Title: Running on the Issues

Author: Mary Willing Prey

Rating: PG

Category: Future, AU

Pairing: Clark/Lex

Summary: Future

Disclaimer: They're not mine.  I don't own a thing.  I'll give them back when I'm through

Author's Note: I got it back from my beta tonight and made some more changes at the last minute.  Ah well.  

Feedback: willing.prey@verizon.net

Spoiler note:  Clark is not Superman yet, nor can he fly. 

Running on the Issues

Clark listened as Lois chattered away.  Or at least it appeared as if he listened.  He said "Yes, Lois" and "No, Lois" and "Of course, Lois" at the correct places.  At times like this, Lois reminded him of his friend, Chloe.

The thought of Chloe brought a smile to his face.  Her friendship had been the only bright light in the last half of his high school senior year.  That was the year Chloe had taught him what it meant to be a reporter.  He'd concentrated on that and developed into a reporter who was good enough to go to Metropolis University and graduate in journalism.

He still got postcards from all over the world courtesy of Chloe.  He let his mind wander thinking about the past while his eyes watched Lois's lips chattering away.  Suddenly she said something that made him jerk his head up and ask, "What?"

She turned to stare at him.  "Have you heard one word I said, Smallville?"

He ran what she had said back in his mind.  "You said something about Lex Luther?"

"You haven't been listening," she said.

"I told you, we have an interview with Lex Luther this afternoon at 3:00.  Perry White just told me.  Luther called him this morning and set it up.  You have to come.  He won't allow any recording devices.  That means you have to come and take notes.  YOU are the one that knows shorthand or whatever it is you do that passes for shorthand.  So you are coming with me."  She stared at him as if he were a small child.

Clark was stunned and stared at Lois.  "Um, Lois, I don't really think I can go…  I…I…I" Clark stuttered.

Lois's eyes turned icy.  "You, mister, are coming with me."  She said distinctly.  There was no indecision in her tone.  He was going to have to face Lex.

The rest of the afternoon Clark was in a daze.  It wasn't something he could put off so eventually he was escorted into Lex Luthor's office, placidly following Lois as if he were puppy.  Lois introduced herself and sat in the large red chair before Lex's large desk.  Lois waved her hand at Clark and introduced him as her colleague, without mentioning his name.  Lex's eyes ghosted over him without a trace of recognition.

With a sudden pang of sadness, Clark sat down and positioned himself to take notes.  In college, Clark had mastered the ability to take notes without really hearing what was said.  It had all come about because he had been asked for his notes in a class in which he had never taken notes.  He had quickly typed up notes and given them to his friends, but because he had perfect recall, this presented a problem.  No one ever saw him take notes in class.  So, he developed his own shorthand and took notes in class automatically without ever really knowing what was being said.

That's what he did now.  He took notes of exactly what was said, without actually listening to the words.  His eyes, however, were on Lex.  He took note of the circles under Lex's eyes and the way Lex talked to Lois.  The questions Lex wanted to answer, he answered.  The rest he deflected.  Clark knew from long experience that Lex never lied directly.  He was skilled at deflecting an answer in a way that told the truth but didn't answer the question.

Lex deflected about the Montmoracy Company, about the situation in India, about his investments and China, but answered all questions about his vision for the future of Metropolis, his vision for the future for Kansas, and his vision of the future for the country.  It was apparent, at least to Clark, that Lex was going to run for political office.  Clark didn't know which office yet, but it would come about.

He let these thoughts run through his mind as he wrote notes and tried not to think of what he had lost.  He thought about Lex and what he had wanted.  He thought about how hard he had tried to fit in, and how he had failed.  He thought about how important it was to appear human and how he had hidden important parts of himself from himself and others so he could try to be human even though he wasn't.

His eyes glanced from Lois to Lex.  Clark had dated Lois for a while, until it became apparent that they were better as friends.  Lois reminded him a lot of Chloe.  He thought that perhaps that was why they were such good friends.

Before he knew it, the interview was at an end and Lois was rising to shake Lex's hand.  Clark rose and slipped his notebook in his pocket.  Lex reached over and offered his hand to Lois.  Lois shook it and said, "I hope we can meet again soon."

Clark knew that this meant she wanted another interview, hopefully, one that was more productive.  Then Lex reached over and offered his hand to Clark.

"And I'm very glad to meet you too.  Kent, wasn't it?"  Lex's smile was blinding but his eyes were bland.  This was his professional face.  Something Clark had seen a lot.

Clark stared at the hand in front of him as if it might bite him, then looked up into eyes that apparently held no recognition.  Clark opened his mouth, and then shut it with a snap, fearful of what he might say.  He nodded his appreciation to Lex and shook his hand.  It wasn't until hours later that Clark realized he'd never been introduced by name.

Clark followed Lois back to the office and typed up his notes.  Of course, he typed the notes from memory rather than from his actual written notes.  He emailed them to Lois through the interoffice network rather than deliver them in person.  Then he left the office and went home.

Later that night, in the solitude of his apartment, in the dark, he let himself quietly fall apart.

A loud pounding noise wakened Clark.  At first, he thought it was in his head but soon realized that it was his door.  He glanced at the clock and realized it was past noon.  What time had he fallen asleep?  Reflection might be good for the soul but it was hell the next morning-afternoon-whatever. 

He groaned as he headed for his front door, opening it only to find Lois there with a plastic bag in her hand. 

"You look like shit."  She said as she walked in, pushing him aside.  He let her and watched her pass him as she headed towards the kitchen.

"Thanks, loads.  I just woke up."  He said to her as he headed towards the bathroom.  "Make yourself at home."

He heard her rattling around in the kitchen as he attended to his business.  While washing up afterwards, he looked at himself in the mirror and saw that Lois was right.  He looked like ten miles of bad road, hell, maybe a hundred miles of bad road.  He scrubbed his face and wondered if Lois noticed the indications that he had been crying.  He usually held it inside.  He had been doing so for years.  He leaned against the sink and heaved a great sigh.  He just hadn't been prepared enough.  He hadn't realized what seeing Lex again would do to him.

He followed the smell of chicken soup into the kitchen.  "Lois?"  He questioned.

"It's that chicken soup with Matzo balls that you like so much from that deli down the street.  Sit.  Eat."  She pushed him gently into the seat. 

Clark looked at the bits of vegetables floating in the broth.  "Why?"

He looked up at her, puzzled.

"Because you are never late.  You are never sick.  You even worked last winter when that bout of flu almost paralyzed the paper.  You didn't call.  So, you had to be deathly ill or had to be facing a crisis.  In either case, I figured a little comfort food would help."  She said roughly.  "Besides Perry would kick my ass if I didn't check up on my partner.  Eat up.  I need you better by Sunday." 

