Now Serving #5

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

Diana's office is a busy place after the broadcast of Luthor's speech. No sooner does Kip leave and Diana click off the com with Elongated Man than the door to her office flies open and a disheveled Lois Lane enters, trailed by a few Amazonian aide types. "You cannot go in there unann--" one tries to say.

"Initials F.O. mean anything to you?" Lois snaps. Don't mess with her, even if you are twice her size.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"So what's that say about me to American women, Clark? That as soon as I get in some 'delicate condition' I go into hiding? That I'm AFRAID? That's crap. It's total crap. You both want me to give up something I love - the only thing I'm meant to do - because I MIGHT get hurt. Have you guys NOTICED I've gotten hurt before? I'm not going to go into hiding somewhere. I won't and I can't. I just...damn it, I WON'T." But when she looks at Clark, Lois' eyes are pleading. Maybe she does know he's right.

[amazon-diana.livejournal.com]

"It is hard for those of us who are strong to admit we might need to do something other than face the danger head on. And you are one of the strongest women I know Lois." Her voice is gentle.

"But this is not just about your safety anymore."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_man_of_steel_/]

Kal nods. Thank GOD Diana's here.

"You don't have to give up writing. You've got people that can be your legwork and get you what you need to write. You just can't be out there."

He pauses, and he's almost at the point of tears. "For you to continue this, and for me to feel safe about you doing it, I would have to give up doing what I do. Because I cannot function, either as Clark or as Superman, wondering what idiot's going to try to make a name for himself by being the one who murdered Superman's baby."

"I know you're not afraid. I know you're strong, and that you would face it head on. But the baby doesn't have that choice to make."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

Diana's words do mean a lot. If Wonder Woman, the very image of strength in womankind, can tell her it's not weakness to be cautious...

Then Clark speaks. Clark, whose heart is the strongest muscle in his mighty body, who has more sentiment in one finger than Lois has ever possessed, who would willingly sacrifice himself for anyone but most especially for her and for their child. She gets up, wraps herself around her husband, and kisses him fiercely, Diana or no Diana.

[amazon-diana.livejournal.com]

Diana smiles fondly at the two of them then turns to the material Lois brought her about the assassination attempt to give them a moment of as near privacy as they can get without her leaving.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_man_of_steel_/]

After a very long time, the kiss ends. It was something both needed in that moment. He looks at Lois, wondering who will speak first.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

What Diana finds is disturbing pictures, details on the agents killed in action (and those who died later of their wounds), and images of the three Amazons who died. Nothing good in there at all. If this is a mock-up, Lex has done a good job of it.

And several feet away, Lois separates from Clark, gives him one last kiss, and then sighs, "All right, where are you going to store me? Not the Watchtower. No way the Watchtower. Somewhere on terra firma."

[amazon-diana.livejournal.com]

"I would offer my home, but I feel it is most likely to be a war zone soon." She holds up one of the pictures.

"Atanea, one of my sisters was involved." She shakes her head wondering how she and Artemis could have missed that level of desire for revenge.

"Perhaps we could ask the JSA if she could stay at the Brownstone if the Watchtower is out of the question."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_man_of_steel_/]

"It would mean you wouldn't have to go far for checkups" Kal adds. "And the security there is as good as it gets since Terrific did the upgrades."

He smirks. "We could always ask Bruce..."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"And the Brownstone is in New York...not far from Metropolis...." Lois thinks hard before Clark mentions his closest friend. "No. Absolutely not. I'd kill him. You know it, I know it, he knows it. And if I didn't, his girlfriend du jour might throw me out. Diana, no offense, but Themyscira's a bad idea, especially right now, like you said. Can we find Terrific and Mid-Nite, ask them if they have some nice quiet room where I can sit and write and order pizza?"

[amazon-diana.livejournal.com]

She hadn't been able to keep from laughing a little at the thought of Lois and Bruce together in the same house, it would be bad.

"No offense taken. I believe the Brownstone is the best solution all around. Did you wish to call them from here?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_man_of_steel_/]

Kal shakes his head. "I think we can arrange this, but it should be a face to face, so I can let Terrific in on the situation. We're going to need to have our facts straight in talking to the media before we can let the JSA know they're going to have a civilian houseguest. Let me talk to Terrific. The Doctor I'm sure won't mind having his prized patient within arms reach. And you won't want pizza, love, once you taste Ma Hunkel's cooking."

Kal smiles mischievously. "I wonder if I can talk our boss into letting me take over for you as the Planet's White House press liason." A pause. "Just a thought."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"I'm still White House press liason, Smallville. You can be my legs." Lois winks at Diana before stretching. The tension's gone and now, suddenly, she's dead tired. "I'm just going to sit here until you two decide about my future. Good? Good."

Her feet get tucked up under her, and she leans against the high back of the chair.

[amazon-diana.livejournal.com]

"I will arrange for them to bring you some food while you are waiting Lois." She chuckled and watched the tired reporter relax.

"Kal, I will leave the arrangements to you with the JSA but do not hesitate to ask me for anything that the two of you may need."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_man_of_steel_/]

Kal leans in and kisses Diana on the cheek. "I never do. If the situation with Themiscyra were different, it would have been perfect. And you remember to do the same. Push comes to shove, the league looks after their own."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_loislane_/]

"No food. Just some juice if you've got any. Grape is best. No tomato. Tomato bad." Lois speaks with her eyes closed until the commentary about food is over, and then she peeks at Diana. "Look, we both know whatever Lex concocted to make you and Themyscira look back is crap. Dig around some and I'll write up the truth about what happened. Truth always wins, Diana. You know that."

[amazon-diana.livejournal.com]

"Truth does indeed win. Grape juice is easy enough, Ferdinand makes fresh juice from the vinyards of Themyscira, you will like it I think." She rests her hand on Lois' shoulder for a moment with a smile.

"I will leave you two alone, there are others I need to pass this information to." and she leaves them alone in the office and sends someone to bring Lois the freshest grapejuice they have on hand.