A Matter of Destiny Part One

By ML Thompson <thomplaw@tbaytel.net>

Rating: PG-13

Submitted: July 2001

This is an alternate universe - one which we have not visited  previously. If you notice some changes in our heroes (and you  will), please bear with me. Everything will reveal itself in  good time. I made one little (almost insignificant) change and  suddenly I had this domino effect taking place. You'll  understand once you've read the story.

My thanks to Gerry Anklewicz and Carol Malo for all their help  with this story. Their hard work made this story much better. I  would also like to thank everyone who responded to my request  for information about mustard gas on Zoomway's message boards  and by e-mail. Additional information about mustard gas was  found in various internet sites, most of which I can no longer  find. My thanks to Julie Gibson for editing this story for the  archives.

No copyright infringement is intended. I recognize that the  characters are not mine. I am just borrowing them for a little  fun and not for any profit.

* * * * * * * *  A MATTER OF DESTINY PART ONE  By: ML Thompson  * * * * * * * * *

Part 01

Jessica stopped on the corner across from the Daily Planet and  looked up at the large globe that marked its entrance. A small  smile crept onto the corners of her lips as she recalled a much  younger version of herself standing on this same corner  dreaming of the day when she too would be part of this team of  heroes - combating evil with the power of the written word.

After so many years, she could hardly believe it might actually  happen. Perry White had called her, inviting her to come for an  interview. She knew it was dangerous returning to Metropolis,  even after all this time. Still... How could she possibly turn  down the chance to work at the Daily Planet?

Of course, given the risk, she would have to continue living  under her assumed name - Jessica Miller. And she would have to  be careful not to run into her family. She snorted. Family.  That was an overstatement. She missed Lucy. As for the rest of  her family... the less contact the better. After all, her  mother had never been able to accept her and if it hadn't been  for her father... Jessica sighed.

She watched for a moment as people filed in through the front  entrance to the Planet. Most of them had that resigned look  that announced to the world that another work day had begun.  Considering where these people worked, Jessica could hardly  believe they could be so blase. She couldn't imagine being  blase working for the greatest newspaper in the world. There  were other papers that were just about as good as the Daily  Planet, but none quite measured up in Jessica's mind with this  one. This one stood for integrity in journalistic reporting. It  was a voice for the people. Oh, heck, when you thought about it  the Daily Planet stood for nothing less than truth, justice and  the American way. To Jessica's way of thinking, you couldn't  top that.

Now, if everything went as planned, she'd actually be working  here. It was almost too good to let herself believe. She took a  deep breath, steadied her trembling nerves, and walked across  the street.

The majority of the morning crowd had already arrived so there  weren't many people in the lobby when Jessica finally entered.  She stopped just inside, looking around. There was a  confectionary, but Jessica was too nervous to even indulge  herself in a Double Fudge Crunch Bar - her favorite. On the  other hand, a quick look at the candy displayed informed her  that if she did get a job here, she would have ready access to  her favorite addiction.

She walked past the confectionary to the elevators. There were  two men already waiting there. She fell into place beside them.  Since the up button was already illuminated, Jessica raised her  eyes to watch the numbers - anxious to get to her destination.

"So what did she say?" asked the one man, obviously speaking to  the other.

"What do you think she said?" the man responded. "That she was  waiting for Clark Kent to ask her out."

The first man snorted. "If I hear that man's name one more  time... Don't they know he's only after one thing? That man  goes through more women... I remember one time when a woman  slapped him across the face in front of the entire newsroom."

"What did he do?"

"I think he said something like, 'Don't make such a big deal  out of it,' before walking away."

The second man shook his head. "You know I heard that a few  weeks ago, he actually had three women in one night. Two  together and then one later on."

"So why do they put up with it?"

The second man shook his head and then gave a slight laugh.  "And how do we get some?"

"No kidding," snorted the first man. "You know, I've got to  admit that no matter how miserable Clark Kent has made our  lives, I can't say I know of one man who wouldn't trade places  with him in a heartbeat."

"Ain't that the truth," said the second man.

Jessica impatiently tapped her foot on the floor. How long  could it possibly take an elevator to get here?

Ding.

Jessica let out a breath and quickly stepped into the elevator.  The men stepped in beside her and the doors slid closed.  Jessica pressed the appropriate button and then watched as one  of the men absentmindedly pressed the same button. She focused  her eyes on the numbers as the elevator began to ascend. It  wasn't long before the elevator doors opened and she  disembarked.

"Hey, Clark," she heard a young man yell across the newsroom.  After having heard about this Clark Kent from her elevator  companions, she wanted to get a look at this man who was  apparently irresistible to women.

She noticed a man in glasses turn and respond. She took a long  look at him. Okay, so he was certainly good looking enough.  And, of course, anyone who read the Daily Planet knew that  Clark Kent was the best reporter at the paper. Still, he was  certainly not irresistible - at least not to her. And given  what she'd learned today, she intended to give Clark Kent a  wide berth.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica knocked softly on the door marked 'Perry White, Editor- in-Chief.'

"Come in," growled a man's voice.

Jessica cautiously opened the door and looked inside. "I'm  Jessica Miller," she informed the man behind the desk when he  looked up. "I'm here for an interview."

He stared at her blankly for a moment before it suddenly seemed  to sink in what she was saying. "Right, right," he said, rising  from behind his desk. He offered her his hand which she  immediately took. "I'm Perry White," he said before releasing  her hand and fumbling on his desk for a moment. "I have your  resume right here," he continued, pulling out a few sheets of  paper. "So you'd like to work for the Daily Planet, would you?"

"Yes, sir," Jessica replied.

Perry smiled. They all started out the same. At first it was  'sir' and 'Mr. White' and then soon they were calling him  'Perry' or even 'Chief'. He reminded himself that he had to  inspire more fear in the newsroom. "Have a seat," he said,  gesturing to a chair in front of his desk and going over to  close the door to his office.

"Now," said Perry as he settled back into his chair, "I wanted  you to come here for two reasons. First, that was a pretty  impressive piece of work you did exposing government corruption  in Borneo. You were working for the Borneo Gazette at the time,  weren't you?"

"Yes, Mr. White. I still am working there in fact."

"Do you mind telling me how you got that information?"

Jessica shifted uncomfortably in her chair. It took her a  moment to meet his eyes. "Actually, sir, I do," she finally  said.

The edges of Perry's mouth went down as he studied her eyes.  He'd been an old newspaper hound for a long time. And her eyes  told him there was no point in pushing. She wasn't going to  tell him anything about how she broke that story - a story  which had been picked up by every large news organization in  the world. Still...

Jessica held her breath. There was no way she could tell him  how she got the story. It would raise too many unwanted  questions. Still... Had she just ended any possibility of  working for the Daily Planet? She kept her eyes firmly on his,  hoping that was not the case.

"Look, Mr. White," Jessica continued when he didn't respond,  "you know as well as I do that there are always some things  about a story that aren't meant for public consumption. I'm  sorry, but..."

"Are you saying I'm the public?" Perry growled.

"Of course not," gasped Jessica. This really wasn't going well.  "I just meant..."

Suddenly, Perry's face broke into a smile. He'd tortured her  long enough. She obviously wasn't about to give him that  information. "Way to go, Ms. Miller," he said. "Never tell them  how you broke a story. It gives them an advantage."

Jessica looked confused for a moment. "So does this mean you  might still be interested in giving me a job?" she asked.

Perry chuckled. "More than ever. However..." His smile faded  and he directed his attention to the resume she'd sent him.  "...I do have some concerns. I notice here that you've been  working for the Borneo Gazette for about a year. Is that  correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"But other than that, you have no training in the newspaper  business. You also have a lot of gaps in your resume. I assume  that means the Borneo Gazette is your only journalism  experience. Is journalism something you're really interested in  or is it just a job to you?"

Jessica pulled in a deep breath. How could she convince Perry  White that journalism was something she was really interested  in or that she'd always dreamed of working for the Daily Planet  without telling him everything that had happened to her?

Perry saw her hesitate. The expected response, whether it was  true or not, was for her to immediately jump in and tell him  that although she was relatively new to journalism, she had  finally found her calling. He was fascinated by her hesitancy.

Jessica raised her eyes slowly from where they were focused on  the desk in front of her and met Perry White's eyes. When she  finally spoke, her words were calculated.

"Mr. White, sometimes life doesn't go exactly the way we want  it to. There is no reason that I can think of that you should  believe this, given my resume, but being a reporter for the  Daily Planet has been a dream of mine all my life."

Perry studied her eyes. In spite of the improbability of what  she was saying, he found himself believing her. There was a  hidden sadness in her eyes when she talked about life not going  the way she wanted it to and the flicker of an old dream,  almost abandoned, when she spoke of being a reporter for the  Daily Planet. In that instant, his decision was made. He rose  from his chair and offered her his hand.

"Jessica Miller," he said, "welcome to the Daily Planet."

She gasped and rose, taking his hand in hers as she stammered,  "You mean I've got the job."

"You've got the job. When can you start?"

"As soon as you want me."

"What about Friday? Or do you need more time than that to give  notice to the Borneo Gazette and get settled here in  Metropolis?"

Jessica's face broke into a huge smile that instantly melted  his heart.

"Friday would be great, Mr. White. I took my holidays before  coming here, so that should take care of notice."

"Perry," said Perry. "Please, call me Perry." Now why had he  done that? After all, wasn't he trying to get people to fear  him more? "Everyone else does," he conceded.

* * * * * * * * *

Clark stood with the other reporters just outside the roped off  area as they all stared at the open doors to Lex Labs. Given  the brightness of the day and the darkness of the interior of  the building, the doors looked like the entrance to an ancient  tomb. And today they might as well have been. Some sort of  chemical accident at Lex Labs had apparently injured - no one  knew how badly - a number of people.

Clark's eyes focused on the entrance as something came into  view. He let out a breath when he realized what it was. It was  a body, being brought out in a body bag by some men or women  dressed fully in protective gear. He heard the cries of some of  the women nearby when they too realized what they were seeing.  Why did things like this have to happen?

He watched as the first body bag was followed by several more,  each loaded into an ambulance. Clark found something odd about  this picture and studied the ambulances carefully for a moment.  Suddenly it hit him. The ambulances were from Lex Corp  Ambulance Services. He hadn't known Lex Luthor had an ambulance  service. He wasn't sure why that surprised him. After all,  Luthor had his finger in a lot of pies in Metropolis these  days.

Clark noticed one of those who'd brought the bodies out wander  away from the rest of the emergency team.

The person - who turned out to be a man - removed his  protective head gear, revealing to Clark his ashen face. The  man ran a hand through his sweat drenched hair as he made his  way over to a nearby hose. After taking a moment to steady  himself, he turned on the hose and let it run over his head.

Clark made his way over to the man. None of his colleagues  seemed to have noticed - their attention being focused on the  bodies still being brought out.

"Pretty rough?" Clark half asked, half said.

"You have no idea," the man responded, taking a quick glance at  Clark.

"How many are dead?" Clark asked.

"I'm not sure. All I know is that there were a number of bodies  in that room. I don't think anyone who was in there at the time  survived."

"Any idea what happened?" Clark asked.

The man looked over at Clark, for the first time taking a good  look at the man questioning him. He noticed the suit Clark was  wearing and the notebook in his hands.

"You're a reporter, aren't you?" the man said, his tone going  from friendly to suspicious.

"Yes," Clark confirmed. "I'm Clark Kent. I'm a reporter for the  Daily Planet."

"I'm not talking to a reporter," the man said, grabbing his  things.

"Listen," said Clark quickly, "if you don't want to go on the  record, I promise to keep your name out of it. I just want to  find out what happened so that, hopefully, nothing like this  will happen again. The company is saying that one of the  employees was conducting some sort of unauthorized chemical  experiment that went bad. I just want to know if that's true."

The man looked around quickly. Then he shrugged. "I really  don't know what happened. I assume that the information you  were given is correct."

"Then would you be willing to at least tell me what it was like  in there?"

The man grabbed a towel and ran it through his hair while he  thought about the request. He slowly made his way over to a  nearby bench. Clark followed.

"Well, it would probably do me good to talk about it," the man  finally said.

Clark smiled. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Frank MacKenzie," the man answered before giving Clark the  details of what he'd seen and done. The bodies were apparently  covered with what appeared to be burns. They were bleeding from  their eyes and mouths. No one had been allowed into the room  without protective gear. Mackenzie had no idea what chemical  had caused such devastation. All he did know was that he had to  get out of there quickly. He felt bad about leaving the job of  taking the bodies out to others, but he knew he was in no shape  to help in his current condition. He'd never before seen  anything so horrifying. Clark wrote furiously, knowing  instantly that he had a great story - even if it was an  insider's devastating view into a terrible chemical accident.

As they finished talking, Clark observed a middle-aged man with  a receding hairline being taken out by the police in handcuffs.  Clark made his way over to Inspector Henderson.

"Who is that, Inspector?" asked Clark, gesturing to the man in  handcuffs.

"His name's Stanley Gables. He's being charged with negligent  homicide in the deaths of twelve people."

"Twelve," gasped Clark.

Henderson nodded. "Apparently he was conducting a series of  unauthorized experiments. Something went wrong and twelve  people are now dead."

"What was the experiment?"

"Does it matter?" Henderson responded, before walking away.

* * * * * * * * *

"You wanted to see me, Chief?" Clark asked at the door to  Perry's office the first thing Friday morning.

"Yes, son," said Perry. "We have a new reporter starting here  today. She doesn't have a lot of experience, but I've got a  feeling she's got good instincts. I want you to take her under  your wing, so to speak."

"Sure, Perry," Clark responded. "Does that mean you don't want  me to follow up on the accident at Lex Labs?"

"Take her with you," Perry replied. "She might as well jump in  with both feet. That was a great story, by the way. Almost had  me crying. What's next on that?"

"Well, there's supposed to be an announcement sometime today  about the cause of the accident. All we have so far is what the  company is saying."

"Do they give anything to back up their story?"

Clark shook his head. "I guess we'll know more when the report  is provided by..." He was interrupted by someone else entering  the room. He turned to face the intruder. All ability to form a  coherent thought suddenly vanished when Clark found himself  staring into a pair of the deepest brown eyes he'd ever seen.

"Jessica," said Perry, apparently oblivious of the effect this  young woman's presence was having on his star reporter. "This  is Clark Kent. I'm going to be partnering you up with him. At  least for the time being. Clark, this is Jessica Miller. She's  the one who broke open that Borneo corruption story."

Perry might have been unaware of the effect Jessica was having  on Clark, but Jessica was not. In spite of her belief that she  was looking at the Daily Planet's playboy, her heart still  skipped a beat at the look of wonder in his eyes. She quickly  looked down. She suddenly understood where his success with  women came from. After all, she wasn't the least bit interested  in a relationship with anyone.

When Jessica broke eye contact, Clark finally realized he was  staring. He cleared his throat, trying to focus on what Perry  had just said. "Jessica Miller... Borneo corruption story...  Right!" he finally exclaimed. "That was some impressive work,  Ms. Miller. Mind telling me how you managed to break that  story?"

Jessica took a brief glance at Perry. He had an amused look on  his face.

"Someone told me that a reporter should never give away her  secrets," she responded.

"Okay, kids. Clark here is looking into the cause of the  chemical tragedy at Lex Labs," Perry said.

"I read Mr. Kent's story about that this morning," Jessica  replied.

"Then I'll let him fill you in on the details," Perry  continued. "Now git. Bring me an award-winning story."

* * * * * * * * *

Part 02

Lex Luthor was opening the ornate box on the corner of his desk  when the door to his office opened. He looked up to see Mrs.  Cox appear in the doorway.

"Sandra Wojick is here," she informed Luthor. "You asked to be  notified as soon as she arrived."

"Yes, Mrs. Cox. Send her in," Luthor responded, removing a  cigar from the box in front of him. He had just chomped down on  the end of it when a woman entered the room. The formality of  her suit was undermined somewhat by the shortness of her skirt.  Not that Lex Luthor minded the view. He ran his eyes slowly up  her legs before looking at her face.

He smiled at her, gesturing her to a chair before taking a seat  on the corner of his desk. He lit his cigar before speaking.

"Do you know why you're here?" asked Luthor, removing the cigar  from his mouth.

"I assume if you want to hire a public relations advisor, it  has something to do with revising your image."

"Very good, my dear," said Luthor. "Yes. During the past year,  I've managed to become one of the most powerful men in  Metropolis. Now I want people to see me as its greatest  benefactor as well. I've been told that you can make that  happen."

"I can," said Sandra.

Luthor regarded her critically. "Of course, I never simply  accept what others tell me."

Sandra smiled. "I would have expected nothing less from such a  successful businessman."

"So who else's image have you remade?"

"I was the one hired by the royal family when the marriage of  Charles and Di fell apart. They hired me to make her seem like  a ditzy blond. Then after her death, I was hired by her estate.  I'm the one who turned her from a ditzy blond into a saint."

Luthor smiled. He was indeed impressed. "So, what do you think  you can do for me?"

"There are two aspects to dealing with your image. There are  the positive aspects and the negative aspects. What I mean by  that is that there is positive press coverage and negative  press coverage. In order to create an image for you, we need to  deal with both aspects. However, before you commit to this, you  need to be aware that to do this right will cost you a great  deal of money."

"Good things cost money."

Sandra smiled. "Now, if you're willing to spend money - and by  that I mean making a number of large charitable donations - I  can use that to get you positive press coverage."

"Fine."

"Also, we need to deal with negative press coverage. On that  front, I can spin most stories. Of course, the best thing is  not to expose yourself to possible negative press coverage in  the first place."

"What sort of negative coverage are you talking about? I've  made a habit of avoiding all press coverage."

"Well, a good example would be the story in the Daily Planet  about the accident at Lex Labs. The article written by Clark  Kent focused on the people who died. Now, I know that the  accident wasn't your fault, but..."

"So what do I do about that type of story?"

"I will find a way to put a positive spin on that story. Maybe  by having Lex Labs do something for the families of those  killed. Of course, the best thing would be if you can find a  way to control the stories that make it into the Daily Planet  in the first place. After all, the world follows their lead on  stories about Metropolis. If you control them, you control the  world. I'll get to work right away on positive image  reformation and will see what I can do to put a better spin on  the accident at Lex Labs."

Lex smiled. This woman obviously thought much the same way he  did. She didn't care what he did, just that the negative  stories either not get out or have the right spin put on them.

* * * * * * * * *

Clark was having serious problems concentrating. Well, at least  he was having problems concentrating on his job - especially  while driving his jeep to the press conference with Jessica  Miller sitting beside him. She wasn't wearing perfume, but it  felt as if the smell of her mixed with her shampoo... or was it  soap? ...was filling his nostrils - making him slightly drunk.  He shook his head. Nothing like this had ever happened to him  before. Not even the one time he'd thought he was in love.

"Wasn't that where we were supposed to turn?" asked Jessica.

"Umm... Oh right. I guess. Well..." Clark pulled the jeep into  a parking lot. He was silent as he got the car turned around  and back onto the road. He could hardly believe what a fool he  was making of himself. 'Think of something to say,' he told  himself firmly. 'She's going to think you're a complete fool.  Come on, boy. Pull yourself together. It's not exactly as if  you haven't been attracted to a woman before. Surely you can  think of something intelligent to say.'

"So, where are you from, Jessica?" Clark asked. He relaxed.  That sounded intelligent enough.

"Look out!" Jessica exclaimed as a car almost slammed into the  side of Clark's jeep.

Clark spun the wheel and got out of the way at the last  possible moment. The rest of the trip was made in silence.

When they arrived at their destination, they got out of the  jeep and made their way to the press conference. Most of the  press were already there. They listened in silence as the  spokesman for the Metropolis Police Department read his  prepared statement, confirming the company's previous claim.  The tragedy had been caused by one Stanley Gables - conducting  an unauthorized experiment. He was now in custody and awaiting  trial. Jessica and Clark both made notes and asked questions of  clarification.

They returned to the jeep afterwards, still not having spoken  to each other directly. Clark was feeling so incredibly  sheepish. He had never before made a fool of himself in front  of a woman. But there was no other way to describe what had  happened on the way there. He pulled out his keys and was just  about to open the driver's door when a hand stopped him, prying  the keys from him.

"I think I should drive," said Jessica. "I don't know how  you've managed to live as long as you have with your driving  abilities." She pushed past him and climbed into the driver's  seat.

Clark watched her in stunned silence for a moment. Suddenly, he  broke out laughing.

"What?" asked Jessica.

"I'm sorry. I just... You're right. I guess I have been acting  a little out of it today. I've just been a little distracted."

Jessica regarded him for a moment before nodding. When Clark  had climbed into the passenger's seat, she spoke.

"So what's got you so distracted?" Jessica asked in an effort  to make casual conversation, while putting on the blinker,  checking over her shoulder and pulling the jeep into the  traffic.

"Your shampoo," Clark muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Jessica asked, realizing she wasn't supposed to  have heard Clark's comment.

"Nothing," said Clark immediately. "I just didn't get a lot of  sleep last night."

Jessica nodded. "So what do we do now?" she asked.

"I'm sorry?"

"With the story," Jessica clarified.

"Oh. Well, I think we go back to the Planet and type it up."

"So you believe what they said at the press conference?"

"I think so. I was there just after the accident took place.  That was the company's claim at the time. I also talked to one  of the emergency workers. He didn't seem to see anything that  would contradict the company's claim. And I saw them take the  man responsible into custody."

Jessica nodded. There didn't seem to be anything more to this  story. It was a little disappointing, but then not every story  could be an award winner.

* * * * * * * * *

Clark glanced at Jessica as she was shown around the newsroom.  What was it about that woman that had the effect of making him  behave as if he were a teenager experiencing his first crush?  He had to admit she was beautiful, but he'd known lots of  beautiful women in his life. His inability to control his  feelings when this woman was nearby scared him. They'd managed  to get the story written up, but he was grateful when Susan  came by to take Jessica on a tour of the newsroom.

"So do you have a date for Lex Luthor's ball?" asked Jimmy,  interrupting Clark's thoughts. Then, before Clark had a chance  to respond, Jimmy continued. "What am I saying? You're Clark  Kent. Ladies' man extraordinare," Jimmy concluded in obvious  awe.

"Give it a rest, Jimmy," Clark responded, a definite note of  resignation in his voice.

"Olsen!" yelled Perry.

"Gotta go," said Jimmy making his way to the chief's office,  still puzzling over Clark's reaction.

Clark watched Jimmy go, wondering why he seemed unable to shake  his reputation. As he usually did, after a moment wondering  about it, he turned his attention to another issue. Jimmy was  right about one thing. He needed a date for tonight. His eyes  drifted across the newsroom floor until they found Jessica.

No. He would find a date for tonight - anyone was better than  Jessica. He didn't need the complication of being rattled  tonight. Not if he was planning to use the occasion to get the  first one-on-one Lex Luthor interview.

His address book was full of women who would love to go to Lex  Luthor's ball. He pulled out the book from his desk drawer and  opened it randomly. 'Arlene Smith.' He smiled. She was always a  good time. He picked up the phone before he once again caught  sight of Jessica. He set the phone back down and watched  Jessica for a moment.

No! He opened the book again, glancing at it. 'Vicky Nicol.'  Yeah. She'd be perfect. He quickly picked up the phone and  dialed the number - hanging it up again before it was answered.

He never made the decision to do so, but before he could stop  himself he was on his feet and on his way to Jessica's desk -  as if drawn there by some unseen force.

"Jessica," Clark said as he arrived by the side of her desk.

Jessica looked up. She'd been going by the name Jessica Miller  for the past couple of years so she had no problems responding  to it.

