanda had no idea of the time. She'd 
glanced down at the strange timepiece on her wrist... it 
had been a gift from Kent, as were all her current 
possessions... but there hadn't been enough light to read 
the face. It didn't really matter anyhow... she didn't know 
what month or year it was, so an hour here or there didn't 
seem to be important. Mind you, judging by the temperature, 
she'd decided it might very well be winter. Goose-bumps had 
risen on Wanda's skin and she pulled the little jacket 
closer to her body. Her search of the underground chamber 
had yielded up a small wooden cupboard which housed a few 
ladies' outfits - - though somehow the garments didn't seem 
to be synonymous with that particular title. She'd 
discarded most and settled on a pair of skintight black 
pants with a matching shirt and short, leather jacket, all 
of which felt as though they'd been fused to her body. 
However, hiding in the entrance to the unused subway had 
been neither the time nor place for a fashion critique and, 
balancing as best she could in her high-heeled boots, she 
had taken to her heels and run, careful to keep well into 
the shadows. She had no wish for Kent to see her and carry 
her back to his lair.

Wanda hadn't a clue which direction she was heading... it 
just seemed right to let her feet take her where they 
would. Time passed... she must have run and walked for over 
an hour, but she had left the poorer part of the city 
behind. Stopping to catch her breath, Wanda had looked 
around her. This area seemed a lot more pleasant and 
affluent. Old but well-kept buildings lined the street. 
There were even trees planted along the sidewalk... trees 
which were bare of leaves, reinforcing her certainty that 
it was wintertime. Stopping in front of a flight of stairs, 
Wanda had allowed her instincts to lead her and they had 
brought her to this door. But for the life of her she 
couldn't say why. Almost afraid of what was behind the 
door, she'd knocked timidly, but as her need to discover 
anything about herself asserted itself, her rapping had 
become more strident. Yet no answer was forthcoming. Wanda 
had just concluded that there was no one home and was about 
to leave dejectedly when she'd heard the stealthy creak of 
locks.... Hey, the person who lived here must be paranoid 
if the various noises were anything to go by.

The door opened a crack and a woman's face peered round the 
edge - - an older face which was grim and seamed with 
worry. "Lois?!" asked the stranger.

"No!" Geesh, someone else was calling her by a strange 
name. Could it be the name of her lookalike? "Who are you?"

Ellen was puzzled. The clone was fully aware of who Ellen 
Lane was and answered to the name of Lois, but obviously 
this woman did neither. So, did that mean that this was her 
daughter who was somehow lost and confused? What were the 
odds that there would be another person who resembled Lois 
so much that it could fool her closest friends and 
relatives? The corridor was hardly the place to investigate 
this question so Ellen opened the door wider and pulled the 
now trembling woman inside.

"You're freezing, poor thing." At the first touch of her 
hand, Ellen felt a surge of pity for this frightened 
creature, whether she be another clone or her own flesh and 
blood. "Can I get you some coffee to heat you up... I just 
made a fresh pot."

"Coffee would be nice," Wanda agreed abstractedly as she 
wandered around the small living area, her hands straying 
over pieces of furniture. Her next words halted Ellen on 
her march to the kitchen, however. "But oolong tea would be 
better. It's a very soothing blend, didn't you know?" Wanda 
became aware of the older woman's scrutiny and feelings of 
awkwardness washed over her. "Actually, I don't know how I 
know that either," she admitted with a sheepish grin. "It's 
just one of the many things that I don't know about 
myself!"

Wanda stood twisting her fingers, giving the appearance of 
a startled fawn that was about to take flight. Ellen on the 
other hand, became ever more sure and a reassuring smile 
lit her face. "Lois, it really is you!" But when she 
attempted to come closer, she noted the tension in her 
daughter's stance and realised that now was not the time 
for warm family reunions. "Oh sweetie, you developed a love 
of oolong tea from Clark," Ellen informed casually. "So why 
don't you sit down and I'll make us a nice fresh pot. I 
know you have it here because I saw it earlier...."

Ellen allowed her voice to tail off as she settled about 
her task. Using her long-disused nursing skills, she 
reviewed the situation. Of course, she was no expert, but 
it did seem that Lois might be suffering from some sort of 
amnesia... and if that were true then the situation would 
require careful handling. Certainly no precipitous shocks 
were called for. Ellen was afraid that any such revelations 
would cause her daughter to bolt and who knew where she'd 
end up. Ellen had to keep Lois talking until she could send 
for help.

"Does Clark live here?" Lois enquired timidly.

Ellen glanced up and saw Lois intently studying her 
fishtank. The question had been voiced almost as an 
afterthought, but Ellen wasn't blind to the attentive tilt 
of Lois' head as she waited for the answer. Somewhere 
inside Lois' confused mind an interest in Clark was 
stirring. Well, that was good.

"No dear, but then neither do you any more."

Lois unbent from her position over the glass tank and 
confronted the other woman abruptly. "I lived here?"

"Oh yes! For quite a few years as a matter of fact." Ellen 
kept her voice mild and conversational, as if this were a 
completely normal chat. She also kept on making the tea and 
when the kettle boiled she poured the water over the tea-
leaves and brought the prepared tray over to the table. 
Sitting down on the sofa, she patted the space beside her. 
"Come and sit down, dear. You look a little tired."

"It took me a long time to get here." The voice was guarded 
but Wanda did as she was bid. "But don't ask where I was or 
what I was doing there because I have no idea of what's 
been happening to me... it's all so confusing!" Wanda's 
head sank into her hands and her fluffy hair hid her face.

"Do you have a headache?" Ellen asked sympathetically.

That was an understatement! At first, the fresh air had 
dissipated the pain but steadily it had returned with 
increasing force, and she'd refused to take Asabi's drug, 
even though it seemed to come out of a fairly innocuous-
looking packet. This woman seemed trustworthy, though. "A 
doozy! Do you have any painkillers?"

Ellen finished pouring the tea. "Yes, in the bathroom 
cabinet. Why don't you drink your tea while I fetch them." 
Keeping an eye on the exhausted and bewildered girl, Ellen 
left the room, quickly returning with two Advil and a glass 
of water. She watched solicitously as Lois swallowed them 
down.

After a few moments, Wanda opened her closed eyes and 
returned the woman's kindly gaze. "Who are you? I feel I 
should know you... but I just can't work it out, and 
thinking about it just makes my head ache more."

Settling back onto the couch Ellen suggested calmly, "Then 
don't! I'm sure everything will come back to you in time. 
You know, a long time ago I was a nurse... and a very good 
one. Now amnesia wasn't my area of expertise but I'm fairly 
certain that most amnesiacs get their memories back."

"But I haven't forgotten everything! I know that I'm Wanda 
Detroit and I'm a singer. I was working in Bibbo's bar 
because it was the only place left for me to work... 
because of Clark and his life of crime. And then there was 
this woman who looked just like me and she threatened to 
shoot me... but, thankfully, Kent came and rescued me... 
just in the nick of time, because Clark was trying to 
abduct me...." Even to Wanda her voice sounded demented.

"Lois, none of that is true!" Ellen had recognised the 
frantic note that was growing in her daughter's voice and 
she was certain that it had to be halted. She took hold of 
Lois' trembling hands and turned to face her. "Look at me," 
Ellen commanded and thankfully some echo of childhood 
remained as Lois obeyed her mother. "What I'm about to tell 
you is the truth. I have no idea where that other nonsense 
comes from... but I am your mother, Ellen Lane...."

"My mother?" Wanda's words were slightly incredulous but 
the concept didn't seem impossible and it would explain why 
this woman was here. "I suppose I can accept that."

"That's good! You can't know how happy that makes me." 
Ellen squeezed Lois' imprisoned hands, and keeping her tone 
deliberately mild and even, she went on. "And you are Lois 
Lane. A reporter for the Daily Planet and a brilliant one 
at that. Clark Kent..." The look of bewilderment on Lois' 
face at the name wasn't lost on Ellen. "Yes, Clark Kent, is 
one and the same person and is your partner at the Planet. 
You and he have become the hottest reporting team in town 
and you have a number of awards to prove it." Ellen's face 
softened along with her voice. "But Clark became so much 
more to you than that.... You fell in love, and never have 
I seen a couple who are more suited to each other." The 
strange thing was that Ellen discovered she actually 
believed that. So much for her cynical attitude to love and 
marriage.

Wanda remember her dreams and the white dresses. "Did we 
get married?"

Ellen had to strain to hear the quiet voice. "A few days 
ago I would have answered yes, but it seems there's been a 
problem. But nothing that can't be put right," she quickly 
added at the look of stark horror in her daughter's eyes. 
"You know, I think that we should get Clark over here - - 
I'm sure he'd be able to convince you of the truth so much 
more easily than I would."

"No!" Wanda jumped up from the sofa, dread filling her 
heart. She wasn't sure she was ready for that. She wasn't 
even sure she was ready to believe that she was Lois Lane!

Following after Lois, Ellen refused to let her run. "But 
Clark wouldn't hurt you, Lois. He loves you!" Ellen placed 
her hand beneath Lois' chin and firmly raised the bent 
head. "Trust me, Lois. You want answers and Clark can give 
you them so much better than I can. And if you're still not 
convinced, we'll ask him to go."

"Oh, yeah, sure! He'll just turn round and leave without 
creating a fuss!" Funnily, though, that wasn't a totally 
far-out notion. After all, he'd let her go with Kent when 
she'd made her feelings clear. He'd looked totally gutted, 
but he hadn't tried to restrain her against her will.

"Yes, he will! Now will you let me call for Clark?"

Lois looked down at the floor. Lois or Wanda... she still 
didn't know who she was, but she had to admit that 
somewhere deep inside she was looking forward to seeing 
Clark again. Did that mean that she was wrong in thinking 
he was a criminal or did it just mean that she was some 
sort of crazy masochist? She'd heard about women like that!

"Lois?"

Ellen's voice interrupted her tumbling thoughts and she 
raised her head to see Ellen standing by the phone.

Lois', or was it Wanda's toe traced patterns on the 
carpeted floor. She breathed deeply. "Okay! Go ahead - - 
phone him!"

*****

Martha and Jonathan Kent jumped at the whirlwind that flew 
into Clark's apartment. Normally, they took such things in 
their stride but these were hardly normal times. Martha was 
on her feet, the question she'd been asking of her son 
frequently over the past few days when Superman returned 
from yet another of his searches, dying on her lips. His 
furrowed brow and tight lips made the answer obvious. 
Jonathan, however, was not so reticent.

"No luck, son?"

Superman locked his arms in his firm superhero pose, yet 
worry and fear clouded his tired eyes. "No!" he ground out. 
"And now Luthor has both of them...Lois and the clone!" 
Clark threw his arms wide, then mussed his hair with a 
disconcerted hand. "I thought I heard Lois calling for me, 
but it was just another one of Luthor's tricks... it was a 
recording, and when I got back to the fiasco at the bank I 
discovered that he'd gone off with the clone and the money. 
How could I have been such a fool as to let him trick me... 
twice?"

Martha caught one of his waving arms and stroked it 
soothingly; the muscles beneath her fingers were like 
tempered steel, though she could sense a quiver coursing 
through his tense body. "Clark, it's not your fault! You 
thought Lois needed you and you went to help her - - it's 
your natural reaction to her cry for help. You couldn't 
have known."

"I should never have listened to him when he said he wanted 
to help me find her. I believed that his so-called love for 
her would want her to be safe and happy. I can't believe I 
trusted him."

"But you'd have been right to trust a normal man." Jonathan 
came to stand at Clark's other side. "Unfortunately, Lex 
Luthor is insane."

"And he has Lois... and the clone. Poor thing - - she 
didn't deserve any of this either." A shudder coursed 
through him and his shoulders slumped momentarily, but he 
visibly made a valiant effort to pull himself together. 
"Mom, Dad, I've got to go! I've got to keep searching!"

"Clark, you can't! Look at you - - you're exhausted and 
when was the last time you had something to eat?" Martha 
fussed.

"Mom, I'll be fine and you know I don't need to eat...."

"Son, you heed your mother!" Jonathan's instruction sounded 
more severe than the usual tone he used to address his boy, 
but it was clear that Clark was almost at breaking point. 
"You might not need food, but you do need rest." He laid a 
gentle hand on the blue-clad shoulder. "Even Superman can 
reach the end of his tether."