Clark hid a grin.  Lois would never admit that she was worried about him.  He took a sip of the soup.  "Okay what's got you so hyped."

She slapped the paper she'd been holding under her arm down on the table before him.  "This.  It's our ticket to the top."  

He looked at the paper with the picture of Lex right in the middle of the page.  Lois's interview was right there, front and center.  "Front page of the business section.  Wasn't that what you expected?" 

She shook her head.  "Not even you are that dimwitted.  It was obvious from the interview that Luthor is planning on running for office.  Mayor, governor, maybe even congress.  Something."  She shook her head.  "Perry put us on it.  We follow him around like…a shadow or something."  She said, slightly confused.  "In any case, we appear at every event he shows at.  As well as dig into LexCorp." 

Clark started to get alarmed.  "We've dug into corporate corruption there before and the only thing we've ever found were incidents that could be traced to the old LuthorCorp organization.  Lex had nothing to do with it.  It even couldn't be traced directly to his father."

Lois' eyes widened.  "Lex, is it?" 

"There are two Luthors."  Clark said dryly and looked for something to sidetrack her.  "Besides if he is going to run for some office why not start as a senator?  Six years and then he could run for president."  As soon as the words were out of his mouth, he wished he could call them back. 

Lois' eyes got big.  "You are a genius.  Of course."  She started pacing in the small kitchen.  Clark could see the ideas flashing in her eyes.  He groaned.  He didn't want to be involved in one of Lois' extravagant plans.  They inevitably backfired.

"Lois."  She continued to pace.  "Lois."  He said a little louder.  "LOIS."  He finally got her attention.  "What about Sunday?"

She stopped.  "There's a groundbreaking ceremony for a new wing of the hospital.  Luthor's going to be there, followed by a cocktail party at LexCorp Towers.  We've been invited as part of the press, which reminds me…"  Lois flew out of the kitchen like a whirlwind heading for his bedroom.  Clark did not want her in there. 

He hurried to follow her but had forgotten how fast she could be when she was determined.  Or perhaps he was distracted.  By the time he entered his bedroom, Lois was already at work. 

She was tossing the clothes from his closet one by one onto his bed.  "No…No…Not this one…Maybe…No…Clark, don't you own any decent suits?  Hey what's this?"

She was holding the suit that Lex had bought him a very long time ago.  She looked at Clark and then at the suit.  "You do have some taste."

Clark fingered the fine wool of the lapel.  "I wore it in high school.  It doesn't fit any more."  He knew he should get rid of it but he had never been able to muster the courage to do so.  He shrugged at Lois.  "I've filled out some."

"Well, I'm glad I already made the appointment."  She said as she hung it back up.  "Meet me at Mercado's at ten thirty Sunday morning.  We can get you something off the rack and have it adjusted.  You'll have it for the afternoon ceremony."

"Mercado's!  I can't afford anything from there."  Clark ran his hand through his hair.

"No, I don't imagine you can, but Perry's footing the bill."  She grinned at him and tapped her foot.  "One suit for you with some accessories.  Men can get by with it.  And..."  Clark closed his eyes for a second.  He wasn't sure he wanted to hear what she had to say.  "Three, count 'em, three new outfits for me.  More if Luthor does go on the campaign trail."

Clark sighed, shoved the clothes on his bed over, and sat down.  "So you're spending tomorrow shopping?" 

"Nope, now that I know you aren't dying or the world isn't coming to an end I'm gonna get it done this afternoon."  She shuffled by him to stand in the doorway.  "Clark, eat your soup, take a shower and get some sleep." 

"Lois."  He tried to protest. 

"Sunday, Clark.  And I'll pick you up at nine to make sure you get to Mercado's."  She whirled out of his apartment.  Clark collapsed on his bed.  He wondered if his mom would write him a note.

Two days later, he found himself skulking in the shadows of a ballroom in LexCorp Towers.  He assumed it was a ballroom.  Fine art and comfortable furnishings were scattered about, the dozens of people that had attended didn't fill it.  It was a large room, perhaps larger than the ballroom at the castle.  He had followed Lois about and suffered through her introducing him for a while before she abandoned him.  He was grateful for the break.

He slumped against the wall, letting his gaze wander around the room.  With the advantage of the past couple days to let himself adjust to seeing Lex again, he could look upon things with a little more perspective.  Going over what had happened so long ago was probably something he should have done before instead of pushing it to the back of his mind and letting it worsen.

Clark's eyes wandered about the room and he caught sight of Lex once again and sighed.  Okay, so he didn't have as much perspective as he thought he had, but it no longer felt like someone was tearing his heart out of his chest--much. 

He tried to keep his eyes away from Lex but they seemed to come back to him again and again.  Clark wanted to glare at the tall, leggy brunette that stood beside Lex.  It hadn't hit him until tonight that Lex had a type.  Only Lois would be bold enough to ask Lex Luthor if this was his newest fiancée.  

Lex had laughed at the question.  It was remarkable that he actually had answered it.  "Oh, no, Miss Lane, or is that Ms. Lane?"  Lex had asked with a quirk of his head.  "This is Cici.  She's an old friend."  Lex had patted the woman's hand at that point.  "All my ex-wives have tried to kill me.  I don't know if that says something about me or if I have abominable tastes in prospective brides.  In any case, I've decided to just have friends for the time being." 

That was when Cici spoke, with a giggle.  "Besides, it gives me a chance to check out all the fresh meat on display here."

Lex had tutted at her when she said that.  "Please, Miss Lane is a reporter.  You wouldn't want that put in the paper would you." 

Lois had assured them that no mention would be made of it and Lex moved on to make conversation with one of his real guests.  It had hurt that Lex wouldn't acknowledge him but he'd finally admitted to himself that was partially his own fault.  Clark took another sip of his champagne and closed his eyes.  He remembered back to when Lex had disappeared.  Clark had been so confused and hurt.  One day they were as close as friends could be, then no word at all from Lex.  The next thing he knew was the announcement that Lex was taking over his father's position in LuthorCorp and Lionel was retiring. 

Clark opened his eyes and glanced quickly about the room.  Lionel was nowhere to be seen.  It made him think.  Ever since Lex had been put in charge and even after LuthorCorp was folded into LexCorp, Lionel always looked perfect flanked by his two bodyguards.  The popular conviction was Lionel was still the one in charge, Lex was merely the figurehead.  Lionel was almost always right behind Lex in public forums when Lex gave a speech.  But Lionel never appeared at public functions like this.  Now that Clark noticed, it made him wonder if that was the true picture or if it was the projection that everyone was supposed to believe.