Clark's heart began pounding hard. He could hardly believe how  nervous he was. It wasn't as if asking a woman out was a new  experience for him. He swallowed hard before speaking.

"Lex Luthor's ball is tonight and I was wondering if you might  like to accompany me," he said. He was unable to meet her eyes  as he spoke, and to his horror, his voice trembled slightly on  the last words. Still, it was out now. There was nothing to do  but wait for her reply.

Jessica studied Clark for a moment. For a playboy, he sure  lacked the smooth delivery she'd have expected. But then his  behavior in the jeep earlier had surprised her. Still...

"Like a date?" she asked.

Clark finally met her eyes. "Well, yeah," he responded.

"I don't think so," Jessica responded immediately. Jessica had  no intention of going out with Clark. The last thing she  intended was to become Clark Kent's latest target. And if  anyone could turn him down, she could. He'd obviously counted  on those looks of his all his life. Well, that wasn't about to  work with her.

Clark stood there for a long moment, looking at Jessica in  disbelief.

"What? No one ever turn you down before?" asked Jessica, a  sparkle of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Of course I've been turned..." Clark paused. "Well...  actually, I think this is the first time that I've been turned  down," said Clark, trying to think of an occasion that would  prove him wrong.

"Well, think of it as a learning experience then," said  Jessica, rising from her chair and heading for the coat rack.

Clark followed. "Look," said Clark as he watched Jessica pull  on her coat, "why don't we just think of it as a work  assignment?" When Jessica just raised her eyebrows, he  continued, "No one had even heard of Lex Luthor until about a  year ago. He showed up in Metropolis and purchased Star Labs -  immediately renaming it Lex Labs. Since then he's been taking  over business after business. Then, about six months ago, there  was a horrible series of fires on the south side - all of them  still unsolved. Luthor purchased the land at fire sale prices.  He cleared it and built Lex Towers, the highest building in  Metropolis, in record time - as well as using the rest of the  land for a number of other building projects."

Clark now had Jessica's full attention.

"Still," continued Clark, "no one knows where he came from or  where he got his money - and he's ignored all my requests for a  personal interview. It's almost as if he's the invisible man.

"Then, a few weeks ago, all of Metropolis' leading citizens  were invited to a ball at Lex Towers - to be hosted by the  phantom businessman himself. I guess you could call this his  coming out party. The Daily Planet got a few of these  invitations. Perry gave me two. He hopes I can use the occasion  to convince Luthor to agree to an interview."

Jessica narrowed her eyes. His story about Lex Luthor had  certainly sparked her interest, but was this just a ploy to get  her out on a date? "You don't need me to help you do that," she  said.

"Actually, I do. If I show up to this shindig alone, it will  look suspicious," he said in his most innocent voice. "I'm  hoping for a chance to get some information from Luthor before  he realizes who I am. Having a woman with me will make me seem  less like a reporter and more like one of the guests."

Jessica actually chuckled. "So, I'd be what? Camouflage?"

Clark gave her his most charming smile before saying,  "Precisely." He did, however, briefly wonder if a woman with  Jessica's looks could ever properly be considered camouflage.

Jessica shook her head slightly. "Sorry, Clark. I don't have  anything to wear. Even if I had time to find something before  tonight, I don't have any money to..."

"No problem," said Clark, taking her elbow and directing her  back to his desk. He picked up the phone and placed a quick  call before saying, "You're all set. Just go down to La Elle's.  They're expecting you. I'll pick you up at eight." With those  final words, he quickly left her to head out of the newsroom -  afraid that if he didn't leave now, she'd find another reason  not to go.

Jessica watched in stunned silence as he departed. Had she  really accepted a date with Clark Kent? No. It was just a work  assignment. Still, in spite of his behavior earlier today, he  was good at getting what he wanted. Okay, so they'd go to the  ball and she'd do what she could to help him get the interview.  But if he expected anything more... Well, he wouldn't be the  first man who'd had to limp away at the end of a date with her.

As the elevator doors closed, taking him out of the newsroom,  Clark watched Lois. He wasn't quite sure why he had just done  that. He didn't date in the office anymore! He just didn't! And  he certainly never pressured a reluctant woman into going out  with him. He pushed the thought aside. This was a work  assignment - nothing more.

It wasn't until the doors closed that Clark realized he didn't  have Jessica's address. He shook his head in frustration. Well,  he couldn't go back in there. So once he got home, he'd give  Perry a call. Perry would give it to him.

* * * * * * * * *

"You sent for me, sir," asked a man with an English accent.

"Yes, Nigel," responded Luthor. "I need you to get me a list of  all Daily Planet reporters who have done damage to my  reputation or the reputation of Lex Corp over the past year."

"Sir?"

"I've been thinking about how to control the Daily Planet's  press coverage."

"Why not just find a way to control Perry White? After all, he  could see that no unflattering stories make it into the paper."

"Because from my research, Perry White has proven himself  incorruptible. A number of people have tried it over the years.  All of whom are now behind bars. He is both unbribable and  unthreatenable."

"Then why not just have him replaced?"

"I thought of that. But if Perry White is killed, it will  attract too much attention. And from what I hear, being editor  of the Daily Planet is what he lives for. So there's no way to  convince him to take a different job. Apparently he even turned  down a promotion that would take him out of the newsroom. And  he has no family. His wife died years ago, leaving him without  children. No. The way to control Perry White is to control the  information he's given. In order to do that, I need to control  the reporters under him."

"Do you just want their names?"

"Of course not, Nigel. I want everything you can find out about  them - including their weaknesses. Of course, I'm sure you know  who the primary problem is."

"Clark Kent, sir?"

"Precisely."

"I'll get right on it," Nigel promised.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica looked at herself in the little mirror in the bathroom  and sighed. It would be very helpful to have a full length  mirror at the moment.

As Clark had suggested, she'd gone to La Elle's after work. The  owner, Mrs. Lang, had been more than helpful. She had actually,  as a favor to Clark, loaned Jessica an evening gown for tonight  - as well as appropriate shoes, a purse and a wrap. Mrs. Lang  said something about Clark and her daughter dating at one  point. Jessica found it remarkable that the mother of a former  girlfriend of Clark's would be inclined to help a woman who was  preparing for a date with him. It must have been the most  amenable breakup in the history of interpersonal relationships.

Jessica had found the most magnificent dress. She could hardly  believe how much she was looking forward to tonight. It had  been a long time since she had last been to an affair like this  one... Actually, she didn't think she'd ever been to an affair  like this one. Of course, it was only business. But did that  really mean she couldn't have a little fun too?

She spun in front of the mirror and for a moment imagined what  it would be like to be on the dance floor in Clark's arms -  actually, in any man's arms. It would be nice. She smiled  slightly. She was glad Clark had talked her into this. Maybe  for one evening she would try to forget so that she could enjoy  herself. Surely even the fates wouldn't deny her one evening of  pleasure.

Of course, she would have to be careful not to send Clark the  wrong message. On the other hand, he was used to being the  heartbreaker. Maybe it was time that someone gave him a taste  of his own medicine - and she was just the girl to do it. She  let herself relax. Tonight she was going to have a good time.  Let Clark think whatever he wanted. She would make it clear  when he dropped her off afterwards that she was not interested  in anything more.

Hearing a knock, Jessica smiled, grabbed her wrap and headed  for the door.

* * * * * * * * *

Part 03

"Do you have it?" Luthor asked.

"Yes, sir. There are only three reporters who have done any  serious damage to Lex Corp's reputation over the past year.  Eduardo Romero, Ralph Cooke and, of course, Clark Kent."

"Do you have files on them?"

"They are still in the process of being prepared. I'll also try  to get you some information about a new reporter who was just  hired. Her name is..." Nigel fumbled with a file for a moment  before saying, "Jessica Miller."

"Isn't that the reporter who got that story about corruption in  Borneo?"

"I believe so, sir."

Luthor nodded. "Okay, get me what you can on her too."

"Very good, sir."

"Now, Nigel, we better get ready for the ball. Wouldn't want to  keep Metropolis' finest waiting too long."

* * * * * * * * *

Clark felt as if he were the luckiest man in the world when he  entered the grand ball room with Jessica Miller on his arm. He  knew that she was less than enthused about coming to Luthor's  ball with him, but on the drive here, they'd actually had a  pleasant conversation. It was not about anything important, but  he was glad he was no longer quite as tongue-tied as he had  been earlier in the day. Not that there hadn't been moments.  When she'd opened that door, giving him his first glimpse of  her in that evening gown, he'd felt his heart momentarily come  to a complete stop.

He still couldn't figure out why he'd so desperately wanted to  come here with her. It was baffling. It was also terrifying.  The last thing he needed was to get his heart broken, and for a  reason he couldn't quite explain, Clark suspected that the  woman with him now had the power to cause him real pain. He'd  gone through that pain once before - it had been devastating.  How could he risk it again? Still, ever since she'd slipped her  arm through his, he'd been unable to keep the grin off his  face.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica was actually surprised by how comfortable she had been  in the jeep on the drive here. She might know Clark was a  playboy. Still, she couldn't help but appreciate his sharp mind  and quick sense of humor - not to mention that killer body. She  was thoroughly enjoying herself by the time they arrived at the  ball. She'd automatically slipped her arm through Clark's as  they'd ascended the stairs into the building and couldn't help  but be flattered by the goofy grin that he'd been wearing ever  since.

As they entered the ballroom, a photographer stepped forward  and took their picture. Jessica cringed slightly. She really  didn't like to be photographed. She'd have to see what she  could do to confiscate that picture. After all, if it ended up  in the wrong hands, it could cause her some serious problems.

"Lois," Jessica heard a man call. She quickly looked for the  source and then let out a sigh of relief when she realized that  the man was addressing someone else. She redirected her  attention to Clark who was leading them over to the coat check.

"Would you like to dance?" Clark asked when they'd dispensed  with their coats. What was he doing? This was just a fake date.  They were just here to get the interview with Lex Luthor. He  had to keep his mind on the goal. She wasn't interested in him.  That was fairly obvious. And until he was in control of these  unusual feelings, he really shouldn't complicate things by  dancing with her!

"Shouldn't we be trying to talk to Mr. Luthor?" she asked.

"I don't think he's here yet," said Clark, looking around. He  ignored that part of his mind that realized she'd just given  him a way out. "From what I've heard, he likes to make an  entrance."

Jessica bit her lower lip. "Okay, then," she said after a  moment - after all she had been looking forward to doing some  dancing tonight.

Clark smiled and offered her his hand. When she slipped her  hand in his, she was startled by the unexpected spark of  electricity that seemed to accompany the touch of skin to skin.  She quickly looked down, but then followed as he led the way to  the dance floor.

Clark's hand lightly touched her side and then slowly slipped  around her waist as her hand moved up his arm to settle on his  shoulder. Their free hands found each other and suddenly they  were dancing. The music was slow and they moved in time to its  gentle lead.

For Clark, the entire world seemed to disappear when this woman  crept into his arms. She seemed to fit against him in a way he  was at a loss to describe. He was completely helpless to  prevent the rush of emotions that immediately overwhelmed him.  His head dropped slightly against the side of her head in order  to feel her hair brush the side of his face. He fought back a  groan. God, he loved the way she smelled. His arm, of its own  will, pulled her slightly closer.

Jessica unexpectedly found herself getting caught up in the  moment. It had been so long since she'd felt like a woman. The  way Clark's arm wrapped around her was almost enough to make  her forget everything and just lose herself in his embrace -  almost, but not quite. She could never let herself completely  forget.

Suddenly, the music stopped. Jessica was out of Clark's arms  almost instantly. She refused to make eye contact, afraid that  if she did, he'd understand exactly how much she'd felt when  they'd been dancing. There was a moment of awkward silence.

"So, is Mr. Luthor here yet?" Jessica asked.

"Umm..." Clark began looking around. He'd almost forgotten why  they were here. "There he is," he said after a moment.

Jessica turned around to see an attractive man in a very  expensive looking tuxedo standing at the top of the staircase  which led into the ballroom. He was looking out over the crowd.  A man at his elbow leaned over and whispered something to him.  He nodded and began making his way down the staircase, greeting  people as he went. Jessica watched in fascination. Although she  didn't hear what he was saying, she could tell that he was  saying it brilliantly. The familiarity with which he shook  people's hands, the way he looked at them as if each was the  most important person in the room, saying the most brilliant  thing, was remarkable. Clark was right. This guy was smooth. He  was so smooth that he had to be hiding something. She'd bet on  it. There was definitely a story here.

"Come on," she said to Clark, heading in the direction of Lex  Luthor.

Clark was surprised by her sudden departure. It took him a  moment before he followed. She was at the bottom of the stairs  before he could catch up.

Luthor spotted Clark Kent as he approached the bottom of the  staircase. He also noticed the beautiful young woman at his  side. His eyes slowly crept over her body as he approached.  When he arrived where they were standing, his eyes immediately  found Clark's.

"Mr. Kent from the Daily Planet, I believe," said Luthor.

"Yes, Mr. Luthor," replied Clark. "I'm surprised you know who I  am. I don't believe we've met before."

"I asked," Luthor replied. "Considering the number of phone  messages you've left for me over the past few months, I almost  feel as if we already know each other. I'm glad you could join  us this evening. I hope you're enjoying the party."

"Actually, Mr. Luthor, I came here tonight to make my appeal  for an interview in person." Clark had hoped to speak to Luthor  in cognito before letting Luthor know who he was. However, now  that his cover was blown, Clark figured the best approach was  the direct one. Therefore, he'd made his appeal for an  interview. "I'm hoping you might be willing to give the press  some information about your background."

Luthor regarded Clark for a moment before replying, "I'm sorry,  Mr. Kent. I really don't think I have time in the immediate  future."

"But surely you could fit in a half hour," responded Jessica.

"And you are?" asked Luthor, turning his attention to the young  woman.

"I'm sorry," said Clark. "This is Jessica Miller. She's our  newest reporter." Clark then cringed as Luthor picked up  Jessica's hand and raised it to his lips. What made it worse  was that Jessica didn't seem to mind the attention.

"You're a reporter for the Daily Planet?" Luthor asked, even  though the question was redundant since Clark had already said  she was.

"I just started there today," said Jessica, giving Luthor her  warmest smile. "So couldn't you find a way to spare us a few  minutes for an interview?"

Luthor paused. "Well, I'll tell you what, Ms. Miller. I'm not  sure I have time for an interview, but I never like to  disappoint a beautiful woman. Why don't I call you and we'll  see what we can work out?"

Jessica's smile widened. "I'll look forward to it."

"Good," said Luthor. "Now, since this is supposed to be a  party, I suggest we leave business talk for another time. Would  you care to dance?"

"I'd love to," said Jessica, noticing, in her peripheral  vision, Clark's expression darken as Luthor led her out to the  dance floor.

Clark found a place by the wall and leaned back against it.  Shoving his hands deep in the pockets, he watched as Jessica  danced with Luthor. He really didn't like this. It was obvious  to him that Luthor's intention was not to give them an  interview; it was to make a play for Jessica. He wasn't  jealous. He wasn't! He had heard about Luthor's reputation with  women and just couldn't stand the idea of Luthor making Jessica  another one of his trophies. And by the look on her face as  they talked and danced, Jessica was definitely interested. She  was his partner. He just didn't want his partner compromised.

Clark ignored the little voice in the back of his mind that  reminded him of his reputation. After all, more than anyone, he  ought to know that rumors could be very misleading. Still, in  Luthor's case, he believed the rumors. The irony would have  been almost funny if it wasn't so painful watching Jessica  dance with Luthor.

"Hey, stranger," came a woman's voice, interrupting Clark's  depressing thoughts.

Clark turned to the woman addressing him and a smile lit up his  face at the sight of Lana Lang. He and Lana had dated when he  was in high school and then for about a year after that. She'd  been heartbroken when he'd ended the relationship. However, in  the years that followed, she'd come to accept it. They had even  restored their friendship, for which Clark was grateful.

"Hi, Lana. I didn't know you'd be here tonight," Clark  responded. "So," he continued, looking around, "where's that  boyfriend of yours? Just come to rub it in?"

Lana laughed. "Well, I couldn't sit around waiting for you  forever. Steve's not here tonight. He's off to somewhere or  other. You know how it is."

"Yeah, I know. So how are things going between you two?"

"Great. We've started talking about getting married."

"Congratulations," said Clark.

"Hey, it's not for sure yet. But what about you? When I came  over, you were looking a little like you'd just lost your best  friend."

Clark's eyes involuntarily drifted back to the woman in  Luthor's arms.

"Who is she?" asked Lana, following Clark's gaze.

"Who?" asked Clark.

Lana laughed. "Okay, none of my business," she conceded. "Does  she know what she's in for? After all, you should come with a  warning label."

Clark looked over at Lana and smiled. Unlike Jimmy's comments  earlier, he knew Lana was just teasing. After all, they'd been  friends since high school. As a result, she more or less knew  what was real and what was nothing more than idle gossip. "And  what would it say?" Clark asked.

Lana thought about that for a moment. "Warning: Do not operate  machinery without large quantities of alcohol at home."

Clark crinkled his eyebrows. "Why large quantities of alcohol?"

"So that a girl has something to dull the pain when you break  her heart. Maybe I should warn her."

"No need," said Clark.

The tone of his voice caused Lana to raise her eyebrows.

"She's made it quite clear that she's not interested," Clark  pouted.

This time, Lana really laughed. "Turnabout's fair play," she  responded. At Clark's look, she continued, "Look, let's dance.  Maybe it will give her something to think about."

Clark smiled and reached out to take Lana's hand.

Jessica had been keeping an eye on Clark as she danced with  Luthor. It wasn't hard seeing just how much her dancing with  Luthor upset him. It was as if a dark cloud hovered over the  area Clark was occupying. However, this time when she looked  over, she couldn't see him. Where could he have gone? It was  then that a movement in the corner of her eye caught her  attention and she pulled in a sharp breath when she noticed  Clark with another woman in his arms. So much for that. She  should have known that Clark Kent didn't really have serious  feelings for her. He was a playboy. She was a potential  conquest. That was all.

Jessica had never intended to get involved with Clark so it  surprised her just how much she didn't like the idea of him  dancing with another woman. She pushed the thought out of her  mind and turned her attention back to the man she was dancing  with. At least it was looking more and more as if she was going  to be granted an interview. If it wasn't for that possibility,  she would never have agreed to dance with this man. Evil seemed  to ooze out of his every pore.

* * * * * * * * *

The jeep pulled to a stop in front of Jessica's apartment  building and Jessica quickly opened the door. Clark reached  over and put a hand on her arm. When Jessica looked at him, he  spoke.

"Watch out for Luthor," he said intensely, keeping his eyes  firmly on hers. "He has quite a reputation with women."

'You're one to talk,' was the retort that immediately sprang to  Jessica's mind, but she didn't say it. After all, she agreed  with Clark that Lex Luthor was a dangerous man. "I will," she  replied. "And thanks for tonight. I had a good time."

"I'd like to walk you to your apartment. I mean this isn't the  safest neighborhood," said Clark.

"That's really not necessary," objected Jessica.

"But it would be my pleasure," Clark said with a smile that  sent an unexpected, and quite unwelcome, flutter through  Jessica's stomach. Without waiting for an answer, Clark opened  his door and got out of the jeep.

Jessica continued to sit in the jeep - lost in thought. This  was where he would come up to her apartment. He would ask to  come in for a drink, making it sound innocent enough. The  problem, in Jessica's mind, was that she was really starting to  enjoy Clark's company. And if she truly believed that he just  wanted to come in for a drink, she'd like to get know him  better. But she knew this man's reputation. He wouldn't merely  be coming in for a drink. And she couldn't allow anything to  happen between them.

"Coming?" asked Clark, offering her his hand.

She looked at his hand for a moment before ignoring it to get  out of the jeep on her own. She closed the door and, without  looking at Clark, headed into her apartment building. When she  arrived at her door, she fished in her purse, locating her  keys. She opened the door to her apartment before turning to  Clark - preparing to turn him down.

"I had a really nice time tonight," Clark said, before she  could say anything. "Thank you for coming with me."

He hesitated, wanting to kiss her goodnight, but entirely  unsure that such a move would be appreciated. He glanced at her  lips before deciding against it.

"I'd really like to do it again sometime, Jessica," Clark  finally said instead.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Clark," said Jessica, not  meeting his eyes.

Clark had expected her to say that. But knowing that they were  coming didn't make the words any more pleasant. "Goodnight,  Jessica," he said softly.

"Goodnight," replied Jessica, still avoiding eye contact.

Clark stood there for a moment more before nodding, turning and  making his way to the stairs.

Jessica stood in the doorway of her apartment and watched him  go. It surprised her how disappointed she was by his departure.  When he was finally out of sight, she rolled her eyes. "What do  you think you're doing?" she asked herself in disbelief before  walking into her apartment and slamming the door shut behind  her.

* * * * * * * * *

"What is it, Nigel?" asked Luthor.

"I've got the information you requested," Nigel said, handing  Luthor some files. Luthor laid the files on his desk before  opening the first one.

"Eduardo Romero," he said. He reviewed the file quickly. "It  appears that he has family. Two little girls." He thought about  that. "Get pictures of the two girls. Perhaps outside their  school. I'm sure when Mr. Romero realizes just how easily we  can get to his family, he'll cooperate."

"Of course, sir."

Luthor picked up the second file. "Ralph Cooke." After  reviewing this file he spoke again. "It seems Mr. Cooke has  quite a gambling problem. I'm sure you know how to use that to  our advantage."

"Yes, sir."

The third file had the name of Clark Kent marked on it. "So,  what did you find out about our good friend, Mr. Kent?" he  asked as he opened it. He studied it for a moment. "Doesn't  smoke. Seldom drinks. Doesn't gamble. Lives within his means.  Uhhhh... Likes the ladies, does he?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well then, maybe we can get a woman in place to keep an eye on  Mr. Kent's activities. Or at least one who can distract him if  he gets close to uncovering any of our operations." Luthor laid  down the file and looked at Nigel. "What about Ms. Miller? What  did you find on her?"

"Not much," said Nigel. When Luthor looked disappointed, Nigel  continued. "It seems that Jessica Miller was a reporter for the  Borneo Gazette. Before that, she didn't exist."

"What?"

"I managed to obtain her date of birth from a copy of the  resume she sent to the Daily Planet. There was a Jessica  Miller, born in Philadelphia, on the date she gave. That  Jessica Miller also has a death certificate issued for her six  months later."

"So she's hiding something," said Luthor, with a grin at Nigel.  "Well, let's find out exactly what that is. But be careful. We  don't want to alert her or anyone else to what we've found  until we're able to decide how best to use it."

"Very good, sir."

* * * * * * * * *

Part 04

Jessica was at the Daily Planet first thing Saturday morning.  As a senior journalist, Clark had most weekends off. As his  partner, Jessica was granted the same privileges. However,  since she had just started yesterday, she wanted a chance to  familiarize herself with Daily Planet resources. So she had  come in to explore the Daily Planet archives and computer  banks.

It was mid-afternoon when she was told she had a phone call.

"Jessica Miller," Jessica said, picking up the phone.

"Ms. Miller, Lex Luthor here," said the voice on the other end  of the line.

"Mr. Luthor," said Jessica. "I didn't expect to hear from you  so soon."

"Well, I've been thinking about your request for an interview.  What do you say we get together tonight and discuss it  further?"

"Mr. Kent isn't in today," Jessica said, not particularly  liking what he was suggesting. After all, he wasn't saying he  would give them an interview, just that they would discuss it  further.

