One Super Child Can Change a World: A continuation of Mobile 
Richard's Life in A Different World
By Charlotte Fisler aka Daydreamer80 <Cdfisler@AOL.COM>
Rated PG-13
Uploaded February 2001

______________

Notes:

"When Daydreamer told me she had written a sequel to my story, 
Life in a Different World, I begged for the opportunity to read 
it; I was eager to find out where she had taken the characters 
from where I had left them at the end of Part 1.

I have to say that the story surpassed all my expectations!  It 
is, by turns, exciting, moving, sensuous, and funny.  I was 
thrilled with the plot and characterizations, and moved by the 
descriptions of the plight of some of the characters.  I 
enjoyed the subplots involving the supporting characters, too.  
I feel greatly privileged to have had the opportunity to read 
this story.  Good job, Daydreamer! -Mobile Richard"

A thank you to Mobile Richard for her generosity in allowing me 
to use her child abused Superman.

His life and character fascinated me from the first reading, so 
much so that I could not resist writing this sequel before she 
wrote her fully satisfying and award winning parts 2 and 3 
dealing with Clark's Life in a Different World.  She and I had 
corresponded about the concept of how a 'super child' would 
turn out after surviving such abuse and I agreed with her 
opinion that he might have a temper but not really be so 'mean' 
as to cause deliberate harm to innocent people. Added to that, 
my uncontrollable urge to make *everything* turn out right for 
my hero and his friends prompted me to write this, for me, 
quite long story.

I did not intend to post it to the archive or listserv without 
the author first reading it and approving, but we were recently 
corresponding about her latest tale, The Fugitive, when she 
mentioned she liked alternate endings, so I spoke or rather 
wrote up and here we are.

Feedback welcome at Cdfisler@AOL.COM

SSSSSSSSSSSS

Just before the end of Mobile's story, OUR Clark, still in the 
Alternate Universe, in Centennial Park where a thunderstorm is 
raging, is attempting to return to his own universe by 
exchanging places with ALT Clark.  This he hopes will happen if 
both he and his counterpart are simultaneously struck by the 
same bolt of lightning in the different universes.  Thus he 
will fly directly into the path of a bolt.  If the change is 
not made, he plans to continue trying. ALT Lois is with him in 
hopes of learning immediately if the exchange is successful.  
In our universe, ALT Clark and OUR Lois are also in Centennial 
Park where OUR Lois has been desperately trying to persuade a 
reluctant ALT Clark to return to his own universe also by 
flying directly into a bolt of lightning.  My story starts 
immediately after the first unsuccessful attempt of the two 
superheroes to exchange places and takes place entirely in the 
alternate world.

My story: One Super Child Can Change a World

Before the next bolt of lightening threatened, OUR Clark picked 
up ALT Lois and took her over to the park's baseball shelter.  
"Stay inside," he told her, "otherwise you might get hit by 
lightning." Lois's attention was focused on Clark so she didn't 
notice the van that pulled up on the other side of the park.  
Another bolt turned the whole park light as day, and Superman 
fell to the ground on the other side of the fountain.

Before Lois could reach him, three men jumped out of the van 
and ran toward Clark.  Fearfully, Lois pulled back into the 
shadows of the shelter.  One of the men had a box that he 
opened and immediately Clark, who had just managed to get to 
his feet, screamed as he fell heavily to the ground.

"Bring the alien," the large bear of a man said, and Lois's 
blood ran cold.  As soon as they were in the van, she ran for 
her jeep, determined to follow them and rescue Clark.  She 
couldn't leave the Clark of another world in the hands of these 
men, whoever they were. She followed them for almost an hour as 
they drove down the highway that led out of Metropolis into the 
more rural sections of New Troy. Eventually, the van turned up 
a dirt road toward what appeared to be a bomb shelter.

Hiding her jeep, Lois walked the rest of the way, and was 
relieved to see only one other vehicle parked beside the van.  
Slipping inside the bunker, she tracked the men through its 
twisting and turning corridors.  Following them proved easy, 
however, since they'd apparently dragged Clark along the dusty 
dirt floor.  She slowed, then stopped when she heard voices 
just beyond a sharp curve to the left.  With the comparative 
darkness of the curve hiding her presence, she was able to see 
and hear everything that was taking place in the large, well-
lighted area beyond.  The group now consisted of the original 
three along with two others.  Clark wasn't among them, but she 
soon learned he'd been put into the nearest of the cells along 
a corridor that opened off to the right.

Lois stopped and listened, as the man with the box gave orders.  
"Now that we finally got him locked up with the green rock 
beside him, you four should be able to guard him while I drive 
to Bureau headquarters to get the dissection team together.  
Make sure you check the perimeter every half-hour, and check 
his cell before and after you go on those rounds.  I'll be back 
in the morning with the full force of Bureau 39 to relieve 
you."

The big man had killed the former head of Bureau 39 a week ago 
when the alien first turned up.  George Thompson wanted to make 
contact with the alien.  "Think of what we can learn from him," 
Thompson had told him, just before the enraged man killed him.  
**I should have found out where the green rock came from before 
I killed him,** he thought ruefully.  **Well the information's 
probably somewhere in the Bureau 39 files.  There's plenty of 
time to locate it before the invaders come.**

The man continued, in a self-satisfied voice that made Lois 
shake. "Tomorrow we'll bring in the equipment and start the 
experiments.  We need to learn everything we can about the 
physiology of his people. The fool, all these years he's been 
hiding out and now he tries to pretend he's here to help with 
those grandstanding rescues this past week.  Bureau 39's been 
waiting for the aliens to show up for years, and now that we 
finally have one to study, we'll be able to prepare for the 
invasion force before it arrives."

"Yes, sir, Colonel Trask," one guard responded.  After Trask 
left, he told his fellows,  "What a waste!  We don't need four 
of us to guard one unconscious creature from outer space.  He 
ain't gonna go nowhere, not with that rock in the cell with 
him.  Three of us are gonna go to the room on the upper level 
with the comfortable couches. We'll play some poker, maybe even 
nap, while the fourth does the guarding.  Nicky, you take the 
first three-hour shift.  We'll keep an eye out for Trask.  We 
don't want him comin' back unexpectedly." With that the other 
three left.

SSSSSSSSSS

Lois stayed hidden until all but the single guard had 
disappeared up the corridor, then took the time to observe the 
sole guard, Nicky, check one cell - it had to be the one in 
which they'd imprisoned Clark - then make two full rounds.  
Timing his absence, she determined that he would be gone 
fifteen minutes during a round.  As soon as the guard went down 
the corridor to begin a third round, she crept around the 
corner and grabbed the set of keys off the guard's desk praying 
they included the one for the prison cell holding Clark. Trying 
one key after another, Lois was becoming dismayed before she 
finally hit upon the right one and the cell door opened.  Five 
full minutes had gone by and another few minutes were spent 
removing the correct key from the ring, then putting the rest 
of the set back.

Clark was lying unconscious on the cell floor with the open box 
containing a glowing green rock close to him close to him.  
Lois closed the box, removed it to the far side of the cell, 
and tried to wake up Clark.  When he finally opened his eyes, 
she whispered, "Shh, Clark, I'm getting you out of here."

Astonished to see Lois Lane, Clark wondered **Is she trying to 
help me?**  He closed his eyes momentarily, savoring the 
moment.

Lois couldn't lift him.  Although Clark tried to assist her, he 
was too weak to stand up.  Glancing at her watch, Lois groaned, 
"It's no use. The guard will be coming back in a minute.  I'm 
sorry, I tried to save you, but it looks like I'm just gonna 
get both of us killed."

"Get away, Lois.  Go now.  Maybe I can escape later."

Ruefully Lois thought **Too bad the Clark of this world isn't 
like you.  Our Clark doesn't care about anyone but himself.**  
"You don't understand," she told him.  "The guard checks on you 
through the bars, after he returns from each round, and before 
he goes on the next one.  When he doesn't see the green rock 
next to you, he'll alert the others.  Weakened like this, you 
won't be able to get away from all four of them."

"Lois," Clark told her, "bring the box here, and put it next to 
me so he won't get suspicious."

"No!  I saw how it affected you in the park."

"We have no choice.  Hurry, he's almost here.  Can't you hear 
him?"

Having no other option, Lois brought the box over, and placed 
it next to Clark.  She could see the pain on Clark's face when 
she opened it, although he made no sound.  She hid underneath 
the cell's cot, praying the guard would just give the cubicle a 
cursory look.  He barely glanced in and, after what seemed like 
an interminable time, he checked again, then went off on his 
next round.

Crawling out from under the cot, Lois closed the box, and moved 
it away from Clark again.  The second exposure to the green 
rock had weakened Clark further, but he was conscious, by sheer 
force of will Lois was certain.  "Can you get up?" she asked 
anxiously.

"I don't think so.  Lois, just get out of here before he comes 
back."

"No," she told him.  "Not without you.  My world owes you too 
much. In the week you've been here, you've done so much good.  
The least we can do is get you back to your own world."

Understanding at last why she was trying so hard to save him - 
well not him actually - Clark told her, "Lois, I'm not the 
Clark from another world.  He's back in his own universe.  I-
I'm Clark Kent of *this* world."  Lois's anger blazed, as the 
truth dawned on her. Sighing, Clark continued.  "So you... 
don't owe me anything.  You can leave."  He left unsaid, "And 
you won't have me to bother you anymore."

Lois understood what had not been spoken, and was in fact 
tempted, until she remembered her words to the other Clark, 
about the advances this Clark had made toward her, and about 
his subsequent breaking of Jimmy's arm.  **I think it may have 
been an accident.**  Not that it in any way excused his 
behavior, but she couldn't let that pervert Trask have him no 
matter how badly he'd acted she decided.  "Not without you," 
she repeated firmly, as she struggled to help Clark get to his 
feet.

Convinced that Lois, for some unknown reason, wasn't going to 
go without him, Clark pulled together the last of his waning 
strength and stood up.  With Clark leaning heavily on Lois, 
they managed to walk out of the cell.  Together they made their 
way slowly to the outside, and soon reached Lois's hidden jeep.  
After they got in and pulled back onto the dirt road in front 
of the bunker, all four men came running out of the entrance 
and, jumping into the van, gave chase.  Lois floored the jeep, 
trying to evade the pursuing vehicle, but it soon became 
apparent that she wouldn't be able to outrun it. "Clark, I 
can't stay ahead of them much longer.  They're gaining on us 
and I'm almost out of gas," a terrified Lois admitted.

Turning his head, and pulling down his glasses, Clark saw that 
she was right.  But distance from the Kryptonite and exposure 
to the sun seemed to have returned some of Clark's powers, so 
he made a desperate decision.  "Pull off at the next turn, stop 
the jeep and we'll get out."

"Are you crazy?  We'll never outrun them on foot."

"Just do it," Clark ordered.  As soon as they were outside the 
jeep, Clark picked Lois up in his arms and took off.  They were 
high in the sky by the time their pursuers came around the 
bend, so, although Clark was only able to fly for a short 
period, it was long enough to leave the men miles behind.

SSSSSSSSSSSS

After he almost crash-landed in a sunny break in the trees, 
Clark set Lois down carefully.  "You can do what he can," Lois 
told him breathlessly.

"Yeah, but I'm nowhere near normal, and that short flight 
drained me. We need to stay hidden, preferably in full 
sunshine, until tonight, then we'll go back for your jeep."

He sat down on the grass, his back up against a tree trunk, the 
front of his body in the sunlight.  Lois sat next to him.  
After a few minutes, she spoke, "So the other Clark is back in 
his world.  I wondered if you'd do it - make the exchange.  His 
Metropolis seems like a better place."

Clark's eyes turned hard, and Lois cringed as he said, "Yeah, I 
came back.  Tough luck, Lois."  Then, instead of lashing out as 
she expected he struggled to control his temper and, after a 
brief but intense battle, said more calmly, "It was a better 
place, especially for me."

**From the time you were seven, I'll bet** Lois thought.  "Will 
you tell me about it?" she asked, reassured.  "Clark told me 
some things, but he doesn't really understand our Metropolis.  
I'd like to know what it would be like if I went there."  Clark 
hesitated, until she grinned and told him, "It looks like we're 
stuck here for a while anyway.  You owe me a little 
conversation, at least."

**I owe you a great deal more than that today,** he thought, so 
he told her about a world where the officials are not always on 
the take, and where people expect police protection and feel 
safe most of the time, without having to pay extra for it.  
"It's a world where (she noticed he flushed as he said this) 
women don't have to protect themselves from unwanted attentions 
with knives, where children can't be beaten with impunity, and 
where marriages are entered into with the expectation that 
they'll last a lifetime."

"Yeah, the other Clark told me about that last part.  Sure 
seems strange."

"Well, it works for them.  She...  she wanted him back badly; 
she's carrying his child."  He stopped abruptly at the look on 
Lois's face, and explained, "She told me about him.  He helps 
make their world the place it is by being Superman.  She said 
everyone is *nice* to him because he's nice to them!  Their 
country... their *world*... likes *one* extra-terrestrial 
because he's done nothing but good since he's been there."

"He was nice to everyone when he was here, too."

Clark felt a surge of jealousy.  **I have no right,** he told 
himself.  "The other Lois is nice too.  Not that you're not," 
he assured her.

Clark couldn't help remembering the other Lois's concern for 
him, when he first woke up in the other world.  She'd been 
afraid for him, not of him.  He thought it was this Lois, and 
savored that moment before blowing it all.  Yet even before he 
learned that he wasn't in his own world, he'd threatened Lois 
and her world, and destroyed any chance he had.  "I didn't fit 
in there," he admitted unhappily, "so she convinced me to come 
back."

She, the other Lois, had told him, 'your parents need you.  Go 
back and help them. You owe them that much.'  But sitting here 
now, he knew that wasn't possible, not after what he'd done.  
He sighed.  He couldn't even remember causing the fall that 
paralyzed his father, but maybe that was for the best.  He'd 
known for ten years that he could never go home.

When Clark had said "No!  I want to stay here!  I like it 
better here.  Everyone is nice to me.  And my parents love me 
again, and my dad is ok, and the whole country likes extra-
terrestrials," she'd responded, "Clark!  You could accomplish 
the same things in your own world!"

"I want to stay here," he'd repeated.  "There's nothing for me 
in that world.  My parents don't want me, Jimmy hates me, and 
Lois... well... she hates me, too."

"Then change her attitude!" she said.  "My Clark changed mine!  
He waited almost two years for me to notice him!"  **If only I 
could.** That would be even better than living in the alternate 
universe. With Lois at his side, he could use his powers for 
good, and he could bear any hatreds or sorrows or loneliness 
that life threw his way. **With Lois!** he thought.