"Come on, Clark, I kept some supper warming in the oven for 
you. Why don't you take some time to eat it and rest and 
then you'll be more alert to resume your search in the 
morning."

"I don't know, Mom," Clark replied doubtfully. "I don't 
know how much time I have to find Lois...." Yet he allowed 
himself to be led towards the kitchen.

Martha and Jonathan exchanged concerned glances. Clark's 
step was heavy and his eyelids drooped. He really needed to 
sleep. The shrill ring of the telephone disturbed the 
silence and shocked all three. Clark pre-empted his parents 
and reached the phone first. It might be word of Lois or 
even her clone.

"Hello!" Clark barked into the phone, startling the caller 
who only managed to stammer out her name. "Oh, Ellen, I'm 
sorry I haven't been able to return your calls but, as my 
mother has told you, I've been busy searching for Lois." He 
was trying hard to keep his edgy impatience from showing 
through his voice. He really wasn't in the mood to deal 
with the complaints of this paranoid woman and yet this was 
his mother-in-law - - at least, it ought to have been his 
mother-in-law. Clark had almost tuned out the whiny voice 
when the meaning of Ellen's words caught his attention. 
"What?! What did you say?!"

"Lois is here, Clark." The voice on the other end of the 
phone was tentative.

Clark's weary mind sought to make sense of this surprising 
information. "Where?"

"At her apartment... with me. She showed up about an hour 
ago."

Clark should be jumping for joy... he couldn't believe that 
he wasn't! But he'd been through so much and he was wary of 
accepting things at face value. After all, the clone was at 
large... it could very well be her.

"How is she?" he asked hardly daring to believe.

"Well, Lois isn't herself," Ellen conceded. "In fact, she 
believes she's someone called Wanda Detroit...." There was 
an unusual wooshing noise coming through the phone. "Clark, 
are you there?"

Then the strange noise was outside the apartment and by the 
window hovered the large frame of Superman. Ellen had 
closed the window but had thankfully not locked it. Within 
a nanosecond Clark was inside and x-raying Lois' ankle... 
it was scarred! This really was Lois! Without hesitation 
Superman closed the intervening space between him and his 
love and pulled her into his eager arms.

Wanda stood stunned but not unpleasantly so. Then again, it 
did seem very odd that this stranger was holding her in 
this way. Funnily enough, he seemed to be deriving some 
comfort from his action.... She heard him say her name - - 
well, the name of Lois - - over and over again. Wanda, 
however, did feel that some introduction and some 
explanation was called for... hadn't her mother just told 
her that she was engaged to the man who went by the name of 
Clark Kent? And she was pretty certain that this wasn't 
he... wait a minute, hadn't she read something about this 
guy in the newspapers? Wanda pushed herself out of the 
strong arms that clung to her, finding the clasp loosen at 
the first hint that she wanted to move.

"Well, that was nice! A little over the top since we've 
never been formally introduced, but I do know you." Wanda 
edged back a few steps and looked the guy in the suit up 
and down. "You're Superman! I've seen your picture in the 
papers." Her words seemed to puzzle the man and to trouble 
him... which she was sorry for. She hurried to make it up 
to him in some way. "Like the suit! A little bit on the 
flashy side... but it works for you. Goes with your dark 
colouring. And I bet the people you rescue are so relieved 
when they spot you coming from a mile away!"

A lump formed in Clark's throat as he searched for some 
sign of recognition and found none. "Lois?" he managed to 
articulate. Only that one word passed the mass that 
threatened to choke him. Yet he refused to accept that Lois 
couldn't know him. Dragging her back into his embrace, 
Clark captured Lois' mouth with his own and welcomed her, 
with all that he had, back into his life.

So intent had he been on finding Lois again that Superman 
had totally ignored the presence of the other woman. 
Ellen's arrested stare took in the sight of Metropolis' Man 
of Steel as he kissed her daughter, like a thirsting man 
who'd found the only oasis in the desert. The costume was 
well-known... but something was different about Superman... 
something about his hair that reminded her of someone else. 
And why had Superman brought a phone?!

"Hello? Clark, are you still there?" Ellen asked 
breathlessly of the mouthpiece she held and was not totally 
stunned to hear her voice issuing from the handset locked 
forgotten in Superman's grasp.

Once more, Wanda extricated herself from Superman's arms 
with more reluctance than she was willing to admit. 
Truthfully, she kinda liked his kisses but if she did have 
a fiance, then she didn't want him to think that she was 
flaky or something. "Hey, big guy, you've got to quit doing 
that... I'm an engaged woman! Or so my mother says."

Superman didn't seem put out by that bit of information. In 
fact, he was smiling down at her with just the cutest grin 
that it had ever been her privilege to receive. He had the 
most beautiful smile... and those eyes. But, she shouldn't 
be thinking these things... not about this man. Her mother 
had been sure that Lois was in love with Clark Kent.

"Yes you are, Lois! You're engaged to Clark and I'm...."

"Superman!!" Ellen's shrill tone broke into Clark's 
exultation. "Superman is just so pleased to have you back 
with us again, Lois." The older woman walked forward and 
gently drew her daughter away from the hero's vicinity. 
"Superman is such a close friend of both yourself and Clark 
that he just let his relief get the better of him."

"Ellen, you don't understand!" Clark at this moment was so 
ecstatic about having Lois back that he didn't care to 
protect his secret identity, and, after all, this woman was 
family.

"But I do, Superman!" There was a slight emphasis on that 
word as Ellen's gaze slid to the phone in Superman's hand 
and he quickly stuck it behind his back. "And I'm sure that 
Clark will too... and forgive you. We're expecting him to 
show up here at any minute. Don't you have something heroic 
to do?" Her head tipped in an almost imperceptible gesture 
towards the window.

"Yes... I guess so...."

Was Ellen trying to tell him something? Her eyes were 
busily hinting that he should leave.... Had she guessed his 
secret? He had to admit the phone was a pretty big clue. 
And, if Lois had forgotten his dual identity, then it was 
probably better to deal with the situation as Clark. Oh 
boy! Did this mean that he had to go through the revelation 
all over again? That thought didn't cheer him... he'd 
become so used to Lois knowing, protecting his secret and 
helping him out with excuses for his sudden disappearances. 
He was beginning to think that fate didn't want them to be 
together.

Superman looked down into the face of the woman he loved. 
Her eyes were friendly but, other than curiosity, held 
little else to encourage him. She did look so very tired, 
though, and the bright fire that usually burned within Lois 
was no more than a flicker. Goodness knows what Lex had put 
her through. And Ellen's next words proved that she also 
was anxious for her daughter.

"You won't mind if we say goodnight then, Superman? Lois is 
exhausted and quite upset by it all. As soon as Clark gets 
here, I'm going to phone my husband... he's a doctor and 
Lois really needs medical help to straighten things out." 
Ellen was edging him back towards the window as she spoke. 
"Why don't you drop by in a day or two when Lois is feeling 
more up to saying hallo?"

Feeling totally subdued by Ellen's overbearing treatment, 
Superman let himself be shepherded backwards, barely 
managing a weak goodnight to the woman he loved, past the 
mother-bear's stalwart guard. "Night, Lois! I'll drop back 
later," he called as he was crowded out of the open window.

"Bye, big guy! Have a nice rescue!" Lois' voice followed 
him.

And Ellen's whisper was almost an echo. "Get back in here 
as Clark!"

Oh boy! That answered one question... but if Ellen knew who 
he really was, why had she thrown him out? For that was 
exactly what she'd done! Ellen Lane, obsessive worrier and 
self-doubter, had faced Superman down. Well, there was only 
one way to get any answers. With that thought in mind, he 
spun into his alter ego and, seconds later, was knocking at 
Lois' door as Clark.

"Clark!" Ellen cried as she snatched the door open. "I'm so 
glad to see you." Clark was stunned to be pulled into a 
tight hug, and even more surprised by the words that were 
whispered pointedly in his ear. "Whatever you do, don't 
tell her... she couldn't stand the shock." Then, Ellen was 
dragging him into the room and saying brightly. "Look, 
Lois, it's Clark. I did say he'd come over right away. He's 
been so worried about you."

Standing where he'd left her moments before, Lois looked 
suddenly shy and self- conscious and Clark readily accepted 
Ellen's estimation of his fiancee's state-of-mind. He 
decided he'd best tread very carefully. "Hi, Lois!" Clark 
came across the floor to her, walking steadily and 
prudently, as if she were a startled deer that might bolt 
at any threatening move. "You can't know how relieved I am 
that you're safe."

An unsure and trembling hand was stuck out to him. "Hi!" 
Clark accepted the hand delicately, trying to hide his 
dismay that they'd returned to this level of formality. "So 
you're Clark? I know that I'm supposed to know you," Lois 
stammered, "but...."

Lois' head shook negatively and the disappointment that 
showed in her eyes rivalled Clark's depression. A solitary 
tear trickled down her cheek and she brushed it aside in 
exasperation, while she sniffled bravely.

"Lois, please don't! Don't cry... and don't worry about it. 
You've been through a lot and you're confused." Clark 
risked drawing Lois to the sofa. "Why don't we sit down 
here and have a little talk about it?"

"That sounds like a good idea," Ellen seconded the 
proposal. "I'll just go make us a fresh pot of oolong tea 
while you two can get to know each other again." She pasted 
the most encouraging smile she could muster onto her lined 
face. Without her make-up and with her heart heavy with 
anxiety for her daughter, Ellen Lane was showing every one 
of her years. For the first time in many years, Ellen 
sought the help of someone she'd tried to ignore for so 
long - - she went to phone her ex-husband. After all, Sam 
was a doctor and he ought to know what was best to do to 
help Lois.

Meanwhile, the couple on the couch were staring intently 
into each other's eyes, Clark drinking in every cherished 
feature of his loved one's face and Lois trying desperately 
to search for something familiar.

A surge of wretchedness overtook Lois or Wanda... or 
whoever she was. She'd expected a flash of recognition, but 
there had been nothing. Though, she also had to admit that 
she felt very comfortable with this man. There was such 
gentleness in his eyes, and she was immediately aware of 
the tenderness with which Clark was treating her. 
Instinctively, she knew that being loved by him would be no 
hardship. Thank goodness she hadn't given into the impulse 
to flirt with Superman! This Clark was clearly a good 
person and she wouldn't like him to know that she'd already 
had faithless tendencies. If only there wasn't a great, 
gaping black hole where her memory should be.

Without conscious effort, Lois' hand came up to stroke the 
smooth skin on the face of the man sitting near her. Clark 
had automatically placed himself close to her, yet they 
weren't touching - - he'd understood that she needed her 
own space. Sadly, she shook her head as she spoke.

"I'm sorry... there is something there... but I can't seem 
to get hold of it. I want to know you... only I can't...." 
A grimace creased Lois' expression and a tremor coursed 
through her whole body. The headache was back with a 
vengeance!

"Lois!" Gentle hands settled lightly on her shoulders, 
steadying her. "Lois! What's wrong?"

The uncompromising support gave Lois back her voice. "My 
head aches! When I try to remember, I get this pain inside 
my head like a knife."

"Then don't try to think. Just relax and let yourself be 
still. You don't have to remember everything at once. Don't 
push yourself and it'll all come back in time." Clark 
offered her a wistful smile with his reassuring remarks. "I 
should know... it happened to me once and you helped me get 
my memory back. So, now it's my turn to help you."

"You did?" Lois asked in wonder... "And I did?"

"Yes!" Another brighter smile overtook the last.

"I want to remember!" And Lois sincerely did. This man 
seemed so nice...so kind... not awesome like the superhero 
in his showy uniform, but definitely... nice. Besides, Lois 
seriously doubted whether anyone could have an intimate 
relationship with someone who was always running off to 
save the world.

"Then you will remember." Clark's hands had slid down her 
arms and his fingers now entangled lightly with her own. 
"You just have to be a little patient." Clark allowed 
himself to grin internally, realising that patience and 
Lois Lane weren't naturally synonymous.

Ellen had finished her phone call and now returned with the 
fresh tea which she handed to Lois and Clark. "I agree with 
Clark, dear. People who lose their memories usually get 
them back eventually." Ellen took a seat opposite the 
couple. "And you haven't forgotten everything, Lois - - you 
did find your way here."

