Part 3 of Chapter 12 -Sacrifice in Black, Love in the Beat

~♥~
(Two nights after the Great Storm of Metropolis)


“I buy the idea that it would provide a suitable alibi, but if he continues to show his face in public as Superman people are going to notice, and then with the condition of Clark Kent and his own reappearance, it would look suspicious. ” Bruce remarked while cutting into his steak.

Lois didn't miss a beat between swallowing her own food and throwing back, “ Which is why his appearances have been minimal and nothing up close. ”

John Jones stopped sopping up the gravy on his plate, with his roll, to give a pointed stare at the two of them, “I thought it was agreed that dinners at Watchtower were to be free of such talk?” He then glanced at Clark for support.

Bruce sighed, “Fine, you're right..” the policy of 'family' dinners amoung the members was he found awkward but the point of it didn't escape him.

Not being put off by either the look from John or Clark, Lois started to add, “How else are we suppose to work him back in..if..” she stopped at the stares she was getting from around the table. Giving a sheepish smile, she shrugged, “Sorry.. I'll stop.. I'm just exited and happy.. I..” she didn't know how to finish it. But the smiles of understanding she received back told her she didn't need too.

Bart ever able to provide a relief, whether comical or lighthearted in these moments, through out as he reached for another roll, “ So.. when we gonna get that new game system in here? I remember, I dunno about a year ago someone promised we'd have a rematch.” He threw a glance at Victor and then looked at Tess.

“Its not coming out of league funds. The one you have works just fine..” Tess replied with a shake of her head.

“Yes Mom.” She got back. Bart grunted when he got kicked under the table from two people. He glanced around, unsure of who it was that had done it, considering more then one of the women was in his vicinity and not seeming impressed.

Clark rolled his eyes and added, “ The excuse for the reason you always lose at Rock band won't apply if we get a new system will it?”

Chloe snickered, “He has a different excuse for every game he loses.” Oliver chuckled and pushed his plate back full.

Being ganged up on didn't phase him in the slightest, Bart continued stacking more food on his plate, “ So you're telling me with the computer system we've got here you wouldn't want to hook it up the projector and BAM.. World of Warcraft in 3D.”

This of course got more rounds of ridicule and excitement from various people. Games were just one of a few pass times that league members shared and had worked into the less serious group gatherings. Lois smiled, her eyes meeting Clark's. He smiled too, both amused as John gave his opinion on a game and got another playful argument going between Dinah, Oliver, Bart and Chloe.

Bruce ended up the only one to neither be involved or amused. While he may not share in the frivolity, he wasn't bothered by it either. At first, he had insisted he had no need to take part in these sort of gatherings, but between Chloe and Lois he found he had no chance in maintaining his position. Now he had to admit that on some level the banter and exchanges were enjoyable and Lois was right.. it helped make them family which made them stronger.

Of course, when she had said it, she had done so with a playful insult. Insinuating that he was the like the old grandfather figure that sat in the corner griping. Though if he remembered correctly she had worded it as “Old fart”.

He watched them go back and forth, however, it didn't escape him the glances being exchanged between Clark and Lois.

Neither was at their optimum health and he could imagine they were in want of some much needed alone time. The creeper may have fed on them because of their strong bond but Bruce hadn't needed the knowledge of why to see it between them. Even now, as he focused on them, he could in a dozen tiny ways - from the exchange of smiles, slight touching of hands, body language as they leaned on the table.

They exchanged words and even in the tone of their voices it was written, the love and their eyes spoke volumes of desire. Suddenly feeling warm , Bruce looked away feeling as if he was intruding on something very private between them.

Standing and clinking his fork against his glass, Bruce grabbed everyone’s attention. Once all eyes settled on his, he began, “It has been without a doubt a rough few weeks.. especially, it goes without saying, for Clark and Lois. I think.. we should give them a break and ..” Bruce knew what he was about to say would not be expected from him. “give them a chance to run off, our celebration of defeating the Soul Splitter does not need them to be here, to continue. “

There was chuckles around the table, Oliver who rarely agreed with the Bat raised his own glass, “Hear hear.. I'm surprised they didn't try and slink away already.”

Lois blushed, exchanging a look with Clark that confirmed the suspicion, then glared at Oliver and Chloe who grinned ear to ear, ” Please..”

Bruce smiled softly than continued, “ Before we let you go there is one last thing.. its been decided that the two of you will.. get away. Spend at the least three days off the grid.”

Clark and Lois both started to protest but Bruce shook his head, “No..its already been decided unanimously. It doesn't have to be now.. obviously with situations that have yet to be resolved. You will though.. no arguments. ”

Oliver spoke up, looking at the surprised couple, “ I'll have the details of the very private, and I might add enjoyable location, sent to you tomorrow. ”

If it hadn't been for the very touching gift, Lois would have fled from embarrassment, instead she found her hand being squeezed by Clark. Giving a much needed reinforcement against the intense emotions rolling through her.

“Thank you all. I know how much it meant to both Clark and I to have you stand beside us and now with this gift, I don't know what to say other than Thank You.. it really means so much.”

Over the murmur of other voices offering kind words, John now stood his gaze passing over each one at the table as he talked, “ It can be said that things between all of us here have not always gone smoothly, there has been misunderstandings, rivalries, secrets, amoungst other things. Yet we have grown, matured, come together, and this past year, along with recent events has proven one thing though, we are family. When one falls.. we all fall.. so we fight and stand together. If the Soul Splitter was a trial, I would say that we passed, and I for one am happy to call you all my family.”

He stopped to look at Clark and Lois, “I have no doubt you would have done whatever it took to help any of us in your place. We could do no less. Now. Please leave..” He smiled and there were once again chuckles around the table.

Clark took Lois' hand and helped her to stand, it was obvious to all they were both tired, “Thank you! ” He took a deep breath at a loss for words. Realizing from the looks on the faces around him, he didn't need to make a speech, he looked at John, “Oh.. please don't leave me a mess.. Tess hates finding cookie crumbs in the electronics.” He added the last with an sympathetic look to Tess who smiled and made shooing motions at him.

“I shall try Kal'El..”

Once jovial goodbyes and tearful comforting hugs were finished, Clark and Lois paused at the door of Watchtower that lead out into the street. Lois leaned against the frame, taking a deep breath, gaze going from the dark night sky to the man staring with intense love at her.

“We get to go home.. ” It came out in a wistful tone, as if she couldn't believe it.

“We slept at home last night.”

Lois shrugged, “True, but we also collapsed in a heap of exhaustion last night. I'm tired now but I don't think I could sleep.. I don't want to sleep, I want to have normal again, well normal for us. ”

They held each others eyes and Clark rubbed the back of her hand, that he still held, with his thumb gently. “So should I leave and come back in the middle of the night?” He asked with a half smile.

“Haha, Smartypants, I meant a normal uninterrupted night for us. Just you and me..”

“I like the sound of this plan. Ready to go? ”He touched the side of her face softly, brushing strands of wayward curls behind her ear.

“Please.. take us home Mr. Kent.”

Clark bent his head and gently let his lips graze hers in response. The kiss was gentle and chaste but held promise for more. Just as she lingered in that promise, with her eyes, closed he swooped her up into his arms getting a squeak out of her for it.

She never had time to comment before she found them standing just inside their apartment.

~


The night gown she slipped on was one she knew he liked. It was simple and sleek, forming over her curves, the deep dark blue colour always made his eyes stand out more to her. She could drown in those eyes.

“I thought you'd have put on a flannel. ” His deep voice spoke softly as she came out of the room.

Lois leaned against the door frame, shrugging. “I thought you might like something more feminine..less farmer john.”

