~ღ~ Chapter Seven: Hiding in his arms ~ღ~

~ 7 days after Clark is declared a fugitive ~

It was silent.

The Fortress, a palace of ice and a retreat from a world that needed him, demanding Kal'els constant attention. It was the last place John had looked, and the third time he had done so that day. John had hoped he'd be here, that Clark has been out helping someone and had come back. He wasn't, he was suppose to have checked in with Watch Tower the day before but had never showed.

He hadn't felt completely comfortable with Clark going off on his own, though the fact of the matter was he could not stay with him all the time. He had made a promise to Jor-el that he would look after his son and he intended to do just that. However, it was as usual easier said then done.

During some of the time since Clark had become a fugitive, they had been working through what John remembered of the creature. Trying to track its movements through the years, figure out how best to deal with it once they found it. The remainder of the time had seen Clark struggling with his ever decreasing health and trying to be Superman.

"Kal'el?" John's voice echoed through the fortress, it stayed silent except for the wind blowing through.
John had no expectations in Jor'el speaking with him, his silence was notorious. He did a last fly over of the fortress, to make sure there was absolutely no sign of Clark. There wasn't, not a shred of evidence that Kal'El had been there in the last day.

Trying for Jor-El's attention despite the anticipated silence, John asked, "Jor'El has Kal'El been here in the last 24 hours?"

Nothing.

Glancing one last time around John made to fly away but to his surprise he received an answer.

"No. He is unwell, However I can not say where."

" The Soul Splitter.. it has targeted your son."

"Yes, Kal'el told me, I could not break its connection to him. It is not within my power to do so. "

"If I am to help your son, we need to know everything on the Soul Splitter"

"You wish for me to relate to you that which I refused before?"

"Yes, You know I would not ask but I see no other way, The more we know the better chance we have to defeat it."

"The creature evolution is not something i can predict, I can not answer your question." John had a feeling he was being a bit evasive but there was little point in calling him on it, "However J'onn J'onzz, I can say that it was once a Kryptonian, its weakness will undoubtedly lie there."
John nodded,"I understand. "

"I told Kal'El his survival will ultimately be upon him and Lois Lane. His strength to overcome the connection will have to come from a sacrifice within. This is why I was unable to help."

Not sure what to say to that John responded with what he believed, "I have faith in him Jor'El!"
"As do I."

Then it was silent. Once it was obvious that Jor'El had no more to say John took off. The connection may be up to Clark but that did not lessen his need for help, this was something John had learned here amoung humans.

Now though, the question was where else to look?

~ Present: Kent apartment ~

Lois took a long drink, swallowing slowly though she wasn't really tasting it. Her attention focused on the phone in her hand. The number sat entered on the screen but she couldn't get herself to hit dial and go through the whole battle again.

Everyone one who cared had promise to let her know as soon as they had any idea of where Clark was. Those who could possible have some sort of answers, and didn't care, had been harassed multiple times. The stubborn streak in Lois wanted to call them again, though she knew she'd get the same responses, the same lack of care. She couldn't quite get herself to go through it again.

She failed Clark, she had become weak.

"Damn It!" Lois tossed the phone to the other end of the sofa, then gasped at the sharp jab of pain that ran through her side from the action. Damn that creeper, damn the police, damn it all! She needed only one thing. For Clark, the man who was more then her hero, to walk through the door.

Biting back the physical agony, she hit the mute button releasing the TV from its silence, knowing it would have been better to turn it off. There was nothing more that could be gained from listening to the news over and over. Hearing a single solitary line that would give her hope was all she had. She needed to know. Picking up the remote with a shaky hand she changed to another news station, each word spoken was like a stab to her heart.

"It has been four days since the last official spotting of Superman. Growing public interest in the missing superhero has taken an unexpected turn. Officials from around the world have been in talks on what to do if Superman has indeed disappeared."

Lois barely noticed that the noise from the kitchen had ceased as she stared at the TV, no longer hearing all the words as she tried to tell herself he was okay. He had to be.

"Lois.. that better not be what I think it is!"

The red headed nurse nodded, indicating the drink Lois held, as she carried a tray of food in to the room. Wondering from where Lois had managed to even get it, the woman could barely move from the sofa.

Lois rolled her eye's, "I think I have the right to it.."

"Self pity doesn't suit you."

"Its not my self I am concerned for."

Ronnie gave her a kind look and snapped her fingers for Lois to position herself to eat, "I know.. but you're not going to do yourself any favours by it."