"I don't think we need to involve Mr. Kent at this point. After  all, he's a busy man. Why don't we see what we can work out?  Then, if we come to an acceptable arrangement, we'll involve  him."

Jessica seriously doubted Lex Luthor had any intention for this  to be anything more than a date. Still, if there was a  chance...

"What time do you want me there?" Jessica asked.

"I'll send a car by your apartment at seven o'clock. Oh, and I  hope you don't mind, but I usually eat supper around that time.  I'd be honored if you'd join me."

* * * * * * * * *

"Hey, C.K.," said Jimmy when he noticed Clark enter the  newsroom. "I thought you were off today."

"I am, Jimmy. I just couldn't seem to think of anything to do,  so I decided to come in here to see if there was anything going  on." He had actually come here in an effort to quit obsessing  about Jessica. He looked around the nearly empty newsroom. "I  guess there's not much happening here either."

Jimmy looked around the newsroom with him. "Nah. We got the  paper to bed a few minutes ago. Most people have already left  for the night. Hey, do you want to go get a drink or  something?"

Clark nodded. Spending the evening with Jimmy would definitely  help him keep his mind off how badly things were going with  Jessica.

"By the way, you know that new reporter? Jessica. I think  that's her name," said Jimmy.

"What about her?"

"Well, she's really dedicated. I understand she had today off,"  he said, grabbing his jacket.

"She was here today?" asked Clark, suddenly very interested.

"Yeah. Well, until she got a call from Lex Luthor."

"What did she do then?" Clark insisted.

Jimmy regarded Clark curiously. "She left. She said something  about having supper with him. Boy, talk about a fast mover.  She's only been working here for a day and already she has a  date with... Hey, what about going to get a drink?" Jimmy asked  when Clark spun around and headed out of the newsroom.

"Next time, Jimmy," Clark called over his shoulder.

* * * * * * * * *

Clark looked at his watch again. It was almost midnight. He'd  been driving around, trying to avoid going over to Jessica's.

The problem was that Clark couldn't quite figure out his  motives. He believed that Luthor was a dangerous man and Clark  spent most of his time telling himself that he was just  concerned about her partner's safety. After all, safety was one  of the reasons a person had a partner. And, to be honest, part  of him was angry. Lex Luthor was his story. Was she trying to  steal it?

He had almost managed to convince himself that he was just  upset because she was trying to steal his story when he  realized that his reasoning had a fatal flaw - that the belief  that she was trying to steal his story made him feel better. He  growled in frustration. He was obsessing because he was worried  that she had feelings for Luthor.

Well, he wasn't going to stalk her! If she wasn't interested in  him, that was her loss. Still, a few minutes later, he found  himself driving down her street. He quickly pulled off to the  side when he noticed a long black limo sitting in front of her  apartment building. He turned off the lights and scrunched down  further into his seat. The lights on the limo were still on as  it idled there.

"Please, please, please, please," Clark muttered as he waited  to find out if Jessica would emerge from the car. He seemed to  resume breathing when she did, followed by a tightening in his  chest when Luthor also emerged. He sat silently watching as  Jessica waited for Luthor to make his way around the car to  escort her into her apartment building. He felt almost ill when  Luthor placed his hand on the small of Jessica's back. He was  bothered even more by Jessica's apparent lack of displeasure at  this gesture.

When they disappeared into the building, Clark knew he should  go. She had obviously made it home all right. He could talk to  her about trying to steal his story on Monday. He should go  home - yet he continued sitting in front of her apartment  building. He just had to know. Would she let Luthor come into  her apartment? Would he spend the night? He really should go  home. This was wrong. He was dangerously close to becoming a  stalker.

He let out a breath when Luthor exited her apartment building  alone. He watched cautiously as Luthor's car pulled back onto  the street and drove past him. Clark closed his eyes in relief.

Bang, bang, bang.

Clark jumped at the sound of someone banging on the driver's  side window of his jeep. Looking to see who was there, he  cringed. He lowered the window - not making eye contact with  the person standing there.

"Get out here, Kent!" said Jessica's irritated voice.

Clark raised the window and, opening the door, stepped out of  the vehicle. Since he was preparing himself for a  confrontation, he was surprised when Jessica began walking  away. He stood by the side of his jeep, watching her walk  across the street. When she arrived on the other side, she  looked back.

"Are you coming?" she asked.

"Yeah," stuttered Clark, quickly locking the door and following  her.

When he reached her, she spoke again. "I figure there's about  to be some yelling. I don't particularly want the whole  neighborhood overhearing. I just moved here." With those words,  Jessica spun away from Clark, stomping into her building.

Clark swallowed hard before following. She was obviously not  pleased to find him sitting outside her apartment building. But  then how would he feel to return from one of his dates to find  another woman checking up on him?

But that wasn't what this was, Clark assured himself again. She  had no right trying to hone in on his story - even if they were  partners. Besides, Luthor could be dangerous. As mad as she  was, she couldn't be as angry as he.

Jessica's hands were trembling as she inserted the key in her  door to unlock it. She knew she had a hair trigger temper.  She'd worked for years to get control of it. But seeing Clark  sitting across from her apartment when she'd emerged from Lex's  limo had pushed all her buttons. It took her a moment to  finally get the door open. She walked in, flicking on the light  switch as she went. Clark followed.

When they were both safely ensconced inside, Jessica spun  around. "What the hell do you think you're doing sitting  outside my apartment building in the middle of the night? What?  I turn you down, so you figure you have the right to stalk me?"  Even as she said it, she knew the words weren't fair. She'd  seen him drive up just before she got out. Still, it was easier  lashing out at him than it was to admit what really had her  angry.

"Stalk you?" exclaimed Clark - ignoring the nagging little  voice in the back of his mind that had categorized his behavior  in just that fashion only minutes before. "Jimmy told me that  you were meeting with Luthor tonight. You had no right meeting  with him. Luthor's my story! That's why I'm here."

"You think I'm trying to steal your story?" Jessica asked in  disbelief. "I thought we were partners." She calmed herself  before continuing. "Look, Lex called and said that he wanted to  discuss giving us..." She emphasized the last word. "...the  interview. What did you want me to do? Tell him that I couldn't  discuss it with him because my partner might be offended. Isn't  the point here to get the story for the Daily Planet?"

Clark was silent for a moment as what she said began to sink  in. "I jumped to the wrong conclusion, didn't I?" he said after  a moment. "God, what is it about you that makes me act like  such a fool?" asked Clark in disbelief.

Jessica looked at him for a moment before bursting out  laughing.

"Great," said Clark, throwing up his hands. "I act like an  idiot and she finds it amusing."

"I'm sorry," said Jessica, trying to get her laughter under  control.

"At least tell me that Luthor agreed to an interview," Clark  continued.

She snorted. "No. He was more interested in a date than an  interview."

Clark smiled. The tone of her last comment laid to rest a  number of his fears. "Well now that we've established what an  idiot I am, maybe I should say goodnight." He turned towards  the door.

Jessica followed him. When he opened the door, she spoke.  "Clark, I really am looking forward to being your partner at  the Planet. I know you're one of the best. I think I could  learn a lot from you. Please believe me. I wasn't trying to  steal the Luthor story."

"Jessica, I overreacted. It was stupid. I guess... I think  Luthor's dangerous. I just don't want you getting in over your  head." When she looked as if she was about to respond, he  raised a hand. "What do you say we just forget about it?"

Jessica smiled. "Deal," she responded.

"Friends?" he asked, offering her his hand.

"I think I'd like that," she responded after a moment of  contemplation.

* * * * * * * * *

Lex Luthor handed the plastic bag containing a dirty wine glass  to Nigel.

"Her fingerprints are on this," he assured Nigel. "Find out who  she is and what she's running from."

"Very good, sir," Nigel responded, taking the bag. "How did  your dinner go?"

"Not very well, Nigel. She isn't as easily seduced as most  women. That's why we need to find out everything we can about  her. In the mean time, how are you doing with finding a woman  who can keep an eye on Kent?"

"I've found a number who are interested. One of them should  catch his interest. After all, they are all intelligent and  beautiful - the type Mr. Kent seems to like."

"Good, Nigel. Get one of them in place quickly. I want someone  keeping us informed of Kent's movements. At least that way we  can defuse any bombs he might find before he has a chance to  detonate them."

* * * * * * * * *

Clark drove back to his place on automatic pilot - his mind  being occupied with what had happened tonight. Jessica wasn't  interested in Lex Luthor. That was the good news. The bad news  was that she didn't seem interested in him either. But there  was something about the way she wasn't interested that confused  him.

Clark felt at a complete loss about how to handle the  situation. He hadn't allowed himself to get emotionally  attached to a woman in years. And the last time he had, it had  been devastating. So how was it that, in just two days, he'd  managed to lose control of his feelings so completely? It was  utterly baffling. And, if he were honest with himself,  absolutely terrifying.

There was only one possible explanation for it. She was his  basherteh. He hadn't been sure she even existed until now, but  it was the only explanation Clark could come up with for how  easily she was able to break through all his barriers. Although  he'd believed, when he was younger, that someday he'd meet his  basherteh, the years had made him much more cynical. Yet here  she was - in the flesh.

But if that was true, if she was his basherteh, why did she  seem so oblivious to the connection between them? But what else  could it be? The way the swirl of her hair captivated him; the  way looking into her eyes could make his heart skip a beat; the  way her smell intoxicated him, all of it told him that she was  his basherteh.

So what was he to do now? If he asked her out again, he was  sure she'd only turned him down again. So where did that leave  him?

Still, he couldn't walk away. Everything about her spoke to  him. Every movement, every look, touched him.

A car horn sounding behind him alerted Clark to the fact that  he was sitting at a green light. He took his foot off the brake  and placed it on the gas.

So why didn't she feel the same way? Maybe if he could figure  that out he'd... Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat.  Maybe she'd heard about his reputation with women. What was he  thinking? Of course she'd heard about his reputation with  women. It was one of the most constant staples of office  gossip, after all. No wonder she didn't want to get involved  with him - if she were at all interested in him in the first  place, that is. And what could he say? Denying the rumors that  weren't true would only confirm, by implication, the ones that  were.

He growled in frustration. So what should he do now? There was  really only one option. She just wanted to be friends. Then  that's what he would do - for now anyways. Maybe if they became  friends he'd find a way to get her to see past his reputation.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica walked into her room and changed for bed. This place  had been a disaster zone only days before. But as a result,  she'd gotten it for a reasonable price - with the understanding  that she could fix it up. She was pleased with the result.

Once ready for bed, she crawled in between the fresh sheets and  stuffed her pillow under her head. 'Go to sleep,' she told  herself firmly. She closed her eyes and began concentrating on  counting backwards from a hundred.

One hundred. Ninety-nine. Ninety-eight. Ninety-seven. Ninety- five. Ninety...

When she'd spotted Clark drive up in his jeep as she'd been  preparing to get out of the limo, she'd felt her heart skip a  beat. Her anger at him had more to do with anger at herself for  being glad to see him. And how could she possibly be glad to  see the Daily Planet's resident womanizer?

She had to admit that he was kind of cute. She smiled. That  goofy expression on his face when she'd slipped her arm through  his at Lex's ball was priceless. She even liked the hang-dog  look on his face when he'd watched her dance with Lex. She  shook her head firmly. She wasn't doing this. She wasn't going  to think about Clark Kent.

Where was she now? Right. Ninety-two. Ninety-one. Ninety.  Eighty-seven. Eighty- three.

She probably shouldn't have let him believe that they could be  friends. After all, could a man like him really just be friends  with a woman? Then she thought back to the woman Clark had  danced with at Lex's ball. After dancing with Lex, she'd asked  Clark - casually, of course - who the woman was. He'd  immediately insisted on introducing them. She was amazed, and  even a little jealous, when she realized what good friends the  two of them were. And, after so many years alone, she really  could use a friend. What was she doing? She wasn't thinking  about Clark!

Eighty-seven. Eighty...

A small smile crept on to her lips when she remembered what it  felt like to dance with Clark. She'd felt so much like a woman.  He smelt so much like a man. No! She wouldn't do this. She  rolled over onto her other side. She really wished this bed  wasn't so lumpy. That was the only reason she was having  problems sleeping. Besides, he wasn't really that cute. She'd  prove it.

She turned on a lamp, crawled out of bed and rifled through her  underwear drawer until she found what she was looking for. She  pulled out the picture taken of her and Clark at the ball. She  had confiscated it from the photographer when Clark had left  her to take a trip to the washroom. She looked at the picture  and sighed. So much for that. He was even cuter than she  remembered. And that goofy grin was more endearing than ever.  She lay back in bed and ran her finger lightly over Clark's  image. If only...

But that was impossible. It couldn't be. And if she didn't find  a way to get control over her emotions, she was seriously going  to hurt both of them. She couldn't send him mixed signals. It  really wouldn't be fair. She knew that. She closed her eyes. A  tear escaped from the corner of one eye and ran down her cheek.  She reached up and frantically brushed it away.

She briefly considered his reputation. He was a playboy. If he  didn't get what he wanted from her, he'd just go on to his next  victim, wouldn't he? Still, she didn't want him to get the  wrong - or was it the right? - message. They had to work  together and she really could use a friend.

* * * * * * * * *

The following weeks passed quickly. Jessica and Clark had been  assigned a number of different stories and were beginning to  develop a working relationship. Her instincts and his logic  complemented each other nicely. Perry had commented a few times  that they had the potential to be the best news team since  Woodward and Bernstein. Jessica had basked in glory at the  comparison. Perry even liked the work they produced together so  much that he'd teamed them up on a quasi- permanent basis.

Luthor had been given the keys to the city of Metropolis after  a very generous contribution by Lex Corp to Metropolis General  Hospital for the construction of a children's wing. Jessica and  Clark covered that story, but couldn't find anything in it to  criticize Luthor for. That contribution was followed by others.  And although Jessica and Clark were both suspicious of his  motives, the majority of the city was coming to love their new  benefactor. Luthor had asked Jessica out on a couple of  occasions since then, but, much to Clark's obvious  satisfaction, she'd turned him down each time.

Unlike her relationship with Luthor, Jessica's relationship  with Clark grew. They had eaten supper together on many  occasions - just as friends. He had even cooked for her at his  place once. Of course, after that, she'd taken over any cooking  that needed to be done. Jessica was convinced Clark could find  a way to burn water. He hadn't objected. Since Clark had all  the appropriate cooking utensils and Jessica had all the skill,  they would often end up back at his place after work. Jessica  was responsible for cooking and he was on clean up detail.  After supper, they'd often settle on the couch to watch a video  or just talk.

It amazed Jessica that they always seemed to be able to find  things to talk about. Sometimes, of course, when they were in  the middle of a story, the evening would be spent discussing  work. Other times, however, they would talk about politics or  movies or music. On one occasion they'd actually spent the  whole evening discussing Hallowe'en candy. Clark had been  adamant that the best Hallowe'en candy was chips. She had  objected that chocolate bars were better. He'd rolled his eyes  - commenting that he should have known better than to expect  rational arguments from a chocoholic. They had spent the whole  evening debating the issue - often laughing so hard that tears  would roll down their cheeks at the insanity of their  arguments.

Clark had taken to calling her Jess. She had never before let  anyone shorten her name - not that he'd asked, of course. But  then, she'd never really been close enough to anyone before for  them to feel comfortable doing it. She had to admit that she  liked the familiarity of the shortened name.

Still, Clark hadn't as much as suggested pursuing anything more  than a friendship. On those few occasions when Jessica was  feeling particularly insecure, she'd wondered if that meant he  was no longer attracted to her. But then she'd see that look in  his eyes and her fears - or was that the right word? - would be  put to rest.

Sometimes, Jessica would catch herself noticing the cut of his  pants or the way his shirt stretched across his muscular chest.  Her reaction was instinctive. Of course, when she'd realize  where her thoughts were taking her, she'd immediately push them  away. Her self-control, however, didn't help her when she was  asleep. Her dreams of Clark were getting to be a regular  occurrence. Sometimes, after such a dream, she'd find herself  trying not to wake up.

Jessica noticed that Clark hadn't dated since they'd become  partners. Considering the number of women who seemed to be  constantly throwing themselves at him, Jessica found his lack  of interest astonishing - and, in the privacy of her own  thoughts, flattering.

Not that anything could ever come of it, of course - given her  particular situation. And that did occasionally cause her to  worry about what would happen when he finally came to  understand that they would never be together, but most of the  time she still found it slightly amusing. The lady killer  seemed to have been tamed by the one woman he could never have.

Besides, there was nothing she could say to convince him that  they would never be more than friends - not without telling him  everything. And that was the one thing she could never do. How  would he react if he knew the truth? Would he still want to be  her friend? She couldn't bear to lose both her partner and the only real friend she'd had in more than ten years.

* * * * * * * * *

Part 05

Jessica doodled absently on a pad of paper as the reporters  gathered around the conference room table. Assignments were  handed out and discussed. She found she listened better when  she had something to occupy her hands.

"...Also," said Perry, "there's a new art exhibit opening at  the Metropolis Museum this evening. Michael Daniels called in  sick this morning, so we need someone to cover that."

"Who's Michael Daniels?" Jessica whispered to Jimmy who was  seated beside her.

"He's the Planet's art critic," Jimmy responded.

Jessica returned to her doodling. There was a moment of silence  when Perry must have looked at Clark because he responded.

"No," objected Clark.

"You know more about art than..."

"Don't do this to me, Perry," Clark pleaded.

Jessica looked up in shock. She had never heard Clark object to  an assignment. Granted, covering an exhibit at the museum might  not be the most challenging assignment, but...

"Sorry, son, but I'm going to have to insist on this one,"  Perry said. "Now, Eduardo..."

Jessica tuned Perry out and watched Clark. He was obviously  distressed. For some reason, Perry seemed to know he would be.  What was it about this assignment he found so distasteful?

The meeting broke up shortly afterwards. Clark didn't even  notice her as he walked out of the conference room. That wasn't  usual. He always seemed to notice her. She watched as he made  his way back to his desk. Given the nature of the assignment,  it really was a one person story. And although they were  normally partners, they would handle smaller stories by  themselves. But this time was different. The exhibit opening  was happening this evening - after normal working hours. There  was only one way for her to get to the bottom of this. She  walked over to Clark's desk.

"Clark?" Jessica said.

"Huhh? Oh, sorry. What is it, Jess?" Clark responded.

"Relax, Clark," Jessica said, taking a seat on the corner of  his desk.

Clark pulled in a sharp breath at the sight of what that action  did to shorten her already short skirt. Jessica smiled.  Whatever else was bothering Clark, it was good to know that he  wasn't so far gone that he didn't notice her legs.

"I was just wondering if you'd like some company this evening  when you go to cover the exhibit opening."

"No," Clark replied immediately. The one thing he didn't want  was to have Jessica there. It would be bad enough, he was sure,  going alone. The last thing he needed was to have to worry  about Jessica too.

Jessica narrowed her eyes. She spent a moment studying the way  he wasn't looking at her. His refusal told her she was right -  there was more to this than just a trip to the museum. After  all, he never objected to spending time with her. It made her  more determined than ever to go.

"You know I could always just show up. It is open to the  public, after all," Jessica informed him.

Clark looked up in response to her comment. There was obvious  shock in his eyes. Almost immediately, he looked away. Then she  watched his shoulders slump slightly. Finally, he shrugged.  "Suit yourself," he said.

"Well, if I'm going to suit myself, I'm going with you."

"Fine," Clark said. His voice sounded resigned. Still, it was  acceptance. He might not be happy about it, but going with him  was still better than going on her own.

Jessica was just finishing up her story for the day - nothing  important, but something that had to be covered - when Perry  walked up to her desk. "Could I speak to you for a moment?" he  asked.

Jessica looked at him curiously. He was her boss. He could just  demand to speak to her. The phrasing of the question told her  that this was important. She got up from her desk and followed  him into his office. He closed the door before speaking.

"I understand you are going with Clark to the opening of the  exhibit tonight," he said.

"Yes," Jessica responded cautiously.

"Good," said Perry. "I didn't like assigning him that story,  but I really had no choice. Clark's the only reporter other  than Michael who has any real knowledge about art. He took a  minor in Art History while getting his journalism degree."

"What's this all about, Perry?" Jessica asked.

Perry studied her before shaking his head. "It's Clark's place  to tell you. I can't. Just make sure he's okay."

"I'll do my best, but it would be helpful to know..."

Perry shook his head again. "Just keep an eye on him."

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica noticed Clark wipe his hands against his pants as they  stepped through the doors of the museum. He'd been getting  progressively more nervous the closer they got to their  destination. They asked for directions to the new exhibit and  were gestured in the appropriate direction.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" asked Jessica as they  approached the room.

"What do you mean?" Clark responded.

"Clark, I know..."

"Here we are," Clark interrupted, placing a hand on the small  of Jessica's back as he directed her into the room.

She sighed. Okay, so he wasn't going to tell her. Hopefully the  answer would reveal itself soon enough.

"Clark," said a man's voice.

Jessica and Clark turned to see an older, distinguished looking  gentleman with a full head of white hair approaching. The man  wore an expensive suit and a relaxed smile.

"George," said Clark, offering the man his hand. "It's good to  see you."

"I sort of suspected we wouldn't see you around these parts  again. I'm glad I was wrong. So, who's this?" the man asked,  turning his attention to Jessica.

"This is Jessica Miller," Clark said. "And this is George  McDonald. He's the museum's curator."

Jessica took the man's hand in greeting, wondering why everyone  except her seemed to know what was going on.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Miller. Please," he gestured to the  exhibit. "Take a look around. Andre Pasco is one of Metropolis'  newest artists. But I think he's going to be one of the  greatest we've ever produced."

Jessica and Clark followed George over to a painting that  wasn't much more than a complicated swirl of colors and  textures.

"As you can see, he's got a unique outlook on the world."

"Is he here tonight?" asked Clark.

The curator shook his head. "It's strange, but he adamantly  refused to be here for the exhibit opening."

"There's a lot of pain in these pictures," Jessica commented  distractedly. "I don't know why, but it's almost as if the  artist is predicting the end of the world or something."

George raised his eyebrows. "Very good, Ms. Miller. Yes, the  artist has captured some sort of future pain. It's hard to  describe. As you said, it's as if he's seen the end of the  world and has captured the emotions on canvas. Until about a  year ago his paintings were amateurish. Then he seemed to find  this unusual pain. Since then he's become one of the most  sought after young artists Metropolis has."

"Anything happen to him about a year ago?" asked Clark.

"Not that I know of," George responded.

"Clark," a woman's voice suddenly purred behind them.

Jessica turned to see a woman in her mid-thirties approaching.  Although Jessica couldn't say quite why, since her clothing was  certainly appropriate to the occasion, but she gave off the air  of... hooker was the word that came to mind. The sexual air  around her as she came closer was impossible not to notice.  George immediately excused himself to make his way over to some  other guests.

Jessica felt Clark tense as the woman approached and knew  instantly that whoever this woman was, she was the reason Clark  had not wanted to come here tonight.

"Hi, Cat," said Clark. There was a definite note of anxiety in  his voice.

"And you are?" Cat asked, no longer purring as she turned to  face Jessica.

"Jessica Miller," Jessica responded, beginning to put some of  the pieces together. There was obviously some history between  Clark and this woman - history Clark wasn't very happy to  relive.

The woman didn't even listen to Jessica's reply. She stepped up  to Clark, reaching out to place her hands on his chest. He  immediately took a step back. She seemed slightly shocked by  his rejection, but recovered quickly.

"We need to talk," said Cat. "I'm sure your girlfriend won't  mind."

"Actually, I do," said Jessica, choosing to ignore the woman's  assumption about her relationship with Clark, but once again  the woman wasn't listening. Instead, she grabbed Clark's arm  and proceeded to pull him away.

