Almost Partners (Chapter Thirty-Four)

Lois and Linda stood in front of the blue house with the white trim. It had a perfectly kept lawn and white rosebushes bordered the path.

Linda shook her head. "You think this Lizzie takes time out from her evil experiments to prune the bushes? I hear it's very relaxing. I was thinking of having a greenhouse, actually. I tend to get high-strung and I was watching this TLC show and..."

"It's part of the HOA fees, Linda. I doubt Albright has anything to do with it." Nearly every house had the same eggplant-shaped lawn and unobtrusively colored flowers. "And what is with you, anyway? Puppies, gardening..."

"I'm... I'm a little nervous, okay? I haven't been much into the sneaky spy business since... some Ollie stuff I did, totally unrelated to other stuff and... Hey, the lights are out." She grinned. "Maybe we got lucky and no one's home."

"Maybe." There was no noise, except the faint and plaintive sounds of Karen Carpenter. It didn't seem to be coming from the house. "We'd better look in just in case... Bush," she suddenly hissed as light started to crest over one side of the street and Karen Carpenter came closer. "Dive for it!"

"Huh?" Linda didn't move, so Lois pulled her behind a very large rosebush near the walkway. "Um... ow."

"Shh!" Lois peeked through the leaves and blossoms, wincing a little at the thorns scratching her hands, waiting for the white SUV to pass.

"What is it? Security?"

"Worse. Dodie." The woman was fairly crawling by singing loudly along about being at the top of the world looking down at creation.

"What's a Dodie?" Linda whispered.

"You don't want to know." She stood, still crouching slightly, moving toward the side of the house. The windows were dark, but the shades were drawn all the way down. She tried to peek around, but there wasn't a scrap between.

Linda grasped her arm. "You check this side, I'll check the other." Lois nodded and moved to the next window. It was small and looked to be for the bathroom, but even that view was shaded. She'd just come to the front again, peeking in the long windows near the door. The glass was beveled and very pretty and completely impossible to make out a shape through. She listened hard at the door. Not a sound.

"I don't think anyone's home, at least." Lois jumped slightly and turned to her cousin. "I cut the power, anyway. But this place is sealed up tight. But I did find this." Linda held up a squat garden gnome.

Lois sighed. "Don't tell me. You and Ollie are thinking of redecorating the garden and you've found a new affinity for lawn gnomes."

Linda snorted. "God, no." She curled her lip up at the gnome. "Hideous. I was thinking we could break a window with it."

"Don't you dare!" a voice hissed behind them. Both turned slowly, letting out identical sighs of relief when they saw it was Pammie.

Lois stepped forward. "Pammie, what are you..."

"I can't let you do this," she hissed. She glanced anxiously behind her. "I can't leave Marcy and the kids for long, but... Listen, Mike will be back tomorrow. He's friends with the chief of police and, if you can present some probable cause, then we can have someone search the place. But Lois, I can't sit by and watch you just break into..."

There was a muffled crash and both turned to see Linda, prying the gnome out of a smashed chunk of beveled glass. She looked back, smiling. "What? Lois didn't do it. Totally my bad. See, I was just admiring this gnome when it just slipped out of my hands." She put the gnome down, then straightened and shrugged. "Oops."

Lois winked at Linda as Pammie sputtered behind them. "Linda, you clumsy oaf."

"That's me."

Lois moved to the door, placing her hand into the hole. "I was trying to survey the damage when my hand slipped in and... oops." She turned the lock. "Door's open." She turned back to both women. "We should go in and leave a note."

"Do you think this is funny?" Pammie stood near the stoop, shaking her head.

"No, I don't. This is very serious, which is why I need to see inside. If I'm wrong, I'll pay for the damages." She glanced at her cousin. "Well, actually, Linda will. She's loaded."

Linda nodded. "I did break it."

Lois turned on her flashlight and moved inside, pushing sowly at the door. "Creepy." It was dark, but that wasn't what was giving her the creeps. The house was nearly empty. It looked almost like something up for sale.

Linda followed and looked around. "Any word about this Lizzie moving out?"