He went back to tracking Lex as he smoothly wandered around the room.  It didn't take Clark long to realize that Lex's actions were anything but aimless.  Cici abandoned Lex to talk to some tall dark-haired man but Lex continued.  Lex could work a room like magic and that was exactly what he was doing now.  He was charming everyone he talked to.  A few minutes later, Bruce Wayne joined Lex.  Clark remembered Wayne from long ago.  Lex told him Wayne that had gotten Lex interested in fencing and Clark suddenly had a moment of envisioning Lex in his fencing gear shortly after they'd first met. 

Clark touched the nametag that identified him as press.  At first, he had wondered if Lois and he were the only press allowed to the party but later he identified several others from the larger cities in Kansas as well as from Gotham and New York.  Tomorrow, society sections across the nation would identify Lex as a patron of the people. 

He wished he had done something when Lex silently disappeared from Smallville.  But he hadn't.  He'd always assumed that Lex would contact him if Lex wanted to continue their friendship.  Even the personal discovery Clark had made about himself during senior year hadn't been enough to make him break down and make the phone call. 

That year he'd discovered that being bisexual just made it easier to be turned down.  In college when he'd finally decided to date, he'd found that girls wanted him to commit and be exclusive and the boys only wanted to fuck.  He wanted to do neither.  Clark's eyes wandered about the room once again, settling on Lex although he didn't consciously think about it.  He wondered if he was the only virgin in the room.

He finally looked for Lois in her emerald dress.  With her hair swept up and a dress clinging to her curves, she didn't look like the ace reporter that Clark knew she was.  From the way she was talking to the man she had cornered it was unlikely that Clark could convince her to make an early night of it.

He put his empty champagne flute on a passing waiter's tray and picked up another.  He was glad he couldn't get drunk and he'd noticed that Lois was being careful about how much she drank.  It wouldn't be proper for her to get drunk and not remember a tidbit of information. 

Clark watched the bubbles in the glass slowly rise as he waited.  He didn't want to look over the throng because he knew his gaze would be inevitably drawn to Lex once again.  He closed his eyes and sipped at his drink, waiting until he could leave unnoticed.  This wasn't where he wanted to be. 

When he opened his eyes, again they were drawn once again to Lex.  Maybe there was some truth to Lex's magnetic personality.  It seemed to work on him.  He saw Bruce standing beside Lex leaning over him to whisper something to him.  Bruce's hand was in the small of Lex's back, exactly the way Lex had stood by Clark to reinforce him a hundred times in the long ago past. 

The champagne glass shattered in Clark's hand and sounded like a pistol shot.  Champagne splashed over his suit jacket.  He had to leave.  His eyes searched out Lois, talking heatedly to a mature slightly heavyset man, someone he was sure that Lois had introduced him to but at this moment he couldn't remember who the man was.  The shards of the glass were discretely put on a nearby table, where Clark hoped they wouldn't be noticed until after he was gone.

"Lois," he interrupted.  "We need to get going."  Lois glared at him like he had grown another head.  "The crowd is thinning out and we still have to get a column in before deadline."

Lois' face screwed up in a moue.  She glanced at her watch as if to check what he was telling her.  "Oh, I'm sorry, Congressman Crispin.  Perhaps we could continue this conversation later?"

The Congressman beamed.  "I'd be delighted, my dear."  He patted Lois' hand before he said good night.  She kept her smile pasted on and Clark laughed inwardly without saying a word.  He knew that the endearment grated against her like sand. 

"Clark, what happened?"  She asked, pointing to the damp spot on his jacket.

"Nothing."  He wiped his hand across it as if he could erase the damage.  "I spilled some champagne."

"We should get something on it."  She stepped to call a waiter. 

"Later."  He said and gently tugged her towards the door.  He didn't want to create a scene but he wanted to leave.

Clark offered her his arm and escorted her out, murmuring a compliment to be relayed to Lex at the door, as Lex was still in an animated conversation with several prominent people.  He put her wrap over her shoulders before they went out into the spring night.  The chill helped Clark clear his head and keep his tongue.  There were so many things that he wanted to say but he couldn't -- wouldn't – say them.

Lois didn't speak until they got to the car.  "You have lousy timing, Kent."  She leaned over, pulled off one of her shoes, and rubbed her toes.  "Although if I had to wear these much longer my toes might fall off." 

He glanced down at the strappy high-heels she was wearing.  "They're pretty though."

She sighed.  "I know.  And they match my outfit perfectly.  Men should have to wear them too."  Clark understood exactly what she was saying.  The unfairness of the way women had to dress was a constant lament from her, although she didn't object when the Planet paid for the outfits. 

Clark drove in silence waiting for Lois to continue her comments as she rubbed her mistreated feet.  "I think I had the Congressman on the ropes.  Just a few more minutes…" 

Clark thought about what she was saying for a minute, before he answered her.  He didn't want to burst her bubble but Lois sometimes thought she was ahead of what she really knew.  He cleared his throat.  "I truly doubt that you would have learned anything that wasn't already public knowledge."

"Yeah?"  She paused as if thinking about what he hadn't said.  "Why?"

"Because he's a seasoned politician and when it comes to politics, we're green."  He paused.  "Politicians lie like they breathe."

"And you know this... how?"  Her voice was sarcastic but Clark knew she wanted an answer.

"Experience."  He quirked his eyebrow at her.  "I was watching people while you did the social butterfly thing."  He didn't have to look at her to know that she was staring at him, but there wasn't anything more he could say.  He'd probably said too much already.  "After all, you're more experienced on the crime and corruption beat.  That's what you're known for.  I'm not that long out of obituaries."  The last was said depreciatingly but all in all, it was true. 

"Then why are we put on Luthor's tail instead of someone else?"  He wondered if she really wanted to know what he thought or was just fishing.

"I don't think Mr. White really believes that he's running for office.  If he is, we'll have been covering him for a while.  If not, no skin off his nose and we have some experience."  He slipped into the highway traffic in order to take Lois uptown where she lived.  "It'll be a pretty steep learning curve.  Besides, he may run for mayor, then governor.  That's a far more traditional route to the White House."

She pondered what he said for a moment.  "But still, why us?"

"How many interviews has he given in the past five years or so?"  He knew the answer was none but let that sink in.

"Hey, you missed the turnoff."  She commented as he went past the turnoff that would have taken them to the Planet. 

"I'm taking you home."  He glanced over at her.  "It's been a long day.  I'll call the night editor and see how many inches he wants filled and I'll send it in tonight.  Tomorrow we can work up an article for the society page.  That doesn't need to be in until noon."

"What about pictures?"  He knew she asked just to snip at him.  The few times he made decisions never sat well with Lois. 