Clark didn't know what to do. He glanced helplessly at Jessica.  He knew the instant he heard Cat's voice that she was going to  insist on speaking to him. And if they had to do this again, he  didn't want to do it in front of Jessica. He really didn't want  Jessica to know what a fool he'd made of himself. Still...

"It's okay, Clark," said Jessica.

Clark gave a slight nod, before following Cat to a more  secluded section of the room. Jessica turned to look at the  pictures, but it wasn't long before curiosity got the best of  her. She focused on hearing the conversation taking place  between the woman and Clark.

"...mean that," said Cat's voice seductively. "We were perfect  for each other."

"Perfect?" Clark gasped in disbelief. "If we were so perfect,  why was it that I had to come home to find you in bed with  another man?"

Jessica tensed. She really had no right to be listening to  this. Yet she couldn't stop. It was like watching a car wreck.  There was a kind of fascinated horror that kept Jessica  transfixed. Clark had obviously been involved with this woman.  It even seemed as if they had lived together for a time.  Jessica felt an unfamiliar stirring in the pit in her stomach.  There was something about the idea of this woman, a woman who  had obviously not appreciated what she had in Clark, in the  type of relationship with him that Jessica could only have in  her dreams, that sickened Jessica. But she wasn't jealous. She  wasn't! She snorted. Okay, so maybe she was jealous.

"Are you never going to let me forget that?" Cat responded. "I  make one little mistake and..."

"From what I've heard, he wasn't the first and I seriously  doubt he would have been the last," Clark responded.

"That doesn't change how I felt... still feel about you," Cat  purred, her hands coming up to run down his chest. Clark  stopped her exploration, holding her hands away from his body.

"Maybe not," Clark conceded. "But I can't live like that, Cat.  I never could. Besides, we were young. We were never right for  each other. Living together was a mistake."

"How can you say that?" Cat demanded. Then her voice went back  to seductive. "Don't you remember what it was like between us?  God, Clark, you can't have forgotten how we couldn't keep our  hands off each other. Don't you remember the time we were at  the symphony and we..."

"Let it go, Cat," Clark interrupted, his voice resigned.

"It's because of her, isn't it?" Cat responded, gesturing  towards where Jessica was standing. Jessica concentrated on the  painting in front of her.

"Cat," Clark warned.

"God, Clark. I thought you had better taste than that."

Clark's temper snapped. "Jessica has more class in her little  finger than..." His voice trailed off. He really didn't want  Cat to know how he felt about Jessica. "Besides, we're just  partners," he concluded weakly.

"Yeah, right," snorted Cat. "But, after what we had..."

"We didn't have anything, Cat. And I really don't want to take  this little trip down memory lane with you."

"Then why did you come here tonight?" demanded Cat. "The last  time we spoke you said you'd never be back. Yet here you are.  It's not as if you didn't know I'd be here this evening. You  must have come here for something. Was it just to rub her in my  face?"

"Michael's sick. Perry told me to cover the exhibit opening.  Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to work," Clark  concluded, turning and walking away.

"Are you okay?" asked Jessica softly when Clark arrived back.

"Let's get out of here," Clark responded briskly. Then, without  waiting for a reply, he headed for the door.

Jessica looked at the fuming Cat before turning and following  Clark who was walking out of the museum without his coat. By  the time Jessica had collected their coats and walked out of  the museum, he had disappeared. She stopped outside and looked  around. She spotted him sitting on a park bench near the  fountain that graced the front of the Metropolis Museum. She  approached quietly, taking a seat beside him and handing him  his jacket.

"Thanks," he said softly, continuing to stare at the cascading  water while his hands played nervously with his jacket.

Jessica shifted slightly so that her arm was resting on the  back of the bench, before slowly running her fingers through  his hair. Part of her wondered about the wisdom of this, but a  larger part desperately needed to find some way to ease his  pain.

"I suppose you want to know what that was all about," he said  after a long moment.

"Only if you want to tell me," she responded. She figured she  already knew most of it, but she still hoped he'd tell her. She  knew he needed to talk about it. However, pressuring him to do  so before he was ready would probably be counter- productive.  Besides, there was a part of her that really didn't want to  know.

He let out a shaky breath, not saying anything for a time. When  he finally did speak, his voice was soft.

"Her name's Catherine Grant. She's a designer with the museum.  We met just after I moved to Metropolis. I was young and a  little naive. She was exciting. I'd never known anyone like  her." His voice trailed off for a moment. "Well, one thing led  to another and after dating for less than a month, we moved in  together." He gave a humorless laugh. "Everyone except me  seemed to know I was in over my head. Even Perry knew I was  heading for disaster. He took me aside and gave me some inane  speech about Elvis and the wrong woman. I really don't remember  it. My parents met her once, and they were less than thrilled  about our relationship. But I was so convinced that everyone  was wrong about her. I even had a huge fight with my parents  over the issue."

They sat in silence for a long time before Clark could bring  himself to continue, but her hand gently making its way through  his hair had a calming effect. He closed his eyes and drew  strength from her pacifying touch before continuing. "I thought  I was in love. I was even enough of a fool to think she loved  me. Then one day I came home from work and..." He swallowed  hard, fighting against the pain that even now accompanied a  retelling of the story.

"It's okay, Clark," came Jessica's tender voice as she leaned  over and touched her forehead to the side of his face.

"She was with another man," Clark finally said. "She told me  not to make such a big deal out of it. She claimed it had never  happened before and..." He snorted. "I almost believed her. I  wanted so much for it to be true. I moved out briefly, but  couldn't seem to stay away. Well, one day Perry and I were at  Casey's. After a few drinks, I broke down and told him the  whole story and that I was thinking of moving back in with her  on a full time basis. That's when he pulled out all the stops.  He conducted his own little investigation.

"I was furious. He practically had to tie me down to get me to  listen to what he'd found. Fortunately, he finally forced me to  listen - under the threat of firing me. It seems Cat was...  indiscrete more than once. In fact, he had evidence that she'd  been with several men during the few months we had been living  together."

He paused for a moment. He'd come this far. He might as well  finish. "She was the first woman I'd ever... been intimate  with. I guess..." He snorted. "Maybe I was in love. Maybe I  just confused love with lust. I really don't know anymore." He  shook his head. "I went a little crazy after that." He glanced  over at her, but looked away again before continuing. "There  were a lot of women, Jess. A lot," he said with obvious shame  in his voice. He was silent for a long moment. "I remember the  day I suddenly realized what I was doing. I had gone out a few  times with a reporter from the Star. Her name was Linda King.  Well, we finally spent the night together. In the morning, I  told her that I'd call her. Of course, I never did. About a  week later, she showed up at the Planet."

* * * * * * * * *

"Oh, oh," said Ralph. "Trouble at five o'clock."

Clark glanced up to see Linda King heading at full steam across  the newsroom - bearing straight for him. She was obviously  steamed. He sucked in a breath. He really hated this type of  confrontation. She'd slept with him of her own free will. If  she chose to interpret it as a life commitment, that was her  problem, not his.

"Linda," he said. "What brings you here?" he asked, hoping he  was wrong about her reason for being here.

"You know exactly why I'm here," she spat.

"Actually, no."

"Tell me something, Clark. We went out several times before you  broke up with me. Why is it that you waited until after we'd  spent the night together before dumping me?" When Clark didn't  respond, she continued. "I heard about your reputation, but I  chose not to believe it. But they were right about you, weren't  they? You were just using me, weren't you?"

Clark heard Ralph snort.

"Look, Linda," responded Clark. "I enjoyed the time we spent  together. I thought you did too. But we were never meant to be  long term. I thought you understood that. You've got to learn  not to make such a big deal out of things."

Linda's hand landed hard across Clark's cheek before she turned  and stormed out of the newsroom. Clark raised a hand to his  cheek as he watched her go. He glanced around the newsroom and  realized that their argument had been the focus of attention.

"What's everyone looking at?" he demanded. When everyone  returned to what he or she had been doing before, Clark made  his way back to his desk and sank down into his chair. It  wasn't until that moment that it finally sunk in what he'd said  just before she slapped him.

* * * * * * * * *

"You used the same words to her that Cat had used to you?"  Jessica asked.

"Don't make such a big deal out of things. Yeah, I did," Clark  responded. "That's when it hit me. I had become exactly what I  had hated about Cat." He pulled off his glasses to rub the  bridge of his nose before returning his glasses and continuing.  "Those women... I used them, Jess. Just like Cat had used me."

His words were spoken with such remorse that Jessica felt a  tear trickle slowly down her cheek.

"Anyway, I tried calling Linda back to apologize, but she  refused to take my calls. After that... Well, I haven't...  umm..."

"Made love?" Jessica asked.

Clark snorted. "I don't think you could call what I was doing  making love. But, yeah... or no." Clark looked slightly  confused, wondering if the answer was yes or no. "Well, I  haven't been with a woman. I mean, I've dated. But only  casually. I haven't let myself..." his voice trailed off.

"Afterwards, I ended up with something of a reputation. Once  you have a reputation, it's a little hard to get anyone to see  you as anything other than..."

"A lady killer?" Jessica asked, when he didn't continue.

"I guess that's as good a term as any. Actually, it's probably  more charitable than I deserve. I have no idea why that  reputation keeps following me around. Maybe no one wants to  admit that she is the one woman who wasn't able to get me into  bed or... Maybe it's because I don't give the Planet gossips  enough that's real so they have to invent things. I just don't  know. I mean, it's been years since..." He snorted. "I really  have no right to complain. After what I did to those women,  it's not as if I don't deserve it."

"So I'm guessing your reputation is not something you're too  proud off," Jessica said, having some problems believing that  any man wouldn't want to be known as a 'lady killer'.

"Proud?" gasped Clark. "Jess, how could I possibly be proud of  a reputation that claims I treat women like... playthings?"

Jessica almost smiled. She should have known that Clark would  feel that way. It was one of the things she liked most about  Clark - how he saw the world. Unlike most men, who would have  been tempted to brag about their 'conquests', Clark saw them as  a matter of shame.

"I really don't understand why women still want to go out with  me," Clark continued when she didn't respond. "Given my  reputation. Maybe they see it as a challenge or something. You  know, tame the beast." He was silent for a moment before  turning to look at her fully. "Besides, I have a feeling that  I'm really paying for my reputation now," he said significantly  keeping his eyes locked with hers.

Jessica looked down - her hand stilling in his hair. She  understood what he was implying. He'd obviously come to the  conclusion that she was unwilling to get involved with him  because of his reputation. Nothing could be further from the  truth. Oh sure, his reputation would have been an issue in the  beginning, but she'd gotten to know the man behind the  reputation - a good, kind, caring man. A man she had fallen  in... She stopped her thought - as she'd been doing more and  more lately - before finally facing the truth. She might not  like it. She might not want it to be true, but the reality was  that somewhere along the line - she couldn't say exactly when -  she'd fallen in love with Clark Kent.

She quickly glanced at the man sitting beside her before again  looking away. It really didn't matter how she felt. She  couldn't give him what he wanted and she couldn't even tell him  why, so what good had it done to admit her feelings - even if  only to herself.

After a long moment of awkward silence, Clark sighed. She  obviously had no intention of responding. Then he shrugged.  "That's why I didn't want to come here tonight. Every time I  see her it's the same thing."

"She wants to get back together," Jessica said.

Clark nodded. "It's not going to happen. I'd give almost  anything to take back the few months we were together. Or how I  responded to it. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way." He  glanced back towards the museum. "I guess we should go back in  there. I do have a story to get, after all."

Jessica shook her head. "I'll go back. You just wait here. I  shouldn't be long. Then we'll go back to your place and get the  story written up."

"Jess, you don't have to..."

"Let me do this, Clark," Jessica said, rising to her feet. When  he finally nodded she turned and left, leaving him alone with  his tortured thoughts.

Clark didn't watch her go. He couldn't bear to. Telling her all  that had probably been a mistake. He had certainly ruined  whatever chance he had with her now. He'd confirmed his own  reputation. She hadn't even been able to hold eye contact since  his confession. She obviously found him as despicable as he  found himself.

He'd always known if he wanted a relationship with Jessica,  they'd have to talk about this eventually. He had, however,  hoped to wait until he had proven his feelings for her. How  could he expect her to believe that what he wanted from her...  What did he want from her? He gave a wry smile. He wanted to  fall asleep beside her every night and wake up to her face  every morning. Now, thanks to Perry's insistence that he cover  this story, Cat's full court press, and his inability to keep  Jessica from accompanying him... He ran his hands through his  hair in frustration.

* * * * * * * * *

Part 06

It didn't take Jessica long to get the information they needed  about the artist, Andre Pasco. Apparently, like many artists,  he had a job to keep himself fed while he worked on his  paintings. Like his father before him, he worked at Lex Labs as  a security guard. The job suited him because working the night  shift allowed him to avoid contact with most strangers and from  what Jessica was able to find out, he was very introverted.  Apparently, that was why he hadn't come to his own opening. The  reclusiveness of the artist was as much a draw for Metropolis'  social set as the paintings themselves.

She was just finishing up when she heard a voice behind her.

"Where's Clark?" came Cat's voice.

Jessica turned around slowly, running her eyes over the woman  standing there. She had never known such intense dislike. This  woman had had the most remarkable man in love with her and  she'd thrown it away and hurt him in the process.

"What can I do for you, Ms. Grant?" said Jessica.

"I asked where Clark is," Cat repeated.

Jessica ignored the question. "Can I ask you something?" she  asked instead.

"What?" asked Cat, looking around for Clark.

"Why do you want him back? I mean, if you're just going to do  to him what you did the last time. Or are you trying to claim  that you've changed?"

Cat suddenly took notice of the woman addressing her. She  looked Jessica over, as if sizing her up and finding her  wanting. "You've obviously never slept with him," she said.  "Otherwise, you wouldn't be asking."

Jessica clenched her teeth, but otherwise didn't react.

"I might need variety," Cat continued. "But that doesn't mean I  don't want to come home to a great lover afterwards." She then  moved closer to Jessica and lowered her voice as if she was  about to impart some great secret and said, "Just remember this  when he's taking you to heights you never dreamed possible. I  taught him everything he knows."

"I doubt that," Jessica responded as calmly as she could, even  if Cat's words made her feel sick to her stomach.

Cat narrowed her eyes. "Take my advice. You can't handle Clark.  Oh, he might tell you he loves you and that he's never felt  this way about anyone. You might even be able to get him to  marry you, but he'll never be faithful. I taught him well.  He'll be out looking for the next conquest before the ink is  even dry on your marriage license."

"Do you have any idea how pathetic you sound?" Jessica  responded, fighting to control her temper. "You had someone  like Clark and you threw him away. Admit it, he's gone,"  Jessica concluded before turning around and beginning to walk  away. However, before she'd gone far, she turned back around  and returned. "And you're wrong," Jessica said. "You didn't  teach him as much as you think. Clark is nothing like you."  With those final words, she spun around and left the room as  quickly as possible - before she seriously hurt Cat.

Once she had left the room, Jessica leaned up against the wall.  She needed a moment to calm down before going back to Clark.

Clark. She closed her eyes. He believed that his reputation was  the reason she was unwilling to get involved with him. He was  so wrong. During the past few weeks, she'd been given a glimpse  of his heart. And she loved it. She loved the way he cared  about the truth. She loved the way he cared about people. She  loved the way he cared about her. The problem wasn't his past.  It was hers.

There was another problem. It was daily getting more difficult  to hide her true feelings from Clark. She'd fallen in love with  him. That fact would probably condemn them both.

Suddenly there was nothing at all amusing about Clark's  attraction to her. Up until tonight, although she'd been  falling for him, she'd never really worried much about how  falling for her might effect him. He was a rogue. If she did  manage to break his heart, she always suspected he'd just be  out on the prowl the next day - hardly remembering her name.  But that wasn't true.

There was only one way this could turn out - by her breaking  his heart. She had to find a way to keep that from happening.  But how?

Realizing she wasn't going to come up with any answers tonight  - if there were answers - she grabbed some brochures about the  exhibit and headed towards the door of the museum. She spotted  a confectionary at the entrance - she desperately needed some  chocolate - and made a quick trip inside before exiting the  building.

"Hey, handsome," she said in a falsely cheerful voice as she  approached Clark. When he turned, she smiled.

Clark smiled in response as he searched her eyes, but Jessica  could tell immediately that his smile was as forced as the  cheer in her voice and she guessed that he too sensed the  pretence. She sat down on the bench beside him and handed him  the pamphlets. She then handed him one of the two Double Fudge  Crunch Bars she'd purchased. When he shook his head, she stuck  his in her purse and unwrapped hers.

"So what did you find out?" he asked, dragging his mind away  from his own self pity to focus on the story.

While eating her chocolate bar, Jessica proceeded to fill him  in on what she had learned - saying nothing, of course, about  her run in with Cat. The entire time, Clark fiddled with the  pamphlets.

"Ouch!" Clark suddenly exclaimed, jumping slightly.

"What?" asked Jessica.

Clark growled, looking at the small cut on his finger.  "Nothing," he said, "Just a paper cut." With that he stuck the  finger in his mouth.

"Why do people do that?" Jessica asked.

"What?" asked Clark.

"Stick their finger in their mouth when they get a paper cut. I  mean, if you think about it isn't that worse than doing  nothing. After all, with the amount of germs the mouth  produces, wouldn't you think that a person is only exposing the  cut to germs by putting it in their mouth. I read somewhere  that... What?" The last question was asked in response to the  genuinely amused look that had appeared on Clark's face.

"I love it when you ramble," Clark whispered.

"I don't ramble," objected Jessica. "I just find it interesting  that..." Her voice trailed off when Clark's hand came up to her  face. She was completely powerless to stop him as his finger  trailed slowly over her cheek. Her eyes came up and met his.  She was instantly as lost in his eyes as he appeared to be in  hers.

Clark pulled in a sharp breath at the look in her eyes. It was  the look he had been searching for when she'd first come out of  the museum. He didn't know where the courage had come from to  touch her cheek. In fact, he wasn't sure it had been a  conscious decision. Deciding to kiss her, on the other hand,  was a conscious choice. The look in her eyes told him that she  wanted to be kissed as much as he wanted to kiss her. He leaned  in slowly - giving her the chance to pull away. He heard her  breathing become shallow and rapid. He could feel the warmth of  her breath against his lips.

Jessica's mind began screaming at her when he began to move  closer. He was going to kiss her. She couldn't let it happen.  She couldn't give him hope when she knew there was no hope. And  how would he react when they finally caught up with her again  and he found out that she'd been lying to him? How would he  feel if she let him kiss her without telling him about herself?

Kissing him would be unforgivable. It would be as unforgivable  as what Cat had done to him. But how could she pull away? He  thought that she was reluctant to get involved with him because  of his past - a past that he obviously felt incredible guilt  for. Maybe a kiss would convince him that his past was not the  problem.

She knew she was justifying her actions, but she couldn't seem  to stop herself. Just one kiss. Just one soft touch of lips to  lips. One small feeling of connection with another person. She  hadn't been kissed in years - and never as a woman kissed by a  man who at least cares about her. Surely she could have just  this one moment.

No! No matter how much she wanted this, she couldn't let it  happen. She had to stop this now.

Suddenly, she felt the soft brush of his lips against hers and  every other thought was wiped from her mind. She gave one small  moan of protest before her hand slipped into his hair. A tremor  rippled through her body. A tremor that told her that she was a  woman, responding to a man. That knowledge was as sweet as it  was painful. She moved first to deepen the kiss - opening her  mouth slightly in silent invitation.

Clark had never known such a sensation of pure bliss. He'd  wanted to kiss Jessica from the moment he first saw her. Now he  was doing it. When she opened her mouth to him, it was almost  reluctantly that his tongue slipped in. He wanted to savor this  moment - the moment of his first taste of her. And as he did,  he instantly knew he was hooked. She tasted better than every  fantasy he'd had of this moment. A groan escaped from the back  of his throat. Her taste satisfied some need deep inside him -  only to create new ones.

Suddenly, Jessica pulled back.

"Jess?" asked Clark, struggling to recover from the sudden  cessation of the kiss.

"Please don't," she whispered, refusing to meet his eyes. Then  when Clark acted as if he was going to ignore her, moving back  in, she placed a hand on his chest. "I'm begging you," she  whispered.

Clark stopped - his heart in his throat. He had thought the  kiss was mutual - that it signaled a change in their  relationship. A change he most definitely welcomed.

"Why?" It was only a single word, but in it Jessica could hear  his confusion, his pain at her rejection.

"God, Clark, please don't ask me," she said, before rising from  the bench and heading for the jeep.

Clark sat in stunned silence for a moment. He had no idea what  had just happened. The kiss had been mutual - hadn't it? He  hadn't misread the look of longing in her eyes - or had he? She  had responded to his kiss - hadn't she? He glanced over at  Jessica. She was standing by the passenger's door of the jeep,  waiting to get in. He rose to his feet and, with a heavy heart,  made his way to the vehicle.

* * * * * * * * *

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

Jessica mentally kicked herself for what felt like the  hundredth time during the past hour since Clark had dropped her  off. They had gone back to his place to write up the story  after their disastrous kiss. Then he had driven her home.  Neither had said anything about the kiss since, but the tension  that had existed between them told her very clearly just how  stupid a mistake it had been. She had actually wanted to walk  home and had suggested the same to Clark. But then he had  looked so hurt - as if fearing that she didn't want the ride  because she was afraid he'd try to make a move on her again -  that she'd changed her mind.

How could she have let it happen? She brushed a tear off her  cheek. She finally had a friend and she'd blown it by letting  him kiss her. She snorted. Who did she think she was kidding?  She hadn't only let him kiss her, she'd kissed him back.

Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!

* * * * * * * * *

"...so on the last Friday of the month, a bunch of us often go  to Casey's after work for a beer and a bite to eat," Jimmy was  explaining to Jessica the next day. "I was wondering if you'd  like to come."

"I don't know, Jimmy," Jessica replied, glancing at Clark.  Other than work, they hadn't spoken to each other all day. She  suspected he would be going to Casey's. Maybe it was better if  she gave him a little room.

Jessica wasn't certain if giving Clark room was her real reason  for not wanting to go to Casey's. She wondered if in reality  she was the one who needed room. The kiss between her and Clark  had made her feelings for Clark much too real. It had also  brought up a lot of emotions she thought she'd come to terms  with years ago. Given how close to the surface her own feelings  were, she didn't have any idea how to respond to Clark without  plunging both of them further into the abyss. No. It was better  if she avoided Clark until her own emotions were under control.

"He's not coming," said Jimmy when he saw where she was  looking.

"Who?" asked Jessica.

"Umm..." Jimmy said. He thought her hesitation had something to  do with Clark. The tension between them today had been almost  palpable.

"Maybe I will come," said Jessica. After all, the alternative  was to go home and obsess about how badly she'd messed up with  Clark and if he wasn't going to be there...

"Great!" exclaimed Jimmy. "Ten minutes. A bunch of us are  taking the Daily Planet van."

"I'll be there," Jessica promised. She turned her attention to  putting the finishing touches on her story. She was looking  forward to tonight. Maybe a little fun would help her get her  perspective back.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica was surprised when Perry showed up at Casey's. He  informed her that he came on occasion just to see what the  younger set was up to these days, but Jessica suspected that he  considered his reporters family.

She ate some chili and sipped a glass of wine. It wasn't her  ideal supper, but the menu here was more that of a bar than a  restaurant. The place was loud and noisy - just the type of  thing Jessica needed to forget about Clark. It wasn't long  before Jessica felt the tension begin to seep out of her  shoulders and she began enjoying herself.