Lois strolled further into the living room, her footsteps echoing in the empty house. She aimed her flashlight at the hall off the living room, creeping toward the two open doors. One was a bathroom and it was empty save for a lone toothbrush in the holder and one towel haphazardly thrown over the shower door. The bedroom contained nothing more than a lone cot. "Ten to one, she never really moved in." She glanced at Pammie. "Why bother making it homey? This wasn't where she really lived. Was it?"

"But she's been here for so long. When I first moved in, she was here."

"Yes. And I suppose she just said she was a minimalist."

"Well, I've... I've never been inside, really. She always said the place was a cluttered mess and it was embarrassing to... I don't understand."

Lois took her by the shoulders. "Does anyone know Marcy's staying with you?"

"What? No. I... I just took her in, really. I didn't see any reason to..."

"Pammie, I need you to take Marcy for testing tonight, if possible. Is there anyone you can call to watch your kids?"

"Well, Mikey's sister lives in Granville. I suppose I could..."

"Do it. I think Marcy should be under some care in case..." In case Lizzie comes back to clean up her mess. "Just in case," she finally finished. Pammie looked upset enough.

Pammie nodded. "This is all... I don't know what to..." She shook her head and walked out, leaving Lois and Linda in the bare room.

Lois huffed and stomped one foot. "I don't even know where to look? It's almost like there is nowhere to look."

Linda moved to the kitchen. "Kinda wish I hadn't cut the lights. Might help if every darkened corner wasn't so damn dark." She opened the fridge, felt around. "Not even pickles and mustard. Even a hardly used fridge has pickles and mustard." She slammed it shut as Lois stared at her. "Well, it's true."

Lois moved to what might be called the bedroom, looking everywhere her flashlight shined as she tried to put the pieces together. If Lizzie was using Marcy, then it seemed she'd used her up. She wondered if what was in the inhaler was similar to what had been used on the couples. Something to keep the subject malleable, docile, cooperative. She knew that Clark had found similar traces in her T-shirt, but she absolutely refused to think about that right now. Apart from the occasional black-out, she was a-okay, or at least that's what she told herself. Or could she end up like Marcy, driven mad by things she wasn't allowed to think, to question... She shook her head and focused on the bare room. She just needed sleep. She'd had little enough all week. She'd been a mess since Thanksgiving. She'd be fine with some sleep.

Or at least that's what she kept telling herself.

She watch the flashlight's beam in the bare room. No furniture. Only a small cot and some rumpled bedding. Very bare bones. As if it was only just in case. Lizzie may have slept here once in a while, but she had somewhere more permanent to lay her head. If she could find that, she could find the couples. She just knew it.

"I don't know what to do." Linda leaned in the doorway. "Should we swipe the toothbrush? At least we won't come back empty hand..." She slid to the side slightly. "Oh, damn it."

"What?"

She looked down. "There's something on my heel. Almost slipped for a sec."

Lois moved her light, shining it over Linda's boots. "What is it?"

"Just a piece of paper." Linda picked it off her heel and crumpled it, tossing it over her shoulder. "Do you think we can grab a burger on the way back to..."

"Wait." Lois strode forward past Linda and bent to retrieve the crumpled bit of paper. She cradled her light between her neck and shoulder, opening it up. "It's a toll receipt for the 70."

Linda looked over her shoulder. "Probably one of yours. Doesn't the 70 run to Smallville?"

"Yes, but..." Lois stared at it. "But it's only a toll road west of Metropolis." She smiled. "This isn't mine."

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

Victor was practically red in the eyes as he paced in front of Bart. "And let's not even mention the fact that, despite all the many ways I said to wait for the go-ahead, you just rushed in without a by-your-leave, once again."

"Why are you even surprised? It's what I do," Bart said, shrugging.

"What you always do," Oliver chimed in, standing over him, shaking his head like a disappointed parent. "Do you think this is funny? Even at Ruby Ridge, you..."

"I what?" Bart stood slowly. "I got in and linked to the general's computer and even got the damned general, making everything a lot fucking easier for all of us? Was that my big mistake?" He took a deep breath. "Maybe I rush into things a bit, but that's what you do when you see an opportunity. You take it. You don't let it pass you by." He dug in his pocket. "And look, at least I got..."