"Jimmy took dozens.  You don't have to be quite so," he paused not wanting to be rude about the way she often acted.  "Careful.  I'm sure that something acceptable will be found to go along with the story."

"Okay.  But I get the byline."  She conceded.  She must be more tired than Clark suspected.  He'd thought it would be more of a battle to get her to rest.  "Home, James."  She settled back into the seat as he drove.  Her eyes were getting heavy as he arrived at her apartment building.

He parked and helped her out.  "I can make it to my front door alone, Clark."

"I know.  Humor me."  He walked with her, waited for her to get inside the secure building and then walked her to her apartment door.  As they were going up the elevator, she commented, "You know, I think you really need to get laid."

He laughed softly at the comment.  "I see you're practicing chastity as well."  He shook his head.  "I'm fine, Lois."  He shrugged but knew it wasn't putting her off.  "It's just…" he knew that there wasn't a lot he could say.  "Sometimes it's easier."

She pursed her lips and nodded.  It was one of those times he wished he knew what she was thinking.  When they got to her door she asked him in for a drink, but he thought better of it and declined.  She reminded him to get some club soda on that spot on his suit and he promised he would.

A short while later, he emailed his story into the night editor.  Then with cummerbund off and tie loosened, he found himself walking the streets.  It wasn't the wisest thing to do but sometimes he couldn't sleep and walking seemed to help.  Sometimes running helped but tonight he was tired.  Not so much physically tired as emotionally tired.  Drained like someone had opened a spigot and let everything out of him.  He snorted to himself.  It was closer to the feeling that everything he had always felt had floated to the surface like scum and now he had to deal with it. 

All the things he had ignored about himself since that gray winter day when Lex disappeared from Smallville came back to haunt him now.  Somehow, he was going to have to deal with it, but right now, it was easier to let it go and lose himself in the city.

Clark's prediction had been right.  Lex was running for office.

The next few months passed by in a haze.  As they followed Lex on his campaign trail, they stayed in too many cheap hotel rooms, ate fast food meals, stood in line in airports, and hailed cabs in cities all over Kansas. 

Finally, on a rare day when they were back in their office, Clark slumped heavily in his seat and leaned back in his chair.  He leaned back and swung his feet up to rest them on the edge of his desk.  He was soul-deep tired.  Physical exhaustion he likely could have born easier than this.  Even so, every time he thought of physical weariness it swept him back to Lex's face, and the bone weary tiredness he’d had so long ago.  He shook his head, closed his eyes, and took off his glasses, tossing them to land with a 'thunk' on his desk.

He thought back to when he started wearing them in college, Chloe had suggested it.  She told him that often people notice the glasses and don't really register the face behind it.  Since some people had started to notice him a bit more than he wished he was fond of the idea of being able to hide in plain sight. 

He heard thump from the desk opposite his.  He knew that at this moment she would be rubbing her feet once again. 

"You should get some better shoes, Lois."  He said without opening his eyes.

"They're my flats."  He knew from weeks of close contact that her face was in a tight grimace, "I've been wearing heels so often my feet always hurt."  She sighed and Clark heard her chair squeak.  He knew she mimicked his posture.

Clark let the familiar sounds of the newsroom wash over him.  Most people disliked the cacophony.  He was accustomed to the noise and he relaxed.  The next thing he knew, something was hitting his face.  His feet hit the floor with a bang.

"Whattt?"  He shook his head only to see Lois sitting with her elbows on her desk and smirking at him.  He picked an eraser off his chest.

"You haven't heard a thing I've said for the past fifteen minutes."  She stared at him.  "What's up with you?"

Clark shrugged.  "Dunno.  I guess I fell asleep."  

Lois rolled her eyes in the back of her head.  "Only you could fall asleep in this circus."  She tossed a twenty on his desk.  "Here.  I owe you."

He picked up the bill and turned it over.  "Okay, I'll bite.  What's this for?"

"You predicted that Luthor would run for the Senate.  I figure that anyone who can see the future like that should reap the rewards."  She waved her hand at him.  "So, oh great Karnak, what do you see?  What will Luthor do next?"  She asked cynically.

Clark dropped the bill like it was on fire.  "I don't want it.  Keep it or put it in the coffee fund or…or something.  I want nothing to do with seeing the future." 

Lois looked him over carefully.  "There's a story behind that isn't there?"

"Yes."  He snapped out.  When she started to speak, Clark cut her off.  "And no, I'm not going to talk about it."

Lois opened her mouth again but reluctantly closed it without murmuring a word.  She absently shuffled through papers on her desk. 

She didn't look at him as she asked,  "How did you know Luthor would run for the senate?"

Clark didn't really want to answer, but he thought that answering some of her questions might let him off the hook.  "You've followed his career.  Le--Luthor is never predictable.  There's always some little twist on the expected."

She nodded.  "I can see that.  Do you think he might have had something to do with the Senator deciding not to seek reelection?"

Clark thought that over momentarily.  "Possibly, although if he did it is unlikely we'll ever discover it.  It wouldn't be illegal for Le--Luthor to offer him a position in one of his companies." 

"But blackmail would be."  She said pointedly.

"Like I said, unlikely we'd ever discover something like that.  I've never heard a trace of any kind of scandal that would cause that reaction."  

"I'm not giving up on this though."  She shook her head.  "Well, since you don't want to make like Karnak and predict the future, how about Sherlock Holmes and deduct the future."

"Lois---" Clark started to protest.

"Hmmm?"  She smiled at his distress. 

Clark sighed.  "I can't tell you any more than you already know.  Think about it.  He'll win the primary in a snap on name recognition alone.  However during the election, that will likely work against him."

"Yeah," Lois agreed.  "The Luthor name isn't well liked in Kansas."

"Even with the amount of money he could pour into advertising, I think it will still be nip and tuck."  He leaned against his desk as he rose. 

"Nip and tuck?  Hey, farmboy, explain." 

"Oh," Clark ran his hand through his hair.  "It's an expression I heard once in a while in Smallville.  It means something that’s too close to call.  My mom was a city girl but when she was baking and the flour was almost gone sometimes she'd say that when she wasn't sure there was enough."  He shrugged.  "I don't know where it came from." 

"Okay, but what about the campaign?  Think it'll get down and dirty?"  She asked as he prepared to go.

Clark shook his head.  "I don't know.  It has the potential to get really bad.  It could descend to mudslinging," he paused.  "I think Lex Luthor could potentially destroy his opponent.  I think he has that capability; that will.  The point is not so much the desire but the control.  Luthors like to get what they want.  But they also want be in control.  Maybe it depends on which part of him is stronger."  He dug some keys out of his drawer and picked up his glasses from his desk.  "I need to go home and get some rest.  I don't think we'll get any during the campaign season."