"But that's just it... I don't know why I came here. I 
don't even know who I am. I still think I'm this person 
called Wanda Detroit. I mean, I believe you... both of you, 
when you say I'm Lois Lane... but in here...in here, I'm 
still Wanda!" Lois tapped at her head harder than she'd 
intended, inflaming her headache, and a note of hysteria 
was creeping into her tone. "Just who the hell is this 
Wanda Detroit?"

"I think I can answer that, Lois," Clark stated hesitantly 
as his fingers retrieved her trembling hands. At the 
silent, anguished entreaty that filled Lois' stare, he 
continued cautiously, unsure if this was the right thing to 
do. A slight nod from Ellen, however, heartened him. "Wanda 
Detroit is the heroine in your novel...."

"I'm writing a novel? But didn't you say I was a reporter?" 
Lois' head swung in the direction of the older woman.

"Lois, your mother's right! You are a reporter." Clark 
reclaimed her attention. "The best in Metropolis! I can 
show you the awards you've won. And you're also my partner 
at the Planet. You mentioned a long time ago that you were 
writing a book... but I never saw it, so I guess I forgot 
about it. Then, when you went missing, we started searching 
for any clues that could lead us to you. And that's when 
Jimmy came across the novel. He found it buried in your 
computer...." For some moments Clark continued to outline 
the story they'd found, until there was no more to tell.

"Who's Jimmy?" That wasn't Lois' most urgent concern but it 
seemed the easiest one to deal with for now.

"He's our friend and he works at the Planet as a junior 
reporter and researcher. He's also a great computer 
hacker...."

"Then that explains how he found my files." Lois pulled her 
hands away from Clark. "You know I'm not sure that I'm 
ready to buy this. It's crazy!"

"I think, maybe, that I could prove it. Ellen, is Lois' 
laptop around somewhere? There's probably a copy of the 
file on there."

Ellen nodded her assent. She'd packed it away just the 
other day and she quickly went to retrieve it. As soon as 
Clark had logged into the machine and gone through the 
various passwords, Lois was reading for herself everything 
that had been recounted to her. It had occurred to her, as 
she watched his fingers flying across the keys, that she'd 
have to alter her encryption codes... only she wasn't sure 
how to do that right now. What did a nightclub singer know 
about computers?

But then, everything else was forgotten as she was soon 
immersed in reading the story of her life. The tale of a 
woman who'd loved the wrong guy - - Clark, the man who'd 
lied to her and used her for his own ends - - a woman who'd 
been rescued by the man who really cared for her - - Kent! 
It was all there in black and white.... Well, she hadn't 
really had time to read the gory details, but enough to 
know that she'd been living this crazy fairy tale.

Lois pushed back from the machine and stormed into the 
kitchen... anywhere to get away from the accusing screen. 
Without the anchor of believing she was Wanda, Lois felt 
suddenly adrift. Now her life was just an empty slate. Oh, 
she trusted what Clark and her mother had told her, but it 
was no more real to her than the story she'd just skimmed 
through.

Another puzzle rose up, hitting her full in the face, and 
she whirled around to confront these two people who seemed 
even more like strangers now. "And can either of you tell 
me why I suddenly ran away, trying to recreate my novel in 
real life? It just doesn't make sense! Why would I do 
that?"

Clark had followed her a little way but he seemed almost 
wary of touching her. "Lois, come back to the couch and 
we'll try to explain what we know."

A seeming eternity stretched out between the two as Lois 
swayed between flight or fight. Her instinct was to run... 
to get away from what she was sure was going to be 
unpleasant listening, and possibly much more. Yet, that 
wouldn't fill the emptiness, and Lois was convinced that 
under normal circumstances, she was a fighter. With an 
obdurate glance thrown at Clark, Lois came back and seated 
herself firmly on the sofa.

"Thank you, Lois." Clark too returned to the living area, 
but he remained standing, his hands thrust deep into his 
pockets, as if he didn't know what to do with them. "I 
can't tell you what happened to make you adopt the persona 
of Wanda Detroit, though I do know that it had something to 
do with Lex Luthor... the man you know as Kent."

"Lex Luthor! Should I know him?"

"You should do! You even agreed to marry him once." That 
piece of information came from Ellen and for her input she 
received a quelling glance from Clark.

"Ellen! I don't think that we've time to go into all that." 
Clark turned back to Lois. "Don't be upset. It was a long 
time ago and it only matters in the sense that Luthor has 
always been obsessed by you."

"I'm not too upset, and it answers something that's been 
bothering me. Kent told me that I'd been in love with him 
and that we were going to get married. I believed him 
because I saw myself in a dream. But what I didn't 
understand is why I would've been marrying someone who 
gives me chills!"

"You didn't know the real Luthor when you agreed to become 
his wife. Hardly anyone in Metropolis did...."

"Clark's right! Everyone thought he was this rich, 
philanthropic business man. I remember, I was so proud when 
I thought you were going to be his wife. But you didn't 
love him. We talked just before the wedding and you were 
having second thoughts, so I advised you to do what your 
heart told you." Ellen lips curved a little as she recalled 
the scene. "And when the bishop asked if you would take 
this man... you said no! It was just so you. Then the 
police burst in to arrest Lex. Clark had been investigating 
him and had found out that he was this terrible villain. It 
was a huge scandal!"

"What happened then?"

"That's a long story, Lois." Clark wasn't about to reveal 
the whole tale of Lex's coming back from the dead - - that 
was probably more than Lois could take. "Please, just trust 
me when I say that Luthor has never stopped trying to get 
you back. Especially when he found out that you were about 
to marry me."

"But, if he was a criminal, wasn't he sent to prison or 
something?"

"Yes! He escaped, though - - just before our wedding. He 
kidnapped you and substituted a clone in your place."

"A clone?!" Lois sounded sceptical. "As in 'Dolly the 
sheep'? You don't really expect me to believe that?"

"You have to, Lois!" Again Ellen backed Clark up. "It's 
true. I saw her - - in the church! She was wearing your 
wedding dress. I even spoke with her... I had no idea she 
wasn't you."

Lois opened her mouth to disparage the information when the 
picture of an underground crypt floated into her mind, 
keeping her silent. She'd been tied to a chair and a dark-
haired man had been entreating her to love him. There had 
been the clicking of heels, and a woman who looked just 
like her had stormed into view, screeching at Lex... so 
she'd been a clone. But the picture faded, leaving Lois as 
confused as before. Oh my God! A clone! Did that mean that 
Clark....

"You married the clone?!" Her tone was derisive and 
accusatory.

Clark had the grace to blush. "Well, yes! Lois, I'm sorry. 
I didn't know."

"How could you not know? You say you love me... so how 
could you be fooled?"

"Lois, I think you're being a little hard on Clark, " Ellen 
interjected, feeling a great deal of sympathy for this 
young man who'd been through so much.

"No, Ellen! Lois is right! I should've known.... And I 
did... eventually."

"How long?" Lois' hurt was tangible. "How long did it take 
you to realise that person wasn't me?"

Clark seemed to search the carpet for inspiration, but 
slowly his eyes lifted to lock with Lois' - - she had a 
right to know, and if she was angry... well, he deserved 
her rage. "About a day, I guess. Though, I started to 
suspect something wasn't quite right from morning. She 
looked like you... she even sounded like you... but she... 
wasn't. There was no spark between us! That's when I was 
certain...." Clark had been about to reveal how he'd 
checked out his certainty with x-ray vision, but remembered 
that Lois didn't know about his alter ego.

"You slept with her! You spent the night with a clone!"

The note of disgust and heartache in Lois' voice broke into 
Clark's deliberation of when it would be best to tell Lois 
about Superman. "Lois, no!"

But Clark's denial fell on deaf ears, as the empty hole 
which had been threatening Lois for some time rose up to 
claim her. The welcoming nothingness offered peace from the 
ever-nagging questions... and from the more disturbing and 
painful knowledge that Clark had made love on their wedding 
night to a woman who wasn't her.

Clark moved at super-speed to catch Lois as she fell - - a 
fact that would have given away his secret to Ellen, if she 
hadn't already discovered it. Witnessing the way that her 
ought- to-be son-in-law cradled Lois so tenderly in his 
arms while he repeated his denial over and over again, 
touched Ellen's cynical heart. She couldn't doubt the depth 
of Clark's love for her daughter, and she found herself 
praying that life would be kind to them; that their love 
would survive all the traumas and the pain.

"Clark!" Ellen's hand brushed his shoulder. "She's fainted. 
She can't hear you now, but you can tell her later. Why 
don't you take her into the bedroom. Lois needs to rest. I 
called Sam earlier and he should be here any time now. I'm 
sure he'll know what's best to be done."

Soundlessly, Clark lifted Lois and automatically obeyed 
Ellen's instructions. As he laid his precious bundle upon 
the bed, he didn't see the tears that had welled up in the 
older woman's eyes, brimming over to run unheeded down her 
face. Even Ellen hardly noticed... it had been so long 
since she'd been able to cry.

*****

A concerned father walked slowly from the bedroom. Sam Lane 
was well aware that his daughter held him in very low 
esteem, yet the fact that she didn't recognise him cut him 
to the very core. At least, she was quieter now and Sam was 
fairly certain that she would sleep, just as soon as she'd 
spoken to Clark. Lois had been adamant on that point.

"How is she?" The young man's question came at him like a 
volley.

"She's conscious, but she has some physical injuries." Sam 
explained in terms that he felt a layman would understand. 
"There's been severe cranial trauma, with concussion.... 
Thankfully, there's no sign of any cerebral bleeding, 
though I can't really say for sure until I've done a brain 
scan. But Lois is very confused... and suffering from loss 
of memory...."

"Can you help her?" Clark's demand was driven by 
desperation.

"I'm sorry! I don't really have the skills in this field." 
But at the young man's dejected demeanour, Sam hastened to 
add, "However, I do know of a young colleague who's had a 
great deal of success in these cases - - a Doctor Maxwell 
Dieter, and I'd be happy to ask him to have a look at Lois. 
See if he can help her regain her memory."

"Thanks, Sam, I'd really appreciate that. I want Lois to 
have the best."

Clark sighed audibly, recognising that he'd have to rely on 
others to cure Lois. What good were his powers in this 
case? He was so used to being there for Lois that he hated 
to feel so helpless. Nevertheless, his spirits rose 
brightly at Sam's next words.

"In the meantime, I've given Lois a sedative to help her 
sleep. But she wants to see you first! She might have 
forgotten who she is, but she's still my little princess... 
intent on having her own way." Sam Lane allowed himself to 
smile. "But make it quick," he instructed. "Sleep is the 
best medicine for Lois right now."

With a quick reassurance that he'd only say goodnight to 
his fiancee, Clark slipped into Lois' bedroom, and was 
pleased to see her propped up on her pillows and waiting 
for him. His heart did sink perceptibly to see her so pale 
and drawn, but he quickly crossed the room to take her 
outstretched hand.

"How are you feeling now?"

"Okay, I think! Tired... very tired, but my doctor says 
I'll live." Lois' voice sounded as weak as she looked.

"Lois, I'm sorry that I was taken in by your clone." Clark 
sank down on the edge of the bed and tendered the only 
comfort he had to offer her. "But I never loved her... and 
I didn't make love to her... but that was probably because 
she didn't like me. At least, not in the physical sense." 
Somehow, Clark's bluntness convinced Lois that he was 
speaking the truth. "And the next day I began to suspect 
that she wasn't who she claimed to be. Lois, I promise you, 
I have never loved anyone who wasn't you... I've never 
wanted anyone other than you. No matter how close they seem 
to you, my heart recognises the truth. Before God, you are 
the other half of my soul, and no one can ever take your 
place."

A strange, comforting peace settled over Lois and she was 
sure that it wasn't only the drugs that cocooned her in a 
safe haven. This man... this almost stranger had the power 
to make her feel cherished. "I believe you, Clark," she 
murmured sleepily into the dimming light, smiling gently. 
"My father... I think that's who he said he was... says 
that he wants me to see this doctor in the morning... 
Doctor Dieter...." Lois' voice was becoming softer and 
slower as the warm tendrils of sleep claimed her. "Will you 
come with me? I think I'd like you to stay with me...."

"Always, Lois!" Clark smiled down on Lois' countenance as 
her heavy eyelids drifted shut. Lightly, his hand caressed 
her cheek and touched the arched bow of her lips. "Till the 
end of time, Lois, I'll always be with you."