SSSSSSSS

Exhausted again, Clark lay down on the soft grass and fell 
asleep in Lois's lap.  Watching him, Lois thought about her 
sometimes partner at the Daily Planet.  Perry didn't like him, 
she knew, although he had little choice but to keep him on.  
The newspaper's readers lapped up Clark Kent's scandalous 
political exposes.  Most of the male staffers resented his 
superior attitude and ability to have any girl he wanted.  
Younger women threw themselves at him, but the older ones 
barely tolerated him - at least they pretended they felt that 
way. Jimmy, of course, hated him.

**Would it be possible?** she wondered.  **Could he learn to be 
the Superman our world needs so badly?  Would he be willing?  
On the face of it, he seems pretty poor material.  His own 
mother hates him. Still...** during the six months they'd 
worked together, he'd been a partner she could depend on, and 
one she didn't have to defend herself against.  She'd even 
started to enjoy pairing with him.  It was only after the 
incident in the closet that she told Perry she didn't want to 
work with Kent.

For the first time, Lois allowed herself to dwell on that 
incident without a predetermined judgment.  She knew that Clark 
had not caused her to fall off the ladder, but he did catch her 
when she fell off the ladder and tumbled into his arms, 
clutching at him for support. With an involuntary intake of her 
breath, Lois recalled the look on Clark's face, when he put his 
arms around her and hugged her.  She had never seen that look 
on a man's face after she left her happy, childhood home, but 
it was, she now realized, familiar.  Sam Lane often had that 
expression on his face when he looked at his beloved wife of 30 
years, Ellen Lane, Lois's Mother.

Of course, the expression had disappeared to be replaced by 
anger, when she'd slapped Clark's face.  She blushed now, 
embarrassed that she'd slapped him in exchange for saving her 
from a bad fall at the very least, and possible serious injury 
at the worst.  Did she overreact, she wondered, disappointed at 
having the opinions of the other Planet staffers vindicated?

In their society, an attitude like hers - one that interfered 
with work - was not tolerated.  A woman was supposed to keep 
her relationship problems out of the office.  So, of course, 
her request backfired on her, not Clark.  But Clark had 
actually supported her, telling Perry he didn't want to work 
with Lois either.  Had he said that only so she wouldn't have 
to partner with someone she hated?

When Jimmy heard her yelling and rushed in, not to save her 
she'd been sure, but because he hated Clark, Clark turned 
abruptly and accidentally, she was now certain, broke Jimmy's 
arm.  At the time, she'd thought that Clark had used undue 
force, but that was before she understood how strong 
he/Superman really was.  He didn't need the strength to strike 
out, but rather the control to prevent injuring people when he 
did.  **I could help him with that if he wants to change.  I'm 
not done with you yet, big fella,** she thought, determined to 
at least try to turn this complex, and she knew, badly wounded 
man into her world's Superman.

Feeling somehow relieved that there was a chance for someone in 
her world to turn out even remotely like the Clark of the other 
world, she pressed a soft kiss on Clark's forehead.  Clark 
awakened, and Lois saw again the expression he had on his face 
that time in the closet.  This time, instead of slapping him, 
she said softly, "Hi, partner."

Remembering where he was, Clark sat up abruptly, and pulled 
away.  He wasn't going to force himself on Lois Lane, he told 
himself.  She'd made it clear she didn't want him when he broke 
Jimmy's arm.  "I should be strong enough now to fly you to your 
jeep, and then you can go back to your apartment."

"Will you ride back to Metropolis with me?" Lois asked.  "I'd 
rather not take a chance on any of them following me."

"Sure, I can do that."  **Does this mean she wants my 
company?**

They reached Lois's apartment without difficulty.  The men from 
the bunker seemed to have retreated back into the hole they 
came out of. After Lois opened the door, she and Clark just 
stood staring at each other, not sure what to say.  Finally, 
Lois said, "I guess I'd better get some sleep.  I'll see you 
tomorrow at the Planet, won't I?"

"Yeah," he promised.  "Thank you for... rescuing me."

"My pleasure," she responded.  Turning more serious, she 
reminded him, "At least you know about those guys."  While they 
were driving home, she'd told Clark everything she'd heard 
Trask say and Clark had volunteered what little he knew about 
his origin.

"Mom and dad told me they found me in a space ship that landed 
in a field near the farm.  She said a globe that was with the 
ship told them I came from a planet called Krypton.  They also 
found a strange piece of glowing green rock, and took it home.  
A week later the ship vanished.  Mom called the green rock 
Kryptonite, but it made me sick so she hid it away."  He 
hadn't, couldn't tell her his mom had threatened to kill him 
with the Kryptonite, after his dad fell off the roof.

Lois said, "I don't know whether they're part of a widespread 
conspiracy, or just a few loose cannons.  You will watch out 
for Bureau 39, won't you Clark?  Colonel Trask is a frightening 
man."

Clark was warmed by her evident concern for him.  "At least 
they have no idea who I really am.  You won't tell anyone, will 
you?" he asked uncertainly.

"Of course not," Lois responded indignantly.

"Well, it would make a great story, maybe even a Pulitzer," 
Clark admitted, grinning, if a trifle sickly.

"No, thank you.  I'll get that Pulitzer another way."  Then she 
pressed a brief kiss on his lips, surprising Clark.  Before he 
could respond, she went inside, and closed the door.  A stunned 
Clark Kent went home, for the first time in a long while eager 
for the next day to come.

SSSSSSSSSSSS

The next day at the Planet didn't turn out as anticipated.  
When Clark came in, Lois was already at her desk, peering 
intently at her monitor.  He walked over, and stood next to 
her.  She looked up and smiled.  "Hi."

"Hi," Clark answered shyly.  "Can I get you coffee?"

"Sure.  Don't you want to know how I like it?" she called out, 
as Clark headed toward the coffeepot.

"Nah, I'm pretty observant, so I think I can fix it right."

Lois grinned in appreciation, when he brought back two cups.  
The one for her was perfect, even to its temperature.  **Hmm, 
having him around just may have some unforeseen perks.**

Everything seemed to go well until midmorning when Clark got a 
far-away look in his eyes and whispered, "I have to go."

"Go," Lois responded.  "I'll cover for you."

Gazing at the Daily Planet's news monitors, she saw what 
appeared to be the reason for his disappearance, a multi-alarm 
blaze near Hobbs River.  **Clark should be there shortly,** 
Lois thought, eager to see her world's Superman in action.  The 
fire continued to burn, but the Man of Steel didn't show up, 
and the TV commentators began to speculate on the whereabouts 
of Metropolis's new Superhero.  When the blaze had almost 
burned itself out, and no 'Angel in blue and red' showed up, 
the comments from the news media turned against him.

"He's probably gone back to Krypton, or wherever he came from," 
said one commentator.

"He must have had a reason to come here.  Nobody does something 
for nothing."

"What if he actually is the forerunner of an alien invasion?  
Maybe he just wanted to soften us up for the full force to 
come," added Jeff Simmons, a reporter from Lois's own Daily 
Planet.  He was one of the newest, and one whose methods Lois 
liked even less than she had Clark Kent's.  He wasn't nearly as 
'successful' at his job as Clark had been, so Perry didn't try 
to partner him with her.

Lois was sure that something terrible must have happened to 
Clark, and she was about to make some excuse to go and find him 
when the object of her concern walked off the elevator, with a 
French pastry in hand.  "Want one, Lois?" he asked.  "These are 
so good, you'd think I went to Paris for them," he told her 
with a wink.

Confused, Lois lost no time in confronting him.  She pulled the 
pastry bag out of his hands and threw it in a trashcan.  
"Clark, what's going on?  Did you just go out for those... 
those pastries?  I thought when you left you intended to go 
to... cover the fire."  She finished her sentence by mouthing 
"as Superman."

Not answering the first question, Clark said, "I covered the 
fire, but Superman wasn't there, Lois.  Probably just as well.  
The blaze was in an old abandoned building, so he just let it 
burn to the ground.  It wasn't even worth the write-up."

Lois grabbed Clark by the lapels, and pulled him into a nearby 
supply closet.  Locking the door, she hissed, "Clark, our world 
needs Superman.  People need the help only he - only you - can 
give.  Now people are starting to think that Superman's no 
better than anyone else is, and that he won't help out unless 
he's paid.  I thought you wanted... to fight for truth and 
justice."

"Well, I won't do it," he told her flatly.  "People here hate 
extra-terrestrials, and Bureau 39's still out there.  Besides 
the other Clark never made a dime from anything he did.  I'm 
not that dumb.  Absolutely not," he insisted, opening the door 
and walking away.

Lois stood stunned, her plans in disarray.  He'd dashed all her 
hopes in one short minute, and didn't even explain himself.  
**Where's the caring person from yesterday?** she wondered 
dully.  **I guess he just pretended to be grateful for being 
rescued.  He sure had me fooled.

Maybe I asked for it.  I know what Clark Kent is like, what 
everyone told me, but I thought I knew better.  I thought 
seeing the other Clark...  But I was wrong, he's not like the 
other Clark.**  Sighing, she admitted, **Besides, making him 
Superman was my idea, not his. There are still a lot of people 
out there who hate aliens.  He's probably decided it's too 
dangerous, especially with Kryptonite in the hands of someone 
like Colonel Trask and his mysterious Bureau 39.**

Lois had to admit to the logic of those arguments, but she was 
still disappointed in the Clark Kent of their world.  Later 
that morning at the budget meeting, an obviously disturbed Lois 
Lane glared at Clark Kent.  Walking right past him, she took 
the single seat between Jimmy and Eduardo.  Gleefully, Cat 
Grant sat down in the empty seat next to Clark.

**Looks like things are back to normal between Lois Lane and 
Clark Kent,** Perry White thought wryly.  He'd been gratified 
at how closely the two had worked together over the past week 
and a half. Lane and Kent had filed several excellent stories.  
Some were about the new Superman, but a couple of them were 
excellent exposes.  Not at all like Kent's usual stories, the 
stories he and Lois filed over the past week were obviously the 
result of excellent investigative journalism.

At first Perry was afraid the newspaper's readers would lose 
interest, but it seemed a lot of people appreciated good 
newspaper reporting.  Circulation jumped and Perry hoped he 
might actually have the journalistic team he'd dreamed of when 
he attempted to partner the two.  He'd even had a vision of a 
Daily Planet known for hard-hitting journalism instead of 
sleaze.  It didn't look like that was going to happen, not 
after today.

Later in the meeting when Perry tried to partner Lois with 
Clark once more, she told Perry flatly that she was much too 
busy working on other stories.  Cat eagerly jumped into the 
breach, but Clark pointed out he still had some preliminary 
research before he'd be ready for a partner, so the matter was 
tabled.

SSSSS

An hour after the budget meeting, Lois went into the supply 
room alone.  Clark followed her, closing the door behind him.  
**Now it starts,** Lois thought terrified.  She had a feeling 
Jimmy wasn't likely to rescue her this time.  **Guess I was 
wrong about the closet thing being an accident too.**  "Stay 
away from me," she ordered, as she pulled out her knife.

"Lois, I just want to talk."

"So talk," she told him, her hostility obvious.

"Not here.  Please, can we go somewhere private?"

"You expect me to go somewhere alone with you?"

Clark winced.  "Lois, I only want to talk.  I would never 
try... try anything unless you wanted me to, and clearly you 
don't," he finished, his eyes asking her to believe him, to 
trust him.

There was no anger in them, no menace, she noticed, but she 
still had to remind him, "Clark, you broke Jimmy's arm."  If 
he'd denied it, even tried to say it was the accident that she 
suspected it had been, she would have refused to have anything 
more to do with him.

Instead, his face fell, and he only said softly, "I'm sorry; I 
won't bother you any more," as he turned to go.

"Wait Clark," she called out.  "It's almost time for lunch.  
Let's stop at the stand in front of the Planet, and get a 
couple of hot dogs and sodas.  We can eat in the park while we 
talk."

Clark nodded.  Lois put the knife away; it couldn't hurt him 
anyway. Clark saw that as a gesture of faith, and was grateful.  
As they left, Lois shouted to a surprised Perry White that she 
and Clark would be gone about an hour, wordlessly assuring her 
editor that she felt in no need of protection.  They found a 
secluded spot in Centennial Park for lunch, and ate the 
frankfurters.

Clark began, "Lois about the Superman thing..."

"You don't want to do it.  I guess I can understand that.  
You're not obligated to, and there are lots of guys like Trask 
out there who'd be gunning..."

"Lois, stop and listen, please."

She shut her mouth, and waited.

"Lois, the fire was a trap, a setup - to capture me, I think.  
I was about to fly down and help put out the blaze, when I saw 
someone who had to be Colonel Trask and two of the men from the 
van standing with the fire officials.  The other two guys who 
chased us were in the crowd watching the blaze.  Trask was 
holding the box that was in the cell with me.  I think it held 
the Kryptonite.  I did scan the building, but there was no one 
inside, and it looked like the fire had been deliberately set."

"So you didn't fly down, I can understand that.  But why didn't 
you tell me that when you got back to the Planet?  You do 
*trust* me, don't you?  I would never hurt you," she assured 
him.

"I know that Lois; I do trust you.  I was afraid someone from 
Bureau 39 might be following you, and I just didn't want to 
take a chance of talking in so public a place."

"Oh, so that was the reason for the elaborate charade with the 
French pastries."

"Yeah," he grinned.  "It's too bad you didn't try one.  I 
really did fly to France for them."

"Do you think they set the whole thing up after yesterday?"

"No, it's more likely they were planning this one a while, 
probably since right after the other Clark showed up.  I think 
capturing me yesterday was just serendipity.  They must have 
seen him flying over the park, so they took advantage of the 
situation.  That would explain why there were so few guards in 
the bunker.  Not that I could have gotten away without your 
help."

"Clark," she sighed.  "Maybe... maybe Superman better not be 
seen again in Metropolis.  Trask will assume he - you went back 
to Krypton, and stop trying to find you.  It's too bad, though, 
because our world could use someone with your powers."

"No, Lois, I want to use my powers to help people.  Maybe if... 
I were more like him, helpful and nice to everyone, instead of 
acting like... me, people here wouldn't hate extra-
terrestrials."

He gave a disgusted look, and Lois put her hand on his arm, and 
said sincerely, "You're really a lot like him, you know.  The 
way people are in this world is not your doing."

Grateful, Clark said, "Lois, I don't know much about being 
Superman, but I did substitute for him a few times while I was 
in the other world, and it felt good.  I wanted to meet him 
before I found out he was me - Clark Kent.  I never met anyone 
like me, and, after I left... the Kents, nobody... liked me."

