Almost Lois (Chapter Four)

Chapter Four

"It's a message," Lois said firmly, pacing the kitchen. "And it's a stupid move on his part. He's showing his hand."

"But Lex would never hurt me, would he? I always treated him well..."

"Martha, with a man like Lex, it doesn't matter. You can never make up for what he holds against you most."

"I can't pretend to figure him out." She looked up from the table. "What does he hold against me?"

"You loved and sheltered someone he believes shouldn't exist. Someone he is, I think, intensely jealous of. You were good people and you gave Clark a good life. He was born with everything and nothing to show for it. Clark got everything he thinks he should have had. It's... It's your very nature he resents."

Martha looked toward a picture on the wall. A three-year-old Clark was covered in cheerios and peanut butter. "I couldn't help but love that baby. I never cared that he was something different, except for the fear he'd leave us."

"As he did," Lois said firmly, a note of resentment in her voice.

"It wasn't like that," Martha insisted. "He'll do great things. His very existence is a sign of hope. Don't you see that? My boy," she said in wonder.

Lois nodded and forced a smile. It wasn't Martha's fault Clark hadn't loved her. She didn't need to burden her with the bitterness. "At any rate, Lex wants you to know that he knows. But why?"

Martha tore a tissue methodically in her hands. "I know why." She sat back and sighed. "Lois, there is some good deep in Lex. He's struggled with it. I've seen it. He's hoping I'll leave." She pushed her chair back and stood. "He'll find it hard to resist getting the information from me. He wants to scare me away so he doesn't have to do what that dark side of him demands."

Lois sat now. "I never thought of that." She'd been sure that Lex's dark side had consumed him fully for years. Was there really a part of him that didn't want to carry out these things?

"But I won't leave," Martha said, shaking her head. "I want to be waiting when he comes back."

"That's ridiculous, Martha. If... What's that noise?"

Both women moved to the window, a repetitive sound split the air, but they couldn't see the source from the kitchen. Martha gasped. "Do you think he's..."

"I'm here!" They screamed and spun around as Linda nearly jumped through the front door. "I'm here. Everything's fine." She crossed over, out of breath, and put her hand on Martha's shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll sort this out and..."

"Linda," Lois hissed, her heart still racing. "What are you doing here?"

"Well... You told me about the flowers and that you were going to Martha's, so I took the Bell."

"I didn't mean for you to rush over and scare the crap out of us." She swatted her cousin's arm. "Does Ollie even know you're here?"

Linda lifted her chin. "I'm not speaking to Oliver Queen." She moved to the kitchen table and sat, crossing her legs.

"What?" Lois sat down, still trying to make sense of it all.

Linda smiled tightly. "He's too busy running around with this new... person." She furrowd her brow and stared at the table, muttering. "Struts around in her glorified bathing suit... And who has a lasso past the old west? If he thinks I'll just sit around and..." She looked up, then laughed nervously. "This isn't about me. This is about Martha. So..." She clapped her hands together. "Safe house? Anywhere you want. I took Ollie's card."

"I'm not leaving, Linda."

"What? That's crazy."

Lois sighed. "That's what I said."

"I'm waiting for my son," Martha said firmly. "Lex won't hurt me. I know, deep down, he can't."

Linda stood. "Martha, he's a monster. Even deep down, he's just..." She trailed off as an insistent ringing sounded from her pocket. She pulled out her cell and looked at it before turning the ringer off. "Ollie."

"Can't you at least tell him where you are?" Martha asked gently.

"I'd rather he wonder a little."

Martha looked at the clock. "It's past two. I know I panicked and I'm sorry to have worried you girls, but... I'm fine. And I just want to go to bed."

"We'll stay," Lois said quickly.

"You have work," Martha said, shaking her head. "I feel better knowing you're working on disproving Lex's story than if you waste time here."

A part of her knew Martha was right. But another part wanted to tie her up and throw her into the Bell, take her away. "Okay. I respect your wishes."

Martha stepped forward and hugged her. "Please believe that I know what I'm doing."

Lois nodded and turned to Linda. She was glaring at her phone. "Why hasn't he called again?"

"Just call him from my car," Lois sighed. "You can stay with me tonight. Martha, can we stash the Bell here?"

She nodded. "We'll move some things around in the barn."

*********************************

"I don't really care if he's running around the city with her, anyway," Linda was saying, her feet on Lois' desk. Lois moved them without blinking and took a notepad from under them. "I mean, she may have some talent in that hero area. But I was the one who got him elected."

"Linda, I really have to work. If you had to come here, could you at least let me concentrate?"

"He doesn't even like brunettes that much. I mean, if you thought Ollie was hot for me back when, you should have seen him after the dye job. He practically..."

"Then what are you so afraid of?"

"I'm not afraid. I'm just..."

"Would you just call him, already? If I have to listen to one more..."

"Hey, Lois!"

She looked up. Jimmy was coming toward her, smiling. "I developed those pictures of the doc. I know they're not really needed, but just in case he does end up evaluating Luthor... I mean, you never know." He put his hands in his pockets and grinned.

"Um... Sure. Thank you, Jimmy." Why was he being so... pleasant?

He suddenly looked at Linda and laughed. "Hey! Lois! I haven't seen you in forever."

Lois and Linda both stood quickly. "It's Linda," Linda clarified, grasping Lois' hand.