The people from the Planet were sitting at three tables. They  would change positions periodically as people made use of the  dance floor or pool table or decided to talk to someone new.  Jessica felt as if she was finally getting to know her  colleagues. Coming here tonight had been a good idea.

"Do you want to dance?"

Jessica turned to see Ralph standing there. Well, standing was  a bit of an overstatement. He was already slightly inebriated.  Ralph was a poor imitation of a playboy - leech might have been  a better term. He obviously wanted to be as irresistible to  women as Clark was - but, unlike Clark, he couldn't quite pull  it off. He'd hit on her a number of times since she'd started  working at the Planet. Yet, no matter how many times she said  no, he didn't seem to get the message.

"I don't think so, Ralph," Jessica responded in exasperation.

Ralph shrugged before staggering off in search of easier  pickings.

"You look like you've been rode hard and put away wet, honey,"  said Perry as he moved into a seat beside her.

Jessica laughed, looking over at Perry. "That's quite an image,  Perry," she responded. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you  were suggesting I need a shower."

"You wouldn't be avoiding the issue, now would you?" Perry  asked.

Jessica sighed. "It's nothing. Just been a hard day, that's  all."

"So it doesn't have anything to do with what happened at the  museum last night?"

A shocked look passed through Jessica's eyes. Had Clark told  Perry?

"Was Ms. Grant there?" Perry asked.

"Right," gasped Jessica in relief. "You wanted me to keep an  eye on Clark." She'd almost forgotten about Catherine Grant  with everything that had happened afterwards.

"What did you think I was talking about?" Perry asked.

"Nothing," Jessica responded too quickly.

Perry eyed her for a moment. There was something else going on  here and he suspected he knew what it was. "You know, Clark's  like a son to me," Perry informed her.

Jessica looked down. Clark was really not who she wanted to  talk about - or think about for that matter - right now.

"I've always believed that with the right woman by his side,  that boy could work miracles," Perry continued. When she still  didn't respond, he continued. "I think he could be good for you  too," he concluded.

"You've got the wrong woman, Perry," Jessica responded.  "Besides, what makes you think..."

"You think I haven't noticed the way he looks at you? I'm not  so old that I've forgotten the look."

Jessica glanced over at him. "I take it you've been in love  then," she said, hoping to distract him. It worked. Perry got a  far off look in his eyes.

"Her name was Alice," he said. "She was my wife. I loved her  like I've never loved anyone before or since."

"What happened to her?" Jessica asked.

"She died in childbirth. So did our son."

"I'm so sorry."

Perry glanced at her. "Well, it was a long time ago," he said  gruffly, before both fell silent - lost in their own thoughts.

Jessica was brought back to their surroundings by an increase  in noise a couple of tables away. She glanced over and saw  three young women at a table - probably no more than the  twenty-one years that would be required to get admission to  this place. They were giggling and whispering between glances  at the door. Jessica turned to see what had caught their  attention. She pulled in a sharp breath. Clark had just entered  the establishment. But Jimmy said he wasn't going to be here.  Part of her wanted to curl up under the table - and yet her  heart leapt at the sight.

She quickly turned her attention to the dance floor to watch  the couples dance.

"Hey, C.K.," said Jimmy, returning to the table Jessica and  Perry were seated at.

"Hi, Jimmy," Clark responded.

"I didn't think you'd be here tonight."

"Changed my mind," said Clark. He'd gone home only to find that  he was obsessing about Jessica. He'd thought to distract  himself by coming here. Obviously not the smartest move. He  pulled out a chair at the table.

"Hi, Perry," he said. "Jess."

"Clark," Jessica responded, a complete lack of inflection in  her voice. It wasn't that she wanted to hurt Clark. It was that  she didn't know how to respond - afraid that if she did let him  see anything, he'd see too much. She couldn't let him know that  his feelings were also hers. He had the right to find someone  to love and be loved by and since that couldn't be her... It  wouldn't be fair for her to do anything that might make him  think there could be anything between them.

Clark noticed the lack of response from Jessica and felt the  pain rip through his heart again. Surely he hadn't done  anything so horrible. He'd kissed her - not raped her. If she  wasn't interested, she at least owed it to him to let him prove  that he could still be her friend. He wasn't sure if he was  more hurt or angry.

Perry glanced between Jessica and Clark. Whatever was going on  here was obviously serious. They could hardly look at each  other. Still, there was a sadness coming from both of them. Was  encouraging Jessica to go with Clark last night a mistake? He  had known about Clark's relationship with Cat and had seen how  it had changed the optimistic boy who'd first walked into his  office into a hard man. He'd also watched as Jessica had pulled  back layer after layer to find the man Perry had known was  still hidden in there somewhere. Was it possible that Jessica  was unable to see that man? What had happened last night that  could have caused such problems between them?

Ralph rejoined the table as did a couple other reporters and  soon the table seemed as if it were full of joyous people who  didn't have a care in the world. Except if you looked closely.  Two of the table's occupants were conspicuously quiet - except  when directly spoken to.

"Excuse me," said one of the young women Jessica had observed  when Clark entered the bar. She had come over to their table.

Everyone at the table quieted down and directed his or her  attention to a very pretty young woman with long blond hair and  a skin tight dress that barely covered enough of her to be  decent.

"Yes," asked Ralph.

The woman ignored Ralph to address Clark. "Would you like to  dance?" she asked.

* * * * * * * * * *

"What's happening with your efforts to get a woman close to  Kent?" Luthor demanded of Nigel.

"So far we haven't had any luck. But we found out that Kent  often goes to Casey's with the Planet staff. We've got a very  pretty young woman there. If she can get Kent to take her home,  I promise he'll find her very distracting."

"Why's that, Nigel?"

"She's HIV positive," Nigel responded.

Luthor smiled. That would certainly distract Kent. They could  have her inform him of her condition the moment he started  nosing around in something that didn't concern him.

"Very good, Nigel," Luthor said.

* * * * * * * * *

Part 07

Clark looked up. She was asking him to dance. "Umm..." Clark  glanced briefly at Jessica, before suddenly seeming to come to  a decision. "I'd love to," he told the woman, rising to his  feet and leading her to the dance floor.

"How does he do it?" asked Ralph in disbelief. "Look at that  body. Ten bucks says he takes her home." He looked around. "No  one prepared to take my bet?" he asked.

Suddenly, Jessica was furious. Clark was ashamed of his  reputation. She knew why he'd accepted the woman's invitation.  He was still hurting from her rejection last night. She had no  idea what she was going to do about that, but she could make  Ralph think twice before making that type of comment again.

"No," said Jessica. "But..." She took a moment to remove  something from her purse. It was a twenty dollar bill. "...I  will bet twenty dollars that Ralph goes home alone."

Perry immediately snorted. The remainder of the table was  silent for a moment before, almost of one accord, bursting out  laughing. All, except for Ralph, of course. He mumbled  something which Jessica purposely ignored. Soon everyone had  forgotten about both bets - no one prepared to take either one.  They began talking and laughing about other things. It was only  then that Jessica's eyes once again drifted to Clark.

Jessica watched as the woman slipped her hand into Clark's hair  before pulling his head down so that she could place her lips  next to his ear. She whispered something which caused Clark to  frown for a moment, before smiling. He pulled his head back and  nodded. The woman smiled in return and then slipped out of his  arms, making her way back to her table. Jessica frowned  slightly. What was going on?

Clark made his way back to the table. When he spotted Ralph, he  spoke.

"What's happening on that story about the latest takeover by  Lex Corp?" he asked.

Jessica noticed that Ralph seemed to shift in his chair at the  question. He seemed uncomfortable.

"Come on, Clark," Ralph responded. "You know the rule. No  business at Casey's."

"I just heard something about the buyout being coerced and  wondered..."

"Look, I checked out that deal thoroughly. There was no  coercion. The buyout was legit. The rumors are just that.  Rumors."

Clark nodded.

"Coming?" asked a woman's voice behind Clark.

Clark quickly glanced at Jessica before grabbing his jacket.  Pulling his wallet from his pants, he removed some money and  tossed it on the table.

"That should pay for the drink," he said, gesturing to the  drink he'd ordered but not yet touched. Without looking at  Jessica again, he turned, allowed the young woman to take his  arm and headed out of Casey's.

Jessica bit her lower lip as she stared intently at her glass  of wine. She wasn't going to cry. She wasn't! A voice in the  back of her head told her she should be angry. How could he be  leaving with another woman after the kiss they'd shared last  night? And anger had always been her primary defense mechanism  against pain. But for some reason tonight she didn't have the  energy to be angry. All she could feel was an incredible hole  in her heart.

Besides, Clark could do whatever he wanted. If he wanted to...  She forced her mind away from what he obviously wanted to do.

She knew why he was doing this. He was reacting to her  rejection the same way he had reacted to Cat's betrayal. She'd  hurt him. She hadn't meant to, of course, but did that really  matter?

She was vaguely aware of the men at the table discussing  Clark's virility. Ignoring them, she turned slightly so that  she could look at the door Clark had exited through.

She'd come to terms with all of this years ago, but meeting  Clark brought it all up again. She should have handled their  obvious attraction for each other differently - before it got  out of control. He was clearly in as much pain as she was. Yet  he had no idea why she was rejecting him. If only she had  another chance, she'd find a way to make him understand.

Jessica jumped when the door she was staring at suddenly  opened. With a gasp of disbelief, she watched the woman who'd  left with Clark reenter the bar - looking decidedly angry.  Jessica vaguely heard Ralph make some comment when he spotted  the woman. Jessica ignored him.

"Excuse me," she said instead. She rose to her feet and headed  towards the door, unnoticed by everyone except Perry. She just  wished she'd handled things differently. She wasn't about to  waste this unexpected chance.

* * * * * * * * *

"Anything yet on Ms. Miller," asked Luthor.

"I'm expecting some results from our latest search tonight.  I'll let you know if it gives us a clue as to her identity."

"What's taking so long with that?"

"We've had to move slowly in order to avoid having anyone  figure out what we're looking for," Nigel informed him.

Luthor nodded. He might want Kent and Miller neutralized, but  there was no hurry. Of course, that could change with their  next assignment - depending on what that was. What he didn't  want was someone finding out that they were gathering  information on Ms. Miller. After all, if she was running from  something, exposing her would not help control her. In fact, if  she could be compromised and they couldn't get a woman in place  to control Kent, she might be the one to keep him in his place.  She was his partner, after all.

* * * * * * * * *

Clark leaned against the jeep and closed his eyes when he heard  the door to the restaurant slam. He was unable to believe how  close he'd almost come to taking that woman home. He didn't  want that type of life - the casual, uncaring sex. He didn't  want to live with the guilt and shame of that type of  existence. He never again wanted to live with the fear that  he'd contracted AIDS or some other sexually transmitted  decease. And never again did he want to hurt anyone the way  he'd been hurt.

Yet, when that beautiful, young woman - he didn't even know her  name - had suggested going back to her place, he'd accepted.  After telling Jessica last night how bad he felt about all the  women he'd used, he'd almost used another one - used her as an  analgesic to dull the pain in his heart.

It was only while opening the passenger's door of his jeep that  he'd realized he couldn't go through with it. She had been  furious. He shuddered as he remembered some of the very  unflattering comments she'd made to him before storming back  into the bar.

His behavior today had been inexcusable. He had no doubt,  however, that he would pay for it. It would undoubtedly be the  source of much office gossip for the next couple of weeks at  least. Of course, the story would get larger and more fanciful  with each telling. After all, that was what usually seemed to  happen. But that wasn't the worst of it. There was Jessica to  consider.

He pounded his fists against the top of the jeep as he thought  about Jessica. He could only imagine what she thought of him  after his stunt in the bar. Any chance he might have still had  with her was probably ruined because of that single moment of  stupidity on his part. After all, she'd never believe now what  he'd told her last night - that he was no longer the man behind  the reputation. He stared over the jeep, past the parking lot  and at the waters of Hobbs Bay that lay beyond.

The one thing he knew for certain was that he didn't want any  more meaningless affairs that left him feeling dead inside.  Yet, that was probably the only thing he'd ever be entitled to.  It seemed that his past had destroyed any chance he'd ever have  of having what he really wanted - a relationship like his  parents had. He was destined for nothing more than the  meaningless affairs he no longer wanted. Yet that didn't stop  him from wanting and what he wanted was... What he wanted was  the one woman who didn't want him. It was poetic justice.

He wasn't sure who he was angrier at - himself for falling in  love with Jessica - especially when he should have known that,  with his past, he wasn't entitled to anything real - or Jessica  for not loving him in return. He knew, of course, that his  anger was ridiculous. He hadn't had any ability to keep from  falling in love with her and she couldn't manufacture feelings  she just didn't have. Still, that didn't prevent him from being  angry.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica stepped out of the bar. The sun was already hanging low  in the sky. It wouldn't be long before it set and night settled  in. She looked around and quickly spotted Clark. He was  standing by the passenger's door of his jeep, with both hands  on the top of the vehicle while he stared towards the water.

Jessica was almost silent as she approached. She still didn't  know exactly what she was going to say. All she did know was  that they needed to at least try to talk this through.

"Hi," she said softly as she neared where Clark was standing.  He jumped before glancing at her. He quickly redirected his  attention to the waves lapping against the shore.

Jessica remained silent as she closed the remaining distance  between them. She leaned against the side of the jeep, ignoring  the fact that this action was bound to leave dirt on her coat.  Seeing his face was more important to her than her coat.

"I think we need to talk," said Jessica.

"I don't see what we have to talk about," Clark responded.

Jessica winced at the clipped tone of his words. This was going  to be harder than she thought.

"How about we start with what happened between us last night?"  she suggested.

"How about we don't?" Clark responded immediately. He really  didn't need a lecture from her about how he'd stepped over the  line - blurring the boundaries of their relationship. She'd  never given him any reason to believe she wanted to be more  than friends. Yet he'd kissed her.

"Clark," Jessica responded.

"Look, Jessica, I think I get the picture. You don't want to  get involved with me. I understand that. So why don't we just  let it go? Let's not get into the postmortem, okay."

Jessica bit her lip slightly. He really wasn't going to make  this easy. Maybe he was right. Maybe she should just let it go.  She took a couple of steps towards the bar. Then she stopped  and turned back to Clark. They needed to talk. She couldn't  stand this unbearable tension hanging between them. However, it  was obvious that she needed a new approach.

"This is my fault," she said.

Clark heard the words and turned to face her. What was she  talking about? He'd made a pass at her last night. She hadn't  been interested. That was his problem, not hers.

"What are you talking about?" Clark finally asked. "I'm the one  who screwed up. I had no right to kiss you like that. I  just..." His voice trailed off. When he continued, his voice  wasn't much more than a whisper. "You can't help it if you're  not interested in me that way."

"Is that what you think? That I'm not interested?" asked  Jessica. "I only wish I wasn't," she said with a small snort.  "In case you didn't notice, you weren't the only one kissing  last night."

An expression of confusion passed through Clark's eyes. Since  their kiss, he'd managed to convince himself that she didn't  share his feelings.

"But I thought..." Clark began and then stopped as he tried to  grapple with this new information. It made no sense. If she was  interested, what had today been about? She had hardly been able  to look at him. Suddenly, he understood. She was interested,  but his past must be scaring her. If that was true, maybe there  was a reason to talk.

"Can we go for a walk?" asked Jessica. She knew she was making  a bid for more time to figure out how to tell him this -  whatever 'this' was. She still didn't know exactly what she was  going to say.

Clark nodded in response to her question. They headed closer to  the water's edge and then began walking along a pathway that  ran parallel to it.

They walked along in silence for a few minutes as Jessica  struggled with where to begin. Maybe she should just tell him  everything. Maybe he would still look at her with that  expression that made her legs turn to jello. Probably not, but  maybe. And if he didn't, wasn't that better than hurting him?

She needed chocolate. She reached into her purse and withdrew  the bar she'd stuck in there last night. She opened it, broke  it in half and silently offered Clark half. When he declined,  she began eating it.

"Where do you put them?" Clark asked, breaking the silence.

"Excuse me?"

"It's just... Jess, you eat more chocolate bars than anyone  I've ever known, but you never seem to gain any weight. How do  you do it?"

Jessica shrugged. "I figure it's a better addiction than  smoking or drugs."

Clark nodded. He supposed that was true.

They continued their silent stroll for a moment more before  Jessica, finally came to a decision. He deserved to know the  truth. She took a deep breath, stuffed the now empty candy bar  wrapper back in her purse and began.

"I need you to just listen to what I have to say," she finally  said. "I'm afraid I'll lose my nerve if you interrupt." She  briefly glanced at Clark to be sure he understood, before  directing her attention once again to the path in front of her.  "I think... No. Scratch that. I know that I'm falling in love  with you," she said.

"Jess..." Clark interrupted, taking her arm and pulling her  around to face him.

"Don't, Clark. Please," Jessica said, putting her hand up to  his chest to stop his forward movement. She couldn't bear to  look in his eyes - to see hope there when she knew she was  about to take it away. Maybe that hadn't been the best way to  start. She stared intently at the hand resting on his chest  while trying to gather her thoughts again.

Clark stopped but didn't move further away. He knew she didn't  want him to interrupt, but when she'd admitted that she was  falling in love with him, he'd been unable to resist.

"I wish I weren't falling in love with you. God, you have no  idea how much I wish I wasn't," she said, still not taking her  eyes off her hand. "And I know you think this has something to  do with your past, but it doesn't." She paused. "I..." her  voice trailed off. Now that the moment was finally here, she  found that she couldn't go through with it - she couldn't stand  having him look at her the way others had. So instead of  telling him the reasons they couldn't get involved, she forced  herself to meet his eyes. "Clark," she said softly. "I can't  get involved with you. I can't get involved with anyone. I wish  I could, but I can't."

"Why?" asked Clark. He'd been so sure that it was because of  his past, but if that wasn't the reason...

Jessica's gaze reverted once again to her hand. "I can't tell  you that, Clark. Please don't try to make me." Her voice  dropped to a mere whisper. "Leave me some dignity," she begged.

Clark's hand came up to cover the one she still had resting on  his chest. His other hand touched the bottom of her chin, to  again raise her face so that he could look in her eyes.

"I'll wait," he said softly. "No matter how long. I'll give you  whatever time you need, Jess."

A look of absolute horror passed through her eyes. She broke  away from him and headed towards a park bench. Clark watched as  she settled on the bench before approaching himself. As he sat  down, he involuntarily flashed back to the last time he'd sat  on a park bench with Jessica. He had to pull his mind away from  the memory of that kiss - to prevent himself from simply taking  her in his arms and kissing her until she finally admitted that  she was his.

"Time," Jessica finally said. "Clark, time won't change  anything." She looked up at him as a tear slipped slowly down  her cheek. She gave a small snort. "Actually, that's not  exactly true. Time will change one thing. Some day you're going  to meet someone..."

"Jess..."

"She will absolutely adore you," Jessica continued, her hand  coming up to run down his face. "And I'm going to have to watch  you fall in love with her." She gave him something approaching  a smile as tears began flowing freely down her cheeks. "And I'm  going to hate her," she concluded, her chin quivering slightly.

Clark began shaking his head. "No. I won't..." Her fingers on  his lips cut him off.

"Maybe it would be easier on both of us if I just left  Metropolis," she said.

"What?" Clark gasped. He was understanding this conversation  less and less. It seemed with every additional comment, he felt  more confused.

"I just think that if I weren't here, you'd..."

"No! What are you doing, Jess? Okay, you don't want to get  involved with me. I'll accept that. You don't have to leave  just to get away from me." He didn't know what he'd do if she  left. She was his basherteh. He knew that. He couldn't let her  go.

"Clark, I can't have you waiting for me. And if my staying here  is going to make you believe that someday I'll magically change  my mind..."

"It won't. I promise," he lied.

She looked at him for a long time, her hand still gently  caressing his face. She knew that once she stopped, she'd have  to make a concentrated effort in the future to keep from  touching him.

"I wish things were different, Clark. And I'm so sorry that  I've hurt you. That was never my intention. If it were  possible..." Her voice broke.

"It's okay, Jess," he said softly. He took her free hand and,  raising it to his lips, briefly kissed it. "I still don't  understand what this is all about. But... I never wanted to  hurt you either."

"I'd like to still be friends, Clark," she said, removing her  one hand from his cheek and the other from where it was still  trapped in his hand. "I mean, if that isn't going to be too  hard on you."

Clark actually smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way," he  responded.

She gave him a teary smile. "Could I have a hug?" she asked,  her voice trembling on the words. She was immediately lost in  his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder and, in spite of  all her efforts not to, wept.

Clark held her, feeling her body trembling against him. None of  this made any sense. This was obviously hurting her as much as  it was him. He buried his hand in the hair on the back of her  head and used his other arm to pull her closer, cradling her  body against him. She said that she wanted his friendship. He  vowed to himself that he was going to be the best friend she'd  ever had. Then, eventually, he'd get to the bottom of whatever  had her so convinced that they couldn't be more than friends.  When that happened, he'd make her see that she was wrong.

Clark made comforting noises into Jessica's ear as he held her.  He looked out over Hobbs Bay and saw the brilliant colors of  the setting sun dancing on waters. The beauty of the sight  contrasted sharply with the pain he could sense coming from the  woman in his arms. He briefly wondered if he would ever again  be able to watch a sunset without feeling her pain.

* * * * * * * * *

"I've got her name," said Nigel as soon as he entered Luthor's  private study.

Luthor looked up from the papers he was studying. "Who's name?  You mean, Jessica Miller?"

"Yes, sir. Her real name is Lois Lane."

"How did you find her?"

"There is an outstanding warrant for her arrest in New York  State. It was issued when she was under eighteen, though, so it  took some doing to find out about it."

"So that's why she's hiding?"

"I don't think so, sir. The warrant is limited to a hundred  mile radius. The charges are for a break and enter, and theft.  Apparently she was a runaway. She was arrested for theft when  she stole some food and she was living in an abandoned building  at the time, so they charged her with breaking and entering.  Her parents came down from Metropolis to bail her out. Once she  was released, she ran away again. She never appeared in court  to deal with the charges. So a warrant was issued. However,  given how minor the charges were, a hundred mile limit was put  on the warrant. The state doesn't want the expense of  transporting her further than that."

"So she could stand up on any street corner in Metropolis and  say who she is and that there is an outstanding warrant against  her and the police wouldn't do anything?" asked Luthor.

"That's correct, sir. And even if she did go back to deal with  the charges, she'd probably only be looking at a fine after all  this time."

"How long ago was the warrant issued?"

"About ten years ago."

"So that doesn't explain what she's running from. Keep digging,  Nigel. She's running from something. I need that information."

"Yes, sir."

* * * * * * * * *

Part 08

It was almost three months since that night outside of Casey's.  Jessica leaned back in her chair and looked at Clark. He was  hard at work. One moment his hands were flying feverishly over  the keyboard, the next he was rustling through his papers,  searching for a critical piece of information. She sat there  for a time, enjoying watching his frantic activity, before  speaking.

"You finished yet?" she asked, clearly amused.

Clark looked up. "You can't be finished already," he gasped in  disbelief.

Jessica laughed while stretching her arms over her head.  Clark's breath caught in his throat at what those two actions  together did to her blouse.

"So I guess that means you haven't finished your story yet,"  Jessica said. "I feel like Italian tonight and since I won the  bet, that means you're buying."

"You have to get Perry to sign off on the story before you can  truly say it's finished," Clark objected.

"Jessica, great story. Get out of here. I'll see you in the  morning," came Perry's voice right on cue.

Jessica smiled.