Lois looked at the drink which she had barely touched, "I know.." she could hear the despair in her own voice, "I just can't relax, nothing helps, I have this knot inside me and until I hear his voice, see his face, feel his touch, its not going to go away!"

The new's mans voice cut through their conversation, both of them turned to look at the TV,
"...and Prime Minister Stein have agreed, since the devastation of the Calgaine bridge, that a joint task force will be put together if after another three days there continues to be no new sign of Superman. This task force will take over the screening of public calls of potential sightings, as well as addressing methods in which to contact Superman or locate him."

Ronnie had turned from watching the screen to watching Lois, it was written all over Lois' face the pain she was feeling, the worry, despite her attempts to remain stoic. Taking a deep breath Ronnie put the bowl of soup in front of her, "Eat up..Please."

Lois tore her gaze away from the TV, she felt so numb as she looked at the food before her, she didn't have an appetite.

Her thoughts were forever with him. Where was he? was he okay? why hadn't he come to see her again?

She had had to wait five days to see him and when she finally did it had been too short, now there was simply no sign, like he fell off the face of world.

Annoyed with the news caster voice, Lois changed the channel again and as she listened she felt her stomach drop. Unable to escape reality.

Ronnie sat beside her, watching, touching her shoulder sending waves of comfort. She didn't know if it was doing Lois any good but she had to hope, had to try.

".. in the aftermath of the Calgaine Bridge collapse many are wondering where is Superman? Local officials had released multiple plea's for Superman to come and help in the recovery of survivors, each one met with silence. With 22 dead and 175 injured many are left not only wondering if there could have been fewer causalities but if Superman himself is unwell.

This video footage was released on the web only an hour ago featuring Superman from one of his last few appearances.."

Lois could not tear her eye's away from the grainy video of Clark as Superman, struggling to take off after stopping a robbery. He veered awkwardly at an angle almost hitting the side of the building, corrected himself, hoovering for about twenty seconds before soaring upwards. The image on the screen switched to show a quote.

"One of the witness had this to say.." the news anchorman's voice added.

He was suddenly there and with no apparent effort dispatched the robbers, though while talking to the police he seemed uncomfortable, shifting from foot to foot and sweating. Then when he went to take off I could have sworn he was going to hit the side of the building, it was a very upsetting sight. I don't think I'll ever get the image out of my head of his face before he finally flew away.

Lois bit her lower lip trying to fight the panic. She hit the remote, turning the TV off then went for her soup. The only thing that helped keep her sanity was to be angry, so she allowed herself that much.

Angry at herself for not seeing that this monster had already started to bleed Clark out. Angry at Clark for this silence from him, why couldn't he have come back to her, if she was going to loose him couldn't it be in her arms, where she could feel him, tell him how much she loved him. He couldn't just be gone.. not like this!

Most importantly angry at the creeper for doing this for turning the police against her husband, for draining the life out of him. Angry at the world for caring only because it was Superman
.
What about her husband Clark Kent? Didn't they know that it was Clark's heart and unending belief in humanity that made him that Superman?

The rage boiled just beneath the surface and it was getting harder to resist it, it was either be angry or give up, so Lois chose to dive head first into the former, believing it would keep her going. Unaware that her strung out emotions including this anger were a product of being drained.

Ronnie had moved and watched Lois from the doorway, it didn't take her empath skills to know what was rolling through Lois. It was written all over her face. It was hard to watch a friend waste away so quickly, even harder when it was the love of your life.

The door to the apartment opened and Oliver poked his head in, "Lois?"

Ronnie signaled for him to hush and pulled him into the kitchen, "She's finally eating.. give her a chance to finish before you add more on to her."

Oliver nodded and leaned back against a counter, "Its not good.. Chloe, Tess, everyone. I don't understand this.. how is it he can just be nowhere? "

"I don't know but what I do know is that she isn't getting better, in fact she is getting worse. If he is anything like her I'd be surprised if he can stand straight. I need to do another healing session but I don't think it will do much good." Ronnie leaned her head back against the fridge,then looked back at him to meet his eyes, voice gone quiet. "She is slipping away.."

~ღ~

Oliver did what he usually did, he ignored the sense of doom and grief and walked into the room as if two of his best friends weren't dying and one missing.

"Hey Lois! "

Lois stared straight ahead at the blank TV, the soup bowl sat in her lap. She didn't move even when he said her name a second time.