He walked out knowing Lois' eyes followed him while she considered what he’d said, and why he had said it.

Clark finally got home and shut the door leaving the outside world behind.  Despite everything that had happened, Clark couldn't see it as a bad thing that Lex was running for office.  He knew Lex was bright and forward-looking.  He knew Lex had issues--ethical issues.  But nothing he had seen since Lex left made him believe that Lex had lost that core that did want to help people, even if he often did it for selfish motives.  The only thing that still nagged at him was not knowing whether Lionel was involved.  Lionel was a viper, untrustworthy under any circumstances.  But setting his son up as a senator didn't seem like his style.

He finally decided to make the phone call he'd wanted to make since this whole thing started.  He settled down on his bed with a plate of brownies and a glass of milk.  This comfort food had been a habit he had developed a long time ago, when he needed to talk.

He stared at the phone for some time before he finally dialed.  He listened to it ring but knew that it would be answered eventually.  He heard the click and a familiar voice.

"Yo, Chloe Sullivan here.  Your dime - my time.  Speak."  Clark smiled at the jaunty voice.

"Chloe, it costs a lot more than a dime now a days."  He chuckled and toed his shoes before drawing his feet up on to the bed.  Talking to Chloe always made him feel better.

"Clark Kent!  You old hound dog!  Where have you been?  No, wait, I know that.  What have you been doing?  No, wait, I know that, too.  You haven't called or emailed or even written in months."  Chloe ranted.  Clark let her talk until she was out of breath.

When she ran down and finally asked, "Why are you calling, Clark?" he almost didn't answer. 

"Can't I just want to touch base with an old friend?" that reason sounded weak even to his own ears, but he persisted.  He pulled his pillow into his lap and leaned against the headboard, his knees pulled up, unconsciously falling into the posture he had developed as a teenager when talking to Chloe.

"Yeah, except I know what you've been doing.  Have you made up with Lex?  You've seen a lot of him the past few months."  Clark heard the concern in her voice.

Clark steadied his voice before speaking.  Chloe was the only person who knew how he felt and even then, it had taken months of her nagging before he broke down and told her.  "I haven't.  He just…"  He took a deep breath.  "Chloe, I don't know what to do."

"Oh, Clark."  She was uncharacteristically silent for a moment.  "What did he say?"

"Nothing.  I--He knows who I am, but, I don't know, it's like I never existed, like we were never friends."  Clark knew he sounded pathetic but with Chloe, it didn't matter.

"You need to move on."  It wasn't like she hadn't told him before.

"It's not like I haven't tried."  He said indignantly. 

Chloe sighed.  They had hashed this about for years.  "I told you the longer you let it fester the harder it will be."

"I know."  He said quietly.   

"Clark…" 

"Yeah?" 

"Why can't you let it go?"  She had never asked him before.

Clark picked at the pillow in his lap before he answered.  "I don't know.  It doesn't hurt as much as it used to, if that helps any."  He bit his lips and waited for Chloe to answer.  At times like this, he felt like he was still in high school in those bleak months after Lex disappeared.  "I wish I knew why."

"You should walk into his office and say 'Lex Luthor, I love you.'"  She said decisively. 

"Chloe!  I can't do that."  Clark was scandalized that she had suggested it.

"Well, it would let you know how he feels."  She said practically.  "You've got to do something.  You need to talk to him."

"I know.  I will."  He insisted.  "Eventually.  I can't right now.  He's one of the richest men in Kansas, if not the nation.  He's decided to run for office.  I can't just walk in on him."

"You used to."  Chloe reminded him.

"Well, that was then."  He said sullenly.  He forgot that Chloe could also bring out the worst in him.  "Lois and I have been following him around.  Although after the primaries, we might be replaced by someone with experience."

"So, if you get replaced, go talk to him."  With all her sneaking around to get stories, sometimes Chloe went for the direct approach.

"And if not?" 

"Talk to him after the election."  He heard her humming under her breath.  "Clark, how did you get assigned to Lex anyway?"

He shrugged even though he knew she couldn't see him.  "He gave an interview and Lois was assigned to it.  I ended up tagging along."

He heard Chloe pacing as she thought.  "Did you ever think that Lex set it up because he wanted to see you?"

"No.  I mean how could he know who would be sent to interview him?" 

"Clark, we're talking about LEX LUTHOR here."  She said as if talking to a small child.  "You know enough about him to know what he's like.  If he asked for Lois to do the interview, he knew you'd be there as well." 

"How?  I mean, I hadn't talked to him in years.  How would he know I'd be with Lois?"  He was confused at her assertion. 

"Clark.  Don't do this."  She told him sternly.  "You're already tied up in knots about him.  You know what he's capable of."

He did know, but he didn't want to argue with Chloe about this.  He'd almost wrecked his friendship with Pete in their senior year until they both figured out it was better if Lex's name was never mentioned. 

He phased out a bit but came around at the continued chatter of Chloe's voice.  "…have to do something.  You have to either let it go or confront him."  She sighed.  "When it comes to Lex you still act like you're sixteen.  You're running around in circles like a hamster on a wheel."

"I suppose," He knew he was irritating Chloe about this.  "I'll do something."

"I'll come to see you as soon as I can." 

"You don't have to.  Besides I have no idea where I'm going to be." 

"Then what are you going to do?  Tell me SOMETHING, or I just might go to Met and beat the shit out of Lex."  By now, Chloe was shouting at him.

"I'll talk to him if I'm no longer assigned to him."  He hoped that would pacify her.

"And if you are?"  He should have known better.

"I'll talk to him after the election."

"That's months away.  You should talk to him sooner."  She pressed.

"Chloe, it's been years.  It can wait."  He held his breath waiting for her to agree.

"Okay."  He carefully let the breath out.  "Promise."  Too soon.

"Promise?"  He squeaked.  He did not want to promise anything to Chloe.  "Don't worry Chloe, I'll talk to him."

"Promise, Clark.  I've never known you to break a promise but you sometimes say you'll do something and then get 'distracted' and never follow through."  Now his past with Chloe was coming back to haunt him.  If he promised, he'd have to talk to Lex--eventually. 

"I'll talk to him."  He insisted. 

"Promise, Clark.  I'm not hanging up until you promise to do something about this."  Well, at least she had given him a little bit of leeway.

"I promise I'll do something."  He didn't know what.  Maybe he could bury his feelings so deep they'd never surface again. 

He heard her hmmm over the phone.  "After he's elected, I'll come over and take you out on the town." 