"What?" Ollie snatched the receipt from his hands. "This? Proof that one of Lex's henchmen is all sugared up? I hardly think your receipt for redbull and mallomars is gonna crack this wide open."

"But..."

"You're suspended," Ollie barked. "Effective immediately."

Bart stared at Ollie and Victor, then glanced at AC, who just looked away. "Should have waited, Bro."

Bart pursed his lips, then snatched the receipt from Ollie's hands. "Fine." He strode to the stairwell. "Hope you all have lots of fun waiting and thinking. Good stuff. Really gets the job done." With that, he was gone.

To be honest, Clark was too stunned by this entire night to even react. He'd been so focused on the crystal, on what he might have to do. He never thought that, after all their plans, they'd been on their way to hitting a wall. And he never thought that Lois wouldn't stay. He turned to the rest of the group, already huddled together.

"Thorul Industries," Ollie said slowly. "With Luthorcorp practically out of his control, he'd have to set up something new."

"But why couples?" Diana chimed in. "Why not just grab some random women, someone nobody will miss, and set up a lab?"

"Lex Luthor's mind is beyond me," Victor said, shaking his head. "They guy's hardly human."

"Did you call them?" Clark asked quietly.

"We need to set up full-time surveillance on Luthor's activities and..."

"Did you call them?" he asked, louder. Possibly too loud. Every head turned to him, slightly shocked.

Ollie blinked at Clark. "We had our hands a little full, Clark." He glanced at his watch. "Besides, it only been a little over an hour. I'm sure they'll..."

"Call them."

Ollie stared at him for a moment before taking out his phone. He pushed a button and put it to his ear. "It... it went to voicemail."

"Oh, Jesus."

"Clark, calm down. She never charges it. This happens all the..."

"What the hell were you thinking? Letting them go..."

"Linda was angry at me. If she needed some space, I figured..."

"You'd let her go to the bar," Clark finished, laughing harshly. "Is that what you honestly believe they did?"

"Clark, Linda wouldn't just lie to..."

"These aren't just any two women, Ollie. There's a gene in them that makes them headstrong and reckless and..." He pulled off his goggles and headset, slamming them on the table with a dull crunch. "Someone needs to teach them to stay put."

"Clark, wait..."

He didn't hear the rest of it. He rushed out to the parking garage and into the alley, taking to the sky. He'd take them back, then he'd kill them. No. He'd kill them, then he'd take them back. Either way, there were two cousins about to get either saved or killed. He knew where to look first. He landed in Met Vista, striding to the door of the ugly house he shared with Lois.

He pushed in, not bothering with the lock or even the knob. The door splintered and bounced against the wall. "Lois?" He strode further into the darkened house. "Lois! Linda!" He stopped, listening for her. "Chloe," he finally growled.

"No." A woman appeared, silhouetted in the darkened hallway. "But try a few more names. You might guess."

"Helen," he said darkly.

"Good guess." She came forward, a gun in her hand aiming ahead. "A little too good."

He nodded to it. "That supposed to scare me?"

"Probably not, Clark." She said, inching further into the light from the streetlamps outside. "Or should I say Superman? Nice name, by the way. Someone has a high opinion of himself."

He stepped forward slightly.

"I wouldn't do that," she warned. "These aren't any ordinary bullets." She caressed the gun. "They've been dipped in something very special."

"The same thing you infected me with," he surmised.

"Aren't you smart?" She looked him up and down. "You look recovered, as I thought. Good for you."

He took another step.

She cocked the gun. "I really wouldn't try that again. If you think this slows you down on your skin, imagine what it does from the inside out. You might not survive, Clark."

He could be out of here faster than she could shoot, but there was one thing holding him. "What have you done with Lois and Linda?"

Her eyes widened. "You mean the phony wife?" She smiled. "Yes. My associate filled me in on that. She..." Helen smiled. "I'm sure she's fine. Or she will be, as long as you cooperate."

His entire body sagged. "What do you want me to do?"

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

"You think they'll be pissed?"

"Probably." Lois walked ahead of Linda in the parking garage.

"Maybe they don't know where we really were. They might have no idea."

"They will soon."

"You're going to tell them?"