"Lois.." Oliver picked the bowl up from her lap and carefully sat next to her. "Lois please talk to me.." She was so pale, she looked worse then when she had been in the hospital.

She gave a big sigh and tilted her head looking at him out of the corner of her eye, "I was thinking.. thinking that he can't be dead you know. Because if he was I would know. I'd feel it here.." She placed her hand over her heart before turning to look at him fully, trying to swallow back the emotion, "Smallville wouldn't just die on me and I know that's what your all thinking! I know it is but I am.." Her tone becoming uncharitably harsh at him, "..sure he is out there and he needs our help so why haven't you found him?"

Oliver took her hand and frowned when she pulled it sharply away. "Lois, we have been trying.."

"Not good enough! " It was far too easy to be angry even at Oliver. "How is it that a whole league of super hero's can't find the most wanted man on the planet?"

"We haven't given up Lois.. and no we don't think he is dead." He grabbed her shoulders, "Lois, we haven't given up on Clark!"

She jerked away again, going silent. Oliver simply sat quiet beside her not sure how to read the moment. Each day as she became sicker, she became more emotional. Some moments she was like the old Lois full of courage and hope then at other moments like now a shadow would cross over her face and it was like she was lost, no longer herself.

They had to break the connection the creeper had with her. But Lois had made it clear that she needed to speak with Clark first, but now? Oliver debated with himself, did he just take control and do what she was afraid too, but then could he really do that to her?

No, he couldn't! Ultimately he knew it was Lois' decision but it was killing him to see her like this.

"Lois.." He began again, "Chloe will be here soon.. I promise you! We will find him. He'll turn up."

Ronnie came in the room having sensed what was about to erupt, "Lois, since Oliver is here why don't we do another session. See if we can remove some of the ache okay?"

Lois looked up at her, hazel eye's having gone dark, "Why?.. what good would it do?"

"You're in pain and I can help.."
"Can you take away the pain in my heart?.." Lois looked to her then Oliver "Can you? because unless you can do that then no you can't make me better? "

Ronnie exchanged looks with Oliver. Lois refusing a healing session was a first, "Lois please let me try.. I know i can't take away everything but I can take some of it."

Oliver took her hand again, "I think Clark would never forgive me If he came back and found you like this.."

The rage that spread across her face was something he had never seen before. She struck out swinging her hand towards his face. He saw it coming and would have blocked her, instead he let it connect, pulling back just enough so she wouldn't feel it so much. But when she went for him again he knew he had to stop her.

"You think Oliver that you can use that?" she stressed out each word, "You. Can't. Make. this. Better!"
He grabbed her wrists, "Lois, I didn't mean it that way..Please Lois!" She pulled and struggled.

Lois had been about to yell, but her breath suddenly left her body and the world seemed to have tilted. The darkness that she had been feeling crawl over her became so heavy that the irrational anger turned to panic.
It was coming for her, she could feel it in her bones. Lois gasped between breaths, "Clark..I need Clark..Oh God..I need Clark! "

Ronnie had rushed over and pushed the coffee table away so she could kneel in front of Lois who was still struggling against Oliver. He was doing his best to pin her down without inflicting more injury on her, even hurt and sick she wasn't easy to subdue.

"Please..Clark..Please," Lois was crying now, each breath was ragged as she thrashed against her friend.

"He'll be back Lois..I promise," Oliver felt the tears in his own eyes at the fear and anguish written on her face, it didn't help to feel how cold to the touch she had become.

Ronnie placed her hand on Lois' head and whispered, "Shh.. Sleep now.. sleep.."

Lois bucked against Oliver then went limp for a moment before she started to shake. The darkness was closing in and she felt herself drowning. Ronnie felt it too and wasn't going to let go, she inhaled sharply causing Oliver to glance between her and Lois.

Somehow she had to help Lois sleep without the darkness, she had before but each time she healed her or calmed her down it became increasingly difficult.

"Lois think of Clark..focus on him, some place you felt safe.."

She needed Lois to help her. She wasn't privy to the memory, her empathy didn't allow her to catch thoughts only emotions. But she could feel Lois' mind drift to him; there was the feeling she had come to associate with Clark when Lois thought of him. A deep profound feeling of love and happiness. She used it to boost her, to try and drag her out of the darkness.

Oliver waited as the minutes ticked by, as Ronnie whispered words of encouragement and Lois really relaxed, her breathing slowing till her face eased up and every last bit of her settled against the cushions.

