A Reason to Love

By Summer Bagwell (rbagwell@AIRnet.net)

Summary: Clark protects Lois from a prison escapee who has vowed vengeance on her for putting him away.

Dec.28, 1995 Authors note: This is my first attempt at fanfic. I'm a 17 year old high-school student on my winter break. I've read so many stories that I decided to write one of my own. Special thanks to all those people who wrote the stories I read, you helped me more than you realize. And, to the writers and cast of Lois and Clark for making me believe in the power of love. All comments, suggestions, are welcomed at rbagwell@AIRnet.net(my dad's e-mail address). Thanks, I hope you enjoy it!

***

Lois Lane entered the Daily Planet news room earlier than usual on Friday morning. She looked around for her partner/fiancee, Clark Kent. When she didn't see him, she guessed he had not come in yet. She saw Perry, busy at work, in his office. As she put her briefcase on her desk she felt a pair of strong arms encircle her waist, and a soft kiss on the side of her neck.

She spun around, giggling, and looked into the beautiful brown eyes of her partner. She gave him a quick kiss then disentangled herself from his grasp.

"Good morning," she said, "Anything happen last night?"

"Not much," Clark replied, "Nothing of a major news interest."

"What's going on around here?" they heard Perry yell, "this paper won't write itself."

"Lane, Kent, what's our first page looking like," he said in their direction.

"We're on it, chief," replied Clark with a smile.

"Are we still on for tonight?" Lois asked him as she headed to her desk.

"Of course," Clark said, "and I've got something very special planned for you."

"Ooh, I can't wait," she said in a voice she knew only Clark's superhearing could pick up.

At that moment, a news bulletin was heard over the television. Everyone turned to listen as the Special Report was seen on the screen.

"Quiet, people," Perry said, "Jimmy turn that up."

The newscaster was frowning as she read the following report.

"A source at the Metropolis jail has reported a large jail break attempt. Most of the criminals have been retrieved, but one remains at large. A man by the name of Luke Landon, who was serving time for the attempted murder of Daily Planet reporter, Lois Lane four years ago. He was serving a 15 year sentence and was reported saying he would seek revenge for the time he spent in jail."

Clark glanced over at Lois who had unconsciously reached out to grab his arm for support, her beautiful face whitening as she listened to the report.

"This man is considered armed and very dangerous," the report continued, "Anyone with information on his recapture should contact the Metropolitan area police forces."

"Oh my god," Lois said closing her eyes, "not him, not again."

"Lois," Clark said as he put one arm around her waist, "I won't let anyone hurt you."

"I know that, Clark, it's just I thought I'd never have to see him again," she said laying her head on his shoulder.

"Lois, Clark, I think maybe you two should go home for the afternoon," Perry said, "we can handle things here."

As they left the building, Perry pulled Clark aside, "Watch her, son, I couldn't bear anything to happen to her."

"I will, chief, with my life," Clark replied.

Lois was very quiet as Clark drove her jeep to her apartment. As they entered the apartment, she sat down on the couch and Clark followed closely after her.

"Who is this Landon guy anyway," Clark said, "Why did he try to kill you."

"About four years ago, before I'd ever met you, I had agreed to go out on a blind date with a friend's cousin. When he picked me up, he looked so handsome, and he was such a gentleman all night," she shuddered with the memory as she continued.

"When he brought me home I let him come in for a drink. He kissed me and I responded at first, but then he became more insistent, he began to rip at my dress straps. I told him no, Clark, I said it over and over again but he wouldn't listen," a tear fell down her face as she remembered.

"I managed to get away, but he pulled a knife on me and told me that I had led him on, and now he would make me pay. A neighbor heard my scream and called the police and they got to my apartment just in time. If they hadn't gotten there, he would've ... " her voice caught as the tears spilled down her face.

Clark pulled her closer into his arms, as she pulled her legs up onto the couch.