**I know it was lot worse than just not liking you.  My poor 
Clark, what a terrible childhood you had.  It's amazing you 
turned out as nice as you really are,** Lois thought.

"I know most people are not like Trask.  Most of the time, 
fires and disasters are real, not faked like today, so I'd 
really like to try to be Superman here.  Still, I'll have to 
watch out for Trask and others like him."

"I'll help you," Lois assured him.  "With both of us alert, 
Trask won't have another chance like yesterday, or today for 
that matter. But first, we have to make people believe in 
Superman again."

"How, Lois?  I-I heard the comments when Superman didn't show 
up."

"You did?"

"Sure, you don't think it takes me two hours to fly to Paris 
and back - more like two minutes," he laughed.  Lois's optimism 
was infectious.  "As soon as I flew away, I changed back to 
Clark Kent, and went to cover the fire.  I-I had to be sure I 
wasn't wrong, that there wasn't any real danger to people.  
Lois, please believe me, I would have gone in street clothes, 
if that had been the case."

"I believe you," she said, sure now that she had found her 
world's Superman.  "I'm glad it didn't come to that.  You need 
your Clark Kent persona.  You can't be Superman all the time 
and, as Clark Kent, you - we - can use the press to modify - no 
correct - the public's perceptions of Superman.

*You,* Clark Kent, are gonna write an exclusive interview with 
the Superhero, explaining about the fire.  You'll tell everyone 
that he would have told the firefighters there was no danger, 
but he had to leave almost immediately after he arrived, to 
take care of (she giggled at her own joke) a problem in 
France."

"What problem, Lois?"

"Don't worry.  Just be vague, and say Superman just told you 
he'd been able to stop whatever the disaster in France was 
before it got started.  Superman, your interview will 
emphasize, was most concerned about clarifying the matter of 
the fire in Metropolis."

"Well actually I did help out with a 'problem' in France, so 
the story will be true," Clark admitted. "I just didn't think 
it was important enough to mention."

"What?" Lois asked astonished.

"My super hearing picked up a short wave broadcast in French 
about an out of control train rapidly approaching a trestle 
crossing that had been washed out by heavy rains in the area.  
I flew there and held the cars up until they cleared the gap, 
then brought it to a slow stop."

"No wonder you weren't at the fire scene."

"Well, I was most of the time.  I stayed until the fire was 
almost out.  I was just leaving to return to the Planet when 
the emergency came up.  And I stopped to check on the fire 
again when I got back from France."

"But Clark how could you cross the Atlantic, save the train, 
then return to the Planet just minutes after the end of the 
fire?  I know it was only minutes because I watched the whole 
fire on the Daily Planet monitors."

"I'm real fast when I need to be.  Actually getting the 
pastries took more time than flying there and back."

Lois was dumbfounded.  She'd seen the other Clark do amazing 
things but this was the first time she really understood how 
amazing this Clark and his counterpart in the other universe 
really were.

Pulling herself together, she said decisively, "Even better.  
We'll use the disaster in France to excuse your not remaining 
at the fire scene long enough to talk to the reporters there.  
Saving lives is more important and no one will believe you 
saved a trainload of people in France in under..."

She paused and Clark supplied, "...fifteen minutes including 
purchasing the pastries."

Seeing the smugly triumphant look on Lois's face, he added, 
"Lois, you are a brilliant woman, but a devious one too."  He 
couldn't help thinking what an asset she'd make to any man, 
Superman or ordinary man.

"A good reporter, too.  And Clark Kent, you are about to become 
my permanent partner."

Clark looked so intently at Lois, clearly wondering what she 
meant, that she qualified her statement with "working partner.  
We need to convince people Superman is here to... to help," she 
finished shakily.

"Sure, Lois.  That would be great.  You're the best reporter at 
the Daily Planet," he responded, silently vowing to be grateful 
for small favors.

"For now, I am the senior partner.  You follow my lead, 
understand, Kent?"

"Yes, Ma'am," he responded happily.  **The other Lois said it 
took her Clark two years to get her to notice him.  After the 
way I've been acting, it should take my Lois an even longer 
time to notice me - if that ever happens,** he reminded 
himself.  He knew he had no right to call her his Lois, but in 
his mind and in his heart, that was what she was.

SSSSSS

After Lois and Clark returned to the Planet, Clark wrote up the 
Superman story.  "An exclusive interview, Kent.  This is 
great," Perry praised.  Just then, Lois noticed another far 
away look cross Clark's face.  Determined not to chance leaving 
Clark to Trask's tender mercies, she walked over to his desk 
and said, "As soon as you're free, Clark, maybe you could go 
with me to meet Bobby Bigmouth.  He said he has some 
information on that water department scandal you've been 
working on."

"Lois, I thought you were too busy," her editor commented.

"Well, you know how the news business is Chief, feast one 
minute, famine the next.  I find I do have time after all."

"I finished that research I needed to do, Ch... Mr. White, so I 
can go with Lois now."

"Well, I'm finished with you, Kent.  So if that's the way you 
two want it, go," he told them, wondering what the heck was 
going on. Still if Kent could bring in Superman stories like 
this one and Lois was willing to go along with him on 
investigations, who was he to say them nay.

The two reporters hurried out of the newsroom.  As soon as they 
left the building, Clark ducked into an alley and whispered, 
"There's a fire at a high rise apartment on thirty-fourth and 
Walnut."  He spun into the Superman suit and took off.  
**Wow,** Lois thought before she hailed a cab to follow.  This 
time the emergency was real and Bureau 39 was nowhere nearby.

The blaze, cause unknown, was well underway by the time either 
the fire fighters or Superman arrived.  A pair of distraught 
parents tried to break through the police barricades because 
their two small children were trapped in an apartment on the 
fifteenth floor.  The fire Chief told them sadly that it was 
too high for the ladders to reach, too high for anyone to get 
to... except the now familiar 'Angel in blue and red' who flew 
overhead and into a window on the unreachable floor.  A whoosh 
was heard as the blaze hit a gas pipe, but despair turned to 
joy as Superman walked out of the building carrying the 
children in his arms.

The crowd of people who gathered to watch had heard so much 
about the earlier fire, they seemed at first unsure how to 
react.  Shouts of 'alien go back where you came , 'we don't 
need any extra-terrestrials', and 'who can afford to pay for 
his protection' rang out as Lois Lane's taxi pulled up.

"Wait for me," she told the cab driver.  Jumping out, she 
shouted, "Let me through," as she pushed her way toward the 
front.  Lois Lane wasn't known as a pushy reporter for nothing.  
"What's wrong with you people?  Can't you tell when someone is 
here to help?"  Waving to Clark who was still hovering 
overhead, she called out, "Thanks, Superman," and the crowd 
erupted into cheers and additional shouts of thanks as the 
Superhero flew away.

Almost immediately afterward, Clark Kent joined his partner.  
On the way back to the taxi, Lois whispered, "Who taught you to 
do that spin thing."

"She did, the other Lois.  Pretty neat, huh," a happy Clark 
Kent confided.

"Sure is," Lois responded as they got into the cab and left to 
meet Bobby Bigmouth.

"Bobby had better have some news to impart this time," Lois 
told Clark as they stopped by The China House to pick up the 
snitch's usual fee.  He came through and Lois and Clark had two 
good stories to file.  That afternoon, they LANed the one about 
the Superhero's exploit.  The next day they were able to report 
on indictments in the water department scandal.

SSSSSSSSSSS

Over the succeeding week, Lois and Clark gradually learned to 
depend upon one another.  Lois covered for her partner's 
frequent absences as he answered increasingly urgent calls for 
help to the delight of a grateful Metropolis.  Each Super feat 
made its way into the Daily Planet's copy and the public began 
looking eagerly for individual or joint Lane and Kent bylines 
on stories about the Superhero.

Colonel Trask, Jason Trask Lois learned from the Daily Planet's 
archives, was not in evidence.  Still Clark felt reassured to 
have Lois Lane, who was invulnerable to the one substance that 
could harm Superman, in on the secret and frequently at his 
side.  Trusting her as he had not dared trust anyone since he 
was a child, Clark made certain Lois knew where he would be 
before he left to be Superman.

For her part, Lois was particularly gratified when Clark gently 
'discouraged' unwanted attentions on helpless females by her 
world's unprincipled males.  Soon a new attitude was forming: 
that a woman's consent was needed before expecting sexual 
favors.

When he wasn't being Superman, Clark proved a competent 
investigative reporter.  The judicious use of his Superpowers 
to uncover evidence of wrongdoing proved particularly useful to 
the pair.  "I never listened in on 'pillow talk' until I was 
certain the person was guilty," Clark assured her shamefaced.

"Well, you won't have to do that anymore," Lois responded. 
"Together, we'll dig out the facts without resorting to illegal 
means."

"Ah, Lois," he countered, "using my super hearing to break into 
a locked warehouse seems like skirting the limits of legality."

"Kent," she told him, "Didn't I tell you I'm the senior 
investigative reporter?  I say that's morally justifiable.  
Besides, there weren't any 'keep out' signs were there?"

"No, but..." Clark could tell he wasn't going to win this 
argument and, perhaps in a society like theirs, such methods 
were merited. Then he remembered that the Lois and Clark of the 
other world used his powers in just such a way.  Lois Lane in 
any world had her own code to which she strictly adhered, even 
if it wasn't everybody's idea of ethical behavior.  Perry 
White, too, seemed unconcerned about the source of the new 
stories.  Since Clark knew the Editor-in-Chief of the Daily 
Planet had not liked Clark's earlier methods, he concluded that 
somehow this was different.

With the two most important people in the newsroom supporting 
the 'reformed' Clark Kent, most of the staff grudgingly went 
along with his new status.  Olsen, however, remained adamantly 
opposed to having anything to do with Clark Kent, even when 
Clark suggested that he and Lois could use a photographer on 
some of their stories.

SSSSSSSSSS

Jeff Simmons was in big trouble.  He'd been secretly working 
for Bureau 39 and Jason Trask.  Lois Lane and Clark Kent were 
making it almost impossible to get to Superman, as the alien 
was now called and Trask blamed Jeff, who'd been charged with 
the task of making the press hostile to the Superhero.

Trask had no idea it had been Lois Lane who'd somehow managed 
to free the alien from his imprisonment in the bunker.  The 
four terrified guards had agreed it would be expedient to keep 
the use of a Jeep Cherokee with what appeared to be a solitary 
driver to themselves since all four of them were supposed to be 
watching the creature. They told Trask an elaborate story of a 
large group of heavily armed men involved in the escape.  
Sneaking into the bunker, they overpowered the four and took 
the alien away in what "looked like a helicopter of some sort."

That 'information' only fueled Trask's conviction that there 
were other Kryptonians bent on invading and who were already 
present on Earth.  Trask was impatient to once more get his 
hands on Superman.

At a meeting Saturday night at the warehouse on Bessolo Blvd. 
where Bureau 39 stored artifacts from years of investigating 
UFOs, Trask wanted to know what Simmons was going to do about 
the Daily Planet's new reporting team which seemed to be 
generating public support for the alien.  That, of course, was 
not acceptable.  The public had to remain convinced that extra-
terrestrials were dangerous and should be captured or killed on 
sight.

"Don't worry.  I know how to break up the partnership and, 
without Kent, Lane can be silenced."

"Get on with it," his superior told him, in no mood for any 
delay.

"Kent's got a temper and Cat Grant says he's really hot for 
Lane, but she hasn't been forthcoming."

"So, Kent's a patient man.  What good does that do us?"

"Several weeks ago, Kent came on to Lane in a storeroom.  Olsen 
tried to stop him and Kent broke his arm.  Olsen hates Kent, so 
much so he even refused the chance to become a photographer for 
Lane and Kent."

"Stop referring to them as Lane and Kent," Trask growled.

"Yeah, sure.  Anyway Perry White hushed the whole thing up.  
Kent's got some secret way of gettin' information on corrupt 
politicians and his stories were already too well received to 
fire him, but rumor has it Kent was called on the carpet and 
warned to keep his temper in check or he'll be lookin' for 
another job.  If my plan works, Kent will be gone, fired, and 
so will Olsen, who'll wind up either in a hospital or dead.  I 
need a fake photo of Lane and Olsen in, shall we say, a 
compromising position, and make it look like Olsen might be 
forcing her."

"You'll have it."

"Right," Jeff grinned.

"Simmons, I want Kent out of there by next Thursday."

Jeff gulped, but he had little choice.  "Just one more thing.  
My plan involves setting up a meeting with one of our guys with 
Lane only for Wednesday evening, and then a second appointment 
that will get Lane away from the newspaper Thursday morning for 
a couple of hours.  If she tells Kent the photo's a fake, he'll 
believe her and won't go after Olsen.  If Lane seems upset, all 
the better, but she has to leave Kent behind in the newsroom."

He hoped that might buy him a bit more time, but Trask told him 
they'd arrange it for 10:00am on Thursday.  "We'll dangle an 
exclusive involving Superman and make sure only Lane takes the 
bait. She's probably annoyed by now about the ones her so-
called partner gets with Superman.  Just make sure your end 
goes off right," he threatened.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Thursday morning, Lois Lane came into the newsroom clearly 
agitated. A concerned Clark Kent asked, "Is something wrong, 
Lois?"

"Like you don't know," was the cold response.

"I haven't a clue."

**Was my informant lying?** She wondered.  Lois was upset, but 
not for the reason Jeff intended to impart to an innocent Clark 
Kent. The night before Lois had an unscheduled meeting with a 
source she used frequently and trusted, not realizing he worked 
for Bureau 39. He informed her that the 'engagement' tomorrow 
morning would be at a location different from one he'd given 
Kent previously.  He just learned of the existence of a 
furniture warehouse on Bessolo Blvd where Bureau 39 allegedly 
stored files on extra-terrestrials and alien artifacts they'd 
gathered over the years.  More important, a piece of some rock 
that could kill Superman was supposedly housed there in a safe.  
He'd get the combination to the safe and would meet them there 
around 10:00am tomorrow.

Lois was puzzled.  Clark hadn't told her about the story.  When 
she asked him pointedly if there was something he wanted to 
tell her, her partner looked blank.  Lois had no idea if Clark 
was telling the truth or concealing it so he could file the 
story on his own.  **No matter,** she thought.  If Kryptonite 
was involved, Clark couldn't go anyway.  Since she knew the 
danger wouldn't stop him from following her, she waited for an 
opportunity to go to the meeting without Clark following.  
After 9:00am, Superman was called away.  This time, instead of 
following him, Lois headed for the warehouse.

Clark soon learned the emergency was a false alarm at a bank.  
He was perplexed when Lois didn't show up, but concluded she'd 
somehow learned of the non-event and returned to the newsroom.  
But when he got back to the Planet, Lois Lane was not at her 
desk.