Lois had found a memory, it wasn't peaceful not in the sense she knew it should be. But it was the last one she had of Clark and despite everything being wrong around them she had felt such love. That's where she had drifted to. To hide in his arms and reside in the memory of his touch.

~ღ The night before Clark disappears ღ~

The wind bite at her face, reflecting the mood she was in, a sort of desperate need mixed with a sense of forbidding. It wasn't the most ideal place to meet up, the roof of the daily planet. However, it was an easy excuse to say she was going in for assignments and sort out things so she could work at home, the roof was the easiest. It was also familiar and comforting in its own strange way.

It meant she was out of the prying eye's of her police escort and she had two hours to do something that would only take about fifteen minutes. Leaving enough time for a much needed reunion.

She had missed him, it had been five days with Clark a wanted fugitive. Five days without him. There was so much to say to him; to tell him how she loved him and to hear words of love back to her. There was other things to say, things she knew he wouldn't want to hear, but they could not be avoided.

Scanning the night sky, Lois told herself he would show up, that in a matter of minutes the world would fall away and she would be wrapped up in his arms. The minutes ticked by slowly, passing into a half an hour. Cold and aching, she turned to go trying not to feel worried.

Just as her hand touched the handle of the door, she heard the sound that sent shivers up her spine. Turning, she looked up into the moonlit sky, she saw him coming in slowly for a landing. It didn't escape her that his movement wasn't as smooth, he seemed tired.

Clark uttered only one word as his feet touched down, "Lois!"

Lois' feet reacted first and she found herself running to meet him despite the limp she still nursed, she barely noticed it. His arms flung around her and he lifted her up gently,burying his face in her hair.

It took only seconds for their lips to meet then to touch faces, to look into each others eyes, whisper words of love and need.

"I thought.." Lois held his face unable to tear her eye's away from his ,"I thought you weren't going to come.. "

"I will always come Lois..for you I will always come."

Lois smiled, it was a promise he couldn't keep but the intent meant everything, "For you I will always wait.."

His mouth once again claimed hers for a deep kiss; needing to taste her, inhale her scent, feel her arms around him.

As equally desperate for him, Lois raked a hand through his hair, another across his back. Returning all her desire by teasing with her tongue along the insides of his lips. He moaned and moved a hand to her hips pulling her all the closer till she could feel every part of him against her.

When they pulled apart it was Clark's turn to cup her face, he looked it over and into her eye's as if he was seeing into her soul. "Lois are you okay?"

She knew exactly what he meant by the question, it couldn't be avoid. "I'm fine, its just I'm.." How did she say this to him? "not doing as good as I should. I only got out of the hospital on the arrangements of nursing care at home."

Lois took his hands from her face and held them, "Thank God for rich billionaire friends and super healer nurses."

"You should look a lot better.." His eye's scanned her over, "If Ronnie is helping.."

"She's trying.." she sighed and knew that he knew she was holding something back.

"Clark.. John and Ronnie ..they say that as the creeper has changed something..I don't know what exactly that means, but something with the connection. That the reason you and I are both doing so lousy is because we both are 'active'. Ronnie says she thinks if she can get me into a deep sleep, real sleep, it will lesson his hold on you."

Clark shook his head feeling a touch of panic rise through him, "No ..NO! Lois..What if you don't wake again? what if it pulls you back into that place?"

"Its a risk I have to take.. Clark..its killing you..its doing the same to me."

"I can't let you do this. I'll talk to John, there has to be another way."

"Clark" she put her hand on his face and spoke softly, "Its either we both suffer and lose or we make this decision and we have a chance."

"Lois.. I can't ask this of you. I'll find another way."

She sighed, "I don't want to, I really don't I'm terrified Clark.. but I look at you I can see your struggling. Everyone has seen it. How long before you can no longer be Superman? what then?"

Clark shook his head again and pulled her close, burying his face into the side of her neck. Lois knew at that moment that she was asking to much even if it was what was needed. He seemed so frail in her arms, she had never known him to shudder the way he was then.

"Smallville.. " she began hoping to ease his worry. "..We'll look for another way."

He pulled away, touched the side of her face, trailing his fingers through her hair. "Dance with me!..before you go.. lets just have this moment to us."

Smiling, Lois nodded and put her feet on his, letting him take her hand, her arm going about his shoulder. Then she felt it. The falling away of the Daily Planet roof though her eyes were closed. She felt safe in that moment, in his arms.

Maybe he was right. All they needed to do was hold out a little longer and find another away. Somewhere deep inside she knew it wouldn't be that simple but she clung to the hope.