*****

A furtive scratching on the door distracted Clark from his 
contemplation of Lois. He'd been sitting here for some 
time, watching over her as she slept. Gradually, the 
tension had eased from his body. It wasn't over - - not by 
a long way, but he had Lois back and that was the most 
important thing.

The door opened quietly and Ellen appeared in the narrow 
gap. "Clark, your mother's on the phone. She needs to talk 
to you."

His parents! He should have phoned them. They must be so 
worried, not knowing what was happening. But surely Ellen 
could have told them the good news. Clark was about to 
suggest just that when Ellen's hiss came again.

"Clark, she says it's urgent... and I doubt that Martha 
would over-exaggerate." She walked further into the room 
and regarded Clark with a great deal of compassion. "I'll 
stay with Lois while you talk to Martha."

Capitulating meekly, Clark stood and stretched his back... 
he was more tired than he'd realised. "Okay, Ellen," he 
returned the whisper. "I just didn't want Lois to be alone 
when she woke up."

Ellen's hand patted him as he passed. "I understand. But 
according to Sam, Lois shouldn't wake for a while yet. You 
have plenty of time to finish your conversation and get 
back here. I'll move the big chair over to the bed and put 
out a pillow and blanket. You really should get some sleep 
yourself - - you look almost dead on your feet."

"Thanks, Ellen! A rest sounds just what the doctor 
ordered." Clark smiled teasingly as he left the room - - he 
felt optimistic enough to do that now.

The phone call shattered that illusion.

"Clark, thank goodness!" Martha's anxious voice crackled 
down the line. "Lois is here!"

"Mom, that's not possible... Lois is here and she's safe." 
Clark couldn't hide his jubilation. He didn't want to.... 
He wanted to shout it from the highest building in 
Metropolis....

"I know! Ellen told me... but the other Lois is here."

"You mean the... clone?" Clark felt bad. He hadn't given 
her fate a single thought since he'd been reunited with 
Lois.... And he had to stop calling her 'the clone'. She 
was a living, breathing person and had rights like every 
other being. Okay, she'd come into the world a little 
differently and gotten a little turned around, but she'd 
been there for him in the end. "She escaped from Luthor? 
That's great, Mom. You know, we really have to help her get 
a life... and I will, just as soon as I see to my Lois...."

"Clark, I don't think she has a life..." Clark could hear 
the pain in his mother's voice. "And we have a problem...." 
Martha swallowed convulsively. The one thing that she and 
Jonathan had obsessed over since they'd realised there was 
something different about Clark, had finally happened. 
Martha continued bleakly. "She told Luthor.... Luthor knows 
the secret!"

Martha didn't need to spell it out. The phone line 
practically sizzled with silence for some long seconds. 
"How could she do that?"

"He tricked her... just as he's tricked everyone else 
throughout his life. Clark, I know you're shocked and you 
have every right to be angry... but I think you need to 
speak to Lois." Martha's voice had calmed and her composure 
steadied Clark.

"Okay, Mom." Clark's emotions still seethed but he was, at 
least, beginning to think rationally. "I'll be right over!"

The phone was placed back on its cradle as if it was some 
instrument of vile torture and Clark turned to Sam who'd 
been trying to follow the one-sided conversation. Clearly 
the news wasn't good.

"I have to go, Sam! Superman's in big trouble and he needs 
my help. Can you tell Ellen that... and she'll explain 
everything. Tell her I said that... that I give her 
permission to explain everything."

This situation was growing more incomprehensible with every 
word. But if Sam did think it strange for Clark to go 
running off to help the superhero when Lois needed him, he 
forbore to mention it. From the fear and worry that etched 
the young man's face, Sam understood that whatever trouble 
beset Superman it was surely dire. Besides, he knew how 
close both Clark and his daughter were to the Man of Steel, 
and Sam also knew that, contrary to public belief, Superman 
wasn't totally invincible.

"I'll be back just as soon as I can!" Clark began to edge 
towards the door, but he halted and returned to shake Sam's 
hand. "Thanks for looking out for Lois. Take care of her 
for me...." The pause stretched out... and out.... "And if 
anything should happen to me... tell Lois I loved her from 
the beginning and that I'll love her to the end... and 
beyond."

Sam couldn't guess what danger this man whom he'd come to 
like and admire... even envy a little... would be facing. 
Yet he did recognise desperation when he saw it and he did 
his best to alleviate the strain. "Get out of here and go 
help your friend. I'll take care of things here and, 
besides, I gave Lois quite a strong dose... you'll probably 
be back before she wakes."

"I hope so, Sam... I sincerely hope so!"

*****

Chapter Three Treachery

The clone sat on the balcony wall, staring into the 
darkness. She gave no appearance of acknowledging Clark, 
but he realised that she was aware of his presence. 
Squaring his shoulders, Clark walked forward.

"I'm really sorry." He tried to keep his irritation from 
showing in his voice.

For a few seconds it seemed as if she wouldn't answer.... 
"Your mother told you." It was a statement rather than a 
question.

"Yes... and I can't imagine how scared you must feel. We 
should get you over to Star Labs...."

"No!" She cut in loudly. "No," she reiterated, but more 
reasonably. "If I've only got a few more days, I don't want 
to spend them being stuck with needles. But why should you 
care anyway?" The last was added with some bitterness.

"I don't like to see anyone in trouble."

The clone stood. "But I betrayed you! You must hate me."

Clark decided to lay his hand on her shoulder and was 
relieved when she didn't shrug it off. "I try not to hate 
anyone... and sometimes that's hard. But you were scared 
and desperate. You only did what you did to try to stay 
alive.... Everyone has that right. Lex Luthor is the evil 
one here."

"Yes... and he never intended to help me. It's irreversible 
anyway. In two days I'll be dead."

A stab of total loathing lanced through Clark and he pulled 
the dejected woman into his arms. She stayed there for some 
moments, enjoying the comfort he offered. Yet for her, 
there could be no real comfort, but she could get even. 
With a steadfast lifting of her little chin, Lois pulled 
away from Clark, dashing at her tears with the back of her 
hand.

"But I'll help you. I hate Lex.... I hate him for having 
made me. I'll do whatever it takes to bring Luthor 
down...."

"Now that doesn't show much gratitude for the man who had 
you created! I'm hurt."

Clark swung round in the direction of the voice, 
automatically pushing this Lois behind him. "Luthor!"

"In the flesh! And you, I'm told, are Superman." Luthor 
climbed the last few steps of the fire-ladder and jumped 
nimbly to land on the patio. He brandished a weapon that 
looked like a hand-held laser cannon.

As the clone tried to attack her tormentor, Clark moved in 
front of her. "Stay back! Let me deal with Luthor."

"Yes do, Clois! Clark and I have unfinished business to 
settle. It appears you've been holding out on me."

At those words, Lex sighted the weapon on his adversary and 
pulled the trigger. Clark stood his ground and waited... 
yet there were no bullets to catch or lasers to block, only 
the faint rippling of the surrounding air. Then Clark felt 
himself hurled back by a tremendous force to hit the wall 
behind him. Winded, he slipped bonelessly to the ground. 
His head dropped forward on his chest and he noticed in 
bemusement that his dress shirt had disappeared, leaving 
the blue suit with his S-shield exposed.

"Superman," Lex exclaimed. "Then it is true. I didn't 
really doubt you, Clois, but I did find it hard to believe 
that such a powerful being would assume such an inferior 
personality as Clark Kent."

"You would never understand, Lex," Clark gasped between 
painful breaths.

"What's going on here?" Jonathan Kent demanded as he 
stormed out onto the balcony, ready to do battle to save 
his son - - Martha hurrying at his back.

"Martha, Jonathan, the proud parents, do join us," Lex 
welcomed, the weapon hovering between these two new 
targets, its infrared sight tracing a pattern on their 
bodies. "From all that I know of Superman, I'm assuming 
that you two aren't super. So, Clark, be very, very 
careful... my finger is quite twitchy and I would hate to 
destroy these lovely people... accidentally."

"What do you want, Luthor?" Clark's voice was thready as he 
battled the pain and weakness.

The red dot swung back to cover Clark. "What I've always 
wanted... Lois and your downfall...."

Taking advantage of Lex's change of attention, Jonathan 
swung a fist at their antagonist. However, Lex was younger 
and fitter, and with a lightning change of direction, he 
brought the large-barrelled gun down on Jonathan's head, 
striking the older man to the floor.

"Dad!" Clark screamed as he scrabbled to go to his father's 
aid. The gun fired once more and its silent, invisible bolt 
hit the S-shield target. The blue, red and yellow uniform 
danced wildly in the dimness then disintegrated. Clark's 
aura was gone and he felt the powerful probes strike at his 
bared chest. What sort of weapon was this? But maybe that 
question wasn't important... all that mattered was the fact 
that this new gun had breached his invulnerability.

Jonathan crawled slowly across to his son who was writhing 
on the ground. "Clark! Clark, I'm okay. Don't worry about 
us. Take care of yourself... you're the one Lex wants to 
kill!"

"Jonathan, you wound me. I don't plan on killing 
Superman.... Where would the fun be in that? But I do 
intend to give the design for this weapon to every criminal 
I know." Lex poked the gun into his nemesis' flesh, 
laughing sneeringly. "And, as an added bonus, Clark, I'll 
give them your parents' address. How will that feel, 
knowing your parents are in danger; being a target and 
having to run for your life? I'll enjoy seeing the tables 
turned on the invincible hero." Lex paused to appreciate 
the picture of a hunted Superman. "But, for the moment, I 
require Clark's assistance to gain my other goal... Lois."

"You'll never win Lois! She hates you. Even when she didn't 
know who she really was, she didn't trust you. She ran away 
from you." Clark could see the insane glimmer in Lex's 
eyes, but he couldn't refrain from taunting him with Lois' 
rejection.

"I know," Lex agreed with quasi regret. In fact, when he'd 
discovered she'd fled, he'd thrown an almost demented 
tantrum. So, now he didn't much care whether Lois came to 
him willingly or not. He'd have preferred her to hold him 
in some esteem, and one tiny part of him still clung to the 
notion that she could love him, but he understood that was 
now an unlikely hope. "You've poisoned Lois against me and 
insinuated yourself into her affections. And it's that very 
affection that will bring her to me. You see, you're my 
bargaining chip. Your life for her cooperation." Clark 
attempted a grab for Lex's feet, but the man danced away 
with a grin, keeping the gun trained on his opponent. "And 
for some insurance, I think I'll take your mother with us - 
- just in case your strength starts to return. Remember, 
Clark, I'll kill her without a thought if you try any other 
tricks." Lex stood back and jerked Martha closer to him. 
"Now help him up," he ordered Jonathan and the clone.

It was quite a struggle, even with the help of his father 
and this Lois. Clark's legs felt like rubber and his head 
swam dizzily. Yet he wasn't prepared to hand over total 
control to his enemy. "You might have the upper hand right 
now, Luthor, but if you hurt any of my family I will hunt 
you down."

"Threats, Superman?" Again Lex sneered. "I don't believe 
you're in any position to make threats! And that applies to 
the rest of you." Lex addressed the apprehensive Jonathan 
and Lois, standing on either side of Clark. "Don't follow 
us... don't call the police. If anything goes wrong, I'll 
kill them both. Wait here for thirty minutes then go tell 
Lois that she has another two hours to show up in the 
subway. If she does exactly what I say, I'll let these two 
go. Oh, and in the unlikely event that you should plan on 
tricking me into believing that Clois is the genuine 
article, the clone better show up with Lois. But, don't 
forget, someone is watching you, and if you don't obey my 
instructions to the letter, you'll never see either Martha 
or Clark alive again."

With those parting words, Lex Luthor hauled a stumbling 
Superman, helped by Martha, through his apartment and out 
into the street where a black van awaited. Left alone, 
Jonathan and Lois could only look helplessly at each other. 
Neither doubted that Lex meant every word and, judging by 
what had already happened, neither doubted that Lex could 
actually kill Superman. This was going to be the longest 
thirty minutes of either of their lives.

*****

On the hard stone floor of the subway station, Clark sat 
hunched, his arms wrapped around his chest trying to retain 
as much body heat as possible. The ground underneath his 
buttocks was pitted and hard and his now vulnerable flesh 
felt every bump. Clark moved slightly to gain some comfort 
but the tight chain that secured him to the pillar behind, 
cut cruelly into his waist. Lex was taking no chances on 
his captive escaping.

