Because It Just Couldn't End Like That

By Jennifer Baker

Summary: A short but WAFFy continuation of the episode "That Old Gang of Mine." What if Clark hadn't dozed off?

Or then again, maybe not.

***

Lois grinned wryly. It was ironic that now, when she was finally beginning to figure out her own feelings, Clark seemed so completely satisfied with their remaining just friends. Last year, when he so clearly wanted more, she was the one not ready. Oh well, considering her past luck with men, what should she have expected?

Clark slept the rest of the way back to his apartment. As Lois stopped the car in front of his apartment, she expected him to wake up, but he didn't. Instead, she had to reach over and gently shake him awake. "Clark, come on, wake up. We're there."

With a slight moan, he came to. "Lois? Are we there already? "

"You fell asleep, Clark."

"No I didn't. I mean, I don't need ..."

Lois smiled at him as she got out of the car. "It's okay Clark. You're not Superman, she teased. Like you said, being dead can be a trying experience."

Clark got out at his side. "I guess." He still looked confused, though. As they went up to the door of his building, Clark stumbled into Lois. She caught his arm, and he apologized. "I'm sorry Lois. I don't think I've ever been this tired before."

"You've never been shot before, either." Lois opened the door. "Come on, I'm going to make sure you make it upstairs okay."

Clark simply followed Lois up the stairs to his apartment. There was nothing he could say. After all, he had been shot before, but he'd never been this tired before. Maybe it was the stress of the last week and not getting enough sleep. Come to think of it, Clark wasn't sure if he'd slept for more than an hour the entire week. He'd been too worried about everything to relax.

They reached the top of the landing, and Clark went to unlock the door. Seeing him fumble for his keys, Lois grabbed them from him. Here. You're too tired to think straight."

As she led him inside, Clark looked around his apartment. "You can't imagine how good it feels to be home." Clark turned back to her. She looked so beautiful, concrete and all. He couldn't believe how much he had missed her. Especially the little things: walking into the office in the morning, driving to a story, waiting for a contact. Impulsively, he stroked her cheek. "Thanks, Lois....for driving me home."

As Clark smiled down at her, one lock of his hair fell across his forehead. Lois couldn't believe she'd never before noticed how incredibly endearing that stray lock of hair was. She desperately wanted to reach up and brush it out of the way. Instead, she simply said, "Well, I guess I should be leaving now. You need your sleep."

"I guess so." As if to emphasize the point, he yawned broadly.

"Well, I'll, um, see you tomorrow Clark." She hesitated, not wanted to leave.

"Yeah, I'll see you tomorrow." As he spoke, it seemed to Lois that his smile increased, if ever so slightly. But then again, that was probably only wishful thinking on her part. With a sigh and a final wave goodbye, she left his apartment, closing the door behind her. Tomorrow would be another day, but at least he would be there to share it with her...

THE END

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