"When I get my hands on that man, I'll kill him for hurting you like this, Lois," he said as she continued to cry on his chest.

He let her lay there, with her head resting on his chest as her cries subsided. He gently kissed the top of her head as her breathing became more even.

She finally spoke, "Clark, I love you so much. I don't know what I would do without you. Please, don't run out looking for him tonight. Stay with me, I need you here."

"I won't leave you tonight, Lois, but let's go to my house just in case," he said as she nodded.

***

Lois had fallen asleep in the car on the way over. Clark gently carried her into his bedroom and turned to leave to go sleep on the couch.

"Don't leave me," he heard Lois call after him, "Please, Clark."

"Okay, sweetheart, just let me change my clothes," he replied.

After he changed he climbed into the bed next to her as she snuggled up close to him, wrapping her arms around him and laying her head on his chest. He also put his arms around her and held her as close to him as possible, breathing in the smell of her hair. They laid in silence like this for a long time before they fell asleep. Even though Lois was afraid for herself, for her life, she had never felt more secure in the arms of the man she loved.

***

A young man stood on the curb looking up into a dark window. He had been standing there for a long time, and had noticed no movement in the apartment.

"She must not be home tonight," he thought as he stared at a picture of her and her partner cut out of the Daily Planet.

"Lane and Kent," he said out loud with a smug smile.

"So my little Lois is engaged to be married. What a perfect life she must have," he said glaring at the clipping.

"Well, maybe it won't be tonight, but very soon we will meet again, Miss Lane, and this time you won't get away from me," he said as he turned and walked down the dark street.

The next morning, Lois awoke with a start. She realized that she was in Clark's bed, in Clark's arms. She smiled and snuggled closer, then remembered the events of the day before. Luke Landon had escaped from jail. Her mind told her that he would be running as far away from Metropolis as possible, but his voice still played itself over and over in her head, telling her he would be back someday. She glanced over Clark's shoulder at the alarm clock next to his bed. It read 5:30, too early to get up, she decided as she laid her head back onto Clark's chest and fell asleep.

***

She was alone in her apartment and in total darkness. She felt her way along the wall to her bedroom and managed to make her way to the bed. A noise behind her caused her to turn around and come face to face with Landon.

"I told you I'd be back," he said with an evil smile on his face.

***

"No," she sat up in bed as quickly as she could, waking Clark up beside her.

"Sshh, Lois, sweetheart, it's just a bad dream," he said soothingly as he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm here, I won't leave you, you're just fine."

"Clark, he was there, in my apartment, and I couldn't scream or run or anything," she said, her shoulders still shaking with fear.

"You can stay here with me today," he said, "I can't bear to see you like this."

"Clark, I have no idea what I would do without you," she smiled and kissed him gently.

"Come on," he said, "you can get dressed while I start breakfast."

***

"Thank you very much, I'm sure my cousin will be very grateful to you for letting me in," he said with a charming smile. No woman could ever resist his smile, not even Lois' overweight landlady.

He stepped into the room noticing that not much had changed in the past few years. "Still not home," he said looking around the apartment. "Fortunately, I have no plans for the day, I can just wait until you return." He looked on a table in her living room and picked up a framed picture of a smiling Lois and Clark. "I'll wait until you're alone."

***

"Clark, I feel much better now, you don't have to follow me every where," Lois said later that afternoon. "Please, I need to go to my apartment, take a shower, change my clothes, then I'll come back over here for the night," she pleaded.

"I'll take you home," he said, "but I won't leave you."

"I hope you never want to leave me," Lois replied with a smile.

"You can count on that," he smiled back as he picked her up into his arms and kissed her.

***

"Clark, I just want to take a quick shower, you can wait out here," Lois said, "unless you want to join me," she continued with a smile.

He returned the smile, but sat down on her couch and turned on the television as he heard the water in the shower turn on.

Landon glanced around the door of the closet. He contemplated ways to get this guy out of Lois' apartment, maybe he could kill him while Lois was in the shower. "What a perfect little bodyguard for his precious Lois."