That notion surprised a harsh, derisive laugh from Clark, 
which quickly turned into a racking cough. He doubted that 
he could stand, let alone make it out of these long tunnels 
under his own steam. Lex had separated his hostages, tying 
Martha to a rusty old pipe in one of the approach 
corridors, and Clark could only hope that she was faring 
better than himself.

He was freezing - - a wholly understandable circumstance 
since his upper torso was now completely devoid of clothes, 
thanks to Luthor's continued use of the prototype weapon. 
The quantum-disruptor, as Luthor had been pleased to inform 
him, was the newest and most deadly gun on the planet. 
Clark had no hesitation in believing that information. It 
was certainly the only weapon other than kryptonite that 
could affect him. The thing hadn't yet killed him, but 
Clark wasn't foolish enough to take much comfort from that. 
Each new hit had rendered him weaker and, eventually, he 
would succumb to the dagger-like probes which tore at the 
very fibre of his body. Besides, he had the uneasy thought 
that, thus far, Luthor had only been toying with him and 
that the gun hadn't been turned up to full strength. As 
long as the maniac had a use for him, Clark knew that he 
wouldn't be killed.

When Luthor had Lois within his clutches, the situation 
would change. It never occurred to Clark that Lois wouldn't 
show up. She might have lost her memory but it would take a 
lot more than a few bumps on the head to remove her courage 
and her will to fight for what she believed in. No, Lois 
would come to save Martha and him, and, at that moment, 
Luthor would be at his most dangerous. So Clark closed his 
eyes and rested his chin on the bruised skin of his chest. 
He stilled his racing heart and calmed his breathing in an 
attempt to retain every small particle of his strength - - 
ready to defend his mother and the woman who ought to be 
his wife.

*****

This time it was Sam Lane who sat on the uncomfortable sofa 
and mourned Lois' choice in furnishings. He glanced down at 
his watch and saw that it was a little past three in the 
morning. A huge yawn split his face, but he was much too 
uptight to sleep. Where the hell was Clark? He'd expected 
him to be back ages ago. Surely, if Superman was in that 
much trouble, then the authorities ought to be dealing with 
it. Sam considered phoning Clark's apartment, but decided 
that the Kents would have called if anything untoward had 
happened. Damn the boy! His place was at Lois' side in her 
time of need, not off helping erstwhile superheroes.

Mind you, Lois wasn't aware that Clark had left - - she 
wasn't aware of anything. Sam had crept into the bedroom 
around half an hour ago and found both his daughter and 
wife were fast asleep - - Lois cocooned in the pillows and 
covers of the bed, and Ellen dozing in the chair.

Was Ellen holding out on him? He'd passed on Clark's 
cryptic message and waited for the explanation, which had 
never come, Ellen implying that she had no idea what Clark 
could mean. He could hardly object - - Sam had left her in 
the dark too many times in the past. Only, he couldn't 
imagine what sort of secret this could be - - probably 
something about the superhero and not really important for 
now. Still, if it gave Ellen a little satisfaction, Sam was 
willing to play ball, and he dismissed it from his mind 
without a second thought.

The blanket had slipped from the older woman's lap as she 
slept, and the temperature in the room was lowering. 
Quietly, Sam crossed the room and replaced the covers over 
his wife, then with a sad smile, he reluctantly left the 
comfort of the darkened room.

A long time ago he'd given up the right to share in such a 
scene - - back then, he'd never realised just how much it 
would hurt one day. It was time to mend some fences, make a 
new start, and this time he wasn't going to mess up. And 
the first thing he could do was to make sure that Lois got 
the treatment she needed to make her well again. Sam had 
money. He wasn't the richest man in Metropolis - - far from 
it - - but his crazy medical schemes had made him a buck or 
two. It seemed there was no limit to what the public would 
buy if they thought the product was going to give them a 
quick fix. Besides, not all Sam's creations had been off 
the wall - - there had been a few which had been recognised 
by the medical profession as brilliant innovations. His 
cyborg-limbs, for instance, might have been created for the 
criminal benefit of Lex Luthor, yet modified, the concept 
had helped many disabled people regain some form of 
independence.

Financially, Sam had done all right and it was time to use 
that money to help his little princess regain her rightful 
place in the world. First thing in the morning, he'd take 
her to the Neuroscience Centre and ask Dr Maxwell Dieter to 
treat Lois. The profession was abuzz with excitement over 
the breakthroughs that young man was accomplishing in the 
field of amnesia, and Sam wanted Lois to have the most up-
to-date treatment. He hoped that Clark would be able to go 
with Lois but, if not, Sam would take over the 
responsibility. After all, he was the father.

A peremptory knock on the door caused Sam to jump. That was 
probably Clark returning... yet didn't he have a key? The 
tall man unfolded himself off the couch and fairly bounded 
to the door, but the person who confronted him was most 
unexpected and left him speechless.

"Hi, I'm Lois - - the other Lois," announced the visitor as 
she breezed past the dumbstruck man.

"You!" Sam could barely believe his eyes. She looked so 
like his daughter! The professional part of his brain could 
appreciate the leap in science that this woman represented, 
but the parent in him was outraged that this... person 
could have usurped his daughter's life. With great effort, 
Sam closed his opened mouth and stared the woman down. "Why 
are you here and what do you want?" he ground out.

"I need to talk to Lois!"

"Well, you can't - - she's sleeping."

After much deliberation, the clone had come alone, Jonathan 
deciding it would be best to wait at the apartment in the 
unlikely event that either Martha or Clark escaped Luthor's 
clutches and phoned home. They both, nonetheless, had 
appreciated that the Lanes would, no doubt, initially 
resist the clone's request. Clois, though, had felt 
confident of her persuasive powers.

"Then wake her up! This is urgent!"

Sam crossed his arms in front of him and informed the clone 
in icy tones, "I've no intention of doing so. Thanks to 
you, my daughter is injured and she needs to rest. If you 
need help, go find Clark Kent!"

"But Clark's the problem." Lois stared back hard at the man 
confronting her, then her demeanor softened 
sympathetically. Thanks to Luthor, she'd been used to hurt 
this man too. At first, she'd had no choice... she really 
hadn't known any better. Now that she was older and wiser, 
she intended to make amends for all the destruction she'd 
caused. Only, she didn't have much time. "Look, I 
understand how angry you are with me... hey, I'm mad at 
myself, but Lex used me too. And he's kidnapped Clark and 
Martha and unless Lois shows up at his lair, he's going to 
kill them... and believe me, he isn't messing about here."

"What?"

"He broke into Clark's apartment and took them away. Then 
he told me to get hold of Lois or they wouldn't live past 
morning."

"Well, couldn't you pretend to be Lois? You've been doing 
that since the wedding... so just keep on doing that and 
leave my daughter alone!"

"I would," Lois explained kindly. "Only, Lex already 
thought of that one. He wants us both there."

The tall figure slumped forward despairingly. Sam just 
wanted to protect his princess - - then inspiration struck. 
"But what about Superman? Couldn't he help?"

Evidently, Sam Lane didn't know about the secret identity 
and this Lois wasn't about to let the cat out of the bag. 
With a flash of genius, she invented an excuse for 
Superman, sticking as closely to the truth as she dared. 
"Lex had this huge gun and he almost killed Superman... 
which is surprising, I know, but unfortunately true. I'm 
afraid that the big guy will be out of commission for the 
foreseeable future. It's up to us to save Clark and his 
mother... and we don't have much time." Lois could see that 
she hadn't completely convinced this man, so she played her 
trump card. "Dr Lane, do you seriously believe that Lois 
would be happy if you just stood by and let Clark be 
killed?"

She had him there! "No! I'll do as you say, but it won't be 
easy. I gave Lois a sleeping pill a few hours ago." 
Recognising that he had no choice, Sam squared his 
shoulders and re-entered the silent bedroom.

*****

Chapter Four Showdown

Sam's words proved to be all too true. It took a long 
fifteen minutes to rouse Lois, after which she was plied 
with numerous cups of strong black coffee while being 
walked continuously around her small apartment. Finally, 
she was conscious enough to listen to the clone's story and 
to concoct, with her double, a coherent plan that everyone 
believed would have some chance of success. It all took 
more time than was comfortable and, as Sam drove the two 
young women to their destination, the deadline was fast 
approaching. Both had taken the road to the old subway 
before, but neither had been in a particularly calm nor 
observant frame of mind, and time was wasted in taking a 
couple of wrong turnings.

Eventually, the dilapidated entrance was found and here 
Lois and her clone left Sam to wait. The arrangement was 
that he would wait until forty minutes after the time limit 
and then call in the police if they had not returned. The 
pair of lookalikes speedily picked their way over the 
litter and dirt that filled the entranceway and began their 
descent into the crumbling tunnels. In the beginning they 
made good time but as they descended into the bowels of the 
earth their way became blocked with debris and crumbling 
bricks and mortar, slowing them down considerably. A few 
heated discussions arose on which was the correct route to 
take, but at last they reached the underground aquaduct - - 
they were getting near their final goal.

Wordlessly, each agreed to stop to compose themselves - - 
they would need all their wits about them to confront the 
evil that was Lex Luthor. For a few seconds, all that could 
be heard in the lofty vault was the ripple of water and the 
sounds of the two women's similarly ragged breathing. The 
cloned Lois was the first to make a move, lifting her chin 
and steeling her nerve to continue, but Lois placed a hand 
on her arm.

"What?" the clone asked impatiently, shrugging off the 
restraining hand. Time was running out.

"Do you think this is going to work?" Lois kept her voice 
hushed, not wanting to warn Lex of their coming. They still 
had a little way to go but these long corridors acted like 
echo-chambers. Lois didn't lack courage but, judging from 
the story of how Luthor had set up this complicated plan, 
he was as wily as a fox and just as predatory. "Do you 
really believe he'll be fooled by just a change of 
clothing?"

Lois looked pointedly down at the little white and orange 
ensemble she was wearing. Was this really her natural 
choice of attire that the clone had simply copied? Then 
again, she hadn't felt comfortable in the black outfit that 
now adorned her double, either. Just what sort of clothes 
did the real Lois Lane wear? Of course, that question was 
immaterial for now - - the important point was that Lex, 
hopefully, would associate these clothes with the correct 
woman. Granted, they'd been a little more thorough than 
that in their disguises, with Ellen proving to be quite 
adept with makeup and hair-styles. Almost self- 
consciously, Lois touched her matching headband... she 
hadn't worn one of those since she'd been in junior high... 
or had she?

"I'd agree with you if it was just the clothes... but it 
isn't. Surely, you can act like Lois Lane... even if you 
have lost your memory. Just do what comes naturally," the 
clone instructed, but at the original's raised eyebrows, 
she had the grace to blush. "Well, I admit, not the real 
Lois, more the cloned version... sort of younger...." Lois' 
brow climbed higher as she reviewed her earlier meeting 
with her doppelganger. The clone shrugged. "Okay...I 
shouldn't have held a gun on you! I was only a few days old 
and I didn't know any better! But that should make it 
easier for you. Lex won't be expecting you to act 
normally."

"I guess," Lois admitted grudgingly. She ought to distrust 
this woman, but she was finding that increasingly 
difficult.

"And I'm pretty sure I can put on a convincing act as 
Wanda." There was some merit in being a blank slate, the 
clone conceded privately. She could be whatever she chose. 
"To tell the truth... Wanda Detroit sort of appeals to me. 
If I'd only had a chance at a life, I think I'd like to be 
a singer in a night-club...." A light went out in the soft 
doe-like eyes.

"I'm really sorry," Lois commiserated feelingly. The clone 
had left nothing out of her recounting of all that had 
happened since Lex had conceived his diabolical plot, 
including her own impending death. "That must be hard for 
you, and I wish that we could change things... you should 
be at Star Labs so that Dr Klein can treat you...."

"That's what Clark said. You two really are well suited." 
The clone smiled warmly, if a little forlornly. "I envy you 
that, you know. But don't worry, I don't intend to come 
between you and Clark again... I doubt that I could," she 
admitted with a gamine grin. "And being at Star Labs 
wouldn't make any difference.... I'm dying and there's 
nothing to be done."