"Yes, I told you about my cousin," Lois said pointedly, smiling tightly. "Linda from Star City."

He shook his head, looking genuinely confused. "That's funny. I have no idea why I said Lois. I... We met, right?"

Linda nodded. "Quite a few times."

He suddenly laughed and shrugged. "Yeah. I'm bad with names. I'm so sorry about that."

"Uh..." Linda stared at him, tilting her head. "It's okay."

He leaned forward suddenly. "The Chief's got me on a coffee run. Do you guys want something?"

Lois shook her head, bewildered. "No, thanks. I'm good."

"Okay. See you later." He pointed with both fingers at her cousin. "Linda! Will not forget! Good meeting you."

"B-but we met..." She said to his back.

Lois sat down hard. "He's gone."

Linda stared after him. "What was that?"

"I have no idea. He's been so angry since I've been working here. Why is he suddenly so friendly?" She put her head in her hands. "Now I do need coffee."

Linda patted her shoulder. "I'll get us some."

Had Jimmy just decided to drop the anger? And, when he'd called Linda Lois, he'd looked strange. What could have happened between yesterday and today? She thought of how he'd stayed behind at the doctor's office. Something was...

"Is your friend going to work here, too?"

She lifted her head and stared over her monitor at Rachel Rogers. "What?"

The other woman smiled and tossed her blonde hair. "Just wanted to make sure we won't be taking any more staff on at a moment's notice."

"You know, Rachel, if you have a problem with me working here..."

"A problem?" Rachel opened her eyes wide and tilted her head. "Why should I have a problem? I mean, you just sail in here out of nowhere and get put on the story of the century... But, no. No problem at all."

She ducked back down and Lois sighed. She didn't have time to deal with petty females. There was Jimmy to think about. She remembered how he and the doctor had been talking when she'd hung up with Perry. She'd had to go meet the P.D. source after. It hadn't been good news. Apparently, the police were giving credence to Lex's claims that he shot his father in self defense. It was ridiculous. She nearly wished the cameras hadn't been destroyed by Clark and Bart. Then they'd have a recording and...

She turned to her purse and rifled through it. She'd left her recorder on in the doctor's office. It might lead nowhere, but at least she'd know what they said...

She opened her desk drawer and took the headphones from her ipod, plugging them into the recorder as she rewound it. The doctor's voice came through.

"...mind can handle only so much before it gives up and takes the body with it."

There was a shuffling, then a ringing before her own voice came out. "Excuse me... Lane, here." Her voice faded on the next. "Could you snap the Doc for me, Jimmy?... Smile nice, now."

"You have pain," she heard the doctor say. "I could take it away."

"What?" Jimmy's voice asked quietly.

"She'll be leaving soon. Would you stay and talk to me?"

"I... I..."

She heard herself clear her thoat. "I'm so sorry not to delve deeper, but I have a meeting. I think we have all we need."

"I'm sure you do," she heard Grady say.

"Well... Should we go back, Jimmy?" Then there was nothing. She groaned and tossed the recorder in her bag. She wished she'd left it there. The P.D. source hadn't let her record, anyway. She pulled the headphones off as Linda came back with two cups. She pulled out her keys. "I have to go."

"Okay, let me get some lids and..."

"No." She took the cups from her hands and set them on her desk. She handed her the keys instead. "Go to my place. You know it's only four blocks. I'm getting a cab. I have a lead."

"Well... can't I come with you? Or you could at least walk back with me and get your car."

"I hardly use the car for inter-city travel. The traffic sucks." She put her bag on her shoulder and turned to Linda again. "I want you to call Oliver and talk this out. He's not cheating on you and he's probably worried sick." Linda looked like she wanted to protest again, but Lois cut her off. "I'm just going to talk to my lead and we'll have dinner later. Okay?"

She left without getting an answer.

when she got outside, she hurriedly hailed a cab. "Metropolis Medical Complex, please."

*****************************

Kevin Grady. She'd been so stupid. He might not know who she is. He might not even know who she once was, but she now remembered him. He'd wiped Clark's mind for a full day. Later, his father had tried to wipe hers.

She stepped off the elevator and passed his secretary without pause. "Excuse me, but do you have an appointment..."

She threw open the door to his office. He was sitting next to a crying woman on the couch. The woman stared and he stood. "Miss Lane. Was there more you wanted to..."

"I need to speak to you now, Doctor."

"It would be a pleasure, but I'm in the middle of..."

"It regards your time in Smallville."

His eyes widened and he suddenly nodded. He bent to the woman. "Patricia, I know our time was only halfway up, but this is very important. You next session will be on me. You can make an appointment outside."

The woman stood and nodded, sniffling. "Thank you so much, Doctor Grady. Just letting it out is..."

"No thanks necessary." He put an arm around her shoulder and led her to the door. "By our next session, I think we'll have got to the root of things and, I promise you, you'll be feeling much better."

The assistant appeared as the woman went through the doorway. "I'm sorry, Kevin. She just went right past me and..."

"It's fine, Theresa." He waved her away. "Miss Lane interviewed me yesterday and it's very important that we finish." She glared at Lois as he closed the door. He turned to her. "Have a seat, Miss Lane," he said tiredly. "Or I guess I should say..." He looked closely at her. "Miss Sullivan?"

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