SSSSSSSSS

Clark was becoming concerned when Jeff Simmons stopped near his 
desk and told him,  "Lois left the newsroom shortly after you 
went out. She said to tell you not to worry but she seemed 
pretty upset.  I can't help wondering if it has something to do 
with what happened last night."

"What happened last night?"

"Gee, I thought she'd have told you.   After all, you two 
seemed pretty close this past week.  But that's a woman for 
you.  Still Perry White did tell her to keep her personal life 
out of the newsroom."  He bent close and whispered, "Looks like 
Olsen and Lane made it last night, although the jury's still 
out as to whether she consented.  I guess you didn't see the 
picture, either, huh?"

"Picture?"

"The photo that's been circulating of Lane and Olsen.  No one 
knows who took it, but it's pretty revealing.  Listen, pal, I 
think I know who's got it.  How about I get it and show it to 
you?"

He let a good 45 minutes go by before he came back with the 
incriminating photo.  That gave Lois plenty of time to get to 
the warehouse for the meeting that was not going to take place.  
He knew Lane's curiosity would be sufficient to keep her 
occupied at least for a while.  She wasn't the type to just sit 
and wait until someone showed up.  He smiled inwardly at 
Trask's brilliance and nerve. Imagine letting Lane into Bureau 
39's own warehouse.

He slipped the photo to Kent, briefly mentioning 'rumors' that 
Lane and Olsen had a thing going before either he or Clark 
started at the newspaper.  He shrugged as he said, "Maybe she 
decided to start it up again."  Then he left to wait for the 
explosion.


Clark stared at the picture trying to decide what to do.  **Why 
didn't she confide in me?** he wondered.  He thought she and 
Jimmy didn't get along but would Olsen force her?  **Is she 
really in love with James Olsen?  Is that why she seemed 
agitated, because she doesn't know how to tell me, her 
partner?**  Had he been wrong about her feelings for him, for 
Clark?   Just because they had Superman in common, it didn't 
mean Lois wanted a relationship with him. **Especially now that 
she's met the other Clark,** he reminded himself.

**But I love you so much, Lois.  I want a permanent 
relationship with you, a marriage like the other Lois and Clark 
have,** he told the photograph silently.  He knew he had no 
right to expect that of her, certainly not this soon.  He 
looked at the picture a long while, hoping Lois would return 
and set his mind at rest as to her safety and well-being, even 
if it meant he'd lost her to James Olsen.

When Olsen returned alone and went straight into the darkroom, 
Clark's fear for Lois's safety and his despair at the loss of 
the woman who meant everything to him grew.  **Maybe he really 
did force her and that's why she was so upset,** he thought 
again.  His thoughts going in circles, Clark was determined to 
confront Olsen as soon as possible.  Lois's safety was at 
stake.

SSSSSSSSSS

Lois, meantime, had reached the warehouse and found it littered 
with all sorts of UFOs, most of which had never seen a road on 
Earth much less traveled in outer space.  While she waited for 
her source to show up, she poked around.  A dusty filing 
cabinet in the very back of the warehouse was marked 'UFO 
sites, 1960-.'  Lois looked inside and was shocked to find a 
file marked 'Smallville, Kansas, 1966.'

Pulling it out, she learned it did indeed have information on a 
small spaceship which landed there.  Included was the analysis 
of a green, glowing rock found near the landing site.  'Not of 
Earthly origin. Periodic Number 126.  Emits a high band 
radiation, not harmful to humans.'  The investigator speculated 
that it might hurt or even kill someone who came from the star 
system that the rocket had originated in.

Her source still had not arrived, and Lois began to wonder if 
the whole thing had been some sort of trap for Superman.  Why 
tell her they had Kryptonite in the safe?  That would only 
ensure that Superman would stay away.  **Wait!  What if the 
trap wasn't for Superman, but was instead intended to keep me 
away from the Daily Planet?  What if the intended victim is my 
partner, Clark Kent?** They knew she would have to investigate 
such tempting bait.  If she was also angry with her partner - 
her new partner everyone knew - because she thought he'd lied 
when he denied any knowledge of the supposed meeting, she 
wasn't likely to take him along.

She stuffed the file into the enormous purse she'd brought 
along and hailed the first cab she saw.  "Daily Planet, and 
there's $25.00 in it if you get me there in ten minutes."

"Lady, that ain't possible.  The cross-town traffic's brutal."

"$50.00 and that's my final offer."

"You'll be there in time.  For that amount, I'd pick the cab up 
and make like Superman."

SSSSSSSSSSSS

When Olsen came out of the photo-finishing lab, Clark Kent 
walked over to stand in front of the cub reporter.  His voice 
menacing and his eyes hard, he asked, "Where's Lois, Jimmy?"

"How would I know?  I-I wouldn't tell you even if I did know," 
Jimmy said defiantly.  The expression on Kent's face terrified 
him.  **He's going to beat me up, maybe even kill me** Jimmy 
thought.  Unable to move, he understood how a bird felt 
confronted by a python. Mesmerized, he closed his eyes and 
waited for the blow... but it never came.

Clark saw no evidence in Jimmy's manner of the guilt that he 
surely would have felt if he'd forced Lois, and Clark's rage 
fled, replaced once again by fear for Lois.  "Please," Clark 
Kent begged, "if you have any idea where Lois is, tell me.  I'm 
worried about her.  She hasn't called in.  She could be in 
trouble.  I just want to make sure she's okay."

Jimmy opened his eyes and was astonished to see that Clark had 
his temper under control.  His grip on Jimmy's arm was gentle.  
Relieved, he was about to tell Kent he really had no idea where 
Lois Lane could be when the door to the stairwell opened and 
Lois burst into the newsroom.

"Clark, no!" she screamed as she ran across the room.

Clark whirled and breathed, "Lois."

Reaching them, Lois immediately turned toward Jimmy and asked, 
"Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I-I'm fine," Jimmy assured Lois shakily.  Clark could 
see that Lois was worried about Olsen, and he was now sure that 
they were in a loving relationship.

"Jimmy, leave Clark and me alone," Lois commanded.  "He and I 
have to talk."

Jimmy nodded and retreated into the darkroom.  Turning to 
everyone else in the newsroom, Lois announced, "Okay everyone, 
show's over. Get back to work."  Everyone scattered as Lois 
guided Clark toward a small, empty conference room.  She walked 
in, shut the door, pushed Clark into a seat and sat down next 
to him.

**The important thing is that Lois is safe,** Clark reminded 
himself. **You can still be her friend, although she probably 
doesn't want you for a partner anymore.  But only if you make 
sure she understands that you'll never hurt the man she 
loves.**

"Clark..." Lois began, but Clark interrupted her.

"No, Lois, please let me talk first."  Haltingly, Clark assured 
Lois he would never harm Jimmy.  "I know... I get angry 
sometimes, but... I-I'll try to control it, I promise.  Please 
can't we... at least be friends, even if you... don't" - he 
swallowed - "want to be partners any more?  I just want to 
be... friends."

**Oh, Clark.  I was hoping we could be much more than friends, 
but I guess you're fed up with us humans.  I should be grateful 
you aren't turning your back completely on us, but...**  
"Clark, what makes you think I don't want to be partners?"

"Well, I thought with you and Jimmy... involved... and... we 
both know he hates me... Lois, breaking Jimmy's arm, that 
wasn't intentional, I swear," he finished in a rush.  "And I'd 
never interfere with whatever marriage contract you two want to 
make."

Puzzled Lois asked, "I know you didn't break Jimmy's arm on 
purpose, Clark, but what are you talking about?  Jimmy and I 
aren't involved."

"You're not?"

"No, of course not, whatever gave you that idea?"

"Well you and Jimmy," Clark blushed furiously, "spent last 
night together, so I thought you made up and intended to resume 
your relationship from last year..."

"We most certainly did not spend last night together and, 
what's more, James Olsen and I do not now, nor have we ever had 
a-a sexual relationship.  Clark, who told you that lie?" she 
asked angrily.

Clark wasn't sure whether to be relieved that Lois wasn't in 
love with Olsen or mortified because of the conclusion he'd 
jumped to. "Jeff Simmons said it was all over the newsroom and 
he gave me the picture.  At first I thought that was where you 
went today, to-to meet Jimmy, but when Jimmy returned alone... 
I had to find out if-if you were okay."

"What picture?" Lois asked.

Clark pulled out the photograph.  "Jeff said someone took it 
last night and... and everyone in the newsroom's seen it... 
only no one was sure if you consented or were forced."

Lois looked at it for a minute, then handed it back.  "The 
photo's a fake Clark.  Jeff probably had it printed up in one 
of those composite photo shops.  I doubt that anyone else at 
the Planet even saw it."

"Why would he do that?" Clark asked bewildered.

**My trusting Clark, how did you turn out so well after all 
you've been through?**  Gently she told him, "To make you angry 
enough to hurt Jimmy and get fired.  I'm pretty sure Jeff 
Simmons works for Jason Trask, Clark.  He was at the fire, the 
one that was set deliberately, and was one of the most vocal 
critics of Superman.  He wants to break up our partnership."

"Because of Superman?  Lois if he knows, if Bureau 39 
suspects... I'll have to quit.  I can't take the chance that 
Trask might hurt you."

"Don't worry.  I'm sure they have no clue that you're him.  I 
think they just wanted to stop the favorable news reports by 
breaking up our partnership, and you were the obvious target."  
She stopped appalled.  She hadn't meant that the way it 
sounded.

But Clark only said, "I know what I am and what I've done, 
Lois."

She leaned over and caressed his cheek as she said softly, "You 
haven't done anything, at least since I've known you.  And what 
you are is one of the kindest, gentlest individuals I have ever 
known." Then she rushed on.  "Besides, they made a big error," 
she added, grinning as she told him about the warehouse they 
baited her with. "Clark, I found a file in one of the old 
cabinets about a UFO sighting in Smallville, Kansas in 1966.  
That must have been when Bureau 39 got the chunk of Kryptonite 
Trask has."

Clark was horrified.  "My parents... I-I mean the Kents.  If 
Trask learns where the green rock came from, he'll go after 
them."

"It's all right, Clark.  I doubt Trask ever saw the file, it 
was so well hidden, and we have it now.  But Clark, we have to 
talk to your parents.  They have to understand that they can't 
give Superman's secret identity away to people like Jason 
Trask."

Surprised at the unexpected change of subject, Clark could only 
respond with, "Why, Lois?"

"Your Mother came to Metropolis while the other Clark was here 
and I explained about him and Superman."

"She knows?" Clark asked nervously.

"Of course, she knows.  Listen, before she went home to Kansas, 
she invited Clark to dinner the following Thursday - that's 
this evening. *You* are going to take her up on that 
invitation."

Lois saw a brief look of longing pass over Clark's face before 
he said, "No, Lois, please.  I can't go back.  Mom has a piece 
of K-Kryptonite, too.  The last time I saw mom and dad, my-my 
mother told me to... to get out.   She said I'd never be 
welcome in their house again."

"Because of your dad?" Lois asked sympathetically.

"Yeah."

Lois reached over and took Clark's hand in her own and stroked 
it for a minute before prompting, "Clark, tell me the truth.  
Did you cause the fall that put your dad in a wheelchair?" she 
asked looking her partner straight in the eye.

His face conveying his agony at the memory, Clark told her, "I 
don't know, Lois.  Dad and I argued, sh-shouted at each other, 
then I flew away.  I heard Dad's scream and flew back, but I 
wasn't fast enough to reach him before he hit the ground.  I'd 
only recently started to-to fly and... I wasn't that good yet," 
he finished turning his face away.

**Even if you didn't cause the fall, you blame yourself for not 
being fast enough to stop him from hitting the ground and being 
paralyzed** Lois thought compassionately.  She reached for 
Clark and gently turned his face toward her again.  "Go on," 
she said softly.

Clark continued shamefaced.  "I tried to tell Mom it was an 
accident; that I didn't mean to hurt Dad, but Mom... Mom 
wouldn't even let me go along in the ambulance.  Two days 
later, she told me Dad would" - he swallowed - "never be able 
to walk again.  When I begged her to let me go see Dad in the 
hospital, she brought out a chunk of Kryptonite.  She told me 
how they found it and that it would k-kill me.  I didn't know 
about it before that, but it made me feel like I was dying, so 
I left.  I haven't been back since."  The last few words were 
whispered.

Clark's eyes had tears in them, so Lois knew that, whether or 
not he'd caused his father's condition, Clark still loved his 
father deeply and his mother too.  "Well, Clark, your mother 
invited you to the farm for dinner tonight and you are going," 
she insisted.

"Lois, we both know she issued the invitation to the other 
Clark, not to me," Clark reminded her.

"We won't tell her at first.  She surely thinks the other Clark 
is still in Metropolis.  After she sees how... how nice you've 
become, we'll tell her.  Don't worry, I'll go with you," she 
assured him.

He sighed and nodded, unable to speak around the lump in his 
throat that his terror had caused.  His mother was a formidable 
woman when she wanted to be.

Lois gave him a smile and an encouraging hug.  "It'll be all 
right, You'll see."

**Oh Lois, if only it was me you wanted to protect, not just 
Superman,** Clark thought sadly.

When Lois and Clark came out of the conference room, Perry 
White called both of them into his office.  "What was that 
about earlier?"

"Nothing important, Chief," Lois assured him.

"Jimmy isn't saying anything, Jeff Simmons quit without even 
cleaning out his desk, and now you tell me it's nothing 
important, Lois."

"Chief, it's nothing we can tell you about, but I can assure 
you that Clark and I won't let it affect our work at the 
Planet."

"Lois, honey," Perry told her in the kindest tone he'd ever 
used with her.  "I just want you to be happy.  If you don't 
want to work with Clark here, you don't have to.  I'll see 
there's no blame attached to your actions."

Clark paled, so Lois put her arm around his waist comfortingly. 
Firmly she told her boss, "Clark is my partner and no one is 
going to change that.  The partnership stands."

Satisfied now that working with Clark was agreeable to Lois, 
Perry said, "Okay, Lois.  Now you two get out of here and get 
me some copy. I'm not running some kind of country club, you 
know," he told them gruffly.  But Lois knew better now and 
sassily gave him a peck on the cheek before leaving his office.  
**Clark Kent's one hell of a lucky guy,** Perry thought.

"I guess that confirms it, Clark.  Jeff was working for Trask.  
At least we're rid of him and you are still my partner," Lois 
told Clark in a satisfied voice as they returned to their 
respective desks.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Lois and Clark arrived promptly for dinner that night.  Clark 
had, Lois hoped, learned to control his temper and his actions 
sufficiently to be welcome anywhere and to fool Martha 
adequately. While Clark's father was not in evidence (He was 
sleeping and would join them later they were told) the meal 
seemed to go well.  Martha made fried chicken dinner.  Lois 
complimented her on the dinner, admitting to both Clark and his 
mother that cooking was definitely not one of Lois Lane's 
accomplishments.