“I like you in plaid.. you know this.” He made his way over from the sofa, placing their drinks on the counter as he did.

“Do I?” she grinned, “ Its been so long I don't remember.”

Clark was no fool. He knew a challenge when he heard one, one he'd happily take up. Of course, she wasn't in one of his flannel shirts now so it would have to be addressed later.

“I see..”

“Do you?” She asked, failing to contain a giggle.

Stopping just before her, Clark looked down into her eyes, a hand brushing along her silky shoulder.

“I do.. question is, does Miss Lane understand that she should be careful what she asks for?”

Tilting her head to the side, Lois bit her lip, “I think its you Mister Kent that has some serious making up to do. I do believe you owe me.”

It was his turn to grin, before capturing her lips in a kiss. Pulling her close, he breathed in her scent whispering into her ear , letting the side of his face linger against hers. “Are you up for this Lois..it can wait another night.. Emil said you should get a lot of rest.”

With a deep sigh, Lois stepped back out of the hug, taking his hands with hers she lead him into the bedroom.

“Clark.. this with you is the best rest a girl could ask for. To feel you.. please.” Her eyes shone with the intensity of her desire for him.

At her words, Clark smiled gently, running his fingers from her shoulder, up her neck to cup her face. Lois closed her eyes, she could never grow tired of his touch, how he made her feel.

His hand moved behind her head, fingers tangling themselves in her hair. Then his lips met hers, the kiss was gentle, slow, and full of need. His other hand went to the back of her night gown as hers went to the buckle of his pants.

Slowly, they began to undress each other, placing kisses on lips and necks. There was nothing that could replace knowing intimately the others body, how to touch and where.. giving each other undivided attention.

Clark could see the hunger in her eyes, when she looked up from stepping out of her dress. There was a passion in the way she pulled his pants down, watched him step out of his clothes, ran her hands along his body. He knew she wanted to make it last as he did... to savour the each moment. His gaze left her face to run down her naked body, taking in every beautiful inch of her.

She blushed, which only made the desire for her more intense. Trying to keep to the unspoken promise of taking their time he ran a hand over her stomach the other along her side to her breasts.

Lois gasped, as his mouth went to her breast, placing her hands on his back, digging in, smiling at the moan she received. Remembering the first time she discovered that the harder she dug her fingers and nails into his back the more he liked it.

It was much like the first time, the pace, how they took the time to undress each other, placing reverent kisses upon newly exposed skin. Drinking each other in as if they had never laid eyes on the other, love threatening to over flow with each touch.

Touches and gentle kisses satisfied, they become locked in an embrace, the pace still slow but the passion had only begun to ignite. Moving back they fell back on to the bed, drowning in each other. A hunger to never be separated reflected in their eyes, the way lips lingered, reluctant to pull apart.

Lois was lost in the memory of the night they first made love, the last barriers between them had fallen. The secrets had been chased away by the light of a love between them that could only hold truth.. honest raw emotion had filled the night over and over, expressed through physical touch, a release from the years of sexual tension and spiritual link between them. No more shadows to haunt them only love.

With each caress now, drawn out touch, kiss, lingering sensation the connection that had been damaged began to heal. Tangled in the sheets was more then just two bodies but two hearts reaffirming the bond that had fed a dark soul, now they were free to become one again. Achieving what the literalist, those of logic would consider an impossibility, their bodies taking up the same space, no beginning and no end.

As they reached the edge of ecstasy to fall off it together, their bodies lifted above the sheet, neither completely aware of it, only of the other. Beyond the physical enjoyments of the precious and passionate moment ,Clark felt something he had never thought he'd feel again. It flowed like a rhythm through him, quieting his soul, spreading a feeling of relief and peace, the knowledge that with her he was home. Her heart beat was once more his to cherish and hold with his own and when he looked into her eyes he knew she felt it too. He was more then just in and around, he was part of her, her best friend and lover, the other half of her soul.

~♥~


Claws slashed out, blood poured. Terror..a terrible fear, heartache.

Then it went black.

She could hear the breathing.. it..no they were after them. She tried to run but her legs felt so heavy.

“Lois..you can do it..keep going.” She heard his voice encouragingly order behind her. She pushed everything she had in her, fighting back the unwanted tears that threatened to overwhelm.

A scream echoed around them, seeming to come from all directions. She turned to meet his gaze.. neither said anything. They didn't need to, she knew what he wanted.. what she couldn't give him. To leave him to the non existent mercy of those things.

Black and another flash of a frenzied attack of blood pouring, screams and anguish.

There was a sudden whirlwind of light and sound and she knew.. not again! She had dreamnt this before.. She both anticipated and dreaded what was beyond the light and much like the first time she screamed at the sight of what it parted to reveal.

Clark arched his body, held suspended in the air, while every last bit of who he was..the core of him, his soul, swirled out. Ripped from his body to flow in a darkness that hovered all around.

Screaming she ran..ran as she had done before. Pulling at him. “NO!”

He fell..fell into her arms, bruised, torn, bloody.. lifeless.

She cried, cradling him to her, then looked up to scream at the darkness, “BRING HIM BACK!!.. BRING HIM BACK!”

Without him, there was nothing.

Clark frowned, being brought of a restful sleep, the beat that was hers was all wrong. It unsettled him.

“Lois?”

When she didn't respond he opened an eye as he pulled her closer, looking down at her sleeping form to see a terror written across her features. Her body was soaked with sweat, he could feel it every where her bare skin touched his as well as in the dampness of the sheets.

“Lois.. its okay..its over!” he spoke softly into her ear. Somehow, he wasn't surprised that she would have a nightmare. They had been through so much, one night together to reaffirm love, reconnect emotionally, physically, spiritually could not undo the horror they had lived through. He pulled her even closer, needing to feel the physical connection just as much as she did.

“Lois, I am here.. sshhhh babe..” He nuzzled his face into her hair, kissed the back of her neck. Continuing to whisper to her, starting to worry as he felt tremors pass through the length of her body along with tiny whimpers that escaped trembling lips.

After a moment of shaking, that turned into her clinging onto his arm that wrapped around her, she sobbed out. Repeating several times to bring him back. Who back?

This had to stop. “Lois!” He said this time a little more forcefully, turning so she was on her back and he was leaning over her. “Lois.. Wake up.. sweetheart please..” Brushing her hair back, cupping the side of her face.

Lois' eyes snapped open and as if she had started to fall she threw her arms around him for dear life. “OH Clark.. .. ” She breathed his name like a prayer causing his chest to ache from the sound of it.

Continuing to cup her face, gently caressing the side of it with his thumb, his eyes looked her over as if he could find a physical reason for her distress , whispering with a calm reassurance, “It was just a dream.. You're safe I promise, Lois, you're safe. ”

Truth was he was frightened by the intensity of her nightmare and her next words alarmed him all the more.

“Clark.. its not me..It was you.. oh gawd!” She brought arms up to hold his face in her hands, her eyes searching his own. “Smallville.. I lost you..I thought I lost you.. ”

Closing his eyes for a second, he leaned his face against her hands, “Lois.. I'm not going anywhere.. We are safe.”

She shook her head still unable to get away from the overwhelming grief she had felt from the dream. A part of her expecting him to vanish as if it was this very moment in bed with him that wasn't reality and the nightmare was real.

“No Clark.. No! You were dead Clark.. I held you in my arms and you were gone.” She tried to fight the sob but failed, throwing her arms once again around him, holding on for all that she was worth. She couldn't lose him, she simply couldn't.

“Shhh.. Lois!” He rolled them on to their sides ,wrapping his arms around her. Wondering if the dream he had had and her own meant something.

They held on to each other this way, tears and words of comfort exchanged, till minutes turned to an hour and sleep finally claimed her once again.