Lois stopped and turned back to Linda. "We have to. We have important information." There might also be a tiny part of her that wanted to rub it in that she'd actually found something on what was actually her story... Well, half her story, at least.

"But... But I've never lied to Ollie before. I mean, it was bound to happen sooner or later, us being married and all, but... I'd rather he not know."

Lois turned back, pressing the button on the elevator. "Linda, we're back, we're safe and we have something."

"See, I kind of disagree." Linda stepped in front of the doors as they opened. "Maybe we should lay low until we find out what's up with that Marcy. Then we have something besides your toll receipt. No offense, but..."

Lois lightly pushed her backward into the elevator. "We found Lizzie was a doctor and a sham. We are pretty certain that Marcy is being controlled in some way, and we know that Lizzie is taking long trips on the 70, probably with her supposed niece Darcy, otherwise known as Helen Bryce." She turned and punched the PH button, satisfied with herself. And she was.

"Well, when you put it that way... But... I don't get it. The 70 goes nowhere near Tribune. The boys were in Tribune."

"Exactly." Lois shook her head and dug her keys out and unlocked the car. "I don't know what they found in Tribune," she went on, "But there's more to it. They don't have all the pieces. I feel it." She smiled slightly as she started the car. "We have what we found, they have what they found. Between the two, I think we'll sew this shut."

"Yeah." Linda nodded and smiled. "They might even thank us." Of course, Linda didn't really believe that or she would have let loose her death grip on Lois' jacket as they moved through the empty living room to the door of the noisy control room.

"Oliver, stop torturing yourself," Victor was saying, not looking at Ollie, but at a monitor that flashed before him. "Bart always lands on his feet."

Her heart was pounding. "But what about Clark? I've never seen him so..."

"What about Clark?" Lois broke in, rushing through the doorway. "Aren't they back?"

The room fell completely silent as all eyes turned to them. She could feel Linda's breath on the back of her head.

Ollie spoke first, spitting out a fingernail as he came forward. "What do you mean? Clark went to get you two." He shook his head. "Linda, give it up. You're a little tall to be hiding behind your cousin..."

"Wait," Lois broke in. "So they did come back."

"Yes. And Clark went off to chase the two of you down and... You know what? You don't look drunk to me."

"Sweetie," Linda stepped to the side, grasping Lois' hand. "We can explain..."

"Why don't you start with where you were," Ollie said, his jaw tight.

"Just out," Linda tried. Lois grasped her hand back hard. This was no time to lie, not when they had so much to share.

"We were at Metropolis Vista," Lois admitted.

Ollie blinked at them. "You were... what?"

Linda stepped forward. "Sweetie, I didn't mean to lie, but it was for the greater good. We... found things and..."

"When did Clark leave?" Lois cut in.

"Nearly a half-hour ago," Ollie answered tensely. "More than enough time for Clark."

It was. And she knew exactly where he'd go. He'd go where she would. He must have gone there just after she left. "Send Bart," she said, swallowing hard. "He's the only one who can catch him."

"Bart's suspended," Victor said tersely.

"Yeah, but we could lift it," AC suggested. "I mean, considering he's the only one who can..."

"He ran off. He could be in Guadalahara by now." Ollie clenched his fists. "We have no means of catching Clark."

"Okay, everyone calm down," Diana said, rising. "Clark could still be looking. We don't know for sure that he's..."

"Missing?" Everyone turned to see Martha Kent in the doorway.

"Mrs. K." Victor stepped forward. "We didn't know you were..."

"Because I think he is," she went on, her voice shaky. "Call it mother's intuition, but... I think would be here by now if he could be."

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

"Eyes on the floor," Helen barked.

Clark quickly looked down again. She still held the gun in her lap, trained on him. He had seen that much, along with miles of asphalt rushing by under the car. He ached to see where they were going. The gun shouldn't stop him, except... If she hurt Lois... "Is she... are you keeping her safe?"