Clark took a drink of the milk he’d set on his bedside table.  It looked like he was going to need the brownies as consolation.  He’s never had the chance to suggest Chloe get herself some food so they could commiserate.  It seemed that the longer this conversation went on the more insulted Chloe got. 

"Fine, Chloe."  He said softly.  "Want to get something to eat so we can spend some time together doing something other than being angry at each other."

"I'd say yes but I'm beat.  Clark, keep in touch.  I've got to get up early, so I'm crashing.  AND DON'T YOU DARE FEEL GUILTY.  I wouldn't have stayed up talking to you if I didn't want to.  You're my friend, in spite of everything, I do love you, and I always will.  Now you should get some sleep too and stop your fretting." 

He chuckled at her.  "You spent too much time around my mom.  I never thought I'd hear the word 'fret' come out of your mouth." 

She blew him a raspberry.  "Night, Clark." 

"Night, Chloe."  He heard her hang up and slowly put his phone away.  Chloe had been the one who helped him realize how he felt about Lex.  She was still the only person he could talk to about his feelings.

A week later Perry told Clark and Lois that they had Lex's campaign for the full duration.  For Clark, it was a reprieve from having to confess his feelings out loud. 

As reporters on the campaign trail, they frequently traveled in a pack with the other reporters; but just as often, they traveled to some of the more remote stops alone.  He let Lois ask most of the questions and pick up the bylines.  He didn't need to make a name for himself and all things considered, he'd rather not be the one to confront Lex with questions.  Not that his opinion mattered, Lois sometimes insisted that he ask the crucial questions for them.  Why she backed off at those times was beyond Clark’s understanding.

After the speeches and the interviews were over, his time was his own.

The first time it happened he'd been shaken a bit about it.  When they were in a strange city Clark often found himself walking the streets at night after emailing in his story.  He stopped a mugging the night before when he had been out for a walk.  He hadn't done much, just picked up the thief and dropped him in the parking lot of the local police station.  It was done so swiftly the man was quite confused.  He was going to stay around to find out what happened, but he'd been sidetracked by the sound of breaking glass. 

It hadn't taken him long to discover what it was.  The storefront Lex had rented as a campaign headquarters had every window broken out.  Clark hadn't seen anyone run from the scene and wondered exactly what had happened.  He glanced across the street at the campaign offices of Congressman Crispin---Charles Crispin.  It made Clark smile a little, the 'CC' reminiscent of Lex and his 'LL' used in his campaign.  He picked up a piece of the shattered glass on the ground and thought.  In a small town, it might be nothing more than local kids blowing off steam, or it could be something more. 

He heard the police arriving and decided to leave.  It was something that would be better left to the police. 

At the press conference the next day, in front of the, then boarded up, building, Lex made light of it. 

"These things happen during political campaigns.  I wouldn't make too much of it."  Lex was all…Lex.  Relaxed, accepting, in control.  Behind him there were people already repairing the damage.

It had been Lois' pencil digging into his ribs that made him jump forward and Lex's eyes were on him, waiting for him to ask a question.  He tried to glare at her but only got a smirk in reply.  "Mr. Luthor…Sir…"  Clark stuttered out, frantically trying to think of something to ask.  When his eyes lit on the offices across the street he asked the question that popped in his head.  "Could this be the start of…aggressive campaigning?" 

Clark wasn't sure that he really thought it was part of the campaign at that moment, but the light in Lex's eyes said something different than his words. 

"I rather think, not."  Lex stated.  "It's more likely the damage was done by teenagers blowing off steam.  Probably more of a case of small town boredom than actual malice."  Clark thought Lex's eyes stayed on him longer than probably was necessary before moving on to the next question.  But that was likely his imagination. 

Clark's heart was in his throat as Lex looked at him.  It was like he could feel the pressure of his gaze as easily as if it were Lex's hands.  It was unnerving but not unwelcome.

Even though they were part of the press corps that followed Lex around Clark was very glad that he didn't have to bunk with Lois.  He really didn't want to have to explain why he floated above his bed occasionally.  They always ended up in suites or a desk clerk had just received a cancellation.  Clark didn't want to look too close at the coincidence of always having suitable lodging.  But he didn't think the extraordinary luck could hold forever.  He didn't relish the idea of sleeping in the car.

Since he had made clear to Lois early on that he didn't sleep well away from home, she never questioned his nocturnal wanderings.  He kind of enjoyed seeing the differences in small towns all over Kansas.  It made him think about traveling around the country when this was over.  With his speed, he could spend the day almost anywhere in the country, perhaps anywhere on the continent and still be in his own bed at night. 

It was in an odd way, a pleasant change from Smallville or even the dark streets of Metropolis.  Most of the time, his good deeds were limited to stopping a drunken street fight or dropping the robber of the local late night quick market in the brightly lit parking lot of the local police station.  Still he found he couldn't stop passing by Lex's campaign headquarters in the middle of the night. 

One night he was very glad he had developed the habit.  When he came across the darkened storefront, he was surprised to see that it was not really darkened.  There obviously was a fire in the building but there was no alarm.  A quick check with told him that there were no people inside but he wasn't sure how to put the fire out, until he remembered passing a tractor-trailer with a large tarp stored in the back, a tarp that he was sure in the morning would be stretched over a shipment of vegetables. 

Seconds later he had broken down the back door and the tarp was smothering the fire.  It didn't take long until it was out.  He triggered the fire alarm as he left.  The tarp was returned to the trailer and he waited in the shadows across the street to make sure the authorities arrived.  The police and fire officials were there in minutes.  Lex and his cadre of assistants and managers arrived shortly there after.  Clark left assured that everything was well in hand.

He headed back to his room to wait for Lois to 'wake' him with the news.  He smelled thickly of smoke and it wouldn't do for her to notice.  A shower would wash away the evidence and he really needed to wash his clothes anyway. 

When he returned from putting his clothes in the motel Laundromat, he found Lois knocking on his door.  "Clark," she said startled at his appearance and rather displeased at his t-shirt and jeans.  "There was a fire at Luthor's headquarters.  I got the call from his manager that Luthor's there right now along with the police and firemen.  They want us there in order to get this in the paper."  She hustled him to their rented car.  "It's the second incident of vandalism while Luthor's present.  What do you think?"

Clark gave some thought to his answer as they headed into town.  "I don't know, Lois.  It could have to do with the campaign or it could be personal.  You were right about the Luthor name not being well liked."

She nodded and looked grim.  "It may be to scare Luthor off, to make him quit the race.  But if it's descended to these tactics, it's going to get messy."

"It won't work."  Clark said decisively.  "Have you ever heard of any Luthor giving up?"