"But doesn't it follow that if Lex hadn't developed this 
crazy obsession for me, none of this would've happened?"

"And I would never have been created... I'm not sure if I 
would've preferred that." The cloned Lois sighed audibly, 
unwilling to open that Pandora's box - - there really 
wasn't much point. "Please, don't feel guilty, Lois. You 
can't hold yourself responsible for Luthor's actions. It'll 
be enough to know that I helped put a stop to his insane 
plans and that you and Clark are together and happy."

"I'm not sure that Clark and I can walk away from here and 
leave you with that madman."

"Don't worry! I'll be fine and I just have to fool him 
until you get Martha and Clark out of here. Besides, I 
might enjoy a trip to Switzerland. I might make it before I 
die."

Lois didn't quite know when her view of this young woman 
had changed... she only knew that it had, irrevocably. Was 
it a genetic bond or was it just that this Lois had grown 
into a likeable and admirable person? Whatever the reason, 
it didn't seem important and she found herself hugging her 
double.

That's it! The trip to Switzerland was supposed to take 
place after Lex and Wanda had transferred into the new 
bodies. Did this mean that if the clone swapped bodies with 
an A-class clone that she'd live a normal lifespan? Lois 
didn't have a clue to that and it would be cruel to raise 
her double's hopes.... Besides, there was no way either 
Clark or she could allow Luthor to escape to Switzerland, 
but perhaps they could arrange for the police to rearrest 
him on the way to the airport and this Lois might have a 
chance at a new life. She'd have to talk to Clark about it 
as soon as they were free and clear. Strangely, it never 
occurred to her how easily she'd slipped back into the role 
of discussing things with Clark - - it just seemed the 
natural thing to do.

Lois allowed her arms to drop from the other woman's 
shoulders. "It's almost time! We have to go. Are you 
ready?"

"As I'll ever be! Let's go sort Lex Luthor out. We'll make 
him sorry he ever got himself involved with Lois Lane... 
either one of us!"

Exchanging a grin that was one part bravado and two parts 
daring the two women set off. They'd barely gone a couple 
of turns when they came across Martha and took the time to 
set her free.

"Huh! This won't be too much trouble," snorted Lois as she 
set about the knots, her deft fingers untangling the thick 
rope. Wonder where I learnt this, she mused as the knots 
unravelled. "Clearly, Lex wasn't a boy scout!"

The announcement was made with a flourish as Martha was 
freed. They left her, rubbing the circulation back into her 
numbed hands, and with a promise that they would pick her 
up on the way out. Then the two almost ran the remainder of 
the way to the old subway station, bursting in on Lex with 
only minutes to spare.

"Welcome, ladies," pronounced Lex, his voice bursting with 
confidence. "I knew you'd come. Clark was growing a little 
worried that you wouldn't show, but that's hardly 
surprising since his life, or lack of it, rested on your 
delicate shoulders."

Twin stares centred in horror on the man hunched on the 
floor. He was naked from the waist up and his skin was 
reddened where the disrupter had tried to dissipate his 
cells. Obviously, he'd heard them almost falling into the 
room and as he raised his head towards the noise, the women 
were struck by how pale and drawn he looked. Yet somehow, 
he managed to dredge up a weak smile for them.

"What have you done to him?" demanded Lois, remembering 
Clark as the handsome man who'd come to see her in the 
apartment that was seemingly her own.

"Oh, don't worry, Clois! I only did what I had to... 
couldn't have him regaining his strength now, could I? That 
would never do!"

Clois! Sheesh, another name! And what did the reference to 
Clark's strength mean? Did he work out or something? Okay, 
judging by how well defined he looked, that was probably 
true. Lois watched bemused as Lex turned his back 
dismissively on her. That was pretty rude, given that the 
guy was supposed to have this crazy obsession with her. 
Then enlightenment struck... she was supposed to be the 
clone.

"Wanda, my dear, what possessed you to run away from me? I 
was desolated to think that you wanted to leave me." Lex's 
voice was coaxing, but the hidden menace was there.

The black-suited Wanda sidled slowly in his direction, 
showing just the right amount of contrition and fear, and 
giving her voice the slightly harder edge she'd heard from 
the Metropolis cabbies. "I'm sorry, Kent. I know that I 
shouldn't have done it... that I should've talked to you. 
But you seemed so set on it, and, to tell the truth, it 
scares me silly! So I did the only thing I could think 
of... I ran away."

"Scares you, Wanda? Whatever is it about me that makes you 
afraid?" Lex's voice was sceptical... but there was an 
underlying tone of eagerness. He wanted so much to believe 
in this woman and that he was finally going to win her for 
himself.

"Oh, not you, Kent!" The lithe figure had reached him and 
she stood staring up at him through thick dark lashes, her 
eyes shining softly in the dimness. It was a look few men 
could resist and certainly not Lex. "It's what you mean to 
do... the body swapping thing. What if it doesn't work?" 
Wanda's hands started patting his chest anxiously. "What if 
the transfer doesn't go the whole way and our souls end up 
floating about in no-man's land? Lex, I'm still not sure 
about this! I'm not sure I trust Asabi with this."

Completely ignored, the real Lois had dropped to the ground 
beside Clark. Boy, this girl was good! I believe her, Lois 
thought, and it seems that Lex might be convinced too.

Was it possible that fear was the reason for her flight? It 
didn't seem totally improbable. "Wanda, Wanda!" Lex caught 
at the tense hands. "Why didn't you tell me you felt this 
way?" He was drowning in those deep pools of brown, his 
resistance to this woman ebbing away at her nearness. "I 
trust Asabi.... I trust him with my life. Do you think that 
I'd even contemplate doing this thing if I thought our 
lives were in danger?" Wanda lowered her lashes prettily 
then subjected Lex to the most melting of glances. "But if 
you're not comfortable with this... then we won't do it. 
We'll disguise ourselves the old tried and trusted way, 
with theatrical makeup. I'm quite adept at that." He smiled 
generously, falling, once again, under her siren's spell. 
"Mind you, it'll mean a little adaption to our forged 
passports... but that's a mere detail, compared to the 
happiness of my Lois."

"Oh, Kent, you'd change your plans just because I'm being 
silly? I should never have doubted you." Wanda leaned 
closer and allowed herself to be kissed, putting on the 
greatest performance of her short life.

"Wanda!" Lex sighed when he came up for air.

On the floor by the pillar, Clark tensed. "Wanda!" he 
managed to force out, "stop!" But, thankfully, his voice 
was too weak to carry and Lex was otherwise engaged to pay 
his captive any heed.

The supposed clone gently touched her fingers to Clark's 
lips. "Ssshh!" she whispered. "It isn't what you think." 
For long moments she gazed into his weary eyes, trying 
wordlessly to convey her message to him. And it must have 
worked... he must have recognised her, because he subsided 
on the ground. Or perhaps he was just too ill to resist. 
Giving Clark's shoulder an encouraging squeeze, Lois rose 
to her feet. It was time for her to play her part. She 
walked forward.

"Lex!" she hailed him. And when, with a great deal of 
reluctance, he turned towards the sound, she continued. 
"You've got what you wanted. It's time to settle your part 
of the deal. Let Clark and his mom go!"

A quiet laugh was his only answer... a laugh that expanded 
into a full-bellied guffaw, which somehow struck her as out 
of character for the sophisticated man. "Oh my, my! You 
didn't truly believe that I'd do anything so foolish as to 
allow S...."

"Lex! You promised!" cut in Wanda, hurriedly stopping Lex 
from revealing Clark's true identity. During her time spent 
at the apartment, Ellen had managed to convey the fact that 
her daughter was ignorant about Clark and Superman being 
the same person and that it would be wise for her to remain 
so... for now. Lois would have to be told some time, but it 
was up to Clark to pick his moment and this definitely 
wasn't it. "I'm not sure that I agree with killing people."

"I know it's hard, Wanda, and, to be honest, I'd rather not 
do it either," lied Lex glibly, slipping into the character 
of Kent for Wanda's benefit. "But they know about us, and 
we'd have to spend the rest of our lives running away. I 
don't want that for us, my dear." His tone was cajoling but 
the hidden threat had returned. He had no intention of 
allowing his long-term enemy to continue to exist and the 
clone was going to die in any case, which just left 
Martha.... Asabi could finish her off once they'd left and 
Wanda need never know. "Clark is a desperate young man, 
Wanda, and he'll never cease to pursue us. Do you think, 
for one moment, that he'd allow me to live if the positions 
were reversed?"

This wasn't in their careful plans, yet if both women were 
honest, they should've guessed that Lex would never stick 
to his word. Well, they could deal with it! Wanda entwined 
her arms around her lover, intending to disable him 
somehow, but she didn't have Lois' expertise in martial-
arts. "Lex, please!" she begged.

The time for pleas had long since passed. Lex would deal 
with Wanda's recriminations later and he shrugged her off 
with more force than a man should use on the woman he 
loved. He grabbed for the disrupter and with lightning 
speed levelled it at Superman... the one being in all the 
world whom he hated and envied with an all-consuming 
passion. His lips drew back in a malignant, silent rictus 
as his finger depressed the trigger.

But the rippling beams never reached their desired target 
as Wanda launched herself at the arm holding the heavy 
weapon. She pushed upward, praying that the blast would hit 
the ceiling... and it almost did! The old crumbling 
concrete pillar behind Clark began to disintegrate.

Momentarily, Lois remained frozen, then as the cement 
started raining down on them, with superhuman effort, she 
dragged the dazed Clark free. Thankfully, the restraining 
chain slipped from the broken shards and with a little help 
from Clark the two managed to scramble to safety.

From their new position, Lois and Clark watched in growing 
dread as Lex and Wanda swayed together in a macabre dance 
of death. Between their closely locked bodies, the large 
barrel spewed its rays of destruction, until, no longer 
able to resist, the two tumbled to the floor. Lex's finger 
came off the trigger and the ominous hum fell silent as the 
gun rolled away across the rough ground.

Helping each other, the watchers scrabbled to the sides of 
the shattered pair. Both were breathing but only just. 
Clark reached the woman and gazed down at the familiar, 
fine-boned face, hoping against hope that what he'd 
understood from Lois' silent communication was true - - 
that this was the clone and not the woman he loved.

Slowly, her eyes came open and she focused hazily on his 
face. "I did good, didn't I?"

A smile was all he managed to convey as her eyes drifted 
shut for the final time. The clone's lifetime was over. But 
Luthor's evil intentions were not! He grabbed at Lois' arm, 
holding it in a vice-like grip, while around them menacing 
murmurs were sounding. Lacking the support of the pillar 
and weakened by the stray beams that had peppered the room, 
the ancient tunnels started to yield to the pressure of the 
earth around them.

"Let her go," Clark demanded, trying to appeal to the love 
that Lex had declared for Lois. "This is the real Lois!" He 
took a gamble on that declaration and was heartened to see 
Lois nod in agreement. "You say you love her... then let 
her go!"

"So you fooled me! Clever, Lois! You always stood head and 
shoulders above the other women. You would've been a worthy 
consort." Lex's other hand rose shakily to touch her 
face... but it never reached its goal. "How little you 
understood me...." And with no more than a sighing escape 
of breath, Lex slipped into oblivion.

Forgotten in the background, Asabi took to his heels and 
ran. The ominous rumbling continued around them and Lois 
slipped her hand beneath Clark's shoulders.

"Can you stand?"

Truthfully, Clark wasn't sure, but he wasn't about to give 
up. "I think so." And with great determination he climbed 
shakily to his feet. His gasping breath slowed after some 
seconds and, spurred on by another loud cracking, he began 
to move. "Let's get out of here!"

"Your mom's waiting for us round the corner...." They 
stumbled towards the exit, Clark attempting bravely not to 
lean too heavily on Lois' support. "And my father is 
waiting at the subway exit. We should hurry... I want to 
get you to a hospital!"

Clark threw Lois another searching look as they staggered 
on. So, she still didn't know about his dual identity. 
Well, this wasn't the time for complicated revelations... 
they'd be lucky if they made it out of here in one piece, 
judging by the noises and the amount of rubble that was 
falling around them.

"Lois, Clark!" came a voice from the darkness as Martha 
made her way through the dirt and floating grit. "Is that 
you?"

"Mom!" He'd never been so relieved to see his mother's face 
in all of his life.