"She's fine if you behave," Helen said darkly. "But let's talk about you." Her voice was suddenly light. "How did you throw it off so quickly?" Helen asked."Is it the higher concentration of your blood? Is it just that I need more?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't play dumb with me, Kent. I had an infected blood sample of yours at Smallville Med years ago. I saw for myself how extraordinary it was and how quickly it was being destroyed by the spores and then, lo and behold, the blood was free of all infection." She laughed slightly. "It was amazing. I have to admit, I kept a sample or two. It's rare that someone comes across something so unique." There was wonder in her voice "Blood that can never hold illness. It wasn't until after Superman reared his noble head that I saw how much else there was to you. What is it about you?"

He knew it had been the ship. His father and he had smuggled it to the hospital, curing him, his mother, probably that blood as well. Some of that power was in the crystal, still in his back pocket. He wouldn't tell her that. He didn't explain. He had to hold some of the answers, otherwise she might consider herself done with him and with Lois. Her life would be forfeit and his... Maybe this was it. This was the moment he'd dreaded most of his life. He was about to be taken somewhere, poked and prodded in the name of science. A thing to be studied. Not a person.

"We trusted you before," he said quietly, wondering if she could possibly see him as that boy from Smallville. "My mother went to you for prenatal care. My father let you help me because he thought you were actually helping."

"Shut up."

"I'm not a specimen, you know. I grew up and had friends and birthdays and Christmases and..."

"I said shut up," she said, though her voice shook slightly. "I don't want to hear a word out of your mouth unless it's an answer."

He inhaled slowly. "I'm not telling you a thing unless I see that she's safe."

He heard a soft growl. "I don't understand," she groaned. "The blood healed. I figured it had some innate ability to heal itself. I wanted to study it further, but Lex..." She laughed bitterly. "The sneaky bastard stole it. And I forgave him, of course I did. How else could I get to the honeymoon?"

"To when you tried to kill him?"

"Oh, don't get sanctimonious on me. We both know the world would be better off if Lex Luthor had truly died that day."

"Why?" Clark prodded. "Because of his illegal experiments? Because of the way he treated people like lab rats, kidnapped them, performed tests on them..."

The car swerved slightly and he fell against the window, hearing a dull crack. "Don't you dare compare me to Lex Luthor! He's a rich boy with too much time on his hands. I fucking worked for what I had. I had a research grant from Johns Hopkins and I threw it away for... for him. And how did he repay me? He took the one thing I had. The one thing I'd found that could make a mark on this world. Your blood. God..." She laughed bitterly. "If he'd waited... With his money and my mind, we could have... Jesus, we could have changed the world. And no one had to know, not even you, how we did it." Her voice softened. "I had no plans to tell, Clark. I never did. I wanted you all to myself. A never-ending reservoir of miracles."

He never felt the cold, but he shivered now.

Her voice turned hard. "But Lex betrayed me. He stole it. He went behind my back. I couldn't forgive that."

Clark remembered now. It had never been completely clear before. He'd been doped up on red K in Metropolis. Edge paid him to steal from Luthorcorp. But it had been his own blood. "Lex... he stole my blood?"

"Most of it," Helen said smugly. "I wasn't altogether stupid. I'd sent some to a colleague at the Mayo Clinic, just to hold onto. I got it later. It wasn't easy, considering I was dead." Her breath became shaky suddenly. "God, look at me. My name should be in encyclopedias and I'm living fucking underground, working under someone else's terms because I don't fucking exist." She sniffled, then breathed deep. "God, this whole thing would have been so much smoother if it was done my way, but no," her voice lost all sadness, turning snide. "I was just a laboratory slave. Even though I had the one thing they needed, I was treated like nothing. We could have created a super race in moments. But they had to bring in these... people. With their sad eyes and their needy looks. And why?"

Clark didn't move, tried not to breathe. There was something about her that seemed unhinged, jumping from sad to angry to smug. But she was letting it out, she was dropping the very things he needed to know. He didn't want her to stop. "Why?"

"Well, you should know," she said bitterly. "Weren't you raised by a childless couple? Weren't you the little miracle boy?" He heard a sharp inhale. "They want more of you."

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

"It checks out," Victor said, staring at the monitor. "Albright's name is on a number of Luthor medical records. Looks like the Luthors had their own private physician."