Clark continued to run his fingers through her hair, listening to her breathing, feeling the beat of her heart. One day he'd have to tell her about his dream, but not now..not till he knew she was strong enough or he was. Maybe if he was lucky it truly meant nothing.

“Clark Kent doesn't believe in luck.” He heard her voice say, a reminder of the past. No, he didn't.. but just once he was happy to change his perception if it meant there would be no nightmare.

He pulled her closer, till she was nestled against him, his face buried in her hair, their legs wrapped around each other. Clark knew he had to push it all aside, he could do nothing about it now.

Tomorrow and dreams could wait.

He was wrapped in eternity,the beat of love, a place that soothed and was all his own.

Her.

His Lois.

~ ♥/♥ ~


Feed back is cookies..feed me! If its crap its okay to say that too..

2nd part of Chapter 12 -Sacrifice in Black, Love in the Beat

She heard the sound of sparking equipment above her. The feel of a cold hard floor beneath, the assaulting smell of burnt plastic and flesh along with highly ionized air. For just a second, Tess thought she was back in watchtower with him leering over her, “Come on Tess..tell me where it is and this will all be over..more quickly.” His smooth suave voice holding just the right mixture of menace and sexual overtones.

“No..” She blurted out , eyes snapping open. She was in Watchtower, the place was in disarray, Lois was there too, she could see her laying not more then a few feet away. Other then these similarities the differences stood out glaringly, Watchtower had changed quite a bit in the last few years, not to mention the sinking in of reality of what had happened cleared the momentary terror. Clark Luthor was not there, it had been a memory mingling with the haze of returning consciousness. A cruel joke.

Only the cruel joke wasn't over, it had simply altered.

Her right side, from her arm to her leg, felt bruised and made it a little hard at first to pull herself into a sitting position. A familiar and friendly voice spoke up calming her nerves, bringing with it firm arms, helping her the rest of the way to her feet.

“Are you severely injured?” Tess looked up and into the concerned eyes of her favorite Martian.

She shook her head which sent a wave of nausea through her, “I don't believe so, not anything that can't wait.”

He nodded, and once he was sure she could stand without his support, he moved over to check on Lois and Ronnie who laid not more then a few feet away. He glanced over at Tess who was checking over Lana. The small brunette was slumped up against a wall branded with a large scorch mark to the right of her.

They exchanged a look of concern, John spoke first, “Ronnie should wake momentarily, Lois ..” He touched her forehead again and shook his head, “ I am not certain..” He trailed off.

Tess frowned and added concerning Lana, “ She's alive, pulse and breathing stable. I don't think it hit her straight on. “ She gingerly touched Lana's side where the fabric was slightly melded into burnt flesh. Despite the shock she knew the woman’s system must have taken, the burn in itself, wasn't going to kill her. The second skin had more then likely saved her life.

It could have been considered cruel irony, that the very suit that had allowed Lana to save them twice, had been the very reason she was severely injured and alive. When the crack of booming thunder exploded quite literally out side watchtower, they all had looked up almost as one in shock from seeing Clark and the creeper disappear on the screen, to find glass raining down on them from the doomed ceiling above. Lana had reacted with speed to push Tess and Ronnie out of the way, preventing them from injury. John had been standing closer to Lois, shielding her from the falling shards.

Communication had shut down but not the surveillance system or satellite feed. The ever improving Watchtower computer had already begun to track and monitor the sudden change just out side the building and surrounding Metropolis.

To say Lois was upset would have been an understatement, none of the others were particularly thrilled by what they were seeing. Though seeing was wasn't accurate. Tess could barely track the movement and neither could the feeds with the speed in use, as well the teleportation. The Soul Splitters mode of transportation was not only virtually instantaneous but violent as well. Causing hiccups in the feed and a battle with establishing stable communication with the rest of the team.

“Has it grown?” Lana spoke up almost as soon as they had started watching the terrifying display of aerobatic wrestling.

Lois, who had been biting on the tip of a finger, whispered, “Yes..” Not even a second after the word was spoken, did the feed with the view of the Daily Planet flicker and Clark and the creeper appear in their endless grapple. They barely missed the rotating golden planet before disappearing again. Though from that particular position it had been obvious the creeper was now bigger then Clark himself.

Tess kept half her attention on this observation and the other half on the information streaming in front of her as she finally secured communication. It had taken almost three minutes to do so, way to long.

She didn't wait for pleasantries, not with what she was now able to hear coming from the rest of the team, “They're in Metropolis!! Practically appeared just above watchtower, interrupted communications, I'm trying to track them but they are moving fast...”

“There is panic in the streets,” she continued pausing to take in what she was seeing. The weather had not only changed and become severe but something seemed to have shifted between Clark and the creeper, they had stopped moving, hovering not that far from Watchtower itself.

“Superman and it have stopped moving..” She found herself continuing watching, silently confused, “the creeper has grown, its changed..”

And it was then in that moment the irony of Lana second skin came into play along with the visual horror. Clark jerked back violently just as the Soul splitter dived for the city, it vanished, electrical tendrils arched out on all sides from where it had been, one hitting Clark himself as several others zapped straight into Watchtower.

“... Oh My God!” The exclamation exploded out of her, not just from what she was seeing but the way it made her feel, the sight of the Soul Splitter even from the distant satellite view left her feeling unsettled.

She barely got the words out before everything around exploded into chaos. She was only marginally aware of Lois grabbing her head as Lana was grazed by a bolt, inexplicably attracted to the suit she wore, saving the others who would have been its victims.

Now in the aftermath, she watched John lift up, first Lana and then Lois, bringing her to one of the beds, Ronnie following groggily behind. Deciding to leave the injured to his care, Tess turned back to the computers and monitors which for the most part continued to spark violently.

The storm that carried on outside and with increasing violence, boomed around them, still inflicting the tower with its rage. It wasn't really safe there but it didn't sound like it was safe anywhere in metropolis.

Frustrated, she tried to get communications back up but there was nothing except a high pitch static that screamed over the system, forcing her to cut it off. What was going on?

The sickening feeling inside her grew at the loud cry that erupted from the balcony. Tess turned to look up, worried, not even registering the power outage or the generator that kicked on a moment later. The voices of John and Ronnie, the sobs and sounds coming from Lois made one thing clear.

Whatever was happening..it was getting worse!

~♥~

Dragged down. The sensation of sinking with claws gripped around ankles, tearing at flesh. Only they weren't, it was the soul being shredded. She could feel him, the essence of who Clark was being consumed.

Clark...

Reality around had slipped away, replaced by a painful nightmare, a hell shared by two souls. Lois had no awareness of grabbing her head and crying out, or falling unconscious as Watchtower sustained damage. She knew only the connection with the man she loved, and the demon responsible for so much suffering.

Grasping on to him. She tried to protect him, save him from being lost.

Fight Clark.. I believe in you!

Lois sent him love, flowing outward, hoping it would be enough. That he could hear her somehow, know she was there.

Perception of time was not available in this darkness they shared. Eternity and an instant felt the same, but Lois also felt something change, Clark moved. She could feel all that she had poured out to him sent back to her.

Pulsing out with love in the beat that linked their souls. He heard her, he would fight.

It was at the point her own torment would begin in full. Suffocated in Clark's emotions 'it' lashed out at her. The scream she let loose from inside erupted outward into a deep cry, a sob of anguish.

The only thing she could be grateful for, even in that state, was the awareness that Clarks own condition, the red k infused in his veins, had pushed the creeper away from him, preventing Clark from knowing the true extent of her suffering. He had to be able to focus, not be distracted by her.