Martha had been reading about the continuing deeds of the new 
'Superman' in Metropolis and other parts of the world, and she 
was glad that Clark had been able to do so much good while he 
was still stranded in their world.  She hoped his own world 
wasn't suffering too much from the presence of Martha's own 
son.

When Martha went to put the dishes in the dishwasher, Clark 
gave Lois a questioning look but she shook her head.  It wasn't 
time to let Martha in on the truth.  Lois hoped that, after 
dinner when Clark's father joined them, an opportunity might 
present itself.  Clark looked surreptitiously toward the former 
den that was now set up as a bedroom for the paralyzed Jonathan 
Kent.  His father could indeed be seen sleeping, and, while 
Clark longed to see his father, he was also afraid.

After dinner, Martha suggested that they go into the living 
room to await Jonathan Kent's appearance.  "Clark," Martha 
asked, "while I go and wake Jonathan, would you get the old 
album that I have from when my son was a baby?  It's on the 
second shelf in the pantry."

Excited, Clark went to look for the album, but it was not where 
Martha said it was.  Then he remembered.  She always kept it in 
a bottom drawer of the hutch.  Sure enough, there it was.  
Taking the precious reminder of a happier time out, he returned 
to the living room, sat down on the sofa, and showed it to 
Lois.  Lois saw pictures of a happy, contented infant and a 
carefree, laughing little boy, and she was afraid her heart 
would break.

In the other room, Martha Kent surreptitiously watched the 
scene unfold.  By the time her two visitors were seated on the 
couch looking at the album she knew the truth.  The man next to 
Lois Lane wasn't Clark Kent from the other world; he was her 
son.  **Does Lois know?** she wondered.** No,** she decided.  
Determined to drive her son away once more, she went over to 
the chest where she kept the green rock she'd found near the 
ship she and Jon found the tiny infant inside so many years 
ago.  She'd discovered early on that it seemed to cause the 
child pain and hid it away, never expecting to have to use it.

Clark had been such a delightful child those first seven years.  
It nearly broke her heart when Social Services stepped in and 
gave the child to the Johnsons, but she and Jon were only poor 
farmers and the Johnsons prominent and powerful people.  She 
told herself her boy would receive all the advantages that they 
couldn't give him, a large room of his own, lots of toys, fine 
clothes, eventually a college education.  The Kents wanted to 
keep in touch with Clark but the agency told her that would 
only interfere with the little boy's adjustment to his new 
home, so they agreed to stay away.

Five years later they learned the Johnsons had given Clark up 
after a fall from a stepladder put Mr. Johnson in the hospital.  
Social Services suspected the child had somehow caused the 
fall, but Jon and Martha were certain Clark would never 
knowingly hurt another person. Over the next few years, they 
fought to regain custody of Clark, but it was only after he'd 
been in a series of foster homes, that the agency agreed to 
return the now teenaged boy to them.

**They warned us,** Martha thought.  **They told us that no one 
wanted Clark, that he was considered hopeless.  And they told 
us all about the mysterious fires that seemed to just happen 
when Clark was nearby.  Jon and I both knew Clark had the 
capability of causing those accidents, but we couldn't tell 
Social Services.  They would have put him in a reform school or 
worse.**  She sighed unhappily.

**But Social Services was right.  The boy we got back was wild, 
unmanageable and mean, just plain mean.  We tried, Lord knows 
we did try.  We begged Clark to confide in us, to tell us how 
we could help him, but Clark wouldn't listen to either of us.  
Then that awful day came when he and Jon were arguing...**

Martha had heard the shouting, then silence, and then Jon's 
scream. By the time she'd got to the barnyard, Jon was on the 
ground unconscious with a frightened Clark standing over him.  
Clark insisted the fall had been an accident, but, after all 
they'd learned, how could Martha believe him?  When she learned 
at the hospital that Jon was paralyzed she knew she had to 
protect Jon from her son, the son she still loved and would 
always love.  She could never kill the child she loved, but she 
could frighten him away and she did that with the Kryptonite.

Her heart breaking inside, Martha had brought out the chunk 
she'd hidden away so many years before.  The Kryptonite acted 
more swiftly and the pain it caused Clark was much more intense 
than it had been when Clark was a child.  He screamed in agony 
and he flew away, his mother yelling after him that she would 
kill him if he ever showed up again.  As soon as he was out of 
sight and hearing distance, Martha broke down and wept 
hopelessly because of the pain she'd had to put her beloved son 
through in order to protect his father from Clark's future 
rages.

For the next ten years the Kents didn't see their child, then 
the Clark of another world showed up and Martha's heart broke 
again.  He was a good, gentle, albeit powerful being, the kind 
of person she'd wanted her son to become.  She shook her head 
to clear it.  That could never be; her son wasn't like the 
other Clark.

She still couldn't harm her child, but she had to scare him 
away again.  She had to protect Jon from any further damage he 
might inflict in a temper and - she thought - Lois Lane as 
well.  She retrieved the Kryptonite along with a handgun from 
the cabinet. She'd purchased and learned to use the pistol 
while Clark still lived in Smallville for a short time after 
she threw him out of their house.

Martha Kent walked out of the den holding the piece of glowing, 
green rock in her left hand and the gun in her right one.  
Dropping the album, Clark slid off the sofa and fell to his 
knees as Kryptonite had its usual effect on him.  Horrified, 
Lois shouted, "Stop it, Mrs. Kent.  You're killing him."

"Get away Lois," Martha replied.  "He may have fooled you, but 
he's not the other Clark.  He's my son.  Only my son could have 
found that album after I gave him the incorrect location.  He's 
lying about being the other Clark."

"Martha, no.  Clark's been the 'Angel in blue and red' who's 
been flying around since the other Clark went back to his 
world, the Superman you talked about at dinner."

Martha turned to her son and said furiously, "What's that all 
about, Clark?  What are you getting out of it?"

"I just want to make the world a better place, Mom.  I'm just 
trying to help," he told her weakly.

"Beep.  Wrong answer, Clark.  Lois," she told her visitor, "he 
may have fooled you but he's got some kind of agenda.  My son 
doesn't do anything for nothing.  Unless it's striking out at 
others in a fit of temper," she finished caustically.  "Clark, 
I warned you after your actions put your father in a wheelchair 
that I'd kill you if you ever showed up here again."

"Martha, you're wrong," Lois interceded.  "I lied, not Clark.  
I know the other Clark went back to his own world, and I've 
known all along this is your son, Clark."

"So you're in on his scheme, too.  Lois, I thought better of 
you," Martha shook her head as she turned the gun on Lois.

"No, Mom, please.  Lois has nothing to do with this.  She only 
wanted to help me.  She-she's just a-a friend."  Clark's fear 
for Lois was evident as he lifted his arm feebly in 
supplication.  Lois realized why Clark had said he only wanted 
to be friends.  **He wants to protect me.  He thinks being 
involved with him will get me hurt.  Oh, my love.**

"Martha, I brought Clark here tonight because I hoped..."  Her 
voice trailed off as she acknowledged that there was no way to 
breach the gap between Clark and his parents.  "Just let us 
go," she told Martha sadly.  "Clark won't ever bother you 
again.  All I - *All we* - ask is that you don't tell anyone 
who Superman is."

"You can go Lois but why should I let Clark go?  What's to stop 
me from killing him now?  It's time I rid the world of the 
menace he's become," Martha lied, as she turned the gun on 
Clark once again. Silently praying her bluff would work, she 
thought, **Please leave now.  How could I kill anyone, much 
less the boy I loved once and still love now?**

"Noooo!" Lois screamed, throwing herself in front of Clark. 
"Pl-please don't kill him," she begged.  Taking Clark into her 
arms, she told Martha, "I love him."

"You-you do?" Clark asked.

"Yes, you lunkhead, I love you.  You, not the other Clark and 
not Superman," she assured him, knowing full well what he would 
assume, then she kissed him passionately in front of Martha 
Kent.

Disgusted, Martha let the gun fall away from both of them and 
said, "He may have fooled you Lois, but stay with him long 
enough and he'll revert to form.  I pity you then.  I only hope 
he doesn't kill you the next time he becomes angry."

**How little you understand your own son,** Lois thought 
sorrowfully. **He'd die rather than hurt me - or you or 
Jonathan for that matter.**

Martha unloaded the gun and put it away in a drawer.  Then she 
put the Kryptonite into a box similar to the one Trask had and 
Clark immediately felt better.  Lois was determined to learn 
what the box was made of, but now was not the time.

"Just go, both of you.  Neither of you is welcome in my house," 
Martha told them as Lois watched the brief-lived hope die in 
Clark's eyes.  Silently, Lois vowed that she, at least, would 
never turn away from Clark, no matter what happened in the 
future.

SSSSSSSSSSSSS

Lois and Clark were at the front door ready to go, Lois 
supporting a still weakened Clark, when a voice coming from the 
direction of the den called out, "This is my house too, 
Martha."  All three whirled around and saw Jonathan Kent wheel 
his chair hurriedly into the room.

Clark froze, then whispered uncertainly, "D-dad?"

"It's good to see you, boy," Clark's father answered with a 
welcoming smile.  "Come over here so I can look at you."

Clark walked unsteadily over to his father and knelt down in 
front of the wheelchair. Astonished to find himself enveloped 
in the weak arms of his father who was murmuring "My boy, oh my 
boy," Clark broke down and sobbed.  "I'm sorry, Dad.  I'm so 
sorry.  I never meant... I love you, Dad."

His father just held Clark until his sobs ceased.  "I love you 
too, boy," he assured Clark.

Martha broke out of her immobilized state and yelled, 
"Jonathan, what do you think you're doing?"

"Shut up Martha," her husband replied in kind.  "If my son 
wants to visit, even stay overnight, he can and I will not let 
you deny him that privilege."

Both Martha and Clark gaped.  Jonathan Kent, easy going man and 
loving husband, had always acceded to Martha Kent's wishes.  To 
see him flatly refuse to do her bidding was astounding.

"Jonathan, have you forgotten that you've been in that chair 
for ten years because of something your own son did?"  Martha 
was on the offense again, but Jonathan wasn't routed.

"Martha, we don't know that.  Even if Clark did cause my fall, 
I'm sure it was an accident."

"So *he* said," Martha responded bitterly.  "Do you honestly 
believe him?  Can you believe anything he says?"  Disgust was 
apparent in her voice.

"*I* believe him," Lois told her adamantly.  "Martha, Clark 
does not lie.  He avoids telling you something he doesn't want 
you to know, but he never actually lies."

"Because he's up to something," Martha countered.

"No!  He didn't lie to me once in the six months we've both 
worked at the Daily Planet.  Not even when Perry had to force 
me to partner with him.  Now that he's Superman and has to 
'disappear' unexpectedly, you should hear some of the pathetic 
excuses he gives." She grinned at her partner who, she noticed, 
had turned red at hearing that.  "Perry doesn't believe a word, 
but he's been so pleased with the Superman stories that Clark 
and I file, he doesn't question Clark's whereabouts."

Jonathan Kent spoke up again.  "I think it's time we put the 
question of accidental or deliberate injury to rest.  Clark, 
will you sit on the couch and answer truthfully about that 
day?"

Clark nodded and went to sit on the sofa.

"Humph," Martha grumbled unconvinced.  "He'll just say it was 
an accident like he did that day."

"Martha, sit down!" her husband ordered.  Tight-lipped and 
stiff-backed, Martha took a seat on a wooden chair across from 
the couch.

**Making a statement,** Lois thought as she went to make her 
own. She sat down on the couch next to Clark, took his hand and 
gently squeezed it, affirming that she, at least, supported 
him.  Clark gave Lois a look of gratitude before squaring his 
shoulders and turning toward his parents.

Jonathan Kent gazed for a moment at the dark-haired young woman 
sitting next to his boy.  She had, he was sure, looked beyond 
the 'tomcat' and located once more the gentle, loving being 
that Jonathan and Martha had found in a spaceship in Schuster's 
field.  Silently he welcomed his - he hoped - future daughter-
in-law into his heart.

Turning his attention to the matter at hand, he strove to 
comfort his son.  "Clark, I have no idea what caused me to fall 
off that roof, but no matter how it turns out, remember you are 
my son and you always will be."

Martha's mouth opened but before she could utter a sound, 
Jonathan went on.  "I remember arguing over you being out all 
night.  And," he sighed guiltily, "shouting that, unless you 
started acting the way your mother and I expected you to, we 
didn't want you living with us any longer.  I didn't mean it, 
son."

"You didn't?" Clark asked surprised.

"Clark, sometimes people say things when they're angry that 
they shouldn't, even to those they care about the most.  
Usually they get the chance to make up afterwards, but this 
time..."  He shook his head regretfully.  "I wish the 
opportunity for me to say I'm sorry had come then, not now, but 
I am sorry."  Clark said nothing, so he went on, "I remember 
you saying something about 'If that's the way we, your mother 
and I, wanted it, you'd leave right away,' then you flew off."

"That's probably when he caused you to fall, although maybe it 
wasn't on purpose," Martha said jumping on the possibility.

"No, Martha.  It was several minutes later that I fell.  I do 
remember getting ready to climb down and walking over toward 
the ladder, then the ground coming toward me, but after that 
everything's a blank."  Turning to Clark, he continued his 
narrative.  "I woke up the next day in the hospital.  Your 
mother told me you'd left home and were never coming back.  
Were you so angry that you wouldn't even come to the hospital?" 
he asked sadly.

"No, Dad.  I wanted to come, but Mom... Mom wouldn't let me see 
you. She said you never wanted to see me again because you were 
paralyzed, and it was my fault.  I tried to tell her it must 
have been an accident, but she didn't believe me."

"Martha!" Jonathan was angry.

"Yes, Jonathan, he swore it was an accident but after what we 
learned about his actions at the Johnson's and in the other 
foster homes..."

Lois remembered the horrible things Mrs. Davison had told her 
she suspected about Clark's years spent with the Johnsons after 
Social Services took him away from the Kents.  **'A horrible 
thing... screaming and yelling heard halfway down the street-.'   
'Were they abusing him?  Beating him?' she'd asked, but Mrs. 
Davison said 'Who knows?  They were doing something, though.  
The poor child.'  No one had helped Clark because the Johnsons 
were prominent and powerful people.  **Just the kind of thing 
I've fought against these last few years,** Lois thought, 
gripping Clark's hand even tighter.