"This doesn't make sense." Lois looked at the clock for about the millionth time. It had been another half-hour now. An hour, added up. That was an awful long time for someone with super-speed. We have to find Clark. We have to find Clark. We have to find... The words ran through her head like a litany, even as she tried to match her info with Victor's. "How can Lex Luthor be behind this?" She watched as everyone seemed to glance at each other. "What?"

"Maybe you've been out of the loop," AC finally said. "But Lex Luthor is at the bottom of most evil doings in these parts."

She shook her head again, remembering his wild eyes and his unkempt state. It didn't seem right. "Lex Luthor can hardly tie his own shoes, let alone..."

"We need to watch him closely." Victor said, as if she hadn't spoken. "I have a satellite link on the outside, but we need to get some surveillance inside, find out exactly what he's up to."

"This is ridiculous." Lois stood. "Why are we even talking about Luthor? We need to find Clark."

Victor turned to her. "That's exactly why we're watching Luthor."

"But it's Helen and Lizzie who..."

"Yes. And they're working for Lex." Victor's voice softened. "Lois, I'm glad that you found a link, but it leads back to Luthor and we need to..."

"But that's... no. I've told you. Luthor can't be behind all this. I feel it."

"You know what?" She glanced to her left. It was Ollie, pushing away from the table. "I'm not sure you should trust your feelings, Lois. I mean , you felt that you had to go to Met Vista. And look what happened."

Lois found her eyes narrowing at his tone. "Yes. Look what happened. We found..."

"You found out who one of the involved parties is. Something we could have found ourselves, once Lex led us to them."

"Lex?" Lois stepped forward. "He's not capable of organizing a tea party, let alone..."

"You are in no state to know what Lex Luthor is capable of," Ollie said firmly.

Lois raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"

He stared at her long and hard, then sighed. "I think you need a break, Lois. Why don't you go lay down and..."

"I am sick of being told to stay away from my own investigation," Lois growled. "I am not a child to be ordered around by you or by Clark or by..."

"Clark is missing," Ollie said, his voice nearly cold. "Might be hard for him to order you around, considering that."

"No." She shook her head. "I am not to blame for Clark's actions. If he got himself in trouble, then I will do what I can to help him out of it. But I refuse to take the blame."

"Now, calm down," Martha said. Lois felt her hand on her arm. "No one is placing blame. We all know Clark can be a bit headstrong and..."

"Oh, I am placing blame," Ollie said tightly. "Clark would be here now if these two had learned to stay put."

Linda suddenly stood. "What? Are we dogs now? To stay and sit when you say so?"

"Linda, stay out of this."

Linda strode forward. "No. Let me tell you something, Mr. Superhero, us mere mortals have something to give and I think Lois and I found..."

"Nothing," Ollie burst out. "You put yourselves in danger for nothing. A sham doctor and a toll receipt. You're about as useful as Bart with his..."

Lois stepped up to him. "Strong words from the man who dismissed the one guy who could have chased Clark down before it was too late."

The room was silent until Martha let out a shaky breath. "Please don't say that."

Lois closed her eyes briefly, then moved to her, putting a hand on her arm. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Kent. I don't think it's too late. We'll find him. I just think certain people are wasting time at a dead end." She stared Ollie down.

He stared back hard. "Like I said, maybe you should go lay down."

"Not here," Lois said firmly. Her head was swimming, but she wouldn't lay her head down in this apartment just to find a locked door on waking. She turned on her heel. She would find Clark without any superhuman back-up or interference.

"Where are you going?" It was Martha, so she softened her stance as she turned.

"To my apartment." She glanced at Ollie. "Is that allowed? Because last time I checked, I was a free..."

"Do what you want."

She turned again, striding to the door.

"Wait!" It was Linda. She stopped in the doorway, but didn't turn. "Ollie," she heard Linda say softly. "Lois has a point. We found some vital clues and maybe you shouldn't just jump to..."

"Linda, for the last time, stay out of this!"

There was silence. Lois nearly expected to hear a pin drop. Instead, she heard AC's softly whispered "Oh, man..."

"You want me out?" Linda's words were fairly calm, but Lois could hear the edge underneath. "I'm out. Out of this apartment." Lois suddenly felt Linda's arm under hers. "Come on, Lo."

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