In the few minutes since her suffering began she descended into a madness. Memories, emotions, and perceptions both her own, Clarks and at times others, filled her. A painful agony in knowing that others were now beginning to suffer as she was. An agony that went down to her soul as it devoured her.

Why it did not do so quickly? Why it prolonged her death was a thought her mind could not focus on but it allowed her to still feel the connection with him..however fleeting.

Unaware of her continuing cries or how she thrashed in response to being drained, Lois Lane-Kent sent her heart, all that she was, the core of her being, to the one man she trusted with it completely.


~


Ronnie had never felt anything like it, nor heard cries like the ones coming from her friend. She had been a nurse at a hospice and nothing there could compare to the sound of suffering or the emotions she was sharing. She knew it wasn't just Lois' own but others from around Metropolis.

One by one the Soul Splitter was grabbing, staking claim to bonds and draining people slowly. It hurt. Ronnie thought that if she could give a physical description to it would be that of having ones bones pulled out slowly while burning alive.

If she had only been trying to save herself she would have given up, so great was the pain. But the desire to help her friends, and all the victims currently sharing in the wretchedly slow agonizing demise, was far greater then her wish to be free of the turmoil to spare herself.

Ronnie never even had a chance to resist being pulled in. Once Lois became caught up in the darkness Ronnie felt herself being dragged along with.

Lois..

There was no response though she could feel her. Lois was trapped and all Ronnie could do was give her her strength. If Lois had it then perhaps Clark would too and they could all be saved. There was no guarantee, no promise, that they would not suffer till death claimed them and it would all be for naught.

~


Lois..

John called out for her. He was the only one who could now. Ronnie had fallen into the darkness with Lois. Tess could only help by holding green kryptonite close, hoping it would have some effect.

Bart repeated Clark's words. Normally he would have felt awkward at relaying such a message, but the experience he had along with the look on Clark's face fueled him. The words spilled out of him more even and calm then he felt.

Lois responded after a minute. Unexpectedly, he felt her urge him, telling him to go help Clark. At the mental argument he started to respond with, that he would not leave her, Lois pushed at him.

Clark needs you.. go..

Then the brief contact he had with her was gone. Pulling back, John didn't hesitate, he knew what needed to be done.

~♥~

“Cathy.. take deep breaths.” Perry softly ordered through a pain-filled voice, holding on to the distraught woman who normally didn't seem to let anything phase her. Now though, like so many, she seemed inconsolable. Even terribly ill.

Any other day the news being made right outside his window would have been top priority, he'd have been pissed with having loads of reporters all ignoring it. But this wasn't just any day.. this was pandemonium. He could hear cries erupting from outside his office, along with the constant booming that shook the panes of his office windows so hard he was afraid they'd break. None of that included the terrifying display of fireworks and violence that flashed over the city.

Of course, he couldn't see all of it but at one point, before Cathy seemed to have lost her mind, they had stood together in shock as Superman and some unknown foe almost collided with the Daily Planet. Later, he'd learn they barely missed the globe but from where he was, the view he had was alarming enough.

It had started as nothing more then a crackle of thunder and a flash of light that gave Cathy pause as she delivered some of Clark Kent's articles to him. She had stood mouth hanging open mid sentence. Perry followed her gaze and found himself equally mesmerized with horror as the simple storm became more,and the hero, who had been missing for thirteen days ,was in what appeared to be in an embrace of death.

Now, as he held his sobbing assistant, he felt non of the initial excitement that comes from seeing a story explode on ones own doorstep. Instead he was scared, frightened and there was a pain inside him that was growing steadily.

Perry white was afraid that in a matter of minutes he'd be no better then his assistant, who whimpered occasionally, mostly lifeless in his arms.

What was going on? Where they under attack from something? That thing Superman battled?

Despite the increasing agony inside, Perry gently laid Cathy on the floor. “Shhh.. sweetheart..” he practically croaked. Crawling across the floor to his desk, he leaned against it for a moment breathing against the pain, ignoring the emotional torrent going through him.

Focused as much as he could be, Perry opened his bottom desk drawers. His eyes flickering to the forbidden bottle, but they settled on the camcorder that had shared in several adventures and mishaps. Pulling it out, he turned toward the vibrating window. If he was going to die, he'd die a reporter. Evidence of the story on film that would hopefully survive. A legacy..

A small part of him retain the hope Superman gave, that even though it seemed grim, it would all work for the better. And the planet would have its story..

~♥~


“You don't think he..” Dinah's voice was a stressed whispered. They stood as a group at the far end of the warehouses. Emil and Victor had been set up with what could only be described as a contraption. Victor connected to a computer with a laser mounted over a small crystal in the familiar shape of the Kryptonian pentagon with the House of El symbol in red.

No one immediately replied as they stared up at the sky trying to spot him despite the storm in the distance. From where they stood, it almost had the feel of a nuclear explosion right in the city itself.

When it had become clear they had lost any and all communication with Watchtower, Chloe focused on getting whatever she could on the condition of Metropolis via Wayne enterprises satellite. The rest of them debated momentarily, going to Metropolis wasn't a possibility, even if wasn't for the travel time involved, a good 20 minutes at the least, they would likely be useless.

Instead it had been decided to head over to where Emil, Victor, and Zatanna had set up base. Zatanna had played guard dog while Emil and Victor waited for Clark to get the creeper into position. They had been on the other side of the warehouses, close enough to get back up or be backup, far enough away to hopefully not be noticed in the thick of it till they were needed.

“There isn't anyway of knowing.”

“We sit tight. Wait.. its only been maybe six/eight minutes.. He has to get it in position!” Bruce took turns glancing between the sky and the contraption Victor sat hooked up too.

A portable doorway to an empty phantom Zone, ready and waiting. Victor connected to the system allowed them an interface that could react at a word or a thought with no worries of interference. Emil monitored it all while the crystal glimmered at the heart of it. All they needed was some sign of Clark and the Soul Splitter and they would trigger a chain reaction that would hopefully free the world of soul eating menace.

“Come on Clark.” Oliver repeated over and over under his breath. The sound of the generator that powered it all was the only sound other then their own hearts that pounded with anticipation. With each minute that passed they grew more worried, were they now left to battle this thing on their own? Was their friend and colleague gone?

~♥~


He flew up searching for more sun to gain enough strength, on his own he wasn't at his strongest and the red K that still surged in his veins was tempered by the knowledge of suffering and death around him.

The people of Metropolis, his wife, anyone else if he died before defeating 'it'. The weight of the little capsule that contained the fury of death, clenched between his teeth, was another reason all the chaotic urges and thoughts were kept in check.

She had been right. Of course she was, after all Lois knew him better then anyone. He could handle this, he would feel no shame.

Breaking out above the storm, Clark closes his eye as he drifted upward but the relief from the sun was short lived. There isn't time for this..

Opening his eyes, not even a second later, he turned down ward and looked around, taking in the sight of the tempest slowly expanding below and hearing the cries of people. Terror and something more …

Swallowing Clark, held back again the thoughts of who he couldn't save and how he knew she was suffering. It would be over soon, he had to do this right. Question was how did he get it away from the city?

He never needed to question further. Clark was taken back by the presence of a friend that followed him out of the darkness.

“John!” Clark voiced loudly, even at their height above the storm the noise of wind and lightening was almost deafening. He was equally alarmed , relieved and unhappy to see him.

“Kal'El, I have come to help. ” John had no need to raise his voice knowing Clark could clearly hear him.

“You can't be here, You'll expose yourself..they'll need you, she'll need you!”

“She is why I am here. Your wife sent me. And with this!” John held up a lead lined bag Clark knew contained green Kryptonite.

Why? Why had she? He didn't need to finish the thought. Lois who knew his weakness, understood the plan and the fact the creeper was also kryptonite sensitive. They shared the same weaknesses even if not in the exact same way.