"No, I haven't.  I wonder why his campaign manager gave us a call.  I don't think that Luthor needs the extra publicity."  She shook her head in thought as she followed him.

When they arrived, for a while they were held back by police until Lex came out to talk to them.  There were reporters from the local paper there as well, soon enough the television cameras would be there.  In a small town, they hadn't accompanied Lex, assuming that it would be another greet and speech stop.  And it would have been if there hadn't been a fire.

Clark took a peek at what was going on behind the scenes.  Lex was walking around the water soaked building, surveying the damage.  Apparently, the fire department had drenched the area to assure that the fire wouldn't restart.

He saw Lex lean down and pick something out of the rubble.  Lex looked around sharply, his gaze resting on Clark for several moments.  Lex turned back to the object he held and put it in his pocket.  Clark couldn't see what it was clearly, but the motion troubled him for some reason. 

He stepped closer only to be stopped by a policeman wanting to know why he was there.  Clark explained about the phone call.  A few questions later, the officer was called away and he was dismissed.  It was a bit odd but he heard the announcement that Lex was going to make a statement so he put it out of his mind.

Clark took out his notebook and patted his pockets for a pen, frowning when he couldn't find one.  "Lois, got a pen?  I forgot mine."  She harrumphed and got him one out of her purse as well as her recorder.  She depended on her tape recorder like he depended on his pen and notebook. 

They waited impatiently for Lex to appear.  Sooner than he really thought, Lex was there, wrapped in the long coat that was almost as much a part of him as his trademark purple shirts, surrounded by his people.  At the cacophony that heralded his appearance, Lex raised his hands for silence. 

"I'm only making a statement at this time.  I will not be taking questions."  Lex put his hands back in his pockets, his eyes raking across the crush of reporters.  "The police have informed me that, apparently, this office was burglarized and ransacked.  A fire was started to cover up whatever illegal activity occurred.  I'm cooperating with the police and they will be investigating.  I've called in my own security personnel as well." 

Clark could see the weariness in Lex's eyes as he continued.  "The burglars were incompetent as the fire had burned out before the police arrived but I have nothing else to say.  I think it would be best to let the police and fire investigators do their job and try to find who and why the arson occurred."

With that announcement, he waved off the reporters and his people surrounded him cutting him off from the shouted questions of the crowd.  Clark hung back as Lex got to his car and drove away.  He knew that no one would get another word out of him, until Lex wanted to talk.

The next morning Clark drove to the next stop on the schedule, while Lois went through the paper in the seat next to him.  Between bites of a fast food breakfast, she related items that she thought might be of interest from the Daily Planet that they had bought before leaving town. 

When she wound down, she checked out their own article about Lex's speech to a Rotary Club and the late night fire in his campaign offices.  "Luthor Campaign Hit by Fire" she read.  "Nice headline.  She glanced through the article.  "Clark this isn't about the fire last night.  Well, it is but it's about a fire that hit the publishing business that does most of the campaign posters for Luthor."  She continued to examine the paper.  "It looks like the printing business might be a complete loss."  Slowly, she folded the paper then tossed it in the back seat of the car. 

Clark glanced over at her as he drove down the highway.  "What are you thinking Lois?"

"I'm not sure.  Luthor has most of this kind of work done in Metropolis, his home base.  But I remember he pledged to have some done locally, where he had offices.  Last night someone set fire to the printing business as well as a campaign office."  She settled down in the seat and pulled out her cell phone.  "I'm going to call the office and see if any other of his campaign offices were hit by something."

"Do you think it's connected?"  He said, wondering if the fire was set to get Lex.  Lex, who was known to be a night owl when it came to work.  He wondered if someone was after Lex personally.  "Do you think it has to do with his campaign?  His only real competition is Congressman Crispin."

Lois shook her head as she dialed.  "I don't know.  But the 'Honorable' Congressman has a few skeletons; accusations made but never proven.  Now be quiet while I ask some questions."

She turned her attention to talking to the resources office at the Planet.  She wanted to know if there were any other mysterious occurrences across the state that had to do with the campaign offices of either candidate.  Clark thought it quite serendipitous that he had gotten into the habit of walking around at night.  He was going to keep a watch and see if it was more than happenstance.

Clark stared at Lois fuming at her desk from across the newsroom.  He chuckled quietly to himself at her vexation.  She hadn't gotten the outfits that Perry had promised if Lex decided to run for office for one reason: there hadn't been any fundraisers.  Lex was financing his whole campaign.  No fundraisers, no matching grants, nothing.  And Lex was pouring a ton of money into television, radio and print ads.

For the few times that Lex attended a gathering that demanded fancy dress, Perry decreed that Lois could wear what she already had, which irritated her to no end.  They still were on the road quite a bit hitting a lot of venues where there were speeches, both large and small.

Clark brought her a coffee as a peace offering, rather glad that the primary had gone as he had predicted.  "Here."  He said handing it to her.  "A penny for your thoughts."

She snorted.  "I don't even think that they're worth that much."  She shook the paper in her hand.  "Luthor must be the master of spin.  Every little dirty secret that gets thrown at him he turns around.  Someone even released his juvenile records." 

"It's likely someone will burn for that.  From everything I could discover they were supposed to be sealed."  Clark sat at his desk and looked at the story.  "Well, saying he was wild as a teenager is a lot better than some politicians who call the incidents that happened when they were 40, youthful indiscretions.  Luthor certainly isn't lying when he said those things happened when he was little more than a child."

"But he didn't even apologize for them.  I don't understand."  She shook her head.  "With everything that's being pushed out for the press I'm surprised we don't know what color his underwear is."

"Well, quoting the Bible probably helped.  But he did say he learned from his mistakes.  He probably lost as many voters as he gained."  Clark told her quietly.

" 'When I was a child I spoke as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child; but when I became a man I put away childish things.'  I wonder how many of them know where it came from."  She said with venom.

"It really doesn't matter."  Clark shrugged his shoulders.  "He came across as forthright and truthful."

"But he killed a man."  She hissed.

"But you saw the police reports.  It was justifiable homicide.  He wasn't even arrested.  Considering some of the looting that happened even though the twisters didn't reach Metropolis, the police never even thought it odd that he was carrying a gun.  He had a permit for concealed carry."  He waited for her answer. 

"Clark."  She stared at him.  "The man he saved was named Kent.  A relative?"

He thought she probably knew, and nodded.  "My dad."  He heaved a great sigh.  "I was injured and couldn't stop him."  He ran his hand across his face.  "I wish it hadn't happened."

"Is that why you're always giving him the benefit of the doubt?"  Lois' face was stern.