"Okay," conceded Clark. "Just give me a few more minutes to get  my story done."

"Deal," responded Jessica, again leaning back in her chair and  watching Clark. As she did, she thought about the past couple  of months. At first things had been strained between them. But  working together had helped. It had forced them to get past the  awkwardness of revealing their feelings and become friends  again.

Still, Jessica was concerned. She loved spending time with  Clark, but she was worried that she was taking up too much of  his time. He should be going out with other woman. Yet he was  still refusing to date. She'd tried mentioning it on a couple  of occasions. He'd sloughed off her concerns - saying that he  was just waiting for someone to come along that he wanted to  date. Jessica was afraid that wasn't the real reason.

She hated being in this position. She knew Clark wasn't going  to get on with his life without her active encouragement. The  problem was that she really didn't want him to. After years of  being completely alone in the world, she loved finally having  someone to pal around with and, more importantly, to talk to.  She wasn't sure how she'd recover when he finally did take her  advice. Still, she wanted him to be happy and that meant he had  to find someone else. If only...

Her attention was diverted from Clark by the elevator doors  opening. She watched as Lana Lang entered the newsroom. Jessica  smiled. Lana stopped by from time to time - usually with some  news from Smallville or to go out for lunch with Clark. The  first couple of times it happened, Jessica felt an incredible  sense of jealousy, but that had changed. There were a couple of  reasons for the change. First, Clark's confession had told  Jessica - indirectly - that Lana and Clark had never been  intimate. After all, his relationship with Lana had taken place  before he got involved with Cat Grant and since Cat was the  first woman he'd ever been with... The second reason was Lana  had recently accepted an offer of marriage from Steven  Brockovich - a representative on Metropolis' city counsel.

As a result, Lana and Jessica had become friends. When Lana  would come by to see Clark, she and Jessica would often gang up  to tease Clark mercilessly. Clark often bemoaned the fact that  he had ever introduced them.

Since Clark was bent intently over his computer, Lana made her  way across the newsroom floor to talk to Jessica. She pulled  out the chair beside Jessica's desk and, turning it so that she  was facing the same direction as Jessica, took a seat.

"Ahh," said Lana. "I always knew I liked your desk more than  Clark's."

"Why?" Jessica asked.

"Well, the view from here is fantastic."

Jessica's eyes followed Lana's and she laughed. The way  Jessica's desk was positioned put her on a direct line of sight  to Clark's desk. His suit jacket was hanging on the back of his  chair and he was studying his computer screen.

"Yes, it is a great view, isn't it," Jessica replied.

Clark reached across his desk to grab some papers, causing his  shirt to stretch across the muscles of his back. Both women  sighed and then giggled.

Clark heard the sound and immediately looked for the source.  When he saw Jessica and Lana sitting together at Jessica's desk  watching him, he rolled his eyes and turned his attention back  to the computer screen.

"So have you set a wedding date yet?" asked Jessica.

"Yes," replied Lana. "Have you?"

"What are you talking about?" stuttered Jessica.

Lana laughed. "Don't pull that crap with me. I've seen the way  you look at Clark. And I've seen the way he looks at you. He's  never looked at a woman that way before."

"Lana..." Jessica warned.

Lana turned towards Jessica. "Please, don't get mad. It's  just... I think the world of Clark." Lana paused for a moment.  "When Clark and I were in high school, we had a course in  comparative religions. One day a rabbi came to class. He told  us that when God created the world, he also created all the  souls that would ever exist. And for every male soul, he also  created a female soul. A soulmate, if you will. When a man  finds his soulmate, he is said to have found his basherteh."

"Why are you telling me this?" Jessica asked.

"Because when Clark and I broke up... I assume you know we  dated?" Lana asked. When Jessica nodded, Lana continued.  "Anyway, when we broke up, Clark told me he was looking for his  basherteh. In the years that followed, I think Clark stopped  believing that she existed. Well, until you walked into his  life."

"Lana, I'm not..."

"Are you seriously trying to claim that you don't feel a  connection to Clark?"

Jessica sighed. "It's... complicated," Jessica conceded.

"Then simplify it," Lana said.

Just then, Clark looked up from his work. Lana smiled and rose  from beside Jessica's desk. "Anyway," she said, speaking to  Jessica, "I expect to see both you and Clark at my wedding."  She winked at Jessica before making her way over to Clark.

Jessica watched them interact for a moment. It seemed Lana was  wanting some information from Clark about the new minister in  Smallville - since, although her family had since moved to  Metropolis, Smallville was where Lana wanted to get married. He  was young and Lana was inquiring about whether Clark knew if  he'd ever performed a wedding before.

However, Jessica's mind was hardly focused on their  conversation. She was still pondering Lana's words to her.  Simplify it. If only she could. But what bothered Jessica most  was that Lana's words only served to crystalize what Jessica  had been thinking. In spite of his promise not to, Clark was  obviously waiting for her to change her mind. As much as she  might hate it, that left it up to her to force him to get on  with his life. Maybe she...

"Ms. Miller?" asked a man's voice, interrupting her thoughts.

Jessica jumped slightly. She had been so engrossed in her  thoughts that she had missed the man's approach.

"Yes, I'm Jessica Miller," Jessica said, pushing away thoughts  of Clark to focus on the man beside her desk. He was young. His  hair was in slight disarray, as if he had a habit of running  his fingers through it. To prove her point, he suddenly did  exactly that. She also noticed his suit. He was appropriately  dressed, although the suit was obviously purchased off the rack  indicating that the man in front of her was probably a  professional - but a professional without a lot of money. "What  can I do for you?" she asked when he didn't speak.

He looked around for a moment before gesturing to the chair -  silently asking if he could take a seat. Jessica gestured to  the chair and nodded. He waited until he sat down before  speaking again.

"Ms. Miller, my name is Richard Beaulieu. I'm a lawyer and I  represent Stanley Gables."

"The man who was charged with negligent homicide in the deaths  of the people during the chemical accident at Lex Labs?"

"That's him. Now, my client has asked to speak to you and Mr.  Kent - against my advice."

"About what?" asked Jessica.

"I don't know, Ms. Miller. Mr. Gables refused to get a lawyer.  I'm with the public defender's office so I was appointed to  give him legal advice. He has consistently refused to talk to  me. Then today, I got a phone call from Mr. Gables. He said he  was finally ready to talk. So I went down to the jail and all  he would say was that he wanted me to set up a meeting with you  and Mr. Kent. I don't think it's such a good idea, but..." He  shrugged his shoulders. "He's the client," he concluded  helplessly.

"Clark," Jessica called over the man's shoulder.

Clark came over and Jessica quickly filled him in.

"Tell him we'll be down first thing tomorrow morning," Clark  said.

"It's important that I at least be there," said Beaulieu.

"That's fine," Jessica assured him. "How about we meet you at  the jail at..." She glanced up at Clark. "Nine?" she asked.  Clark nodded.

"Good," said Beaulieu, rising from the chair and heading  towards the elevator.

"What do you think that was all about?" asked Clark.

"I'd guess it means Gables doesn't think we know the whole  story - and that would indicate that other people are involved.  Either that, or he is trying to get public opinion supporting  him."

"I guess either way, we'll know tomorrow," Clark concluded.

* * * * * * * * *

"What?" exclaimed Luthor. "I thought that situation was under  control."

"I thought so too, sir. I had a talk with Mr. Gables when he  was first arrested. He knows we can get to him even in prison.  He agreed to keep his mouth shut in exchange for which we would  arrange to have our source in the D.A.'s office assigned to  handle his case."

"So what happened?"

"I don't know, sir. All I do know for sure is that he contacted  his lawyer today and asked him to set up a meeting with Jessica  Miller and Clark Kent."

"He can't talk, Nigel. Make sure he doesn't. You know what's at  stake here."

"Yes, sir."

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica and Clark arrived at Metropolis Prison about ten  minutes before nine the next morning. Richard Beaulieu met them  there. Beaulieu approached the window to inform the guards that  they wanted to speak to Gables. He'd arranged the meeting last  night and so was confident there would be no delays. As a  result, he was surprised when they were asked to wait.

It was about twenty minutes later when a woman in a business  suit appeared. Jessica noticed the attractive blonde probably  as much as either of the men and certainly more than Clark.  Jessica watched as the woman's gaze took in the occupants of  the room, landing on Clark for an extra second and Jessica felt  the same tightening in her chest she normally got when a woman  took notice of Clark. She forced her feelings of jealousy down.  He wasn't hers.

The woman asked the three people waiting to speak to Mr. Gables  to accompany her into a private room. Once everyone was settled  around a table, she spoke.

"I'm Mayson Drake," she told the group. "I'm with the district  attorney's office."

Everyone else introduced his or her self before Richard  Beaulieu spoke. "What does the district attorney's office want  of us?" asked Beaulieu. "We're here to talk to my client,  Stanley Gables."

"Mr. Gables committed suicide last night," Mayson informed  them.

"But that doesn't make any sense," said Jessica. "Gables asked  for a meeting with us yesterday. There is no way he would take  his own life now."

"Ms..."

"Miller," Jessica completed.

"Ms. Miller, I don't know what to tell you. Mr. Gables hung  himself in his cell. I've spoken to the prison doctors and  they've informed me that Gables was mentally unstable. Don't  necessarily expect his actions to make sense."

"Well, thank you, Ms. Drake," said Clark, rising and offering  the woman his hand.

Jessica noticed Mayson blush slightly when she took Clark's  hand.

"Mayson, please, Mr. Kent," Mayson responded.

"And I'm Clark," Clark responded.

Lois made note of the fact that Mayson apparently had no  difficulty remembering Clark's name. Given Mayson's obvious  attraction to Clark, Jessica made an impulsive decision.

"When we get out of here," Jessica interrupted, "I'm sure we'll  have more questions. Could Clark and I meet with you later?"

Mayson glanced at Clark. "It would have to be after hours."

"That would be great. How about seven? We could take you to  supper," said Jessica.

"Jess, you can't..." Clark's voice was cut off by Jessica's  elbow in his ribs. He gave a small "ooff" and fell silent.

"Fine. Where do you want to meet?" asked Mayson.

"How about Harrington Court?"

"Isn't that a little expensive?" asked Mayson.

"It's our treat. Besides, I sort of feel like dressing up and  going out somewhere nice tonight," Jessica explained.

"Jess, you..." Clark tried again with the same reaction as  before.

"Okay, I'll meet you there at seven," said Mayson.

"Actually, Clark doesn't mind giving you a lift. Do you,  Clark?" asked Jessica.

"Actually, I..."

"See. Clark will be by for you at seven. What's your address?"

Once Mayson had given Clark her address and Jessica and Clark  had gotten back in his jeep, Clark was finally allowed to  speak.

"Jess, you've got your Tai Kwan Do exam tonight. You can't..."

"Oh, no. Clark! Why didn't you say something?" Jessica  exclaimed.

"I tried, but... I get it."

"What?" asked Jessica as innocently as she could.

"Jessica," Clark said softly. "I can find my own dates."

"Can you?" she asked. "Look, Clark, you told me if I stayed  you'd get on with your life."

Clark closed his eyes for a moment. He had promised that, but  how could he? How could he go out with other women when his  basherteh was sitting next to him? Why couldn't she see that?  And why couldn't she understand that there was absolutely  nothing they couldn't overcome if they faced it together?

"Mayson seems like a nice woman, Clark," Jessica said, trying  to fight back her own emotions. "And I think she likes you. Why  don't you just give her a chance?"

"Jess..."

"Do it for..." Her voice broke. She silently cursed her voice  for the betrayal. "Do it for me, Clark," she finally managed to  say.

Clark looked over at her, opening his mouth to object, but then  he saw the wet sheen to her eyes and suddenly Clark realized  what it had cost her to set him up on a date. It was an act of  love. With that realization, all his arguments about why he  couldn't do this vaporized. How could he deny her anything?  After a moment, he nodded.

Jessica hated this. She hated it with all her heart. But there  really was no other choice. At least she had her exam tonight.  That meant she wouldn't be sitting at home obsessing about what  was happening every minute of Clark's date.

* * * * * * * * *

"Good work, Nigel," said Luthor as he watched the news  broadcaster tell of Stanley Gables' suicide.

"Thank you, sir," Nigel replied.

"Anyone questioning the suicide story?"

"Kent and Miller... or should I say, Lane... seem to have some  doubts."

"Any information yet on Ms. Lane?"

"All I've been able to find out is that it has something to do  with the military. It must be serious. The security clearance  is so high that I've not even been able to find out which  military department this involves. I do have a couple of our  best men on it though. Hopefully we'll get a break soon."

"Make sure that we do," Luthor said. "If those two get too  close, I might need some way of controlling them in a hurry."

"Why not just kill them, sir?"

"Because death attracts too much attention. I prefer not to  kill unless, of course, there's no other viable option - like  with our Mr. Gables."

* * * * * * * * *

Part 09

Jessica cursed when her keys fell to the floor. She really  wasn't having a good night. If she thought having a Tae Kwan Do  exam would keep her mind off Clark and Mayson, she was sadly  mistaken. She'd even managed to fail her exam.

All she'd been able to think about was what was probably  happening between Clark and Mayson. At five after seven, she  had imagined Mayson slipping her arm through Clark's as they  made their way to his jeep. At eight ten, she'd seen them  laughing and talking as they ate their dinner. By nine o'clock,  she'd gotten progressively more edgy as she thought about them  heading back to Mayson's. She'd tried not to think about what  would happen then. She suspected that philosophy wouldn't work  when she climbed into bed tonight.

Still, fixing Clark up with Mayson Drake had been the right  thing to do. After Lana's comments earlier today, she'd  realized just how much she was preventing Clark from finding  someone. Her heart ached as she considered how much she wished  she could be that someone.

She closed her eyes and steadied herself for a moment against  the door to her apartment. When she'd finally pulled herself  together, she looked around for her keys. It only took her a  moment to find them. She picked them up and fumbled to get the  door to her apartment unlocked, swearing again at the length of  time it was taking.

"I take it the exam didn't go well," came Clark's quiet voice  from the shadows.

Jessica jumped. She was definitely losing her edge. She hadn't  seen or heard him there. She didn't look at him, knowing that  he would see the dried tear stains on her cheeks. She quickly  wiped her sleeves over her face in an effort to hide the tears.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, forcing herself to use a  tone that implied that she was displeased to find him here.

Clark shrugged, although she couldn't see him. "Maybe I just  wanted to talk to you about Gables' suicide," he said.

Jessica, still refusing to face him, finally had the door open.  She walked inside, flicked on the light and, without inviting  him in, made her way directly to the washroom.

Clark walked through the door she'd left open - closing it  behind him.

"So how was the date?" Jessica asked through the washroom door.  She didn't really want to know, but thought that at least if  she did ask while in the washroom, she'd be saved from having  to act pleased if he'd had a wonderful time. She looked at  herself in the mirror and was immediately glad she'd come here  without looking at Clark. It was very obvious she'd been  crying. She couldn't let Clark see that.

Turning on the cold water, she washed her face. When she'd  finished, she looked at herself again. It was better, but not  by much. Well, maybe she could blame it on failing her test.

"It was okay," said Clark. "Mayson seems nice enough." He  wandered around her living room. He really didn't want to talk  about tonight. He'd been on enough dates that he'd gone into a  kind of automatic pilot - acting the perfect escort while  allowing himself to feel nothing.

His jeep had driven itself to Jessica's place afterwards. So  why exactly had he come here? Maybe part of him wanted to be  sure Jessica was all right. Maybe part of him just wanted to be  where his heart already considered home. Or maybe he just  wanted to assure himself that he could still feel. Whatever the  reason, after he'd said good-night to Mayson, all he'd wanted  was to be with Jessica. He wandered into Jessica's kitchen and  began making coffee.

The final drips of water were making their way through the  filter when Jessica finally emerged from the washroom - having  done all that she could to repair her face. She stood silently  in the doorway, watching Clark. She had intended to bawl him  out for coming over here after his date, but watching him now  she didn't have the heart to go through with it. He looked so  incredibly miserable.

"So what did you learn about Gables' death?" Jessica asked.

"Huh?" asked Clark, forgetting that that was the excuse he had  given for being here.

"Gables' death," Jessica said again. "You said you wanted to  talk to me about Gables' death," she reminded him.

"Oh, right," Clark replied. Okay, so they were going to pretend  that nothing had happened this evening. Clark poured them both  a cup of coffee. Jessica came over and began fixing her coffee  while Clark did the same with his.

"Mayson is convinced that Gables' death is a suicide," began  Clark.

"But why would Gables ask to speak to us and then kill himself?  Either he really was crazy or..."

"He knew something that made him too big a risk to be left  alive."

"And if that's true..."

"What did he know?" concluded Clark. They looked at each other  and smiled, both of them suddenly realizing how good it felt to  talk about something neutral - especially in that casual way  they had developed of completing each other's sentences. They  carried their coffee into the living room before continuing.

"I'd say it must have something to do with the accident at Lex  Labs," said Jessica.

"We should find out what Gables was working on at Lex Labs."

"I think we need to go farther than that," said Jessica.

"What do you mean?"

"I think we also need to find out everything we can about  Stanley Gables and Lex Labs."

Clark nodded. "We should probably get Jimmy to see what he can  dig up."

"I agree. I think we should also talk to the coroner who did  the autopsies on the bodies - see if he can tell us what killed  those people. If I recall correctly, the police report only  said the people died from some unidentified chemical poisoning.  They expected that the autopsy would give them a more  conclusive answer, but I don't remember ever hearing exactly  what it was. I'm sure the autopsy's must be finished by now."

"Good idea. We should also find out who was handling the case -  both for the police and the D.A.'s office."

"What about talking to his immediate supervisor?"

Clark shook his head. "Let's try talking to janitorial staff,  security personnel, people like that first. After all, if  Gables was about to name names, his immediate supervisor might  be one of those he was planning to name."

Jessica looked at Clark thoughtfully - her expression telling  Clark that he'd given her an idea.

"What?" asked Clark.

"Do you remember Andrew Pasco?"

"The artist?"

Jessica nodded. "He's a security guard at Lex Labs. Do you  remember how the museum curator..."

"George McDonald," Clark added.

"...said that about a year ago he started capturing this  unusual sense of pain on canvas."

"Luthor bought Lex Labs about a year ago."

"You don't suppose..." Jessica started with excitement in her  voice.

"Hey, slow down. Let's not jump to any conclusions here. Let's  just take this one step at a time - see where this leads,"  warned Clark. "After all, Luthor has somehow got people to  believe that he's the second coming."

Jessica smiled. "I've got a feeling about this one, Clark. I  think this is the break we've been looking for."

Clark shook his head, a small smile coloring his features. "Who  am I to argue with your intuition?" he asked.

Jessica's smile widened. "You're learning," she said.

They batted a few more ideas back and forth. Finally, after a  series of long yawns from both Jessica and Clark, Jessica  suggested they call it a night and rose from the couch to see  Clark to the door. When Clark just continued to sit there,  staring at his now empty coffee mug, Jessica retook her seat.

"Clark?" she asked.

"There's something I think we need to discuss," he said  quietly.

Jessica's chest immediately tightened. However, she didn't  respond.

"It's just... I know what you were trying to do today. With  Mayson, I mean. Jess, I need you to promise not to do that  again. If I find someone I want to date, I'll be the one to  ask. But I don't want to feel that I have to date just because  of some promise to you to get on with my life."

Jessica swallowed hard. "I just thought..."

"I know," Clark interrupted. "Just let me do this my way. I  know you don't want to get involved with me." Then in response  to her look, he corrected himself, "Can't get involved with me.  By the way, some day we're going to have to have a serious talk  about that. Anyway, I need to deal with this my way."

Jessica wasn't sure whether to be relieved or upset at him. On  the other hand, he was right. She had no business assuming she  had the right to pick Clark's dates. After a moment, she  nodded.

"Thank you," Clark said softly, rising to his feet and heading  for the door.

* * * * * * * * *

The young man in an army uniform rushed across the base with a  facsimile clasped in his hand. In spite of his army style hair  cut and uniform, he looked much younger than his twenty-two  years. In fact, he almost looked like a boy who'd dressed up in  his father's army uniform. When he reached the building he was  heading for, he entered, making his way towards a well known  office.

"I think you might want to see this, Colonel," said the young  man as soon as he entered.

A middle-aged man, also dressed in an army uniform, looked up  from where he was focused on some papers and took the paper  being offered by the younger man. He studied it for a moment.

"Someone was making inquiries into Lois Lane's file?" he asked  - his excitement at this news warring in his mind with caution.

"Yes, sir," the young man responded.

The older man smiled - something he rarely did these days.  "It's been over two years since our last solid lead. Get on  this right away, Brad."

"Yes, sir."

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica burst into Perry's office the next morning with Clark  trailing behind. Clark watched in fascination the excitement on  Jessica's face as she filled Perry in on their theory. He only  spoke periodically - filling in the occasional detail that  Jessica missed. When they had finally concluded, Perry looked  at them thoughtfully.

"Do you have anything solid to back this up?" asked Perry,  taking the wind out of Jessica and Clark's sails.

"Not yet," said Jessica. "But if you'd just give us some time  to investigate, I'm sure..."

"One day," said Perry.

"But, Perry, there are so many angles to be covered. Surely you  can't expect us to solve this in..."

"One day," Perry repeated. "I don't expect you to have the full  story by then, but I do need one tangible piece of evidence  that there is something here worth investigating." Jessica  opened her mouth to respond, but was stopped by Perry's voice.  "Sorry, honey. I can't tie up my two best reporters on what  could turn out to be a wild goose chase. I mean, this is just a  little hard to believe. You're talking about Lex Luthor here -  the biggest philanthropist this city has ever seen. I'll give  you 'til tomorrow morning, but I need something more than  hunches and speculation by then. Otherwise, you'll have to look  into this on your own time."

Jessica snorted and rose from her chair. "Well, if we only have  one day, we'd better get on it," Jessica said, storming out of  Perry's office.

Perry looked over at Clark. "It looks like you've got a tiger  by the tail there, son," he commented. "If I were you, I  wouldn't let go."

Clark smiled. "I don't intend to, Perry," he responded before  rising to follow his partner out of the room.

Jessica was already at her desk making notes when Clark finally  joined her.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"If we only have one day, we probably should divide the work up  so that we can cover more ground."

"Good idea," Clark responded, picking up one of the lists.

"You can take whichever list you want," Jessica informed him.

Clark glanced at the list she was still feverishly writing.  "This one's fine," he said. "But first... Jimmy!" he yelled. A  moment later Jimmy joined them.

"We need you to dig up everything you can find on Lex Labs and  on Stanley Gables."

"And we need it fast, Jimmy," Jessica added.

"Okay," said Clark when Jimmy had scurried off to do as  instructed. "I'll get to work on my list. 'Talk to whoever was  handling Gables' case for the D.A.'s office,'" he read, heading  back to his seat.

Jessica looked at her list. The first item on it was to call  the lawyer who had represented Stanley Gables. Maybe he knew  more than he had told them. He had given them his card. After a  moment of fishing around on her cluttered desk, she pulled it  out. Picking up the phone, she dialed the number and asked to  speak to Richard Beaulieu.

Clark grabbed his phone book and located the number for the  D.A.'s office. When a receptionist answered, he asked for the  D.A. who was handling the case against Stanley Gables for the  deaths at Lex Labs. He waited patiently to be connected.

"Mayson Drake here," said a woman's voice answering the phone.

"Mayson?" Clark gasped in disbelief.

"Hi, Clark," Mayson responded immediately. "I'm so glad you  called. I had a really nice time last night. I was sort of  hoping we could do it again."