The plan was formed in a moment. In Johns hands the lethal green rock could be a weapon, diversion, a way to get the Soul splitter away from his city, his wife. End this.

John watched his face in the seconds Clarks mind turned, and then his eyes focused with clarity on his martian friend. There was no way he could know Clark had changed a detail, an important one. It didn't matter, how he would help, would regardless, be the same.

“I'll go first, push it out, follow and keep it back.” Clark ordered. John nodded, waiting.

Too much time had gone by even if it was barely a few minutes. A lot could happen in that time.

With all the strength he had, Clark took off at sonic speed straight int the heart of the storm, where he could feel it consuming.

The storm demanded attention even at the speed he was moving. He marveled at the pain he actually felt from it, how it tore at his suit, caused his nerves to scream. Focused though, he ignored it all, slamming straight into the soul splitter. It felt like hitting a brink wall, but there was no time to register the pain as 'it' reacted to being forcefully shoved right out of its own self created retreat.

They spun out, continuing to move at a speed to fast for the average human to endure. Clark pushed it off as they slowed, not that far from where the battle had first begun at the warehouses. Flying up and away Clark was not surprised as it moved to go after him, screaming with hunger and rage. He could sense its frustration at once again being interrupted by the very food source that it needed the most.

The Soul Splitter had no intention of letting the Kryptonian ruin all that it had accomplished, he had made consuming him hard, giving it a metaphysical stomach cramp. It would win. Despite this delay, it would take the man into itself even if it meant persisting through infliction, it would have this world. There would be no limits.

It did not succeed at reveling in this thought process or catching its prey as suddenly it felt a completely different sort of pain. The physical aspect of itself reacted first to the boiling inside of it. Stopping, it turned and found the source. Held not far from it, in the hands of another, one neither human or Kryptonian, was a green glowing rock. It had felt this before but never like this. It could not be held back, it had to succeed.

It moved towards John only to scream, twist, thrash in a gray swirling mass, as even the element that resided in the metaphysical reacted to the green kryptonite. John knew what Clark needed, moving closer forcing it down nearer the ground. The creeper reacted violently, unable to process, unable to resist against the forced retreat.

Clark watched making sure to block it from going anywhere but down. Once it was no more then a 100ft from the ground did he signal for John to stop, knowing the Justice league team below were now aware of them and waiting.

It was time to free himself of its hold on him, so he could send it away.

There was no way he could warn them of what was about to take place, it had to be sudden, even if it wasn't for the fact they'd have tried to talk him out of it. He hated himself in that second for the torment he was about to put Lois through. Knowing she'd forgive him wasn't enough. Knowing that his death would save them wasn't either.. but there was simply no choice.

As John stopped, Clark dove down towards it from behind, grabbing on in spite of the fury it unleashed. All who were watching thought he'd break the black capsule on it, or shove it, broken, inside of the creeper. Not one expected for Clark to bite down, crushing the shell, releasing what could only be described as psychedelic whirlwind. A scene only imagined in a trippy nightmare.

Clark hooked himself around the Soul Splitter like a vice while it seemed to separate into multiple versions of it selves, each one reacting violently. Spitting and turning, falling and flying. Around and around in circles a dozen babbling voices, a dozen screams.

Once upon a time, he would have been subjected to the same reaction. Time and experience and love had helped him to accept his kryptonian side. There was no longer two separate aspects of himself, Clark and Kal, but one coin with two sides. United in thought and belief, united in love and hope.

Instead the black Kryptonite pulled the Soul Splitter from him. The seed, the link it had with him was now being broken for good. And what it had taken from him ..not the energy but the pieces of his own soul were being returned. It was painful, it was torture and he knew very likely could lead to his death.

Far more importantly, it meant freeing her from a terrible fate and stripping the creeper of its newly gained power. Jor-El had said it would not react well, that unlike Clark its nature was divided many times over. It would not be able to sustain its recent changes, it would become fragile, easier to control.

Lost in the midst of light, power and torment, Clark held on. His own body feeling each and every bit of the what it felt, feeling as if he would also be torn apart as it left him and he left it. Separation of being.

Consciousness fled, thought ceased but he held on. Trust in those that fought for Justice allowed him this, hope that she would be alright, and that maybe so would he.

It screeched, fought to keep its hold on the city, on her and on the kryptonian. It could not.. each effort was met with resistance. It's nature splintered, torn apart. The individual aspects that had once been many were now once again so. Combined into amalgamation of horror, need, and darkness they had gone for power the sole united thought, but now separated once more they were lost in chaos, panicked, angry, fearful.

One by one a dozen hooded phantoms flew in a cyclone. Leaving Clark alone to fall away to the earth.

~♥~


“CLARK!!” The cry reverberated off the walls of the tower. Ronnie echoed Lois' call, though lost in the same nightmare she laid still, the one thing Tess and Bart could be thankful for.

One moment they been waiting, hoping John could lend the help needed, that all would end soon. The storm outside had yet to cease its pounding and Lois along with it had cried out, shook, needing them to hold her down.

Like so many across Metropolis, they felt the slow burning agony, a sensation of something clawing from the inside. They could not escape it, they could only hold out.

Then it had changed. In an instant, Lois had thrown them off her with enough force to knock them off their feet, by sheer luck it wasn't off the balcony. Pulling herself back up, Tess hadn't expected the sight before her eyes.

Lois surrounded by a strange light.

For a second her body seemed to be pulled in multiple directions at once before it settled to merely shake at hyper speed, glowing with various colours of rolling energy.

The pain inside of both Tess and Bart expanded to an intensity that neither could help but fall to the floor. Their own cries mingling with Lois' scream that filled the Watch Tower.

~♥~


Victor tracked the movement even before any of the others had even noticed it. With just a slight thought he sent the necessary single activating the crystal that began to glow and pulse.

“10” He intoned out loud. Counting down with a space of ten seconds between each spoken number.

Bruce glanced at Victor, the crystal and then back to the skies. Where were they? He didn't have to wonder long.

“9”

Stopping not that far in the distance above them, the Creeper was forced down by John and Clark.

“8”

Six pairs of eyes watched riveted as Clark dove for the Soul Splitter. Five reacted with alarm as Clark and the creeper began to vibrate.

“7”

Then increased agitation as it split apart into a dozen separate versions of its self. Swirling around in a chaotic cyclone.

“6”

“5, step back, power build up imminent.”

Emil watched the dial. The others took a step back to be behind the machine with Emil. Superman fell out of the twister.

“4”

His body hitting the ground could be felt from where they stood. Nothing could be done to help him.. not when it was about to open up.

“3”

Oliver took his eyes off the sky, waiting for his friend to stand. When he didn't he turned to meet the stare of Bruce.

“2”

Worry reflected between them. Emil pointed, just below the cyclone a crack began to form to fill the sky with a bright blue light.

“1”

The light, the crack began to pull, the strength of it tugging at things more then a 100ft away laying on the ground. Walls, windows, bodies all felt it.

The screeching of the Soul Splitters various selves being sucked in and flooding light of the portal forced the members of the Justice League to cover their ears and turn away.

It ended within a span of 30 seconds.. then silenced stretched out. The storm above Metropolis had faded with the portal closing. There was a soft rain and the sort of quiet that left only the sound of beating hearts to pound mercilessly in chests and ears.

~♥~


Awareness returned slowly like walking through mud as thick as molasses. He ached. He was tired, and a small part of him didn't want to return. He had dreamnt of long brown hair and soft skin, a beautiful face, a voice that sounded like heaven whispering words of comfort. He wanted to rest there always.