Martha Kent went on.  "Jonathan, you know what Social Services 
told us.  Clark was considered hopeless, otherwise we'd never 
have gotten him back in the first place.  No one wanted him... 
because of the accidents... rooms and things catching on fire 
spontaneously."  Then she brought up the most damaging evidence 
of all.  "How about the time Mr. Johnson fell off the 
stepladder after it 'somehow' caught fire and Johnson wound up 
in the hospital?  That's too much like your 'accident' to be a 
coincidence," Martha concluded.

As his mother spoke those words, Clark turned to Lois and 
grabbed on to her like a drowning man.  Lois wrapped her arms 
tightly around him and turned a defiant stare at the Kents.** 
So that's what 'Mad Dog Lane' looks like,** Clark thought, 
praying he hadn't done anything in the past and never would in 
the future to have that stare turned against him.  He 
remembered the Lois of the other world grabbing his tie and 
ordering 'Superman goes now!'  This Lois - his Lois, he hoped - 
was just as overpowering when she wanted to be.  **She's 
magnificent,** he thought.

Pointedly Clark's father asked, "Do you know if you did 
something like that the day of my fall, either on purpose or 
inadvertently?"

"I-I don't remember anything except what you said.  I heard you 
scream from far away and, like I told Lois, I tried to get 
there in time to catch you, but I didn't make it.  You were on 
the ground when I got there, not moving.  I tried to go to you, 
to take you to the hospital, but Mom wouldn't let me near you.  
She called the ambulance, and when they took you away... that 
was the last time I saw you until today.  Dad, I just don't 
know what caused the fall," he said despairing.

"Clark, we know your father was always extra careful when he 
worked on the roof of the barn.  You must have done something 
to cause him to fall."  In spite of Martha Kent's words, Lois 
heard both uncertainty and sympathy in her tone.  His mother 
wanted Clark to prove conclusively that he wasn't responsible 
for the accident, but none of them had any idea how to do that 
after so many years.

"Wait a minute," Clark's father said breaking the painful 
silence. "When you were a small child, you astonished me and 
your mother with the details you could remember about things 
we'd all done previously together.  You closed your eyes and it 
was as if you could see the whole thing clearly in your mind."

"Clark," Lois said excitedly, "You must have some kind of total 
recall when you put your mind to it.  You have to think about 
when you found your father on the ground.  You have to remember 
everything.  It's the only way we can learn what did take 
place."


Aware this was the only chance they had, Clark closed his eyes 
and tried to picture the scene.  "Dad, you were on the ground.  
The barn door was open behind you, but all the animals were in 
stalls or coops.  The day was hot and... and the ground near 
you and in front of the barn was dry and dusty.  There was 
nothing around the yard that could have caused a fall," he 
admitted miserably as he opened his eyes.

"What about on the roof?" his father asked.

Clark closed his eyes again.  "There were a bunch of loose 
tiles on the right side of the ladder - that's the side you 
were working on - but none looked like they'd been kicked by 
someone tripping on them. There was a tool box next to the left 
side of the ladder."

Martha interrupted.  "Yes!  I remember wondering why the box 
was there.  I put it away as soon as I got back from the 
hospital. Jonathan," she told him eagerly, "you never put the 
toolbox on that side because that's the side of the ladder you 
climb down on when you're done.  You told me so many times how 
important it is to keep the path clear."

Jonathan laughed, "Martha, don't ever decide to become a 
detective. You not only make a judgement before you have all 
the facts, but you clear away all the evidence from the scene 
of the 'crime' before anyone has a chance to consider it."

Martha turned beet-red.  "Clark, I'm sorry.  I was so sure 
that..."

"Mom," Clark interrupted, "I want to believe that dad tripped 
over the toolbox so very badly... but I can't.  Dad, it's like 
Mom said, it's just too much of a coincidence that a near fatal 
error on your part would absolve me of blame for the fall.  No, 
I'm just seeing what I want to see, not what really happened," 
he finished shaking his head.

"What about my memory, Clark?" Martha asked.

"I think maybe you're just remembering what you want to be true 
too," Clark told her warmly, because now clearly his mother was 
on the side of the 'jury that wanted to vote for acquittal.'

"Clark." Jonathan's voice was soft as he regained his son's 
attention.  "Little boys of seven or less think their fathers 
are infallible; young men of seventeen are certain they err 
constantly. The truth, like the truth in this case, is 
somewhere in between.

I know now the toolbox was on the wrong side.  It was there 
because I put the ladder too close to the damaged section of 
the roof.  I knew it and I was gonna move the ladder and then 
the toolbox to a safer position, but Martha sent you out to 
talk to me and I clean forgot. In my haste to get down from the 
roof after you left - to tell you I hadn't meant what I said - 
I fell.  Son, you didn't cause the accident - and an accident 
it was!  No one is to blame, not you, not me, and not you 
either, Martha," he finished so his wife wouldn't blame 
herself.

Both Jonathan and Martha smiled at their son.  Lois embraced 
Clark, elated at the outcome of the 'investigation.'  She could 
feel Clark's relief as he accepted the truth that he was not 
responsible for his father's paralysis.  Clark's face broke out 
in a huge smile and both parents were amazed.  This, once 
again, was the delightful little boy from the spaceship, all 
grown up.

Martha walked slowly toward Lois and Clark and stood in front 
of her son.  Tentatively she opened her arms, offering Clark a 
hug - the first she'd extended to him in ten - no twenty years.  
She was immediately enveloped in a grateful Clark's strong 
arms, as her child whispered, "Mama, oh Mama, I missed you so 
much" into her ears. Returning the embrace, Martha felt wet 
tears coursing down her son's cheeks.  **Why couldn't Jonathan 
and I see what Lois saw - that Clark was still Clark when we 
finally got our child back?** she speculated regretfully.  She 
accepted a loving kiss on the cheek, and, gazing proudly at her 
boy, said, "Let's finish what we interrupted.  Clark, I 
believe, you wanted to get reacquainted with your father.  Why 
don't you two talk, while Lois and I get some dessert ready?"

SSSSSSSSSSSSS

"Martha, I warn you I'm a disaster around the kitchen," Lois 
said, not in the least bit discomfited as she followed Martha 
into the other room.  "What do you want me to help with?" Lois 
asked, looking lost.

"Nothing dear.  Just watch and keep me company," Martha told 
her, as she took strawberry shortcake out of the refrigerator 
and put it on a serving plate.

"Martha, really I want to help," Lois assured her, but Martha 
only put her finger to her lips and whispered, "Shhh."

A minute later, Jonathan called from the hall, "Martha, I'm 
gonna show Clark around the barnyard."

"Take your time, dear.  It'll take me a while to prepare 
something for dessert," Martha called out as she started 
bustling around the kitchen, accomplishing absolutely nothing.

Lois raised an inquiring eyebrow, to which Martha returned a 
wink.

A minute or two after the front door closed behind her husband 
and son, Martha stopped and leaned against the counter.  
Smiling she said, "One thing about Jonathan, he always did know 
how to read my non-verbal clues.  Lois, I wanted the two of us 
to be alone so I can tell you how grateful we both are to you 
for bringing our boy back to us."

"I'm pleased at the way the whole thing worked out, you know 
that, but it was for Clark that I brought him here.  First 
because we need some help from you and second..." she continued 
gently, "because I know how much Clark still loves the two of 
you."

"We love him, too, Lois.  We never stopped loving him, even 
when we got him back from Social Services and learned about the 
things he did while he was in foster care."  Martha frowned as 
she added, "When he was a teenager, Clark was wild, 
unmanageable, and... mean - just mean.  When his will was 
crossed, he wanted to do damage.  Maybe not as much damage as 
he actually did, but he meant to do it."

Sadly Martha told her, "Jonathan and I did everything we knew 
to turn him back into the boy we once knew, but it was no use!  
I know now he wasn't responsible for what happened to his 
father... but at the time it seemed the only explanation.

You see Legal and Social Services could never prove that Clark 
caused the fires, so they couldn't... put him away, but 
Jonathan and I knew. We knew about the spaceship and the 
Kryptonite and, occasionally, even as a young boy Clark heard 
or saw things no human could have. We thought he was a good, 
gentle boy who would never harm others, but by the time he was 
fifteen, we were frightened of him.  We still have no idea why 
he became destructive."

"Martha, given his treatment by the Johnsons, it's a miracle 
Clark managed to turn out so well, even if he does have a 
temper.  I know, now, that I really understand Clark, that 
breaking Jimmy's arm was an accident.  I wish I could prove it 
to Jimmy," she finished sadly.

But Martha Kent was more interested in something else Lois had 
said, "What do you mean, his treatment by the Johnsons?  The 
Social Service records showed he was treated well, given a room 
of his own, clean clothes, food, even a monthly support check 
that was much more than Jonathan and I could provide.  That's 
why they took him away from us in the first place."

Lois realized that what Mrs. Davison had said was true.  The 
Kents had no idea what Clark had endured living with the 
Johnsons. "Martha, please sit down," Lois said.  In as 
sensitive a manner as possible, Lois told Martha about the 
screaming and yelling Amelia Jones heard coming out of the 
Johnson house during the time they had Clark.  "I don't know 
what the Johnsons did but Clark exhibits classic symptoms of 
severe physical and mental child abuse."

"Oh God.  Why didn't he tell us about that when we tried to get 
him to explain why he did those things - setting the fires and 
all that?"

"Martha, abused children are the most difficult victims to 
help. They seldom admit the abuse to strangers or even to those 
who really care about them.  Sometimes it's out of love for the 
parent, sometimes out of fear, but in the worst cases it's due 
to enduring a type of emotional abuse to which children are 
especially susceptible."

Lois had some training in recognizing victims of child abuse.  
Her parents, Sam and Ellen Lane, both physicians and both 
involved with such cases - an interest which was rare in their 
world even for the medical profession, had seen to it that 
their teenaged daughter learned to detect the symptoms of abuse 
so she could someday aid a victim.  They were dismayed when 
Lois didn't follow in their footsteps, but, loving her, they 
understood that children have to follow their destinies.  Now 
Lois tried to explain to Martha what she understood about the 
abuse process.

"As the abuser administers the physical punishment, he or she 
tells the child continually that it's his or her own fault.  
The parent is forced to inflict the chastisement because of 
something the child did.  The early infractions are invariably 
minor but eventually anything the child does is seen as wrong, 
evil, and punishable in the eye of the person administering the 
discipline.

As the beatings become more severe, the child begins to believe 
the parent, and actually starts to yearn for the 'correction' 
because, for a short while at least, his 'sins' have been 
atoned for.  The victim would rather suffer the pain than have 
to admit to anyone else that he is actually to blame for it.  
Worst of all, the child develops a sense of self-loathing which 
is almost impossible to correct."

"Oh, my!  When Jonathan and I tried to get Clark to admit he'd 
set the fires, we must have reinforced those feelings.  No 
wonder my poor child didn't want to spend time at home with us.  
We-we thought he had some kind of... uncontrollable Kryptonian 
sex drive which was manifesting itself."

"Well, he does have quite a reputation at the Daily Planet for 
going with a new girl every few weeks."  Lois actually grinned 
for a second, then said in a shaky voice, "I-I hope he... he 
really wants us to be more than friends."

"Sweetie, Clark loves you, really loves you.  You can see it in 
his eyes."

"I love him too, Martha."

"Lois, while I get the dessert ready, I'd really like to hear 
about my son.  I assume the exchange took place last week when 
Metropolis had those storms."

So Lois told Martha about the week after the other Clark 
returned to his own Metropolis.  She also told Martha about 
Clark's capture by Jason Trask.  "Trask had Kryptonite, but, of 
course, I didn't know then that was what it was.  I followed 
them, and was able to get into the cell when the single man 
left on guard went off to check the perimeter.  The Kryptonite 
had already taken away all Clark's powers - temporarily, thank 
goodness.

Clark... could barely move, and I was going to rescue him until 
he told me he wasn't the other Clark.  I-I couldn't hide my 
disappointment, so Clark told me that, since he was really the 
Clark Kent I knew and even h-hated, I didn't have to stay, I 
could leave and get safely away alone.  I think that was when I 
knew that he isn't the person he's been made out to be, but 
someone who puts the welfare of others above his own.  And 
Martha, I wouldn't leave a dog in the hands of that madman."

Then she told Martha about how Clark got them away from the 
four pursuers.  "He was pretty weak, but he managed to fly both 
of us to safety.  Later, I-I told him I hadn't been sure he 
would change places with the other Clark.  Clark's eyes turned 
hard (I actually cringed, Lois admitted) and he said, "Yeah, I 
came back.  Tough luck, Lois."

Martha sighed, "I know!  I warned the other Clark that I wasn't 
sure my son would willingly fly vertically to make the 
exchange."

Lois continued, "I watched Clark struggle to control his temper 
instead of lashing out.  After a bit, he said, 'It was a better 
place, especially for me.'  That was when I began to hope he 
just might be the Superman our world needs."

Martha recalled her words to the other Clark.  **Our world 
could really use you.  And there's not a chance that *my* son 
would ever undertake what you've been doing.**  Apparently her 
son was becoming their world's Superman - with Lois's help.  
Martha Kent was thankful for her world as well as for her 
child.

Martha laughed out loud when she heard about the French 
pastries Clark brought into the newsroom, after the fire which 
turned out to be a trap.  "I really will have to let Clark pick 
up some more," Lois said ruefully.

When Lois spoke of the elaborate trap Trask had set up to make 
Clark lose his temper and get fired, Martha perceived how well 
her son had acted under a stressful situation.  Clark really 
was able to control his temper and avoid harming others.

And when Lois spoke of the decision to visit the Kents, Martha 
knew that Clark had been fully aware it could cost him his 
life.  **It must have taken a great deal of courage to come 
here,** she thought. But then so had telling Lois to open the 
box with the Kryptonite in it, when he was in the cell Trask 
had him imprisoned in.  **What an extraordinary person Clark 
is.**

After she concluded her narrative, Lois asked, "Martha, the box 
that you and Trask keep Kryptonite in, what is it made of?  The 
box seemed to protect Clark from its effects."

"It's made of lead, Lois, the same substance they use to absorb 
nuclear radiation.  I'll give you the specimen I have along 
with the box.  Please destroy the Kryptonite, Lois; I don't 
want that horrible stuff anywhere near my son again."

"I will," Lois promised.  "Martha, the second reason I brought 
Clark here was to ask a favor.  You and Jonathan, as Clark's 
final legal custodians, can petition the courts to have his 
file expunged on the grounds he was a minor at the time.  
Please, please do that.  If Bureau 39 and Jason Trask get those 
records, they could figure out that Clark is Superman, and come 
after him."