Just then a bulletin flashed across the screen. "A large pile-up on the freeway has reached dangerous proportions. The power lines have been knocked down and the lives of hundreds are in danger. Police and rescue workers are working extremely hard but this seems to be a job for Superman, who can not be found."

Clark turned off the television and ran into the bathroom, where Lois was singing in the shower. "Change your mind about joining me, Clark," she said has she heard the bathroom door open.

"Lois, there's been an emergency," he said as she stepped out of the shower with a towel around her. "I have to go, but I will be back as soon as possible."

"Clark, of course, go. I'll be fine, and waiting for you when you get back," Lois insisted.

Landon listened to this with great amazement. "Why would this reporter leave his love alone and go to the scene of this accident," he thought. He didn't have to wait long for a answer.

Clark spun around and his shirt and jeans were replaced by the familiar red and blue of the Superman suit. He kissed Lois briefly, then flew out the open window.

"Maybe little Lois has a more perfect life than I thought," he said to himself. "But, too bad, her "Super" man is too busy to protect her now."

He watched as she dropped the towel from her body and began to get dressed. "I guess she has a lot to keep Superman interested in," he said leering at her.

When she finished dressing, Lois glanced around the room. "You are so paranoid, get a grip, Lane," she told herself as she exited the bathroom. At that moment, the lights in her apartment went out and she screamed. "Nothing to be worried about, you baby, Clark said the power lines were knocked out."

She heard a noise behind her and turned abruptly Staring back at her was a face she thought she would never she again. He grabbed her before she could scream again. "Not so fast, Lois, what kind of a welcome is this. We haven't seen each other in so many years. I've missed you very much, I know you have missed me. You and I can now finish what we started before, and what a wonderful preview you gave me while you dressed." Lois felt sick as she realized what he meant by his words. He started pulling on her clothes as she turned her head to the side and whispered the words she hoped only Clark could hear.

***

Clark had arrived just in time to save many lives. He had also seen half the power in Metropolis go off, including Lois' neighborhood. As he flew back he picked up her voice and heard her frantically say, "Clark, if you can hear me, he's here, I need your help now, hurry please." Then he heard a muffled scream. He entered her window to see Landon laying over his Lois who was kicking and struggling under him. Clark, filled with rage, grabbed him by the shoulder and lifted him into the air. Lois struggled to stand up pulling her torn shirt up with her.

"I will kill you for hurting her, how dare you touch her," Clark screamed at him.

"Well, Superman, or do you prefer Clark, I was just warming her up for you," Landon said sarcastically. Clark threw him against the wall and Landon turned quickly around and stumbled in the darkness. He fell through the open window onto the pavement below. Clark flew down to check on him. As he flew back up to the window he said, "He's dead, Lois, he can't hurt you again."

She ran into his arms crying. "You saved my life again. He almost, he could have ... " her voice trailed off into her tears. He held her until the police arrived for her statement and the body, then continued to hold her as he flew her back to his place. She had a tight grip on his shirt and her beautiful face was streaked with tears as he laid her down on his bed and climbed in next to her. Her arms were wrapped tightly around him and were still shaking from the ordeal. He just let her lie there without words for as long as she needed.

She finally spoke, "Clark, I was so scared tonight, I was afraid of dying without ever seeing you again, without holding you again, without telling you how much I love you."

"Oh, Lois, I'm so sorry, I never should have left you alone. When I think about what he tried to do to you ... " his voice trailed off in tears.

She looked at his face and wiped his tears away with her hands. "You got there in time, you saved my life, nothing to be sorry about." She kissed away a tear from his face and looked into his eyes with her own tear-filled eyes. "We have a love that extends beyond time, beyond earth, we have a reason to love, and I will always love you, Clark Kent.

"And I will always love you, Lois Lane," he whispered against her mouth as their lips met.

THE END

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