“Clark?” An anxious voice softly inquired. It wasn't the voice of comfort. But it was one of a friend.

Despite this desire to stay, he let himself drift back into a world of light and intense sound. There was a definite sense of déjà vu. He had done this before.

Unclenching his jaw, he grounded out in a voice thick with worry. “Lois..”

“Shh.. she is fine, sleeping.”

Clark felt a hand slip into his own, fingers squeeze. Chloe continued, “It seems you both are competing for the title of sleeping beauty.” Eyes would not open yet, though he didn't need see to know she was relieved, able to joke.

“What.. What happened?” Finally they fluttered and the light grew stronger but it did not hurt. It took only a second to get his focus and find her face.

Chloe smiled at him before answering, “You did it!.. Its' gone Clark..” There was so much relief in her voice it made him ache. He really hadn't expected to survive . To swallow black K and live!? How was it even possible?

As if drawn by an unknown power, he turned his head fully to the side and found her. Laying on another of the beds in watchtower only three feet away, she looked peaceful. At ease, just a sleep. Even the colour of her skin was better then the last time he had seen her. A great weight lifted off him. It was done.

Trying to sit up, he groaned with frustration from the weakness that spread through him. Chloe put a hand to his chest. “Clark, wait.. give it a few okay? You just went through the proverbial exorcism and trip to hell all in one go. ”

“I need her..”

“I know. Hold..” Chloe undid the brake on Lois' bed, and slid it closer, so she was now within arms reach. Moving around to now stand on the other side of him she watched as he picked up her cousins hand. The tender way his fingers slipped between Lois' caused tears to form in her eyes.

Swallowing, Chloe took his other hand and squeezed again. “She'll be fine. Only sleeping now, she needs it, you both do. Ronnie said it was like you both had slipped away. It wasn't the darkness but ..” She shook her head causing her blond curls to bounce, unable to explain it any more then the redheaded nurse had been able to.

Clark continued to stay quiet, just enjoying the feel of her hand in his, the sight of her. After several minutes he finally turned to look back at Chloe, taking in the damage he could see of the watchtower as he did so.

Chloe could see the questions in his eyes, “It was worse then this.. I imagine by tonight clean up will be finished. Oliver and Bruce have been full steam ahead since you were brought here.”

“The storm?”

“Yes.. Metropolis is in a bit of a state. Once you're back on your feet, I am sure the residents could do with the Man of Steel clean up. Not surprisingly, people are still in shock. The storm last night brought a lot of questions and left a lot of injured. ”

“Dead?..” the question came out cracked with guilt. It didn't matter how many years he had been doing this, would be doing it, he could not escape the emotion.

“Clark.. “ Chloe wasn't new to this with him, “None of us would be here if you hadn't faced it. There was no way of knowing how it was going to react, where it would go, or how it would respond. You saved a city, Clark. There were a few deaths but you saved so many..and at a huge risk to yourself, Emil says its going to be a few days before you're a hundred percent.” She didn't state the obvious, how they were lucky they hadn't lost him.

If only it was that easy to shake off the ones that didn't make it. To simply be glad he was alive. Before he had a chance to dwell in the thought he heard his name come out in a breathy whisper.

Unsure where he found the strength from, Clark pulled himself up and leaned over his wife. “Lois..I'm here.”

It took a moment before her eyes fluttered open and found his. The smile that spread across her face took his breath away, “You did good champ..” she whispered.

Clark laughed softly, “Yeah.. but only because you were with me.”

Lois sighed and gave a slight shake of her head, “No.. “

“Yes..” Clark brought her hand up to his lips, “I know you were there, Lois, I felt you with me. I don't think I could have done it, found the strength without you. You are my strength.”

A tear slipped from her eye from his words. Feeling heavy and drained it was the only response she could give. But the relief of seeing him there and knowing it was over flooded through, and she wanted to express how proud of him she was.

Despite the signals her brain sent to her body to sit up, to hold him, she found she couldn't move. Simply far to drained. She accepted the alternative of lifting her hand and touching his face.

“Smallville.. you had all you need in that heart of yours. You always have.”

Bending down he responded with a kiss, “I love you, Lois.. Always..”

“I love you too, Clark, forever..”

Continue to Part 3..

~♥~ Chapter Twelve: Sacrifice in Black, Love in the Beat~♥~

~ Daily planet, very early morning. - Present ~

It had been a normal news morning, he came in to assistants and every reporter around either offering help, reminders, coffee, or they avoided him like the Bubonic plague. The latter especially as of late.

First order of business was the usual, bellowing out the necessary orders and reprimands, and encouragements (Chief of Editor style). His first cup of coffee during the tirade had been delivered and the everyone scattered to do what they should or at least appear to, thus his door was finally closed and he had a momentary reprieve. But only for a moment.

Clark and Lois.

They had been on his mind for days. Lois had picked up some work one night about a week ago to bring home, it had bothered Perry to see her so battered. And to add insult to injury, not only had Clark become a fugitive, but from how Lois sounded last time he had talked to her, his best investigating duo was in a bad way. Not only as employees, but two young people he cared very much about.

He felt angry and had since Lois went away to stay with friends, dealt with it by taking it out on his staff, more than usual. He knew that wasn't fair, but it wasn't as if they couldn't take it. If they couldn't, then they shouldn't be working there and he was doing them a fair by enlightening them. Also, his blood pressure, he knew was way too high, the issue with Clark and Lois had to get resolved or he was going to have a coronary.

Sitting with a grunt at his own thoughts, Perry eyed the desk drawer that held a small bottle that he knew he shouldn't touch, not now. Not ever and not during work. Purposely looking away from the temptation, he started his email client and yelled at the computer when he got some sort of error. The machine was saved from a pounding by his assistant.

There was a slight knock on the door before she poked her head in, “Chief? You called?”

“GREAT CEASARS GHOST! DO you know what its doing again? What is the point of having computers if EVERY time I go to use it, it claims errors.” It was at that point he began using words best not repeated in front of children.

Cathy rolled her eyes, careful not to do so in front of him. Despite his accusation, it wasn't every time, and he had a terrible tendency to hit the wrong keys or click who knows what with the mouse. The man was capable, though his personal preference for old school methodology tended to be his own undoing.

Causally making her way over, as he finished his venting, she took one look at the screen and with a quick flick on the mouse and tap of a few keys, she had his emails loading without issue.

“There - all your accounts.” That she knew of. “Give it another minute to gather it all and you're set. Anything else?” She glanced at his empty coffee cup he held in his hand. It was good it was empty, with the way he had waved it around. “Another cup?”

Perry grunted and handed the cup over. “Yes. Get me everything we printed on Superman during the last month.”

Cathy raised a delicate eyebrow before nodding and heading off with his mug. “Patience. The computer won't respond to threats.” She reminded before shutting the door.

Perry gave her a scowl before turning back to his email.

“Useless.” Delete.

“Not interested.” Delete.

“Not in the mood.” Filed.

“Needs a life, but may have merit.” File under crack pot with some sense.

And thus went the sorting. Meanwhile, Cathy had already delivered his second cup and a stack of papers on his desk, leaving him to his task before the rest of the Planet staff came in to start their shifts. About 40 minutes in, after having sorted most of his work emails and re-skimmed the Superman articles, did he allow himself a moment to feel defeated. Two of his best employees and on some level friends, and a hero - all gone. It weighed heavy on his heart and was seriously beginning to affect the job.

The Daily Planet would continue but the loss of a hero to report on, had affected its sales. There was also the fact Lois pulled in some of the best articles, even when it wasn't about the Man of Steel - there was a definite loss there. He hadn't said anything to her, but he hoped one day, if the woman lived long enough, to train her for editor. She had what it took, the fire.