"Umm..." Clark stammered. He hadn't expected to be talking to  Mayson - although if he thought about it, it made sense. After  all, she was the one who had informed them about Gables' death.  And hadn't she said something about that last night. He  suddenly realized that he really hadn't been listening to her.  "Well, I'm a little busy at the moment, but... Well, I had a  nice time too," Clark said. He really wasn't interested in a  repeat performance of last night. Last night had reminded him  just how empty his relationships had been before Jessica. Going  back to that was more than he could bear. "Listen, the reason  I'm calling is that I understand you were the one handling the  case against Stanley Gables."

"You mean the charges of negligent homicide? Yes, I was  handling that. But what interest could that be to you now? The  case is closed."

"I understand that, but..." suddenly Clark hesitated. It  probably wasn't wise telling more people than necessary what  they were doing. "Well, we're doing a follow up story. You  know, with his suicide and everything. Anyway, I was wondering  if I could get a look at the file."

"Sorry, Clark. Our files are confidential."

"But the case is closed now that Gables is dead," said Clark,  using a voice that was slightly suggestive. Before meeting  Jessica, it was a voice he'd used a lot to get information from  women. Now it felt... slutty, somehow. But they really did need  to get a look at the file. "Couldn't you bend the rules a  little? Just this once."

"Okay, I guess it wouldn't hurt," she said after a moment's  reflection. "It will take me a couple of hours to have it ready  for you."

"A couple of hours?" asked Clark.

"Well, I need to go through and take out any... umm...  confidential office memos, things like that. Why don't you come  by then?"

"I'm afraid I'm really swamped today. I'll send a runner over  for it. Two hours, you say?"

"Yes," replied Mayson, the disappointment in her voice  unmistakable.

"Great!" replied Clark, trying not to notice the sound of her  voice. "Thanks, Mayson. I owe you one." The final statement was  out of his mouth before he could contemplate how she might want  to collect.

"I'll hold you to that," Mayson replied immediately, her voice  suddenly sounding much more hopeful.

After he'd said good-bye and hung up, Clark removed his glasses  and rubbed the bridge of his nose. When he heard Jessica  approaching, he returned his glasses to his face and looked up  at her.

He filled her in on his conversation with Mayson and she  informed him that Richard Beaulieu had no idea what Gables  wanted to talk to them about. All Beaulieu knew was that it had  something to do with the accident at Lex Labs.

* * * * * * * * *

"Their investigation has to be stopped," said Lex, looking  accusingly at Nigel.

"I'm sorry, sir. I haven't been able to find out anything more  about Ms. Lane. Certainly, nothing that would have caused her  to remain hidden for so many years."

"You know, Nigel. Maybe we already have enough."

"Sir?"

"Well, we know her name is Lois Lane. And we know that the  military is looking for her. She doesn't have to know that we  don't know why they're looking for her."

Nigel smiled. His boss was right - as usual. That should be  enough information to make Lois Lane their puppet - unless she  was willing to risk having them tell the military where they could find her and if she was, she wouldn't have gone to such elaborate lengths to hide her identity.

* * * * * * * * *

Part 10

Clark was going through the D.A.'s files on Gables' project  when Jessica approached.

"Anything interesting?" she asked.

"Not so far," said Clark. "You've got to see this file. It's  pathetic. I don't know how the D.A.'s office expected to  prepare a case with only this."

Jessica took a look over Clark's shoulder. "Well, I got a hold  of Andre Pasco. He's agreed to meet with me."

"Great," said Clark, rising to his feet. "Let's go."

"No," Jessica said. "Look, Clark, he made it very clear that he  didn't want to meet with either of us. I finally got him to at  least talk to me - by claiming I wanted to talk about his  paintings. If you show up there, he's never going to talk. This  guy is really skittish. Besides, we each have our list. Have  you finished yours or something?" There was a grin in her voice  at the last question.

Clark snorted. She was obviously making reference to their  constant competitions to see who could finish an assignment  first. Still... "I don't like this, Jess. I just think..."

"I'll be fine. Why don't you just get on with..." She picked up  his list and looked at it. "...contacting the police."

Clark looked at her for a minute before nodding. She was right.  They only had a day to work on this. And Andre Pasco wasn't  likely to be dangerous. From the look of his paintings, he was  more likely to be scared.

Clark picked up the phone and called the police as he watched  Jessica step into the elevator.

"Inspector Henderson, please," he told the woman who answered  the phone. He was then subjected to some music by the Bee Gees  while he waited. He hummed along until suddenly Henderson's  voice was on the other end of the line.

"Hello, Inspector. Clark Kent here."

"So what can I do for you, Kent?" asked Henderson.

"I'm looking into the accident at Lex Labs again and I was  wondering if I could ask you some questions," Clark said. He  couldn't quite say why he had no problems telling Henderson  what he was doing when earlier today he'd only given Mayson  half the story. He dismissed the thought. He'd known Henderson  longer. There was nothing more to it than that.

"But that case is closed now that Gables is dead," responded  Henderson.

"Look," began Clark, "Gables wanted to talk to Jessica and me.  Then he commits suicide before he has a chance to do so. Then I  get the file from the D.A.'s office and it is almost empty -  almost as if someone knew this wasn't going to trial," Clark  said, voicing an idea that had been playing around in his head.

"Hey, wait a minute," responded Henderson. "I did much of the  work on that file myself."

"But then why is the file so bare? Where are the autopsy  notes?"

"They probably hadn't been sent from the doctor yet."

"What about photos of the crime scene? Why weren't photos taken  of the crime scene?"

"Photos were taken," objected Henderson.

"There aren't any in the file I have."

"They probably got misplaced. Look, Kent, there is no  conspiracy here. Photos get misplaced all the time."

"What about witness statements? There aren't even many witness  statements," added Clark.

"I really don't like your insinuations," said Henderson. "This  case is closed. Do you have any idea how many open cases I have  on my desk at the moment? Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be  getting back to them before you start accusing me of neglecting  them."

"I didn't mean..."

"Good-bye, Kent," Henderson concluded and suddenly Clark was  listening to a dead phone line.

That hadn't gone the way Clark wanted it to. He knew Henderson  was a good cop. He was just so frustrated looking at a file  that was missing so many essential elements.

* * * * * * * * *

"You did what?" exclaimed Luthor into the phone.

"I gave him the file," Mayson repeated. "Look, would you quit  worrying. I know how to sanitize a file. He'd have been more  suspicious if I'd refused to give it to him. Besides, aren't  you the one who told me to do whatever was necessary to get  close to Clark. Thanks to me, you now know what he's up to."

"You better be right about this, my love," responded Luthor. He  really hated creative action on the part of his employees -  unless it worked, of course.

"You worry too much, Lex," Mayson responded.

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica rechecked the address she'd been given. Surely this  couldn't be the right place. The building was literally  crumbling, but the address was the one Pasco had given her. She  briefly wondered if this were some sort of trap. Well, there  was only one way to find out. After paying the cabby, she  stepped out of the taxi. She looked around. When she didn't  notice anything suspicious, she made her way into the apartment  building.

The interior was as rundown as the exterior of the building  indicated. Pasco said he was on the top floor so she made her  way to the stairs and quickly ascended them. She knocked on a  door and a moment later it flew open. A skinny man with a wild  look on his face stood there.

"You're Jessica Miller?" he asked.

"Yes," Jessica responded.

He glanced nervously around the hall, before grabbing Jessica's  arm and pulling her into the apartment. Jessica's breath caught  in her throat, but she forced herself not to resist. Once  inside, the man released her, slammed the door shut and did up  a number of locks before turning to Jessica.

He gestured her further into his apartment. Jessica looked  around and was amazed by the difference between the apartment  and the building. There were large windows making the place  bright and airy. The apartment had been transformed into a  studio, with all the items necessary to allow the occupant to  paint. It was as if a montage of color had been randomly strewn  around the room.

"I've come here to find out what you might know about the  accident at Lex Labs," said Jessica.

"I thought you wanted to talk about my paintings. I'm not  talking about Lex Labs. I wasn't even there when it happened,"  Andre said, walking back to the door.

"But you do know what's going on there. Don't you?"

He covered the distance back to Jessica. She stood still in  spite of the speed of his approach. He was right in her face  when he whispered, "They killed Gables. Why would they hesitate  to kill me?"

"Who would kill you?" asked Jessica.

He shook his head, giving her an almost amused smile. "Oh no  you don't, Ms. Miller."

"Look. No one has to know that we talked. What you tell me will  be completely off the record. I just need a place to start."

"Stay out of this. These guys are dangerous."

"This is my job," Jessica responded.

Andre studied her before giving a small snort and gesturing her  to a chair.

"If I tell you what I know, you can't tell anyone where you got  the information."

"You're name won't get out," Jessica assured him again. "I  won't even use information which might allow someone to trace  this information to you."

He thought about it for a long moment before nodding and  beginning to speak. "You know that I'm a security guard at Lex  Labs," he began. "I've been doing that job now for almost ten  years. It gives me time during the daylight to work on my  paintings. Anyway, it was a good job. Decent pay. Good  benefits. Things like that. Even the work was pretty good. That  ended about a year ago."

"Was that when Lex Luthor took over Star Labs?" Jessica asked.

"Well, for the first month or so after Luthor took over,  everything seemed pretty much the same. Then things started to  change. At first, I didn't understand the significance of the  changes. A night shift began working at Lex Labs. I thought at  first that it was just because they had more projects than they  had time in the labs - so they decided to double lab usage by  having a night shift."

"What changed your mind?"

"I overheard a conversation one day. It was between Mr. Gables  and some guy I didn't know. I was using the washroom in the  lab. I wasn't supposed to, but I didn't want to take the time  to go back down to the washrooms I was supposed to use. When I  came out, two men were there. Since I wasn't supposed to be  there, I hid. I didn't know what I'd learn."

"What did you learn?" Jessica asked, hardly able to wait for  him to get to the point.

"Have you ever heard of mustard gas?" he asked.

"Wasn't that the gas that was used for chemical warfare during  the first world war?"

Andre nodded. "They were talking about it. I don't know the  details, but whatever work Mr. Gables was doing for Lex Labs  had something to do with mustard gas. I also got the impression  that they were planning to use the gas for warfare. It almost  sounded as if they had used it for that purpose already."

"Do you have any idea who the second man could have been?"

Andre shook his head. "He had an English accent. That's all I  know. I hadn't seen him there before or since. Anyway, after I  heard the conversation, I started paying special attention to  that lab. A few months later, I noticed that the lab animals  were all dead. It's not unusual for lab animals to die. But  there were so many and they..." He shuddered slightly. "They  had bled from their eyes and mouths. Their fur was mostly  burned off and the skin underneath was covered with horrible  burn-like sores."

"That's much the same as what happened to the people who died.  Why didn't you come forward and talk to the police?"

"I assumed the experiments were legit. Or if they weren't the  police would get to the bottom of it when they examined the  bodies. Besides, Ms. Miller, if they were producing something  to use in chemical warfare that wasn't legitimate, what would  stop them from killing someone like me? And they must have  killed Stanley Gables. What would one more matter?

"I tried to tell the world what was going on," he continued,  gesturing to his paintings. "I couldn't do more than that."

"But if they are producing mustard gas... I didn't think it was  instantly deadly. At least if my memory is correct, I've seen  photos from World War one. There were whole lines of men with  their hands on the shoulders of the people in front of them -  because they'd been blinded by the gas. Everyone here died."

Andre shrugged. "I really don't know anything more than that."

"Have things gone back to normal since Gables' arrest?" Jessica  asked.

"You mean is there still a night shift? Yes. And there is one  more thing. I don't know if it's connected, but a couple of  weeks ago I saw some people removing large barrels filled with  something from the lab's storage facilities. I found it odd  because that type of thing usually happens in the day time."

Jessica nodded. They obviously didn't know the full story yet.  At least the information Pasco had given her should be enough  to convince Perry that this was worth investigating. Of course,  they would still need to make sure that Lex Labs didn't have  authorization to manufacture mustard gas. However, if it  didn't, an operation that had been going on for about a year  couldn't have escaped the notice of those in charge. Also,  there was obviously a bigger agenda here than just a few  unauthorized experiments.

* * * * * * * * *

Clark had spent the afternoon looking through the files Jimmy  had found for them. The information about Lex Labs was  basically what they already knew. Star Labs was Lex Luthor's  first big purchase when he'd arrived in Metropolis. He had kept  the majority of the personnel on. There were a few changes to  the board of directors and he hired additional people -  including Stanley Gables.

Stanley Gables himself was a chemist. He had worked for a small  company called Disposals Incorporated before coming to work for  Lex Labs. Disposals Incorporated did exactly that. It disposed  of dangerous chemicals for other companies. He had worked his  way up in the company until he became its chief chemist. Still,  his job at Lex Labs had been a big promotion as was the  resulting increase in his salary. But that would be expected.

Clark felt completely frustrated when he finished up. He really  hoped Jessica was having better luck.

* * * * * * * * *

The sun was beginning to set as Jessica arrived back at the  Daily Planet, but she had no doubt that Clark would still be  here. She was just getting out of the taxi when she noticed  Clark emerge from the building.

"Clark," she called.

He turned at the sound of his name. "Hold that cab," he yelled  back. She did and when he reached her, he gestured her back in  and crawled in next to her. He gave an address to the driver.

"What's going on?" asked Jessica as the cab pulled back out  into traffic.

"There's a fire at 1845 Simpson St.," he said. "The call just  came in over the police scanner. Perry didn't have anyone else  to send. I figure you can tell me what you found out on the  way."

Jessica glanced at the cabby and shook her head. "Later," she  said.

"That good?"

"That bad," she responded.

"Okay, we'll talk about it later," said Clark, before  proceeding to fill her in on the little he knew about the fire.  Apparently it was in Suicide Slum. From what they could tell,  the fire was in a residential area. Given recent complaints  about the length of time emergency services were taking to  respond to calls from Suicide Slum, Perry wanted someone there.

They pulled up at their destination before the fire engines had  arrived. There was, however, quite a crowd gathered out front.  Clark paid the driver and both climbed out of the car. It was  then that they heard it. A nearly hysterical woman was trying  to break away from the hold her neighbors had on her in an  effort to get back inside the burning house.

"What's going on?" asked Jessica.

"Apparently, her two young children are still in the house,"  said one of the neighbors.

"How old are they?" asked Jessica.

"Preschool."

Jessica glanced at the house helplessly. There had to be some  way she could help without exposing herself. However, before  anything came to mind, Clark was heading for the house.

"What are you doing?" asked Jessica. "You can't go in there."

"If I don't, those kids are dead," said Clark, not slowing his  pace towards the house. "Where are they?" he yelled at the  woman.

"In their bedroom. Upstairs," the woman replied. "Please, get  them."

"But, Clark..." Jessica's voice trailed off in helpless  confusion as Clark pulled his jacket up over his hair and  rushed into the building. "Oh, God," she breathed, before  taking a quick look around. No one was looking.

Doing something she hadn't allowed herself to do in a long  time, she stared intently at the wall of the house. The wall  seemed to disappear from her vision and she was suddenly  staring inside. She watched as Clark ascended the steps. She  could see the children in an upstairs bedroom. She focused her  hearing and could hear the sounds of two little heartbeats.  They were obviously still alive. The fire was not completely  out of control yet. She told herself not to panic and do  something rash. After all, Clark seemed to be doing well. Maybe  he'd be able to get to them and pull them out of there. Then  the firemen would arrive and put out the fire.

Her heart clenched in her chest when she realized that Clark  was beginning to have problems. The smoke was thick and he was  obviously having trouble seeing. Her enhanced vision allowed  her to see in spite of the smoke. "Come on, Clark," she  whispered. Then she heard him cough. He doubled over, but  seemed to recover and, reverting to a crouched position,  continued his trip. He made it to the top of the stairs before  collapsing onto the floor obviously struggling to breath.

All Jessica knew for certain at this moment was that she  couldn't let Clark die. Faster than the eye could follow in the  dark, she disappeared behind the building, found an open  upstairs window and flew inside. She found Clark quickly.

"The kids," he whispered between fits of coughing.

She nodded and was gone in a flash. She grabbed the children.  At least in their unconscious state they wouldn't know who had  come for them. She made her way back to Clark and pulling him  to his feet, flew him down the stairs and to the front door.  She put the children in his arms and pushed him out the door -  disappearing back into the house before anyone could see her.

Clark doubled over in a fit of coughing as he staggered out of  the house with two little children in his arms. People  immediately came forward, removing the children from him. The  past minute had been like a dream. There was only one thing he  was sure of. Jessica had been there.

But where was she now? He stumbled around to look back at the  house. She wasn't there. His heart leapt into his throat. She  must still be in the house.

"Jessica!" he yelled towards the house. "Jessica!" he yelled  again when she didn't come out. He had to get to her. He headed  back to the house.

"Clark," came a voice behind him. He spun around to see Jessica  making her way towards him from the crowd.

"But how..."

Jessica immediately wrapped her arms around him in a hug.  "Don't mention me," she begged into his ear. "I'll explain  later."

He pulled back slightly so that he could see her eyes. But  before he had a chance to respond, a fireman came over. "Come  with me," he told Clark.

"I'm fine," Clark tried to object as he coughed uncontrollably.

"I insist," the fireman said as he led Clark in the direction  of the ambulance.

Lois immediately disappeared back behind the barrier that had  been erected to keep the onlookers away from the fire that, in  spite of the efforts of the firefighters to stop it, was now  consuming the house.

Clark welcomed the oxygen he was given. He sat silently, taking  the oxygen into his lungs, trying to figure out what had  happened in that house. "Don't mention me. I'll explain later."  The words Jessica had said to him echoed in his mind. But what  could possibly explain what he'd seen?

* * * * * * * * *

Jessica wandered among the onlookers, listening in on their  conversations. She let out a sigh of relief when no one  mentioned her. Clark had obviously seen her, but as for the  rest, her secret still appeared to be intact. She noticed that  the news crew from LNN was interviewing the mother of the  children. Being careful, as she always was, to stay out of the  camera's shot, she listened in. The woman was making Clark out  to be the hero. Jessica smiled. As long as that continued, no  one would know about her actions.

She also used her status as a reporter to question people more  directly, but again no one seemed to know about her  involvement. She made some notes - they would need them for the  story - and began to relax. There was still the matter of Clark  knowing, but she trusted him not to say anything - although she  was still nervous about how he was going to react to her after  this. Still, she knew he wouldn't betray her.

"Hey, beautiful," said a voice behind her. She turned to see  Clark standing there.

"They let you go?" she asked.

"They wanted to take me to the hospital as a precautionary  measure, but..."

"You should go, Clark. You might have done some damage to your  lungs."

"I'm fine, Jess," Clark said dismissively. "I saw you talking  to people. I assume you have enough for the story."

She nodded.

"Then I think we should get out of here. I've got a lot of  questions myself - questions that I suspect you don't want  anyone to overhear."

* * * * * * * * *

Part 11

"So what have you found out?" the man behind the desk asked.

"Well, we finally traced the inquiries about Lois Lane to a  Nigel St. John," said the young man in army fatigues, Brad  Roberts.

"Who is he?"

"He used to work for MI-6."

"Does that mean that British intelligence is aware of this  too?"

"I don't think so, Colonel Trask. Apparently he left them years  ago." There was a moment of silence before Brad continued,  "What is it, sir?"

"Nigel St. John," Trask said, pondering the name. "It seems to  me that there was a Nigel St. John working for a man I did  business with a number of years ago. His name was Lex Luthor.  He's now some bigwig in Metropolis. Check it out. See if I'm  right."

"Yes, sir. Also, Colonel, I got the distinct impression that  MI-6 would like to get their hands on St. John."

"Only after I get my hands on Lois Lane," Trask insisted.

* * * * * * * * *

Both Jessica and Clark were silent on the taxi ride back to his  apartment. Jessica was trying to figure out exactly how much  she should tell Clark. After debating the issue in her own mind  for some time, she decided to tell him the whole story. What he  knew right now was certainly enough to destroy her life. So she  might as well trust him with everything. She flinched inwardly  at what everything would have to include. At least now she  could explain to him exactly why they could never get involved.  She swallowed hard when she imagined the look she knew would be  in his eyes when he finally understood.

After they ascended the steps to his apartment, Clark took a  moment to remove the key he kept under a plant that sat next to  the door. Jessica gave a small chuckle. When he turned towards  her, she spoke.

"When are you going to learn that you really shouldn't keep  your key there?" she asked.

Clark gave her a soft smile. "I guess it's my Kansas  upbringing." He opened the door. "I wandered a long way away  from most of my upbringing. Maybe keeping the key under a  flowerpot is my attempt to retain some connection with my  past."

They entered the apartment and Clark immediately went to make  coffee.

"I'm going to type up the story while you do that," said  Jessica following Clark into the kitchen. "That way we can send  it to Perry."

"Jess..."

"And then we can talk," Jessica promised, realizing what Clark  was thinking.

Clark let out a breath and nodded. Perry did need that story.  "Before you do, just let me say one thing."

"What?"

"Thank you for saving my life," he said softly.

They held eye contact for a moment before she responded.  "You're welcome," she whispered.

Clark turned his attention back to making coffee. None of this  made any sense to him. He'd tried to find a rational  explanation for what he'd witnessed, but was at a complete  loss. He fixed their coffee and began carrying it into the  living room. He stopped short when he saw Jessica sitting at  his laptop. Her fingers were flying over the keys at what could  only be described as superspeed. His mouth dropped open.

Jessica looked up and saw him. Her hands immediately slowed to  a normal pace as she gave him an apologetic smile and a shrug.  She had been so caught up in what she was going to say to Clark  that she hadn't noticed that her hands had continued to speed  up - until her hands were flying over the keyboard. It was a  stupid mistake - and one that could have caused her serious  problems if Clark didn't already know that she wasn't exactly  normal.

"So that's how you do it," Clark said, when he finally  recovered the power of speech.

"Do what?" asked Jessica.

"Win, when we have a contest to see who can get their stories  done up first."

Jessica's fingers stilled on the keyboard and she looked up at  him in shock. Of all the things that must be going through his  mind at the moment, he would focus on that.

"You've been cheating," said Clark, almost in disbelief.

Jessica suddenly burst out laughing, the tension between them  making his comments that much more entertaining. Her laughter  was contagious and Clark soon joined her.

"Do you really think I can do this in the office?" Jessica  asked, when she finally recovered from her laughter.

"I guess not," said Clark. He handed her a mug of coffee and  leaned over to read what she'd written. "You've made me out to  be a hero," he objected. "You're the hero here."

Jessica shook her head. "I don't want anyone to know what I  did," she said.

"But I'm not the one who saved those kids."

"But you are, Clark. You knew the risks and still you ran into  a burning building to save them. I haven't allowed myself to do  anything like that in years for fear of someone finding out  about me. If you hadn't gone in, I'm not sure I'd have been  willing to risk it. You're the reason those kids are still  alive."

She immediately returned to her typing, quickly finishing the  story. "Do you want to read it before I send it to Perry?" she  asked.

He shook his head.

"You should know that I put it in my name alone," Jessica  continued. "Considering I made you out to be the hero, I didn't  think you'd want your name on the story."

Clark laughed and nodded.

She sent the story and began to shut down the computer. The  task seemed to be finished too quickly. She clicked the top  shut and sat staring at the computer for a long moment.

"I don't know where to start," said Jessica.

"Well, why don't we begin with what I know? You ran into a  burning building, moving too fast to be normal, and then  carried me and two children to the door. You then disappeared  into the building and ended up on the other side of a roped off  barrier. And I know that you're afraid of cameras. You always  seem to fade into the background when television crews show up  at a story - you thought I hadn't noticed, didn't you?"