Martha Kent hurried towards the voice and, reaching the 
couple, she enveloped Clark in a thankful clasp. Lois stood 
back with a sappy smile on her face as she witnessed the 
two exchange a warm embrace. She might not remember these 
people but it was obvious they shared a great mother and 
son relationship.

Lois' warm thoughts were rudely interrupted by a thump on 
her head as a large piece of masonry collided with her 
skull. Her knees buckled as she let out a shocked yell. The 
two Kents swung round and Clark's arms swiftly reached out 
to Lois.

"Sweetheart!" His voice climbed frantically. "Are you all 
right?"

With a grateful moan, Lois sank into his embrace and felt 
herself lifted into his arms. "Clark, you can't carry me. 
You're much too weak," she protested faintly.

"Hush, Lois! Let me worry about that!"

But Lois' worry was correct. Clark tried valiantly to carry 
his precious cargo, but he frequently had to stop to rest. 
Finally, he had to give up completely, and, together, he 
and Martha half carried and half dragged Lois towards the 
safety of the exit. One thing in their favour was the fact 
that the nearer to the surface they came, the more stable 
the corridors became.

Sam Lane had long since given up the comfort of his car and 
had ventured some way into the lobby of the subway, yet he 
didn't dare go further for fear of becoming lost. Here he 
paced back and forth, often snatching glances at his watch. 
The terrified doctor had just decided to put in the planned 
phone call to the police when three very weary and dust- 
covered people came into his view. Sam closed the distance 
between them in seconds, fearfully looking over the young 
woman who hung limply between her escorts. Under the muck 
and grime, he recognised the brightly coloured short skirt. 
Thank God - - this was his Lois. Closing his mind to what 
had befallen the other Lois, he easily hoisted his daughter 
into his arms. Then, checking only to see that Martha and 
Clark were following, he dashed towards the car. His 
princess was hurt. He should never have agreed to the crazy 
scheme, but he would take over now and demand that she get 
all the medical help she needed to recover.

A bemused glance passed between mother and son. It had been 
a close run thing, but they'd made it out intact. They 
should be happy, yet both their hearts ached for the young 
woman who hadn't asked to exist, but who had given her life 
willingly and courageously so that they would survive. 
Neither Martha nor Clark would ever forget her.

*****

Chapter Five Duplicity

By some great good fortune, Lois' latest knock on the head 
led to no serious complications. She was a little more 
bruised and battered, had a concussion and was still 
extremely disorientated but, given time, the emergency 
staff were sure she would recover, at least physically, 
from her various hurts. In fact, one small consolation 
emerged from her new injury; her thoughts were much too 
muddled to insist that Clark also should be seen by a 
doctor.

Presently, the Lanes and Kents sat huddled in a corner of a 
family room in Metro- General Hospital, awaiting the 
diagnosis of Dr Maxwell Dieter. All were worried and 
impatient, but the whole unfortunate business had taken a 
greater toll on Clark. When they'd been assured that Lois' 
condition was stable, he'd almost collapsed into one of the 
large couches which lined the walls of the room, and had 
been quickly flanked by his mother and Ellen Lane. It 
hadn't surprised him when his mother had slipped an arm 
around him but he was stunned when he'd felt his hand 
gripped by the normally neurotic Ellen. Even Sam had thrown 
the trio a questioning look - - it wasn't usual for his 
wife... his ex-wife to be so demonstrative.

At least, Clark was no longer cold. His father had appeared 
a short time ago bringing him fresh jeans, a flannel shirt 
and warm sweater, allowing Clark to return Sam's loaned 
jacket. Jonathan had helped his son to the restroom where 
Clark had stiffly donned the clothes, his limbs refusing to 
cooperate at even normal human speeds. There had been no 
blue spandex to struggle with, and Clark silently sent his 
father a debt of gratitude for his forethought. There 
really wasn't much point in wearing the suit; it would be 
quite some time before his powers recovered from the 
ravages of the quantum-disruptor. In fact, Clark had been 
happy to pull off the bottom half of the suit, which was 
all that was left, and pack it away in his sports bag.

A bone-weary lassitude settled over him and he felt totally 
overwhelmed by Sam Lane, who'd presumptuously assumed 
responsibility for Lois' medical treatment. After all, if 
it hadn't been for Luthor, Lois would now be his wife, 
making him her next of kin. Clark pushed the unworthy 
thoughts aside - - Maxwell Dieter was the foremost 
authority on this type of illness, and Clark wanted Lois to 
have the very best of treatment.

As if sensing Clark's concerns, and having been on the 
receiving end of Sam's high- handedness frequently in the 
past, Ellen patted the strong hand that rested in her own. 
"Try not to worry, Clark. If I've learnt one thing about my 
daughter it's that she never gives up. She'll come back to 
you... you'll see."

Clark tried to raise a smile for Ellen's kindness but his 
reply was cut off as the doctor in question walked 
confidently into the room. Oh boy, Clark thought to himself 
as he studied the newcomer. Was the fact that this man was 
young and attractive one of the reasons for his unease? If 
that were so, he was reacting totally unreasonably. 
Dieter's physical qualities shouldn't even be an issue.

"Hi there, Sam," Dieter said cheerfully as he walked 
towards the elder man.

Well, that must be a good sign, Clark assumed inwardly. The 
guy would surely not be so buoyant if the news about Lois 
was bad. The families rose as one to surround the white-
coated doctor.

"Nice to see you again, Sam, though I could have wished it 
to be in happier circumstances."

Oh no! That was bad!

"And you must be Ellen Lane, Lois' mother," the 
psychiatrist went on light-heartedly.

"How's my daughter, Doctor?" Ellen wasted no time on 
pleasantries.

Thank you, Ellen! Clark thought.

"Lois is doing okay, though I'm sure you're all aware, 
she's been through a terrible physical and mental trauma 
and she needs to rest and recuperate."

"We appreciate that, Dr Dieter," Clark interjected, unable 
to keep quiet any longer.

A somewhat surprised stare was turned on him, then Dieter 
smiled, sticking his hand out rather nonchalantly. "And 
you're Clark Kent... Lois' partner?"

"Lois' fiance," Clark corrected, accepting the proffered 
handshake.

"But Lois doesn't remember that!" For an infinitesimal 
moment the two men confronted each other, with Dieter 
quickly relenting. Now was not the time for a face-off. 
"Don't worry, Mr Kent, it's my job to help Lois recall 
everything about her former life, and in my experience, 
most amnesia patients recover fully. That said, it could be 
a long process, and I hope you'll understand when I say 
that I'd like to admit Lois to the Neuroscience Centre.... 
"

"You want Lois to be an in-patient?" Clark had just got her 
back and he didn't appreciate being separated from her 
again.

"Purely a precautionary measure at first. As I'm sure Sam 
will concur, head wounds are notoriously unpredictable, so 
I'd like to keep a close watch on her for twenty-four 
hours. Besides, Lois needs to rest before I start on her 
therapy and, if she's under my care, I can get a better 
picture of what treatment she requires." Dieter's 
suggestion was not unreasonable. "And it won't be so very 
bad. You can all visit and just as soon as I think Lois is 
up to it, you can take her out... show her some places that 
you feel might jog her memory.... I might even agree to 
Lois' going back to work on a part-time basis. That, 
however, is for the future.... Right now, Lois is a very 
exhausted and confused young lady, and I'd like to take 
care of her... medically speaking, of course," the dark- 
haired doctor joked encouragingly with the group 
surrounding him.

"I can't think of anyone else I'd rather have treat my 
daughter," said Sam, putting an end to the discussion.

Even Ellen looked impressed by this young psychiatrist's 
positive attitude, but she did have a word of warning. "I'm 
sure you'll take good care of Lois, but I should tell you 
that my daughter won't take kindly to being stuck in a 
hospital."

"Hospital?" Dieter sounded crestfallen. "Mrs Lane, I don't 
consider my clinic a hospital. Think of it rather as a sort 
of hotel where sick people go to be made well. We run a 
very relaxed establishment. Now, if that's settled, I've 
taken the liberty of arranging an ambulance to transport 
Lois to the clinic. We don't want her exerting herself, 
unnecessarily, at this time. Perhaps, Sam and Mrs Lane, 
you'd like to accompany your daughter... lend her your 
moral support. Patients who lose their memories can 
sometimes feel very insecure."

With those words, the doctor began shepherding Lois' 
parents towards the door, leaving the Kents in his wake. 
Clark felt unwelcome and forgotten, but help came from an 
unexpected quarter.

"Wait! Sam, we can't leave Martha and Jonathan stranded 
here, and you have your car. Why don't you run them to 
Clark's apartment and Clark can come in the ambulance with 
Lois and me." Clark almost detected a wink from his would-
be mother-in-law, as she issued her peremptory orders. "I'm 
sure that would make Lois perfectly comfortable and you can 
meet up with us at the clinic."

Dieter was taken by surprise but riposted well. "Doesn't 
Clark have a job to get back to? I've read all of Lane and 
Kent's work and I'm very impressed, but don't reporters 
always have deadlines to keep?"

Ellen Lane was not to be routed. "Well, under normal 
circumstances, I'd agree. But even Perry White isn't so 
much a slave driver that he'd expect Clark to write a story 
when he's been through so much. Clark was hurt by that 
dreadful man too, you know!"

Martha stepped into the breach. "Sam, would you be so kind? 
I know that I'm feeling very tired and achy. I really would 
like to get home to bed, so a lift would be much 
appreciated."

"It definitely would, Sam! Martha was kidnapped too, and 
maybe you could give her the once-over... in your 
professional capacity, of course." Jonathan added, 
hopefully. Dieter wasn't the only one who was manipulative.

An examination by Sam, no matter how perfunctory, wasn't 
high on Martha's list of things she'd like to experience, 
but she was quite willing to sacrifice herself for her 
son's sake. "Oh, Sam, that would be so kind of you, and 
while you're at it, you could take a look at Jonathan. Lex 
hit him with that big gun and Jonathan did mention earlier 
that he's had a headache ever since." Marha smiled 
concernedly at her husband. Turn about was fair play, and 
she couldn't help but take some consolation in seeing 
Jonathan squirm.

"Good, that's settled then!" Between them, Ellen and Martha 
made a formidable team, and linking her arm through 
Clark's, Ellen marched him away. "Let's you and I go join 
Lois. Are you coming with us Dr Dieter, or will we see you 
at the clinic?" She projected her parting shot over her 
shoulder.

A somewhat bemused gentleman could only utter a few 
excuses. "Eh, no! I've some paperwork to attend to 
here...."

*****

Between them, Ellen and Clark completed the forms of Lois' 
admission to this highly respected establishment. Neither 
of them could have the least inkling that they'd placed 
their much-loved Lois in jeopardy. Even Clark, who'd had 
some misgivings about the eminent Dr Dieter, had put his 
suspicions down to a sense of over-protectiveness and an 
unhealthy jealousy. He was used to being there for Lois and 
it hurt to realise that all his powers... his non-existent 
powers... were useless in this situation.

After making sure that Lois was comfortably installed in 
her luxurious bedroom - - Dieter had spoken truthfully when 
he'd likened his clinic to a hotel - - the two had left her 
to sleep and gone to share a much-needed lunch break in the 
centre's cafeteria. They'd collected their meals at the 
counter and, as they settled down at their table, the 
atmosphere between them was strained. This was the first 
time they'd been alone since Ellen had stumbled upon 
Clark's secret and neither quite knew how to face the 
other. Instead, their eyes strayed about the pristine, airy 
room pretending an interest that neither truly felt. Oh 
this was crazy! Something had to be said, and Clark decided 
to broach the touchy subject... deciding, though, to take 
the roundabout approach.

"Thank you, Ellen, for your help at the hospital. I felt 
like an afterthought for a time there, and I didn't know 
what to do about it."

"Well, Sam has a way of taking charge. He just does what he 
thinks best and never stops to ask what other people would 
like." Clark had the grace to blush.... Lois had accused 
him of just such a habit in the past. "It used to make me 
feel quite useless." Ellen receded into reflection for a 
long stretch and Clark was afraid that he'd lost her. "It's 
why I started to doubt my own judgement, so I can 
sympathise with how you felt. Don't let Sam bully you, 
though in this case he might be right. Dr Dieter does seem 
like the best in his field."

Clark wrinkled his nose. "I know... and I'm probably being 
completely unreasonable when I say that I don't like him 
very much."