Clark had a fire too. But his tendency to be late, absentminded, and clumsy got in the way. Despite these constant flaws, he had secured himself a place by not only turning in the stories that were worth their weight, but by being able to reign in his trouble-magnet wife. Till now.

As he had for the last few days, Perry continued his musing on the pair, while calling up his personal emails. He was more than aware of the planet gossip and wondering on how Clark had managed to get Lois or how he put up with her. Despite some having worked with the pair for several years before Perry had even come in as Editor, they didn't get it. Perry did.

He knew how they thought. Clark was a man with a golden heart, something Lois saw. Something that meant more to her than a once-hometown-football-hero who now suffered some sort of inner ear imbalance and couldn't get through a work day without knocking something or someone over.Lois was so obviously adored by the man, they meshed in ideals and thoughts, making up for any differences.

Perry envied them, to find truth, seek justice and do it with someone that you deeply respected and loved was a dream he had once had.

The woman he most often had it for was still attached to her departed beloved. Perry could never blame her, thought he hadn't moved on, neither had he pushed forward. Martha Kent was simply his ideal, if he wasn't going to have that, then he would just be alone.

It wasn't a self pitty party, but an acceptance made easy by a job that consumed.

Relief was the first feeling he felt at spotting the email, dated and time stamped for only three hours before, relief because it took him out of the thoughts of a failed relationship and two, because perhaps it was good news. As it opened, he could have sworn his aging stressed ticker just about jumped in his chest. That was the second emotion, excitement.

Lois hadn't given up. Bulldog Lane was still in business. The email contained her proof that her own husband could not have kidnapped her - it was asking for time and resources to prove it. Along with a promise for a big story to come.

Perry White had no hesitation - even without the promise, he was happy to give whatever support he could. Business wise, getting Lois and Clark back would also insure the odds of finding out what in the name of Hades was going on with Superman. He had no doubt those two could figure it out.

Grabbing the phone, Perry got straight to work. He wasn't chief editor of the biggest paper in the world for his looks.

~ Present – The work day begins ~


“Wiped...he claims the last thing he remembers is the dark silhouette of a man with glowing red eyes.”

The morning sun shone down brightly, slightly warming the crisp October air. The busy Metropolis streets surged with busy bodies as many made their way to various offices and jobs, while others ran errands. It was all typical for the 9-5 crowd and most were so lost in their own worlds that Damian barely gave them a second thought as he proceeded.

“I agree, Mr Luthor. Yes, I do believe him. He was, I would say, a little more than upset at the very private and intrusive invasion of his mind.” Damian pressed his lips in disgust as he avoided a street vendor and then a religious man.

“Absolutely. Unfortunately, Madam Larmier predicted this event; however, she does hold to her promise that she can provide us the identity of someone far more important then a minor 'hero'.” He held the phone away from his ear for a moment at the vile rant that came momentarily from his boss' mouth.

Luthor's almost radical dislike for the man of steel was hard to avoid. The simple mention of the word 'hero' could have unfortunate consequences. The public, however, remained blind to true nature of Lex Luthor's philanthropy and agenda; only those loyal or well paid with intimidating fear, understood it was a long term plan of attack against a world wide threat masquerading as hope.

“ Yes, Sir. Her stipulations were clear. Very well. I will ask.” Damian agreed without even a hint of annoyance. He knew what her answer to a face to face meeting with Lex Luthor would be, but he would ask because he understood where the man was coming from. Not to mention, Madam Larmier had a powerful personality, an eerie sense of the future that made her captivating. He had relayed as much to his boss, along with her insistence that Damian himself play the part of go between.

A lesser devoted man would have used it, held it over his employer. Not Damian, he believed in the cause and had no desire to lead it. His position in the well oiled machine was satisfactory. To try and gain more would only ruin his own chances for survival and could impede the very beliefs he stood for.

“Right away, Mr. Luthor.. I..” Damian took in a sharp breath at the sight that unfolded rapidly in the sky.

It had started as a crackle of thunder and a flash of light in the distance over another part of the city. Bad weather was hardly unusual, so he started to ignored it, but the way it came out of nowhere without even a cloud in the sky to expand quickly till lightening flashed out and struck the nearest tallest building, the old tower – all these made him stop. But what caused him to pause and barely register the voice in his ear was the two figures that appeared suddenly out of the flash.

His initial feeling was one of relief that the masquerading hope and his foe were not so close. But this relief was short lived when they shot away from the tower.

“Sorry sir...” Damian spoke with unhappy quietness into the phone. Than he realized his phone was dead, obviously one of many as he noticed several others around him looking at their cells in dismay.

Pocketing the phone his eyes returned, riveted to the sky. Now his feelings were more of anticipation and resigned acceptance that the 'hero' was needed in this moment. Unfortunately, there were worse things than the false god amoung men to contend with.

There above Damian and the white collar section of the city, locked in an embrace, was Superman and a dark hazy figure. They suddenly exploded apart, only to rush once again for each other and collide with such force, it boomed across the sky, sending a rushing wind down to the onlookers below.

Several times they relocked, grappling for some sort of dominance, only to push apart again to charge against each other in a violent surge. After several minutes of this, they disappeared together over one part of the city, to reappear over another, terrifying the inhabitants of Metropolis, most who could only see the blaze of red and blue mixing with a dark stain. Many later would report that the sight of the 'stain' had caused them to feel ill, a fear they couldn't explain.

The sunny sky rapidly changed to a mass of tumult dark clouds and lightening that stretched out over half the city, rain began to fall hard as those in the streets rushed for cover. The sound of thunder cracked and exploded each time Superman and his foe vanished and reappeared, adding to the rising panic.

~♥~
Wind whipped, tearing fiercely at his torn suit, lashing his hair and cape. They moved fast over the skies of the city, blinking in and out. Clark worked to control the speed in which they moved, in order to not inflict damage on the city and further endanger the already terrified citizens of Metropolis. Other than a few close calls and a partial run in with a side of a building, he succeeded, but it zapped his strength faster than he had anticipated.

Physically, the battle between them was even, both inflicting damage, but getting no where. Clark knew, as he was once again grappling, that it was continuing to expand and grow in power. Just as it was taking from him, he could feel it and its feeling and strength, one that could easily at this point out last him. He had to do this right.

When they once again exploded apart, this time he flew higher into the sky, waiting for it to chase him and it did. Screaming and slowly growing into a fast moving dark tumultuous cloud with less of a human shape and more like something out of a fairy tale nightmare, a specter of doom.

They rose up higher above the city and the storm that rained down on it. He could not out run it, while they did not have the exact same abilities, their strength and speed remained even, in actuality it had the advantage. It was feeding off him, and he was taxing himself in order to keep it under control. Just as he thought they would once again end up trying to tear each other apart, it stopped following.

Jerking violently from both pain and surprise, Clark turned to look back at it, having stopped above the city it hovered, visually calm but the wave rushing through Clark from it was anything but calm. It was either evolving further at that moment or was trying a different tactic to regain control; regardless, Clark jerked again from the pain deep inside him - worse than anything he had ever felt with green-k, worse than anything he had ever felt. He could feel it pull. It was preparing to take the last of him.

No! He felt it connect with Lois, reclaiming its hold on her, through him, just as the storm over the city, seemingly in-tune with the creeper itself, began to spit violently out. Casting stronger more intense stray bolts and charges into buildings, into the streets themselves. He could hear the screams, but could do nothing to help in that moment.

With no control over his body he began to fall, feeling his strength drain, the harsh rain hit his skin, the thing feeding off him and Lois.

Oh Lois...if there was a hell, this was it - to feel her ebb away from him and not know if it was because she was dying, or him, or both of them.