She nodded, although she should have realized he would notice.  He noticed everything about her, after all.

"I've been trying to figure this out," Clark continued. "Super  fast, super strong, afraid of cameras... You're not a vampire,  are you?" The question was asked with a note of humor in his  voice, but when she didn't respond, he continued. "Are you?" he  asked.

She looked up. "No! Of course, I'm not a vampire. I can go out  in the daylight, can't I?" She paused. "Maybe I should start at  the beginning. My name is not really Jessica Miller. I took  that name a couple of years ago. The real Jessica Miller died  in childhood."

"So what is your name?" asked Clark.

"Lois Lane," she said softly.

"Lois Lane," he repeated slowly. "Yeah, that works."

She brought a hand up to his cheek. "Are you trying to make  this easier for me?" she asked.

He captured her hand with his and brought it to his lips. He  softly kissed the pads of her fingers. "Jess... or Lois..."

"You better make it Jessica," she said. "After all, I really  don't want you forgetting and calling me Lois when someone else  is around. Besides, I'm used to the name Jessica. I've been  using it for two years now."

"Okay, Jess, I want you to know you can tell me anything. I'd  never hurt you. You know that, don't you?"

She gave him a sad smile, but other than that didn't respond.  She did trust him - but this was a lot to ask of anyone. Still,  he already knew enough to destroy her life. She didn't believe  he'd do that. So she forced herself, for the first time in her  life, to trust someone with her secret.

"My parents - my adoptive parents - are Samuel and Ellen Lane.  They had been married for about five years when I came into  their lives. They had been trying to have a child and didn't  think they could. About five years later, however, they did,  but that's really something for later. Anyway, my dad has a  cabin in Minnesota on the north shore of Lake Superior near a  little place called Lutsen."

"I don't see you as coming from a family that liked the wild  outdoors," commented Clark.

"I don't. We're from Metropolis. I grew up here, but my parents  used to go to Lutsen in the winter for skiing."

"Now that makes sense," said Clark with a smile. Ever since  he'd kissed her fingers, he'd been holding her hand. Now she  brought his hand over into her lap and began absently playing  with his fingers.

"Anyway, they were up there one night and they saw something.  They didn't have a clue what it was. They thought at first that  it was a burning plane or a meteor."

"What was it?" asked Clark.

"A small space ship," said Lois, avoiding eye contact.

Clark waited for a moment for the punch line, but one didn't  seem to be forthcoming.

"Anyway," continued Lois, "my dad is a doctor, although his  real passion is more that of a scientist than a doctor. So he  grabbed my mother and trudged through the woods. They found  this small craft. Mom insisted that they call the authorities,  but Dad was too enthralled about his discovery to stand the  idea of anyone but him examining the craft. He carried it back  to the cabin and figured out how to open it. I was inside." She  glanced over at Clark, but couldn't read the expression on his  face. She looked down at his hand and gently ran her fingers  across his palm before continuing - comforted by the fact that  he hadn't withdrawn his hand.

"I really am not sure why they kept me. I guess they were just  so desperate to have children, but my mother was never really  able to accept me. It got worse after Lucy was born. I think  having her own daughter made her realize... I don't know." She  gave a humorless chuckle. "I suppose I should have resented  Lucy terribly, but the truth is that I adored her."

"Do you have any idea where you came from?" Clark asked, saying  the first thing that he'd said since she'd started her  remarkable story.

Lois glanced over at Clark and nodded. "There was a  navigational device in the ship. It looked like a small globe.  When I was about five, it spoke to me. It told me that I'm from  a planet called Krypton. Krypton was on the verge of  destruction, so my parents found a planet where the inhabitants  were compatible with their people - Earth. They put me in the  ship and sent me away just before the planet exploded. As far  as I know, I'm the last of the Kryptonians.

"I'm not exactly sure what they meant by compatible. I mean, I  look human. I've just got some... added abilities."

"Like your strength and speed?"

Lois nodded. "And my ability to fly, my ability to start fires  with my eyes, freeze things with my breath, look through  things, hear and see incredible distances."

"But if that's true, why do you study Tai Kwan Do?"

"Tai Kwan Do is more about control than anything else. I need  control, Clark. It's essential if I'm not going to hurt  someone." She paused. "And I can't be hurt," she said, almost  as if that part was a curse.

"You said you can fly?" Clark asked, focusing only on one part  of what she'd said she could do.

She glanced over at him and saw the disbelief in his eyes. She  floated up off the couch and said, "I can fly."

Clark's mouth dropped open. "Wow!" was the only word that  managed to escape his lips. His mouth made movements as if he  would say more before finally saying, "Wow!" again.

Lois laughed and shyly asked, "Do you want to fly with me?"

Clark's mouth tried to work again. Finally, he managed to voice  the word he wanted to say, "Yes."

She smiled, floated back to the floor and took his hands in  hers. Suddenly, Sir Isaac Newton's most famous law - the one  about gravity - ceased to have meaning as they floated up, half  way between the floor and ceiling.

"This is incredible," Clark finally managed to gasp. "Jess, if  I could do this, I wouldn't do anything else."

Lois lowered them back to the floor. "I love it too, but it  isn't something I can do much. It's just too dangerous."

"Dangerous?" Clark asked.

Lois took a seat back on the couch. She smiled when Clark sat  down beside her and offered her his hand again. That gesture  did more to alleviate her fears than anything Clark could have  said. She played with his hand for a minute before continuing.

"I told you that my father was a scientist, of sorts," she  said.

"Right," responded Clark.

"There were some advantages to having a doctor/scientist as a  father. He's convinced that I'm human..."

"I never doubted that for a second," said Clark.

She reached over and gently stroked his cheek. "He thinks that  the Kryptonians and the Earthlings are of the same species -  they've just evolved differently to adapt to different planets.  The disadvantage of having a scientist for a father is that I  was never sure if he considered me his daughter or his research  project." She felt Clark's hand tighten on hers. "I sometimes  wonder if that was part of the reason my mother resented me.  That she thought I was more interesting to my father than she  was." She sighed. "I guess that's ancient history now. What I  was going to say is that my father documented all his research.  Then when I was fifteen he decided to publish his findings. I  don't think it ever occurred to him how that might affect my  life.

"Of course, no legitimate science magazines wanted anything to  do with his paper. But that didn't stop him. He finally found  an obscure publication called UFO Today. They published his  paper."

She paused. "A few days after it came out, some men showed up  at our door. I was on the way home from school when I spotted  them. I snuck up close enough so that I could use my hearing  abilities to overhear the conversation but not so close that  they would see me." She paused and for a moment was lost in  memories of the past.

* * * * * * * * *

Lois had been skipping down the street towards her house doing  something she'd only just discovered she could do. She hadn't  even told her father about it yet - it just seemed too special.  She had discovered that if she concentrated, she could stay off  the ground a fraction of a second too long between steps. She  knew she probably shouldn't be doing this outside - someone  might notice - but it was just too much fun to resist.

As she rounded the corner, she noticed an army vehicle pull up  in front of her house. She slowed and then stopped as she  noticed one of the two men inside get out and make his way to  the door. He knocked and her mother answered the door. Lois  slipped into a neighbor's yard and took a seat by the fence,  stretching out with her enhanced hearing to listen in on the  conversation.

"I'm Jason Trask. I'm a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. It's  absolutely crucial that I speak to Dr. Lane. Is he here?" asked  the man.

"I'm afraid he's at work," her mother responded. "What do you  want to talk to my husband about?"

"He published an article about some research he had done. I  need to find out who the subject was. You wouldn't happen to  know would you?"

"Why would the military be interested.?" asked Ellen.

"Mrs. Lane, I assure you we don't want to hurt this creature,"  said Trask, causing Lois to cringe. "We just want to be sure it  doesn't pose a risk to the United States or the people of  earth. I assure you that all we want to do is talk to it. I  assume from Dr. Lane's article that it does talk."

"Umm... Well, yes. Look, you're going to have to discuss this  with my husband," said Ellen.

"Of course," responded Trask. "I'll come back later tonight."

"I'm sure both my husband and daughter will be back by then.  You can talk to both of them together."

Lois cringed again. She closed her eyes as a tear slipped  slowly down her cheek. She suspected that for the rest of her  life she'd wonder about her mother's slip. Her mother had just  let this strange man know that she was the test subject and in  spite of the man's assurances that they only wanted to talk to  her, she was scared. He had talked about her as if she wasn't  even human - bringing out fears she'd always had about herself.  She shivered when she thought about the term he'd used to  described her - creature.

Looking through the fence, she saw the man make his way back to  the jeep and get inside.

"They call the creature their daughter," Trask said in disdain.

"You're kidding," the man in the jeep replied.

"We'll have to be careful how we handle this. We will have to  take the creature into custody. We'll make up a story for the  Lanes, but there is no way we can allow this alien to continue  living at large."

Lois didn't hear the remainder of the conversation. She was too  lost in her thoughts. She waited where she was for a long time  trying to figure out what to do. Of course, there was only one  thing to do. Her parents would protect her from what these  strange men wanted to do to her. She headed home.

* * * * * * * * *

Part 12

"Jess?" asked Clark.

"Huh?" asked Lois. "Oh, sorry, I was just thinking."

"About?"

She was silent for a long time before filling him in on the  incident she'd remembered. Her emotions were very close to the  surface. This was the first time she'd ever told anyone else  about it - or the way Trask had described her. Clark gave her  hand a squeeze occasionally, giving her the courage to continue  with her tale.

"So what happened when you told your parents what you'd  overheard the two men saying in the jeep?" Clark asked when she  finished.

"They didn't believe me," Lois said softly, her voice still  filled with pain at the memory. "They decided to have me talk  to this Colonel Trask."

"What happened when you did?"

"I didn't. I ran away that day - before Trask returned."

Clark felt a pain in his chest as he imagined the woman he  loved fleeing from her own home in fear at the age of fifteen.

"Hey, it's okay," Lois said at seeing the pain that passed over  his face. "I mean, I had some advantages that other kids that  run away from home didn't have. My strength and flying didn't  develop until later. But at least I was invulnerable and I  didn't have to eat as much as other kids so..."

"Where did you go?"

"I figured Trask would be looking for me in Metropolis, so I  hitched a ride to New York. I found an abandoned building to  live in."

"But how did you live?"

"I don't need much. I mean, I still needed to eat at the age of  fifteen - but not as much as other girls did," she said. Then  to his look of confusion, she added, "I don't have to eat now,  although I certainly like to. Anyway, other than that...  Besides, you learn to survive," she said, a note of shame in  her voice.

Clark's expression darkened. He had been working as a reporter  long enough to know how a lot of young girls survived on the  streets.

"No," said Lois. "I know what you're thinking, but you're  wrong." She gave a humorless chuckle. "That wasn't exactly an  option for me. I just meant that I stole what I needed. Well,  until I got caught. Since I didn't have a home and was under  eighteen, my parents were contacted. I was released into their  custody. I ran away again, about two weeks later, when I  overheard my parents arguing about whether to contact Colonel  Trask. I never made it back to court to deal with the charges.  I imagine they're still looking for a young Lois Lane who never  showed up for her court date."

"So I'm sitting here with a fugitive from justice," Clark said  with a laugh. She looked over at him, giving him a look that  told him that she appreciated his attempt to keep the mood  light.

"After that," she continued, "I got a job as an exotic dancer.  It might not have been the most dignified job, but no one asked  my age or for identification or even an address. I was sixteen  at the time, but could easily pass for eighteen. And at least  it kept me from being a thief - which would attract the  attention of the authorities. When I was seventeen, I learned  to fly.

"I'd noticed pictures of me were beginning to appear. You know,  missing person posters. So when I realized I had a way to leave  the country, I took it. I changed my name and managed to get  lost in the world for a while."

"Maybe it was just your parents looking for you?" suggested  Clark.

Lois shook her head. "The pictures asked people to contact the  military - even offering a reward. No, it was Jason Trask - or  someone in the same department." She sighed. "Every so often  they manage to catch up to me - I often don't know how. And  then I have to leave again, change my name and start a new  life.

"I usually hide out at the cabin for a few days when I'm trying  to find a new identity. So far no one has caught me there."

"You mean the cabin where you were first found."

Lois nodded. "My parents still own it. After they found me, my  father converted it into a lab of sorts - where he could test  my abilities without people around to see. So it always seemed  like an appropriate place to hide between identities.

"I became Jessica Miller a couple of years ago and managed to  get a job at the Borneo Gazette." She smiled. "I don't use my  powers. It just too dangerous. However, there is one power I do  use - my hearing abilities. I figure no one knows when I'm  listening in. That's how I managed to find out about corruption  in the Borneo government. That got me the call from Perry  White. I knew it was risky returning to Metropolis, but I've  always wanted to work for the Daily Planet. So I came and I  guess you know the rest."

"So that's why you always disappear into the background  whenever there are news cameras around," said Clark. "You're  afraid of being recognized." When Lois nodded, Clark continued,  "Why?"

"They'll find me, Clark."

"But you said you can't be hurt. If that's true, what could  they do to you now?"

"I am invulnerable, but there is one thing that can hurt me.  It's a rock that was pulled in with the ship from the planet  Krypton. My father called it Kryptonite."

"But how would they know about... The paper your father  published," Clark concluded, answering his own question.

Lois nodded.

"Is this why you said you couldn't get involved with me?" Clark  asked. "Were you afraid that I wouldn't want to be with you if  I knew all this?"

Lois released Clark's hand and got up off the couch, her back  to him.

"Jess, I love you. None of what you've told me makes any  difference to me."

Lois turned around. "But I don't know how long I can stay. If  the past is any indication, it's only a matter of time before  they catch up to me again."

"Then I'll leave with you. Or we'll find a way to fight them,"  said Clark, rising and coming over to her. He reached forward  in an effort to take her in her arms but she avoided him. She  put some distance between them, again turning her back to him.  "Jess?" he asked.

Lois tensed. She had hoped to be able to avoid telling him the  rest of it. If only he'd been frightened off by who she was or  by the idea of having military following her. She should have  known, of course, that none of that would dissuade him. Still,  she really didn't want to tell him the rest - she wanted to  keep some measure of her dignity.

"Jessica?" he asked again.

"Just give me a moment to figure out how to tell you this," she  begged. She closed her eyes and steeled her resolve. There was  nothing to do now, but just tell him. Maybe if she just pointed  out a couple of things to him, he could put the pieces together  himself. She didn't think she could just tell him straight out.  "I told you that I'm invulnerable," she said softly, not facing  him while she spoke.

"And I told you that it doesn't matter to me," responded Clark.

She turned to him then. "Think about this, Clark," she said.  "What happens to a woman when she... the first time she's  intimate with a man?" She gave him a moment to let that sink in  before saying, "Now does it matter that I'm invulnerable?"

She watched his face as he struggled to piece together what she  was telling him. She knew the instant it sank in. Her heart  broke at the look of anguish that passed through his eyes. He  slowly sank down onto the couch.

"Why do you think I said that hooking wasn't an option for me?"  she asked.

"I just... Are you sure?" he asked.

She took a seat beside him, being very careful not to touch  him. "I'm sure, Clark."

"But have you... I mean, maybe..."

"When I first started living on the streets, I was sleeping in  an alley. One night I woke up to find a man lying on top of me.  My strength had not yet developed so I couldn't push him off,  but... He couldn't rape me," she concluded on a whisper. "I'm  not sure which is worse, being raped or not being raped." She  looked over at Clark again. "I came to terms with this a long  time ago." She gave him a sad smile. "Or at least I thought I  had, until I met you." She pulled in a jagged breath. "So you  can see why I say that we can't be together," she concluded.

Clark sat in stunned silence, barely noticing the woman beside  him. He felt as if he'd been punched in the gut. He struggled  for each breath. Since he'd first laid eyes on Lois, he'd been  dreaming about them being together. The knowledge that it could  never be was almost too much information to process.

Lois watched him while fighting the lump that was growing in  her throat. She knew that they couldn't be together, but  watching that realization set in for Clark was almost  unbearable. She pulled in a jagged breath. She had to get out  of here. She rose to her feet and headed for the door.

She was just opening it when a hand appeared over her shoulder,  pushing the door closed. The noise resounded in the quiet of  the apartment. A mere second later, another arm appeared over  her other shoulder also coming to rest on the door -  effectively trapping her between his arms. Clark didn't touch  her but was so close that she could feel the heat radiating off  his body. When he finally spoke, his voice was slightly raspy.

"Tell me something," Clark said. "When you say you're  invulnerable, does it mean you can't feel this?" Following the  words, Lois felt a soft stream of warm air against her neck.  She made a noise that was somewhere between a moan and a sob.

"I guess that answers that question," said Clark. "What about  this?" One of his hands abandoned its post on the door to run  lightly down her arm and then, around her waist.

"Clark," Lois whispered.

"Jess, I won't pretend that what you just told me doesn't  matter to me because it does. But there's one thing I know  beyond a shadow of a doubt..." His arm tightened around her  waist as he pulled her back against him. "...I can't lose you."  This time, when his head came down to her neck, he planted a  string of kissed over it until he reached her ear. "I am in  love with you. Whether you're Jessica Miller or Lois Lane or  from a planet called Earth or one known as Krypton," he  whispered into her ear.

Lois gave a small whimper. She allowed herself to get lost in  her embrace for a moment before speaking. "But, Clark," she  whispered, "it won't work." When he started to object, she cut  him off. "Not just for you, but for me. I couldn't live like  that. It would only reinforce every day just how different I  am. I couldn't stand to see the look in your eyes - maybe not  today or tomorrow, but eventually. You can't tell me it  wouldn't be there." She gave a small sob. "I'm sorry, Clark,"  she concluded, breaking free of his hold on her and throwing  open the door. And suddenly she was gone.

"Jessica," breathed Clark, now staring at the empty space on  his steps where only a moment before his basherteh had stood.  He collapsed onto his knees as shock finally set in.

* * * * * * * * *

Lois flew as fast as she could just over the tree tops -  heading north. She seldom let herself fly, but tonight the only  thing she knew for sure was that she had to try to out fly the  pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks, only to be picked up and  torn from her face by the wind. She decided that, if she stayed  low enough to avoid radar, and flew fast enough to be almost  invisible to the human eye, she wouldn't be seen.

When she finally arrived at the North Pole, she lowered herself  onto an iceberg and slowly sank down on the edge, dangling her  feet in the water. Clark had said he wanted to be with her -  even knowing the whole story. She wanted to take his statement  at face value. After all, she believed he meant what he'd said.  He probably really did think losing her would be worse than  living without ever being able to make love. The problem was  that, although Lois rejected Cat's comments that Clark could  never stay faithful, he was still a man. Not only that, but he  was a man who could have any woman he wanted. Sure, she could  keep him bound to her. But eventually, he'd need what she  couldn't give him. He'd find it easily enough and then the  guilt would set in.

She briefly considered the idea of giving him freedom to be  with other women when he needed to but almost immediately,  rejected that idea. She could never live like that. It would  tear her apart inside. And as it slowly tore her apart, it  would tear them apart as well.

No. The only solution was to try to salvage what they could.  She hoped he still wanted to be her partner and, maybe, even  her friend. But the only hope she had of keeping him in her  life to any real degree was for her to make him understand that  they could ever be together romantically.

She watched the water for a long time, concentrating on the way  the crests were dancing on the surface, until the pain subsided  from unbearable into the familiar ache she'd lived with for so  much of her life.

When she finally felt somewhat calmer, she headed back to  Metropolis. The fast flight heated the air around her, drying  her clothes and shoes. As she landed in a deserted alley near  her apartment, she noticed the first signs of morning creeping  onto the eastern horizon. She walked slowly towards her  apartment as fatigue settled in - not a fatigue of the body,  but of the soul. She wondered how she'd be able to pull herself  out of bed to make it into work today. She dreaded facing  Clark, but there was nothing to do, but to face those first  awkward moments before she'd built this up in her mind to such  a degree that she would be unable to face him at all.

At least they had the story to work on. Lois suddenly  remembered that she hadn't filled Clark in on what she'd  learned during her talk with Andrew Pasco. Well, no matter. She  could do that this morning when they talked to Perry. Maybe  they could once again use work as a method of finding a way  back to their friendship - although she would certainly  understand if Clark no longer wanted to be friends. She had to  prepare herself for that possibility.

She spotted a familiar figure leaning up against a long black  limousine as she approached her apartment. She sighed. This was  the last thing she needed right now.

"Hello," said Lex Luthor. "I was hoping you'd make it home  tonight. I think you and I need to have a little talk."

"I'm sorry, Lex, but it really is late. I need to get some  sleep before I have to go in to work this morning," Lois said,  heading past Lex Luthor for her apartment.

"I really think we should talk, Ms. Lane," Luthor responded,  causing Lois to freeze in her tracks.

"What are you talking about?" asked Lois turning around to face  Luthor. "My name is Jessica Miller." She doubted that the name  by which he had referred to her had been merely a mistake, but  it was worth a shot.

"Is it?" asked Luthor, raising his eyebrows at her. He stepped  back and opened the door to his limo. "Like I said, Ms. Lois  Lane, I think we need to talk."

Lois looked at him for a moment before stepping forward and  crawling into the car. There really wasn't much choice. He knew  her name. She had to find out how much more he knew.

It was a few minutes later when a pale woman emerged from the  car. Luthor had been absolutely clear in his demands. Either  she backed off any stories that made him or Lex Corp look bad  and get her partner under control in this area, or he was going  to contact the military and tell them where they could find one  Lois Lane.

"I guess I don't have much choice," mumbled Lois when she  realized the options.

Luthor smiled. "If you understand that, then we're  communicating," he'd replied, before opening the door of the  limo for her to disembark.

Lois stood on the sidewalk staring blankly into space for a  long time. She ran through every possible solution in her mind  before finally coming to accept that there was only one option.  She would not betray Clark. And she would not help Luthor hide  his transgressions. There was only one thing left for her to  do. She hurried upstairs, grabbed her suitcases and threw them  on the bed. She packed as many clothes as she could as well as  the picture of her and Clark from Lex Luthor's ball. She  quickly wrote three letters and then, with a final look around,  left her apartment. As she left, she put her key and a letter  to the landlord under her landlord's door.

There were two more things she needed to do before  disappearing. Her first stop was the Daily Planet. Only the  night lights were on, giving the newsroom a soft glow. She  slowly ran a hand over her desk, saying a final goodbye to her  dream job, before heading to Perry's office. She placed her  letter of resignation on Perry's desk and headed quickly out of  the newsroom before the regrets could overwhelm her.

She hesitated before making her final stop. She was conflicted  about seeing Clark. She knew she could never tell him that she  had to leave. He would insist that he had to come or that she  couldn't go. And after the discussion they'd had earlier today,  she knew he couldn't come. And after what Lex had told her  today, she knew she couldn't stay.

She made her way to the door of Clark's apartment and stood  silently on the steps for a long time. She looked at the letter  she'd written him to say goodbye. She had intended to slip it  under his door. But she was suddenly unable to do so. How could  she possibly say goodbye to her heart? She glanced through the  door and saw him asleep on his couch - still fully dressed.  He'd obviously had almost as disastrous a night as she had.  Tears slipped slowly down her cheeks. No parting had ever been  more painful in a life filled with partings. Finally, she  stuffed the letter back in her pocket.

"Good bye, my love," she whispered and a moment later, only a  gust of wind informed the world that anyone had ever been  there.

THE END OF PART ONE

Table of Contents

A Matter of Destiny Part One

Part 01

Part 02

Part 03

Part 04

Part 05

Part 06

Part 07

Part 08

Part 09

Part 10

Part 11

Part 12