"You don't either? Oh, that makes me feel so much better! 
Mind you, it might be because he reminds me so much of a 
young Sam...."

"And I probably dislike him because he can help Lois and I 
can't!"

Ellen's hand came up to cover Clark's. "You mustn't think 
like that, Clark. Lois needs the support of everyone who 
loves her... and you, I think, love her more than anyone. 
But be careful," she warned gently, lowering her voice so 
he had to strain to hear her. "Lois has no idea now that 
you're Superman and I think learning that could be quite a 
shock to the system. I'm assuming, naturally, that Lois did 
know before she lost her memory."

"Ellen!" Clark remonstrated, quite hurt. "I never would've 
let our relationship go so far without Lois knowing who I 
was and what she was getting into."

"That's what I thought! And you do know that I'd never tell 
anyone!"

"Thanks, Ellen, because it's really important that no one 
should ever find out. Lois, my folks... even you could 
become targets if that information got out."

"I understand, Clark. And, regardless of what Lois thinks, 
I can keep a secret. I didn't even tell Sam - - though I 
think you gave me permission, but the message was a bit 
garbled, so I couldn't be sure. I decided, in the end, that 
you should be the one to tell him, but, if you ask my 
advice, I'd leave it for now." Clearly, Ellen was enjoying 
being in on something that Sam wasn't. She sat back in her 
chair and regarded the young man with a knowing eye. "You 
look quite different from your alter ego! Of course, now 
that I know, I can see the similarities. It's so hard to 
believe... my daughter is married to Superman!"

"That's the problem! We're not married yet!" Clark couldn't 
hide his dejection.

"Clark, it's only a matter of time before you and Lois put 
that right." Ellen stated, absentmindedly patting the hand 
of the superhero, then she sat forward in her chair, her 
curiosity getting the better of her. "Would you mind if I 
asked you a few questions?"

The prospect didn't fill Clark with joy, but he felt she 
was entitled. "I guess not...." His voice trailed off 
unenthusiastically.

Ellen didn't notice. "Lois said you were adopted, so I take 
it that Martha and Jonathan aren't super-powered?"

That one made him laugh. "No, definitely not. My parents 
are from Kansas and they found me when I was a baby."

"So you grew up on Earth?" But Ellen didn't wait for the 
obvious answer. She pulled her chair nearer to Clark. This 
next subject was a little touchy, but she felt that as 
Lois' mother she had a right to know. "So you're an... 
alien... I say that in the nicest possible way. I just mean 
that you don't come from... Earth?"

"I was born on Krypton," Clark conceded, nodding.

"But you look like an Earthman... so, I'm assuming that you 
have all the relevant parts of an Earthman...." Oh dear, 
this was so embarrassing.

Oh boy, was his future mother-in-law actually enquiring if 
he could make love to her daughter? This conversation was 
so embarrassing.

"And this is the nineties...." Ellen went on bravely. "So 
I'm assuming that you and Lois have already...."

"No, Ellen, we haven't! We chose to wait! But, before you 
and I embarrass ourselves even further, you don't have 
anything to worry about. Lois and my marriage will be just 
like anyone else's...." Honesty, however, compelled him to 
add. "We'd really like to have children one day, but we're 
sort of pioneers in this area, so we don't know if it will 
be possible. You might never be a grandmother."

Ellen wasn't blind to the dark shadow that crossed Clark's 
face and she found herself unexpectedly wanting to offer 
him comfort. "Clark, very few people know when they start 
out in married life whether they can have children. And if 
things don't work out, sometimes, medical science can help, 
but not always... and there's always the adoption process. 
It worked well for you."

A wave of grateful astonishment swept over Clark. It was 
hard to believe that he was having this conversation with 
the woman he'd always thought was a little too self- 
absorbed for her own good. "Ellen, you're taking this 
really well...."

"Am I? To tell the truth I think I'm still in shock over 
the whole revelation thing. But I can't ignore the fact 
that you've made my girl happier than I'd ever thought 
possible. I know that most people find this hard to 
believe, but I really want what's best for my daughters. 
And I'm no fool; I recognised long ago that it would take a 
very special man to win Lois' heart. We hurt her, you know, 
Sam and I.... We didn't mean to, but we took away her trust 
in a lifetime kind of love. You gave her that back... and I 
think that had more to do with Clark than any superhero. 
Take care of her, Clark. Lois will always be impetuous and 
ready to dive right in when she shouldn't. And I somehow 
think that only a Superman will be able to keep up with 
her."

A dazzling smile spread across Clark's face. He'd never 
dreamt of receiving such unconditional support from this 
woman. "I think you're right, Ellen. When it comes to Lois, 
I need all my super-powers. And I promise to always love 
her and I'll never hurt her...."

A hand came up to still his words. "Clark, don't make 
promises you can't keep. No one knows what the future 
holds... and sometimes you can wound someone without 
intending to. It's enough that you should try...."

"So, here you two are!" Sam Lane strolled into the intimate 
little cafeteria, feeling more content now that Lois was in 
safe hands. "They told me at the desk that you'd come in 
here. So how's my princess? She's settled in comfortably, I 
take it?"

"Yes, Sam. Lois was finding it difficult to stay awake, so 
Clark and I left her to get some much needed sleep. If you 
don't want to take our word, you can take a quick peek. 
Lois is in the 'Sunshine Room' It's on the ground floor, 
through the communal lounge."

Clark bridled at the way Ellen tensed up in Sam's presence. 
Could she still hold warmer feelings for her husband than 
she admitted? Sam certainly had the power to affect her 
behaviour. Instinctively, Clark found himself supporting 
Ellen.

"The nurses said it would be better if Lois wasn't 
disturbed for the moment." Clark gazed up at Sam, hinting 
strongly. "I'm going home myself to get some sleep... my 
body feels like it's gone through the treadmill. I told 
Lois I'd look in on her later this evening, so maybe you 
could visit tomorrow... we really don't want to overpower 
her today."

"Okay!" Sam really had no quarrel with this young man. In 
fact, he'd been very grateful to Clark, recognising that it 
was due to his influence that Lois had allowed her errant 
father back into her life. Pulling out a chair, Sam sat 
down, feeling very relaxed. "Can I buy you both a coffee to 
celebrate? I really believe that things are going to look 
up for us from now on!"

*****

And, indeed, for a whole long two days, that seemed to be 
the case. Superman had recovered, Clark had returned to 
work and Lois settled into life in the Centre, surprising 
herself by making friends with a few of her fellow 
patients. She particularly enjoyed the company of one old 
gentleman, Homer Blackstock, who teased that he was the 
clinic's resident Lothario.

If Lois had one complaint in those early days, it was that 
she'd undergone very little treatment. She wanted to get 
back to normal just as soon as possible, and lazing about 
wouldn't accomplish that. Yet, Lois had to admit that there 
was some merit in Dr Dieter's explanation that he wanted 
her body to recover more fully, before starting on a 
programme of intense hypnotic-therapy.

And another circumstance seemed very strange - - Lois 
hadn't received any visits from Clark or her family since 
they'd help her check in, and it upset her. She still 
didn't know these people but she did miss them... 
especially Clark. She'd even tried to ask the doctor about 
it but he'd been very evasive, omitting to inform her that 
he'd restricted her visiting rights for forty-eight hours.

Clark and the others had been shocked to be told by Dieter 
that he expected them to stay away for that length of time. 
In fact, they found the stipulation very frustrating, but 
neither could they refute the fact that Lois needed a 
period of complete calm and relaxation. And, Clark had to 
concede, after much internal worrying, that two days wasn't 
so very long when compared to the rest of their lives. If 
this was what Lois needed, then he could do this... he just 
had to keep reminding himself of that fact.

As always, when his personal life was on hold, Clark threw 
all his energy into his two professions; the Man of Steel 
was much in evidence above the streets of Metropolis, while 
an especially baffling murder case took up his attention at 
his day job. Tonight, however, the restrictions were over 
and there was a spring in Clark's step as he left the Daily 
Planet building to go visit his fiancee.

*****

A self-satisfied chuckle could be heard in the office of 
Maxwell Dieter as he added a few notes to his most recently 
opened case file then flipped it shut. He was viewing the 
next few weeks with great expectations. Lois Lane was a 
very attractive woman and, in her present state, should 
prove very amenable to his many esoteric talents. In the 
public domain, the doctor excelled at his job and most of 
his patients had every reason to be grateful for his help, 
but very occasionally, a pretty female would get a little 
more than she bargained for during her consultations with 
the handsome physician.

So far, the clever psychiatrist had been astute enough to 
choose his victims carefully, preying on lonely women who 
were already confused and self-doubting, and, more 
importantly, didn't have a family to fight in their corner. 
Not one of his victims had felt able to charge him with any 
crime, but he'd put that down to the fact that they were 
grateful for his sexual attentions, and not too traumatised 
and embarrassed to go to the police. So it was, that Dieter 
had continued to ply his trade free of censure and, in 
fact, was highly respected by his fellow professionals. 
Over time the arrogant doctor had come to believe the 
glowing press reports and had even convinced himself that 
he was somehow doing these poor women a favour.

There was the point, though, that Lois Lane didn't quite 
fulfil all the requirements to be his next quarry. She was 
certainly suffering from a mental disorder, but there was 
the matter of her family and fiance, who might well prove 
troublesome. On the other hand, Dieter would enjoy the 
challenge - - his last few seductions had been bordering on 
boring. He, also, felt very confident in his abilities to 
pull the wool over the gullible parents' eyes and, once 
Lois was under his control, she would get rid of Clark Kent 
herself. Besides, his few misgivings were immaterial; 
Dieter couldn't resist the temptation of a beautiful woman, 
and his desire to possess this particular woman was 
stronger than ever before.

As Dieter locked the file away and left his office, he 
happily anticipated a very interesting life in the near 
future. For now, he was on his way to be honoured at yet 
another award dinner; his star was definitely in the 
ascendancy. On his way to the door, he passed Kent, 
hurrying in the opposite direction.

"Mr Kent, isn't it a little late to be calling?" Dieter 
asked with a hint of authority. It wouldn't do his campaign 
any harm to intimidate his rival.

"Yes, I suppose," Clark mumbled, feeling a little put out. 
"But not too late, I hope?"

"No... just as long as you keep this visit short. We prefer 
our visiting hours to be earlier, which I'm sure you can 
appreciate is for the good of the patients." The doctor 
strolled towards the door, but had another thought. "Mr 
Kent, I hope you don't take this personally, but I'd rather 
you didn't discuss anything too heavy with Lois at this 
time."

"Heavy?"

"Yes, you know.... the state of your relationship... 
work... that sort of thing. Not that I have anything 
against those types of conversations between you, but I'd 
rather gauge Lois' state of mind first before I'd encourage 
you to recall your joint pasts. We don't want any 
unexpected revelations causing Lois distress."

The semi-patronising smile was supposed, Clark believed, to 
set his mind at rest. Why then did it have the exact 
opposite result?

"Okay, ten minutes on the weather...." Clark followed the 
other man's sharpening gaze towards the flowers he was 
holding. "Forget-me-nots! You don't have any objections to 
my bringing Lois flowers?"

"Clark, what a strange notion you have of me! Believe me, I 
only want to take care of my patients... do you find 
anything objectionable in that?"

"No, Doctor," Clark admitted unenthusiastically.

"Goodnight then - - have a nice visit!"

Then the annoying man was gone, leaving Clark with the 
uncomfortable notion that he'd been wrong-footed. But he 
wasn't about to let Dieter spoil his time with Lois and, as 
he slipped into Lois' pleasant room, his heart lifted at 
the sight before him. Not talk about work, hah! Lois had 
somehow managed to get her hands on the evening edition of 
the Daily Planet. She'd spread the broad news-sheet out on 
her bed and was intently poring over the contents.

The closing click of the door attracted her attention, and 
Clark's niggling worries about Dieter vanished under the 
influence of Lois' gorgeous smile and her welcoming cry of 
Clark! Without a second thought, he consigned most of 
Dieter's advice to the trash can. After all, the doctor 
might be an expert in his field, but Clark was an expert on 
Lois and she certainly didn't seem to be suffering any ill 
effects from reading the paper. The pair spent a pleasant 
time discussing various stories as Lois turned over each 
page.

"Which brings me to the movie critic - -