"Jonathan will handle that, Lois."

"Jonathan?"

"Yes, dear.  Since he's been in that wheelchair, Jonathan has 
become much more socially and legally active.  No one pushes 
Jonathan Kent around anymore."  She laughed at herself, 
remembering the argument tonight.  "Not even me.  Oh he isn't 
mean and everything he does is perfectly legal and moral, but 
Jonathan has learned to use the system instead of having it use 
him."

SSSSSSSSSSSS

After Martha and Lois went into the kitchen, Clark gazed at his 
dad in confusion.  Jonathan just grinned for a moment, then 
said, "Come on, son, let's go outside.  I want you to see the 
farm and we'll talk, too."  As Clark wheeled his father's chair 
down the hall, he glanced toward the kitchen and noted that, 
contrary to what his mom said, the dessert seemed ready to 
serve anytime.

"Dad, what was that all about?" he asked when they reached the 
barn.

"Martha wanted to talk privately to Lois, son, and she wanted 
you to know she trusts you enough to leave us alone together."

A lump formed in Clark's throat at that evidence of his 
mother's trusting love.  For a moment, he found speech 
impossible as he looked around at the neat, well-cared-for 
barnyard.  It was quite a contrast to the rundown way it had 
looked the last time he'd seen it.  Using his telescopic 
vision, Clark gazed out over the fields and saw row after row 
of young wheat growing, as well as a thriving orchard.  The 
whole place had the look of a prosperous, profitable venture.

Jonathan saw his son's surprise and laughed, "Not like you 
remember, huh, boy."

"How-how did you accomplish this miracle?" Clark asked.

"Well, Clark, if you'll give me a lift down to the clearing 
near the creek, we'll sit a while and I'll explain."  Picking 
his father up in his arms, Clark treated him to a long, slow 
flight along on the way. Jonathan was thrilled at the view of 
his farm from above and was enjoying a sense of freedom unlike 
anything he'd ever experienced. "You are a very talented boy, 
son," Jonathan said appreciatively as Clark settled his father 
gently on the ground.  Grateful that he'd been able to give his 
dad this little gift, Clark positioned his dad against a nearby 
tree and sat down next to him.

Clark still felt guilty because he hadn't been able to catch 
his dad before the fall paralyzed him, and it showed.  Jonathan 
sighed.  He had to help his son come to grips with this 
dilemma.  "Clark, when I fell you were only seventeen.  You 
hadn't had much experience flying yet and, you certainly 
weren't fast enough to catch me in time. Don't blame yourself 
for what you couldn't do then."

"Dad, you always know the right thing to say," Clark responded 
gratefully.

"Not always, son.  If I'd stood up to your mom when we got you 
back, told her I, at least, was sure you weren't 'hopeless,' 
maybe things would have turned out differently."

"No, Dad.  That's past and you can't change it."

"You can't change what's past either, son.  And no matter how 
powerful you become and, no matter how hard you try, you won't 
be able to save everyone.  You have to accept that or it'll 
tear you apart inside."

"Then what good are my powers, Dad?  When I was in the other 
Metropolis, I learned about the other Clark, what he does, how 
he lives his life.  I wanted to meet him, to be like him.  He-
he never used his powers... inappropriately, and everyone likes 
him.  I'm not sure I can live up to that."

"Son, I've been reading about what you've done this past week.  
What you can or can't do - it doesn't matter.  You've given us 
all hope, and that's the most important part of what you can 
do."

Clark accepted his father's reasoning.  Although he would never 
be satisfied that he was doing enough he would do what he 
could.  Clark knew his father had helped him with this as far 
as he was able.  Any other healing, Clark would have to do 
himself - with Lois's help, he prayed.  Changing the subject, 
he said, "You were going to explain about the farm."

"Ah, yes.  Well, after I became confined to a wheelchair, I had 
a lot of time to think.  I thought about you and me, and I 
realized that I should have been able to help you, but it was 
too late for us.  You never came back."  He held up his hand to 
forestall an objection on the part of Clark.  "I know, son, but 
your mother never told me she sent you away, so I thought you 
made that decision because of our last argument.

Anyway, I wanted to somehow make amends for screwing up, so I 
volunteered to help out at the Smallville Youth Shelter.  After 
a while, I could tell which kids were incorrigible and which 
ones just needed a helping hand to get back on track.  Those 
were the good kids - like you, Clark - they'd just gotten into 
one or two minor scrapes with the law - mostly running away 
from home, skipping school, that sort of thing.  Anyhow, I 
couldn't see putting them in reform school where they'd be 
thrown together with a really bad crowd, so I petitioned the 
court to remit a few into my custody.  They could live here, on 
the farm with Martha and me, while they 'paid their debt to 
society.'

Worked pretty well.  The kids learned to repair fences, paint, 
plant seed and harvest crops, fix and drive the tractors, even 
muck out the barn, although I didn't get many volunteers for 
that chore.  I got the help I needed to maintain the farm, and 
the kids learned useful skills and most of all responsibility.  
By the time they'd served their 'time,' they were well on the 
road to becoming productive citizens.

After a couple of years, I could even afford to pay my helpers, 
so we started putting the kids' money into college funds.  The 
money came out of the farm's expenses, so the savings on 
business profit taxes easily made it up.  The whole thing's 
been a real learning process for me as well.  I learned to be a 
more efficient farmer, raising good cash crops without spending 
a fortune on chemical fertilizers. Your mother helped a lot, 
teaching both the boys and the girls how to can and preserve."

He laughed as he said,  "Even the farm's horses contribute, 
although not by pulling a tractor.  The kids see to it that the 
horses get plenty of exercise and we, your mom and I, see to it 
that they have sufficient personal time, for homework and 
recreational pursuits like horseback riding in the spring and 
fall, and swimming in the summer.

The last couple of years, though, we decided not to board the 
kids anymore.  We're gettin' a little old for that, so now we 
only take those who go home at night.  A couple of the other 
farmers picked up the slack, the younger Irigs, for example."

"That's great Dad," Clark said, trying not to show the feelings 
of jealousy he felt over other kids getting the benefit of his 
folks' attention, attention he needed so badly years ago.  
**You have no right to feel this way,** he told himself firmly.  
"I guess it's like they say - it's an ill wind that doesn't 
bring some good with it."

Jonathan, however, could see how forlorn his only son was 
feeling, so he assured Clark, "Son, I would have traded all of 
it in a minute to get you back."

"You would?" Clark asked, startled.

"Yeah.  I'm proud of you Clark.  And not just because you fly 
around in a blue and red suit helping to make this world a 
better place. After working with troubled teens, I can pretty 
much guess what your life must have been like before you were 
returned to us.  Today, I saw in that young woman's eyes that - 
in spite of everything you've been through - you somehow 
managed to turn out to be the fine young man your Mother and I 
hoped you would one day become when we found you in that tiny 
spaceship."

Neither one felt the need to say anything more for a bit, just 
enjoying the quiet as people do only in the presence of those 
they care about the most.  But there was something else Clark 
had learned while he was in that other world.  So finally, his 
voice low so as not to break the mood, he whispered, "The other 
Lois is married to the other Clark."

Jonathan at last understood what Clark had been searching for 
when he was out all night, someone to love and to be loved by.  
He knew Clark had finally found that someone in Lois Lane. "You 
love Lois, do you, son?"

"More than anything or anyone in this or any other world."

"Then tell her that and make a marriage contract with her.  She 
loves you, too.  It shows in the eyes.  Son, you can trust 
Lois," he concluded, knowing how hard trusting would always be 
for Clark. Inwardly Jonathan cursed the organization that took 
a happy, contented seven-year-old child away from the Kents, 
and returned a badly wounded teenager.  **There's one more 
thing that, while it won't change anything that happened 
subsequent to that huge blunder by Social Services, might help 
Clark to heal further.**

"Clark, your mom never stopped loving you, not even when she 
told you that you'd never be welcome in our house.  She said 
that because she was frightened and thought she had to protect 
me.  But all during the time you were gone from our lives, I'd 
wake in the middle of the night and hear your mom in the living 
room, crying quietly all alone. After I got strong enough to 
get out of bed and into the chair by myself, I wheeled it to 
the door to see what she was so upset about. She'd sit on the 
couch leafing through that old album of ours with the pictures 
of you when we first had you, and she'd sob quietly and 
desperately the whole time.  She loves you too, son, she always 
has."

His eyes on the ground, Clark didn't say anything for a minute.  
Then he raised them.  Clark's eyes were wet with tears as he 
looked directly at his father and said, "Thank you, Dad."

Jonathan said nothing more.  There was no need.  After a while, 
he suggested they go back to the house.  "We don't want 
Martha's strawberry short cake to spoil sitting out too long."

"How did you know she put it out?"

"Son, I know your Mother, so I don't have to see what she's 
doing to know what it is.  She's got to get up pretty early in 
the morning to put anything over on your old dad nowadays."

SSSSSSSSS

The rest of the visit was enjoyed by all, although Martha 
suggested an early end to the festivities.  Jonathan had 
enjoyed enough excitement for one day, and anyway, he - they 
both - could look forward to regular visits, since Clark had no 
need to pay for airline tickets.  "Next Thursday, perhaps?" she 
asked a delighted Clark, who immediately answered in the 
affirmative, particularly if Lois would like to come along.  He 
assumed Lois was invited, he said to his mother.

"Of course, but there's no need for a formal invitation to 
Lois, after all, she's family."

That caused Clark a moment's hesitation - were they rushing 
things too much?  Lois soon set his mind at rest by graciously 
accepting the blanket invitation.  "I'd love to come too, 
Martha," she assured her hostess, while placing a propriety arm 
around Clark's waist.

Leaving Jonathan inside, the other three walked out to the back 
porch where Clark spun into the Super suit.  Martha's jaw 
dropped and she stared for a moment at her son.  Lois grinned 
and Clark blushed furiously, but his mother only said, "Perhaps 
you'd better stay a little while longer, Clark."

"Well, sure if you want me to, but why Mom?"

"Come inside.  I have something for you," she told him.  Martha 
led Lois and Clark over to an old trunk that occupied a corner 
of the living room and opened it.  "The baby blanket we found 
you in so long ago," she told her son holding it up, "and 
this."  Martha pulled out a pentagonal S, the same symbol that 
was on the Superman suit.  A lump formed in Clark's throat when 
he realized how many years his mother had kept these precious 
reminders of him.  Even after what seemed like an irrevocable 
breach between them, she'd kept them. **Dad was right.**

Martha turned a critical eye on the suit Clark was wearing, the 
only Superman suit he owned.  He'd been wearing it when he 
returned from the alternate universe.  "That suit is starting 
to wear a bit son. With this, I can make you more outfits.  
What's more the other Clark's heavier than you are.  Get 
undressed, and I'll take your measurements before you go so the 
new ones will fit better."

Lois could tell by the look on Clark's face that he didn't want 
to undress and be measured by his mother.** Embarrassment or 
something else? ** She wondered, feeling a familiar fierce need 
to protect Clark.  "Martha, the fact that I can't cook doesn't 
mean I can't do anything domestic.  Actually I'm quite a good 
seamstress, so if you'll just give us the S, I'll make the new 
outfits for Clark." Laughing, she added, "I even learned to dye 
leather in girl scouts, so boots won't be a problem either.

Martha gladly turned the 'S' over to her son and the woman 
Martha, like Jonathan, hoped she would soon call 'daughter.'  
With plans made to meet for dinner next Thursday, a get-
together which all four were confident would be followed by 
many more such occasions, Lois and Clark took their leave.

A second round of hugs and kisses put the final touches on an 
evening that had, at first, seemed likely to end in disaster.  
Instead it culminated in a favorable 'verdict,' and the 
rebuilding of a relationship that had so cruelly been torn 
asunder when Clark Kent was just seven years old.

SSSSSSSSSSS

Back in Metropolis, Clark continued his Superman duties, his 
routine and spectacular rescues faithfully written up by the 
Daily Planet's Lois Lane and Clark Kent. Even without the 
Superman stories, a growing readership eagerly read the copy of 
the hard hitting investigative journalists, and circulation 
climbed to the delight of the paper's owner, Franklin Stern.  A 
beaming Perry White was certain a major newspaper award was on 
the horizon.

The single blight on the relationship horizon was Clark's 
unwillingness to allow Lois to make new suits for him, even as 
the old one became increasingly threadbare.  Whenever Lois 
brought up the matter, Clark sidestepped the issue.  He didn't 
need a new suit, he insisted in spite of all the evidence to 
the contrary, and Lois was becoming increasingly embarrassed 
with each Superhero exploit, not to mention during the weekly 
visits to the Kents.

SSSSSSSSSS

A few weeks later, while Clark and Jimmy went to see 
Metropolis's football team play last year's championship team, 
Lois and Penny spent the evening at Lois's apartment.  The 
opportunity to discuss Clark and Jimmy was just too good to 
miss since both women enjoyed talking about their respective 
men.

Penny told Lois that while she and Clark had gone out together 
for several weeks, they had been intimate (she blushed 
prettily) only a few times before his roving eye turned toward 
the new Daily Planet trainee.  "That was before you two became 
involved," she assured Lois.  "I mean there's no doubt he 
really cares about you.  He wouldn't..."  She trailed off 
afraid that she'd said too much, but Lois replied that she was 
not worried about losing Clark.

Relieved, Penny went on.  "That's wonderful, Lois.  So how long 
a marital contract are you two planning on taking out?"  She 
stopped at the look on Lois's face.  "I'm sorry, I thought....  
Stupid me. It's just that Jimmy and I just signed a six month 
contract."

Happy for her friend and relieved to be able to change the 
subject, Lois hugged Penny.  "So, when's the ceremony?"

"Three weeks from Saturday.  We're only having a small get 
together. If the 'trial' works out well, we may go for a long-
time contract to have... you know... kids.  Then we'll have a 
real wedding."  She stopped and asked shyly, "Would you be one 
of my bridesmaids?"

"I'd love to, of course, Penny," Lois replied and the two 
hugged again.

Lois however was thinking about her own relationship with Clark 
Kent. She knew he loved her, and she suspected he wanted to 
commit.  She hadn't mistaken the looks he'd given her, both 
before and since, they'd become partners, she was certain. As 
the two reporters became increasingly closer, Lois yearned to 
take their relationship to the next level of intimacy, but 
Clark seemed hesitant.  Lois was becoming increasingly 
frustrated, and she could tell that, although he rebuffed all 
her attempts at physical intimacy, Clark too was dissatisfied 
with the sexual situation.