Clark cocked his head and looked at her.  She didn't know how he felt about Lex.  Chloe had been talking to him a lot the past few weeks.  Chloe told him, if it had been her, she would have gone hunting for Lex's balls.  "No.  I think a man should be judged by his deeds."  His father has always said that but had never been able to apply it to Lex.  "He was born a Luthor, but he's not his father.  He has to stand or fall on his own feet."

Lois blinked and stared at him as if she had never thought of such a thing. 

"Lois, would you want to be judged by what your father did?"  He leaned back in his chair while she thought it over.

Finally, she shook her head.  "That's one reason I took up journalism.  I didn't want to be like my father." 

Clark let the comment pass.  He didn't really want to know if Lois had problems with her father.  The problems he had with his were more than enough. 

"So, where are we going today or will we have the luxury of staying in the office and writing puff pieces."  He grinned at her at that. 

"Funny man."  She waved a piece of paper at him.  "We got Luthor's schedule from his press secretary for the next two weeks.  Go home and pack.  From now until the election, he'll be appearing in a different city every night.  We don't have the luxury of drivers and private planes.  We get rentals and puddle jumpers.  Pack light and don't forget your laptop and cell phone." 

Clark didn't groan but he didn't relish sharing quarters with Lois the next few weeks.  It had gotten so stressful that he didn't sleep much.  He was fortunate that he hadn't been seen in his forays.  Of course, it might have been because he was a lot more careful than he was when he was a teen in Smallville.

Sometimes he thought he should stop doing these…things, but he didn't seem to be able to.  He'd gotten much better at disappearing even though, for the most part all he did was get the perpetrator away from his victim.  There hadn't been any more incidents of harassment or vandalism but the race was neck and neck.  But there were still more than two weeks until Election Day.

A week later, investigations done independently of the police pointed the finger at campaign workers for Congressman Crispin.  Since nothing could be proved, the Daily Planet said as much in an editorial and threw the newspapers support to Lex Luthor.  The Inquisitor was much less diplomatic.  Clark knew that Lex had nothing to do with the editorial board of the Inquisitor, but it still wasn't surprising.

They say hindsight is 20/20, less than 48 hours before the election; half the offices that Lex had manned went up in flames as well as an attack at the ballroom rented for the victory party in Metropolis. 

Clark had never been so glad that he was one to hide in the background.  When the stage went up in flames he had retired to the edge of the stage, well out of the way where no one would notice if he moved, which he did.  The main support in back had been weakened and he ended up supporting it until his x-ray vision told him that the ballroom had been emptied.  When he let it go, the whole second floor collapsed into the ballroom and what used to be the stage. 

He went out the back instead of the front where most of the people were.  The alley was almost empty and there was enough confusion that no one could say positively when he had gotten out.  What he hadn't counted on was being covered by plaster.  

He heard Lois calling for him in the crush of people in the front of the hotel, but he was unprepared for her reaction.  He hurried to her, not wanting her to worry. 

"Clark," Lois was rumpled and had a bruise on one cheek.  She was favoring her left leg and Clark figured that she had more injuries that he couldn't see.  "What happened to you?"  She ran her right hand through his hair and plaster dust showered down.  "You look like you've aged a century."  On closer examination, she was favoring her left arm as well. 

Clark knew he couldn't tell her the truth, so he dissembled.  "I'm not really sure."  He ran his hand through his hair and more dust rained down.  "I came from the alley.  You need to be treated."  He put his arm around her waist.  "Lean on me."  He said as he led her to one of the ambulances that had just arrived.  "This time we're part of the news instead of just reporting."

"I'll stick to reporting, thank you."  She told him wryly.

She didn't put up a fight and while Lois was being looked at, he looked around for Lex.  He should have listened for him because Lex was complaining at the top of his lungs and wandering around with one arm in a sling, checking on his people.  Lex caught Clark watching him at one point and he gave Clark a sharp nod and continued his circuit.  Clark didn't know what it meant. 

Both of them were cleared to go home.  Clark had no obvious injuries and Lois, while bruised had not been unconscious at any time.  They both were told to come to the emergency room at Metropolis General Hospital if they had any more symptoms.  With the amount of people involved, Clark was not surprised.

 They ended up telling the police what they had seen, which wasn't much more than the explosion and running bodies.  No, they hadn't seen anyone that seemed out of place. 

It was near dawn when Jake Evens, another Planet reporter gave them a ride home.  Clark showered and headed back to the damaged hotel.  A few hours later, he got a phone call and ended up walking a couple of blocks to where Lex had organized a press conference.  He waited for Lois wanting to see how she was.  He didn't entertain any fantasies of sending her home, as she'd have to be almost dead to be willing to forgo this.

The sun was just coming up when Lex appeared.  It was apparent that he had not slept as he was still wearing the same suit he had worn the night before.  A cut on his cheek had been taped and his right arm was in a sling.  Other than that, he appeared much the confident businessman that everyone expected.  To Clark, he looked weary.

"Ladies and Gentlemen of the press."  Lex began.  "For those of you that do not know, this incident was only one of several that happened across the state.  Fortunately, although there were several injuries there were no deaths.  The police are investigating, but at this time there are no suspects." 

This was a statement that Clark didn't believe.  Crispin was the most obvious suspect.  But he supposed that there were others.

He listened as Lex continued.  "My press secretary will be distributing a list of those that were injured and their condition.  This will not put a damper on our final push and I wish voters to go to the polls with confidence."

There was a clamoring of 'Mr. Luthor's' from the crowd before him, Lois among them.  Clark listened carefully to the questions. 

"Congressman Crispin, has been vocally denouncing you.  There have been incidents of his opponents bowing out of a race unexpectedly.  Could he be trying to warn you to quit?"

"I know that there have been rumors floating around about the Congressman, but I suggest that you give them no credence.  If I did know who was behind this, I would give the information to the investigating team.  I would much rather win this race on the issues rather than through a sympathy vote." 

"Mr. Luthor, are you a suspect?"  The question surprised Clark but perhaps it shouldn't have.  People were almost always willing to believe that Lex would do something that was underhanded.

Lex ran the thumb of his left hand across his forehead.  "Probably.  I've tried to make this election about issues rather than personalities.  I believe that I can do the best job for the people of Kansas.  I assure you though that I had nothing to do with it, nor, as far as I know, did any of my people.  I would far rather not be near anything that goes boom."  His remark created a scattering of laughter among the reporters.  "Please just one more question."

And there was that damned pencil in his ribs, again.  Clark yipped and Lex responded.  "Yes, Mr. Kent?"  Clark could almost swear that there was humor in Lex's tone. 

Clark asked the question that was bothering him the most.  "Mr. Luthor, could this have been an attempt on your life?"

Maybe he had asked the right question most of the press people went quiet.