~♥~



Bart had, as he was ordered, stayed in Metropolis. At the time he had thought it would turn out to be pointless. Watch the city, keep an eye out. For what?

He had a sudden new found respect for Clark as they explosively appeared in the sky. It had been quiet the surprise, and probably not even what Clark himself had imagined, but Bart was there and watching the fast moving display of violence.

It was a good thing speed was his forte' for he was able to keep up and keep an eye out on the combatants, avoiding the dangers of a storm that rolled and roared over head. It had come out of nowhere and filled the sky rapidly, becoming more and more violent with each passing second.

No more then perhaps a handful of minutes could have gone by since Clark and the Soul splitter had appeared above Metropolis but in that time damage had been done. Mostly by the storm which struck buildings, cars, and anything moving. Several times Bart found himself saving pedestrians who had not been quick enough to get off the streets. Though the streets weren't the only dangerous place, some of the lightening strikes were capable of entering windows leaving broken glass, screaming survivors, and he feared dead bodies behind.

It hadn't escaped his notice either that twice Watchtower had suffered such a strike, he forced himself to not focus on it or the fact communication between Watchtower and the team currently came as sporadic speech or piercing static over his ear piece.

John and Lana were at Watchtower and that would have to do. Bart would not abandoned his post, though at the sight of Clark falling to the earth and the Soul Splitter swooping down to the street heading straight for him, he actually second guessed his decision. The thing moved remarkably fast and despite his own speed Bart found he was barely escaping the black death screaming for him.

~♥~


Eternity surrounded him, it was merely seconds of falling in reality but for Clark it was lifetimes. It was not his life that flashed before his eyes as he felt himself being in affect ripped apart from inside out, it was the memories of a love that at one time he had never thought he'd experience. One he did not want to let go of yet.. couldn't. Even without the urge to never live alone, dying this way meant 'it' still lived on.

He wasn't aware of his screams, or the howling wind that tore at him and whipped him back and forth. The swirling, booming, storm raged on over the city drowning him out, drowning out the cries for help. Interfering with power, computers, communication. Metropolis was under siege and Superman was falling, only able to feel the pain, see her face.

Something changed. Again he felt her.. a stirring in his soul as it was being consumed.

Don't give up...

Maybe she said the words, maybe he only felt her desire for him to fight. But he had no doubt she was with him in that moment. He had too fight.

Lois..

He remembered the nightmare.. the tears in Chloe's eyes, the despair in her voice “We tried to save you both”.

And the thing.. “I took them all when you fell.”

No. He could not, would not, let it win.

“There's no try Skywalker.. I believe in you..This is embarrassing to admit, but I don't want to be alone anymore....you're part of me now, Clark. Half of a whole. So in the future, if there's even a chance that the mission might claim my better half, sign me up. Because I'd rather be in some sand-blown purgatory then in the hell of not knowing if I'll ever see you again.... Oh Smallville, even without the super powers, you would still be my hero, never forget it. ...Where else would I be, but at your side? Clark, you are not alone in this. ”

Her voice, echo's of the past were all that he needed. Somehow despite the agony, despite his flesh beginning to shrivel at the Soul Splitters ingestion of his very being, he opened his eyes and came out of eternity into consciousness.

There was no clear thought that could explain why or how he had even managed to swallow the second red kryptonite capsule. In the seconds before he would have hit the ground, it hit his system recharging what already coursed through his veins, again he screamed this time from the rush and then he stopped falling, only feet away from the ground. He pushed back upwards for the sun, taking it in, filling back out, and dragging up every emotional based arsenal he could.

The time it took to was no more then seconds but it was enough to give him one last push and the creeper pause.

It had rushed for Bart, sensing his uniqueness, his own emotional war and in its greed it projected fear till he tripped over himself and collided into a building about to face his death.

~♥~


Bart had never felt anything like it, terror in a way he never had. Being forced to run for hours as Lex's prisoner hadn't done it, nor the looming Apokolips. No, this was what true terror felt like, to feel it down to ones bones, an ache that clawed from the inside. He would have screamed, cried..anything but the intensity of the fear overpowered him.

Salvation came like a whirlwind of red and blue, it slammed straight into hovering mass ready to strike at him. The building, ironically the daily Planet, shook from the initial collision and then from the proceeding fight. Clark held nothing back, he was out to destroy, rage written all over his face as he slammed at the creeper, using his heat vision and whatever else felt good.

The Soul Splitter retaliated with equal force, clawing and slashing, inflicting till his opponent bleed. Its link to the kryptonian was once again like a buffet, but the onslaught that came with it was to much to take in at once. Which was exactly what it was being forced to do. Like a mouth to full of food it couldn't swallow, not without choking.

Clark gave in inward grin as he felt it retreat from the connection. Still he force fed it, letting everything he felt for it, for Lois, for anyone flow out of him. All the heightened volatile emotions of a enraged red-k high kryptonian tore at the Soul Splitter, till it pushed away physically as well.

Changes that had already begun continued, the Kryptonian's rebuttal would only momentarily delay. Screaming, it took off for the sky, its expanding and evolving being demanded to be fed. While the kryptonian was currently to much to handle there was a city full of people and their bonds, no longer needing to touch or be near it opened its self up.

The storm above the city acquired an even more violent stance. Reflecting the thing that took up residence at the heart of it.

The ever growing maelstrom defied all human science, atleast in this current time frame. It did not, however, awe Clark. Having once been deposited via lightening strike in the middle of a cornfield , survived a day in an alien prison and experienced other numerous occurrences of science not of earth, the link between the Soul splitter and the now city size storm was perfectly conceivable, even in its own way expected.

Unlike his biological father, Clark only had a rudimentary knowledge of kryptonian science. Though in that particular moment , as he looked up at it, the how of its existence or formation, was not as important as how to destroy it.

“My Son, a sacrifice from within will be necessary in order to free yourself from the Soul Splitters connection.” The words of his father, was this the moment? Was this what he meant?

It occurred to Clark that the little highly condensed lethal black kryptonite capsule might have been intended for something other then he had originally thought. Leave it to Jor'El to speak in riddles, deny straight answers. Intended or not it did not matter. As he stared at the dark mass a plan formed and he understood what the sacrifice could be in other ways.

A Pain in his soul. Pain he wasn't sure he could put either him or Lois through if he thought about it to long. The alternative was just as painful, just a slower demise with consequences stretching on beyond his death. This way, maybe at the very least, it would be a clean death – he could take the creeper with him. Save her.

Turning to Bart, who was clearly still a little shaken from his own run in with the creeper, Clark focused on the younger man. Capturing in turn complete and undivided attention.

“Go to Watchtower. Tell Lois, tell her I'm sorry for what she is about to feel. Even if she isn't conscious.. tell her.” He knew she wasn't but maybe she'd hear the words somehow. “ Tell the others to prepare. It may get more violent before it gets better.” He glanced back up and than look around.

There is no time.. there is no time. The thought rang through his head but it would have to do. He couldn't worry about the lives that might be lost, the ones he had no chance in saving. Not if he was going to save a city and the world.

Looking back at Bart he said the only thing he could think of, a help that wasn't all that useful. “Keep them off the streets..find away!”

In case this was the end he didn't want those to be his last words, “ Tell Lois.. I love her..Always and forever.”

It did not escape his notice the little black pill that Clark slipped in mouth, to be held between his teeth. Bart swallowed thickly not sure what to really say beyond , “Aye, Boyscout.”

Clark gave a nod then was gone. Flying up with enough force that Bart was knocked off his feet.

Getting back up, he took no time to watch Superman head into the storm he wouldn't have been able to see him anyway. Instead he sped straight to Watchtower to do as he was asked. 


Continue to Part 2..