"He's a great guy, really, Lois.  He treats a woman so well 
while he's dating you, he kinda spoils you for other guys.  I 
think that's why so many of the men resent him, but gee whiz 
you'd think they'd take lessons, instead.  Jimmy did," she 
grinned.  "Once he got over his ego being bruised and called 
me, well it's been great."  Lois, of course, knew that it had 
been Clark who set Jimmy straight about Penny.

SSSSSSS

Jimmy had been loudly complaining to a bunch of eager listeners 
that Clark Kent took his girl, Penny, away from him, then 
dropped her. Clark was not in the newsroom but Lois was, and 
she immediately went into 'Mad Dog Lane' mode.   Loudly she 
announced, "Jimmy, cut it out. You have no one to blame but 
yourself.  Clark wasn't responsible for you losing Penny, or 
Angela, or Bambi, or Mitzi, James Olsen."

Jimmy's mouth dropped open and he stared at Lois unable to 
think of a response.  Lois turned to glare at the onlookers, 
who, recognizing that discretion is indeed the better part of 
valor, immediately scattered, leaving Jimmy and Lois alone.

"Lois, I know you and Clark seem to be partners and all but..."

"Jimmy," Lois interrupted, "Clark's breaking your arm was an 
accident, an accident I caused."

"But he-he was coming on to you."

"No, he just caught me when I fell.  I know that now.  Clark's 
been trying to make that up to you for more than a week, but 
you rebuff every advance."  She felt as protective of Clark in 
that moment as she had of Superman after the fire.  "The whole 
problem with this lousy world is that nobody ever gives anyone 
else a second chance," she concluded stomping off.

Cowed and somewhat puzzled, Jimmy retreated to the darkroom 
where he had some photos to hang up.  **If I'd agreed to be 
Clark Kent's photographer when he asked me, someone else would 
be hanging up my photos,** he thought.  He found his mind 
drifting back over his relationship with Kent.

Clark really hadn't seemed a bad sort when he started at the 
Planet nine months ago.  He'd even brought in a few good 
stories and James Olsen was starting to like, maybe even admire 
the new reporter.  Then Clark Kent stole Angela from him.

**Face it Olsen, a turtle, albeit a rich turtle could have had 
Angela if it wanted her.  And most of the other girls you went 
out with, too.  Clark didn't steal Angela.  She threw herself 
at Kent, then badmouthed him when he dumped her.  Angela 
prefers to be the dumper, not the dumpee.  But Penny was 
different,** he reminded himself.

**You never had a chance with Penny,** his conscience informed 
him.

After Angela, Jimmy had happily joined the anti-Kent faction in 
the newsroom.  **And where did that get you?**  Perry White had 
actually seemed ready to give Jimmy some real photo 
assignments, but, as soon as he started carping about Kent, the 
assignments melted away.  Jimmy Olsen was back to being the 
Daily Planet's gopher, instead of a real photographer.  **And I 
blamed that on Clark,** he admitted, **rather than my own 
actions.**

What's more Lois Lane, who Jimmy thought was a really great 
reporter, became the next recipient of Jimmy's now clandestine 
defamation.  **I gave Lois the 'Mad Dog Lane' tag** he thought 
mortified, **because Perry partnered her with Clark Kent.  They 
even seemed to be working well together, getting the choice 
assignments while I got nothing.

At least until the incident in the closet.  Now I wonder what 
really did happen.**  He had to admit he didn't burst in on 
them to rescue Lois Lane, but rather to humiliate Clark Kent.  
**Lane never needed my help, and both of us knew it.  It could 
have been an accident. Clark must have been pretty startled.  
And what did he do really? Turned with his arms outstretched 
and caught me unawares, not exactly a sinister move.  Last 
Thursday, he controlled his temper, didn't hurt me, even though 
I could tell he was upset.  He even took my word for it when I 
said I didn't know where Lois was.**

Two weeks ago, Clark had approached him as if they were 
friends, but Jimmy had angrily reminded him about the incident 
in the closet. Clark looked upset and had actually apologized.  
Lois, on the other hand, had been willing to go along with the 
'new' Clark Kent and the two were partners again.  **Maybe it's 
time I did give both of them a second chance,** he concluded.  
**I just hope they'll give me one.**

Seeking out Lois Lane, he contritely apologized for his 
behavior earlier.  Hostile at first, Lois thought, amazed, 
**Jimmy's apologizing?**  She'd been sure Jimmy was no friend 
of hers; after all he was the one who nicknamed her 'Mad Dog 
Lane!'  **He offered to testify against Clark, because he hates 
Clark even more than he hates me!  Could that be wrong too?  
Did Jimmy really rush into the storeroom and get his arm broken 
to help me?"  Lois decided to accept Jimmy's regrets and was 
rewarded with a smile of relief from her young colleague.  
Jimmy went on to explain his attitude toward Clark. "Trouble 
is, Lois, none of the others mattered but I-I really like 
Penny."

"Why don't you ask Clark to help you get her back?  He's no 
kind of rival anymore, he wouldn't dare be," she told him with 
a grin.

"Do you think he'd help me?"

"Can't hurt to try, Jimmy," Lois assured him.  "Just make sure 
you don't... startle him," she cautioned.

SSSSSSS

Clark Kent was at his desk writing up a city hall press 
conference dealing with the fire and Superman's rescue of two 
children the previous week when Jimmy strolled over.  Clark 
looked up suspiciously.  "What do you want?" he asked coldly.

Nervously Jimmy responded, "Ah, Lois said maybe you could give 
me some pointers about how to get Penny to go out with me."  He 
swallowed.  "But if you're too busy..."

"Not that busy," Clark replied hurriedly.  Then, because it was 
the first time any of the newsroom staff, except Lois or Perry 
White (**or Cat, of course ** he thought disgustedly), had 
approached him in a friendly manner, he smiled and offered, 
"It's almost lunchtime. Maybe we could go for a bite and a 
talk.  If-if you want to that is."

"Yeah, that would be great, CK.  You said I could call you CK 
two weeks ago," he reminded Clark after seeing Clark's startled 
expression.

Smiling Clark agreed, "Sure, I'd like that."

Jimmy found himself smiling in return.  **Wow,** he thought, 
**Where have you been hiding that?  No wonder women fall all 
over you.**

Lunch proved both agreeable and informative, as Clark explained 
a few things about how a woman wants to be treated.  Later that 
evening, Jimmy called Penny and she agreed to go out with him.  
They were an item in a very short time.

At the next morning's staff meeting, Jimmy Olsen volunteered to 
accompany Lois and Clark on their next assignment.  With the 
partners seconding Jimmy's plan, Perry happily assigned the 
young man to the story.  He was even happier when he saw the 
quality of the photographs Jimmy, no longer just a gopher, 
took.

Lois and Clark and Penny and Jimmy became fast friends.  Soon 
the four of them were doing things together both at work and 
after hours, although Jimmy did have an annoying habit of 
barging in on Lois and Clark at inopportune times.  He would 
grin in such a charmingly innocent way, however, that they 
immediately forgave their young friend.

SSSSSSSSS

Penny went on, her face a trifle puzzled.  "But it is a little 
strange that Clark won't really get undressed in front of a 
woman. Not just me, you know.  I mean others have told me...."

"Go on, please, Penny," Lois prompted.  She had the feeling 
this was important.

"Well, the whole time we went together, even the few times we 
enjoyed sexual relations, Clark never once got completely 
undressed.  I mean I did, and he certainly seemed to enjoy 
looking at my body... and he-he never made me feel, you know, 
used or dirty or ugly.  But, when he took off his own shirt and 
slacks, he was wearing a gorgeous pair of black silk boxers and 
a matching sleeveless black silk T-shirt.

Those stayed on the whole time we made love.  I know because I 
could feel them even after he turned out the light and we made 
love in the dark.  That didn't interfere in any way with my 
enjoyment," she assured her friend.  "He's a really good lover, 
Lois, one of the best I've ever had.  And," she giggled, "he 
didn't tire no matter how many times I wanted it.  Afterwards 
when I asked why he hadn't taken off the boxers and T-shirt, he 
made a joke, saying 'I'm a little shy so I don't like people to 
see me without my underwear.'"  Penny's face got dreamy 
thinking about her sexual experiences with Clark.  "I'll have 
to get Jimmy to get a few more pointers from Clark," she 
concluded grinning.

**It'll be different for Clark with me,** Lois vowed.

SSSSSSSS

A week later, on a Saturday night, Lois drove her jeep up 
Clinton Avenue looking for a place to park in front of Clark's 
apartment. Clark Kent, AKA Superman, sat in the passenger's 
seat tight-lipped and stiff-backed.  Looking surreptitiously 
over at her silent partner, Lois couldn't help thinking, **It's 
amazing how much he resembles Martha Kent although there's no 
blood relationship.**

Lois and Clark had had their first big fight earlier that 
night. When Clark picked Lois up - they had tickets for a new 
play which had just opened - she brought up the question of the 
Superman suit. "Really Clark, you simply have to let me make 
you new ones - that one is practically falling apart.  You've 
almost worn a hole in the cape, and who knows what effect that 
could have on the flying."

For the first time since they escaped from Trask, Clark's eyes 
blazed with anger.  "I'm Superman and I'll decide when I need a 
new suit," he barked back.

No longer afraid, (she knew that no matter how angry he became, 
Clark would never hurt her) Lois responded in kind, and they 
were soon engaged in a full-scale shouting match.  The highly 
vocal argument ended only when it was time to leave for the 
theatre.  Now they were on their way back to Clark's apartment, 
the play over, and the argument still unresolved.

In addition to refusing to allow her to make new Super suits, 
Lois knew Clark was hiding something that was interfering with 
their relationship.  After the conversation with Penny, she had 
some idea about what the problem might be.  Looking over at her 
silent partner, Lois determined to put an end to today's fight.  
When they arrived at Clark's apartment, she said, "How about I 
stay a while?  Maybe you could make tea and a late night snack?

"Sure," agreed a greatly relieved Clark Kent.

After they had the late night meal, Lois and Clark sat together 
on the couch and became passionate to their mutual delight.  
Clark's kisses soon turned Lois on fire.  "At last," Lois 
thought, happily acquiescing when Clark slowly reached behind 
her, unzipped her dress and pushed it down to her hips.  Lois 
stood up and, after removing her shoes and stockings, stepped 
out of the dress.  Smiling seductively, she unhooked and took 
off her bra, then slowly pushed her lace panties down her legs 
to her ankles.  She stepped out of the panties, and stood 
completely naked in front of the man she adored. Clark watched 
her proud stance as Lois turned slowly around, revealing 
herself to him.  He returned a smile that left no doubt as to 
his delight.  "Is this why you love me?" Lois asked grinning.

"You really do have a great body," Clark responded, laughing as 
he pulled her onto his lap, and continued what he'd been 
engaged in doing.  Everything went as Lois had dreamed, until 
she reached for the buttons of Clark's shirt.  Feeling the silk 
T-shirt underneath, she started to push it up and out of the 
way, but Clark firmly tugged it back down again.  Then pulling 
away, he reached for the light switch to turn it off and Lois 
went ballistic.  "Clark, I showed you all of me, why won't you 
show me all of you?"

After giving her a defiant look, but not saying a word, Clark's 
face turned red with shame, before he turned his gaze away.  
Lois reached out to him and asked softly, "Clark, what's the 
problem?  I just want to hold you, run my hands up and down 
your body, and make love to you, fully and completely."  Lois's 
voice was sad and her eyes filled with tears.  Receiving no 
response, she got up and turned away from Clark.

Hearing Clark choke out "Lois," she turned back to look at her 
love and saw a look of utter despair on his face.  Gone was the 
anger of earlier, in its place was suspicion and mistrust, the 
look of someone who's been rejected, then abandoned by the 
person he loves the most. **Oh my,** Lois thought, recalling 
some of what she knew about abused children and the adults they 
often turned into.  In her mind, she heard the words she'd 
listened to so often in the lectures she had attended.  **The 
ability to trust is perhaps most difficult for maltreated 
children to develop.  Exploited, battered or neglected, they 
learn to fear rather than to trust.  Inability to trust not 
only prevents children from developing loving relationships, 
but makes it difficult for them to seek protection from abuse 
as well.  Children may look with suspicion on a concerned 
adult's attempts to help. Carried into adulthood, the inability 
to trust may contribute to marital and child rearing 
difficulties.i**

Lois sat down abruptly and pulled Clark into her arms.  She 
could feel his body shaking as she swore, "I wasn't gonna leave 
for good. I love you, Clark, but that doesn't mean I won't ever 
get angry. Just remember that no matter how angry I get, I'll 
never, ever leave you."  After a pause, she tried to reassure 
him further.  "It's okay. We don't have to-to do this.  I-I'll 
get dressed now and go home. I'll see you tomorrow morning at 
the Planet," she pledged.

"No, wait," Clark sighed.  After unbuckling his belt and 
unzipping his pants, he stood up, pushed them down, and then 
stepped out of them.  He unbuttoned his shirt and took that off 
as well.  Lois gazed at the black silk boxers and T-shirt, now 
willing to make love with him wearing them, if that was what he 
wanted.  But after a moment's hesitation, Clark pulled the silk 
undershirt over his head and tossed it on a chair.  Lois saw 
several scars from cigarette burns on his chest and another 
from an old rope burn going around his waist.  She gasped, and 
Clark looked away ashamed.

Lois wondered if Clark would be able to go further, but after a 
minute, he sighed heavily again and pushed the last piece of 
clothing, his boxer shorts, down over his hips and legs.  After 
stepping out of them, he stood naked in front of her.  His head 
down and his gaze firmly on the floor, he turned slowly around 
revealing himself to her.

Lois saw numerous marks from whips and lashes crisscrossing his 
back, and scarring from bruises and welts on large areas of 
Clark's back, torso, buttocks and thighs.  Worst of all was the 
evidence of terrible burns from scalding using overheated tap 
water, including the characteristic donut burn on the center of 
the buttocks.  *Oh God, no wonder Amelia Jones heard screaming 
and yelling from halfway down the street.**  Unable to stop 
herself, Lois uttered a cry of despair.

Clark started to move away, but Lois jumped up and threw her 
arms around him.  Clark's body shuddered uncontrollably for a 
time.  Then finally soothed, it quieted.  Gently Lois pulled 
Clark toward the couch and sat both of them down.  In spite of 
their nakedness, she made no attempt to become intimate as she 
prompted, "Clark, please tell me about it.  I-I have to know."

Haltingly, Clark told Lois the complete story of what his life 
had been like with the Johnsons.  "The first month, at the-the 
Johnsons wasn't bad but I was so homesick.  I cried a-a lot and 
told them I wanted to go home to Mom and Dad.  Then one day, I 
ran away, but the police caught me and brought me back.  Mrs. 
Johnson thanked the police officer and told him how worried 
she'd been, b