~ Present: Kent apartment ~

Awareness slipped in, the soft sensation of sheets and comforter, mixed with his smell. Oh that smell, it wasn't as strong as it usually was but it didn't matter she soaked in what remained.

"Clark.."

Opening her eye's, she saw the moonlight streaming in through the window, bathing the dark room in its warm glow. Her eyes flickered down to his half of the bed, reaching out she spread her hand down the sheet. It was cold, he must have left some time ago.

How many times had she woken to find his side of the bed empty, the duties of a super hero calling him away. But each time he'd return and often they wouldn't be able to help themselves. Desire, need, longing to be one, making love in every sense of the word. Whispered words of commitment, his beautiful green eyes would look into her own and she would know. He was her home, always would be.

Smiling to herself, Lois let her mind wander to the memories of him. Of the way he felt inside her, his body against hers. His hands that knew every part of her in detail, finger tips that aroused. Their movement, a splendid rhythm all their own, that would escalate and awaken a fire deep inside till they would call out in ardour. Their mouths claiming each other as the beat of their hearts became one.
Lois sighed, feeling a stirring deep inside. He would come home and this expression of love would again repeat, though it was never exactly the same. Clark never ceased to amaze her, he would rise to every challenge, would find ones of his own to give back to her.

For them love making wasn't just sex, it was far more then a physical ache to become one, it was an need to be whole, complete.

It wasn't till she turned over to get away from the discomfort growing in her side that she saw Chloe asleep in the chair by her bed. Lois gave a long groan from the pain in her heart as the reality sunk in. He would not becoming home this time, instead he was missing.

Chloe woke and looked up to find her cousin crying silently. Taking her hand she leaned forward looking for words to comfort her.

"Lois, you're not alone.."

Choking back a sob Lois managed, "I am.."

"You're not! Please.. don't give up! Clark is out there.."

Lois nodded and took her hand back so she could wipe her face, "I know you're here. But Chloe without Clark there is no point, I know he's not.." she struggled to say the word, "..not dead..I can't feel him though, i can't find him. Four days of no word, he's lost and hurting and I'm not there to hold him."
"Lois ..I have some news, its not about that but it could help."

Seeing Lois was waiting for her to continue Chloe switched the lamp on and handed her over a folder. She knew more then anyone that Lois needed to be involved, needed to help.

"The Zoner.. I think we've figured out a pattern for feeding. It targets mental institutes and ICU units in hospitals. Plattsburgh and surrounding area's had a slight increase in coma related deaths during the week you were there. But more significantly.." she pulled a particular sheet out, " I had the computer do a scan of medical reports, compare records from all over the country. From the Virginia's, Kentucky,Missouri all the way to here in Kansas, is evidence that it traveled across country.. starting from two years ago"

Lifting the photo's, Lois shook her head, "So it was waiting? What for exactly? to get strong enough to go for Clark?"

"Perhaps or the right moment. Regardless, it leaves a consistent trail of victims. Hiding in plain sight,attacking those who are already dying."

"Is it still..?" Lois closed the folder and looked at Chloe in hope that it was leaving a trail and not concentrating solely on Clark. Not that she wanted there to be other victims, just to find it and somehow stop it was better then waiting for the end.

"Not that we can tell," at the crestfallen look on Lois' face, Chloe took her hand again and sat on the edge of the bed. "Lo.. we'll find something more. We've been able to figure out this much which means we have a chance."

It was at that moment that Lois found clarity from the emotional war inside. So much emotion; pain and hurt and a terrible rage but more importantly, love. Love that made it clear, she knew what she had to do. If they were going to find the creeper, if she was going to help Clark, then she would make this sacrifice.

Chloe saw the shift in her cousins eyes, the resolution pass over her face. "What?..what are you thinking Lois?"

"That its time, I can't wait for Clark.. I need to do it now!"

"Oh wait you mean? " Chloe touched her face, "Are you sure?"

"Yes..Please, before I change my mind"

"Okay, I'll call the others and get the camcorder. "

As Chloe went to leave the room, Lois pleaded, "Find him. Keep him safe.."

Nodding, Chloe gave a soft smile of comfort though her own feelings were far from it. "I will, I promise!"
Then she turned and left before the tears could come. Lois had no idea of the night she had been through, the scare they had, that they would lose her then.

Somehow, Chloe knew she had to find away keep them both safe.

~ღ/ღ~

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