Superman Movieverse Forum

Wishes Granted - Chapter 4 – Arrivals

Clark had been thinking to himself just how wonderful the day has been even after the strange beginning.  He had been delighting in giving his son his sole attention, marveling what it was like to not have to be perpetually on guard and listening for those in need. He reveled in the time he had been given with his son to just talk and play quietly with no other responsibilities and a part of him wanted nothing more than to keep this borrowed life. 

He avoided looking at the wires knowing he would flinch if reminded of those he had not been there for.  He also avoided thinking about the fact that he could never allow himself to take Lois as his own in this lie of a life.  At least there were no lies or barriers now between him and Jason and no matter how this bizarre transference played out he would still have this new closeness with his extraordinary son and these wonderful memories to hold on to.  He worried what was coming next but for at least the time being he pushed it to the back of his mind trusting that somehow everything would be resolved for the best. 

His respite was cut short as he looked up from his latest game with Jason seeing Lois run into the bullpen heading directly for them.  Her hair was wet and stringy and she was all business as she rushed up to him.

“Richard, you have to help me save Superman.  Did you see that video? Something is wrong with him and we’re probably the only ones who can help.”

“Lois,” he started but she interrupted.

“We need to go find him.  It looks like he’s headed this way but if he can’t fly then he must be hurt or something.  Didn’t you see how strange he’s acting?”

“Lois we can’t just go on some wild goose chase trying to find him, besides…” 

Once again Lois interrupted, “What do you mean some wild goose chase? It’s Superman and he may be hurt and need our help. I want you to fly me along the route where he was last spotted. With any luck we should be able to track him down.”

Clark was touched at Lois’s concern but worry crept into his mind as he considered his options.  How could he tell her he couldn’t fly Richard’s plane.  “Lois, he may not be able to fly right now but he’s not really hurt.” 

“Oh and just how do you know that?”  She had one hand on her hip clearly ready to disbelieve anything he said.  “I suppose he called you?” she said sarcastically.

Clark got up running his hand through his hair as he looked back down at Jason who was clearly watching their every move having forgotten his game entirely.  Conscious of the little ears he kept to a guarded truth.  “Yes we have been in communication and he confirmed that he is headed here.  As a matter of fact, I expect he’ll be here in a couple hours.  We just have to be patient and give him time.”

“Wait, don’t tell me, you intercepted another call meant for Clark.  I happen to know that Superman sometimes contacts Clark.” She started to say, ‘when he can’t reach me,’ but thought better of it and instead said,  “I think they must be friends or something.”

Suddenly digging in her shoulder bag as a new inspiration struck, she exclaimed. “Clark! Why didn’t I think of him before?  Maybe he knows something.”  She pulled her cell phone out of the bag. 

“Un Lois…”  Clark tried to stop her but she had already hit the speed dial.  He wasn’t sure how these strange events were going to play out but he knew if things kept going the way they were headed both Lois and Richard were in all likelihood going to find out all of his secrets. 

What he was sure of was that it would be better if he told Lois directly but faced with the current circumstances, the question was, how?  He considered just how crazy it sounded, Lois, I‘m really Clark, Richard and I traded bodies this morning and by the way, I’m also Superman.  Yeah, that will go over real well. I’m likely to wake up tomorrow in a straightjacket.

“Darn! It’s going to voice mail,” Lois said, exasperated. “This is Lois, Call me ASAP.” She flipped her phone shut, and said to no one, “Sheesh, what could he be doing that is so important that he wouldn’t answer his cell phone?”

Clark and Jason exchanged knowing glances. Clark shuffled his feet as his anxiety grew.  He was faced with a hard truth and knew he didn’t really have a choice he had to tell her before Richard got there.  Somehow he would have to make her believe the unbelievable.  “Uh Lois, I don’t know how…”   

“Yes?”  She answered turning to face him but just as she did another news flash came on the air and she turned away to give the monitor her full attention.

Xo

“This is Frank Warner, WGBS news.  Just in, Superman was sighted near Columbus, Ohio a short time ago.  Witnesses verify that he attempted to put out a fire with less than desirable results.  No pun intended but evidently he blew the house down.  Sources say the fire department was letting the abandoned dilapidated house burn on the outskirts of town when Superman came onto the scene and blew the flames out.  According to sources he seemed as surprised as the firemen standing nearby.”   

The newsman shook his head then continued.  “One does have to wonder what is going on with our resident hero.  He was very active last night reportedly all over the globe. There is speculation that perhaps he overdid it and is now having a relapse after that so recent almost deadly fall and seemingly remarkable recovery.  Stay tuned to WGBS for any additional breaking news on this story as he does appear to be headed back to Metropolis.”

Xo

“See what I’m talking about.  Something is definitely wrong with him.”  Lois stopped as she turned back around and saw the pained look on Richard’s face.  It almost looked to her like he was taking the newscast personally.  Then she noticed that Jason seemed similarly upset.  “What’s going on with you two?”

“Lois, I really need to tell you something… I just don’t know how you’re going to take it.”  He looked down as Jason whose eyes were wide in apprehension.  He looked back up at Lois trying to read her expression, was it concern or annoyance?

She shook her head slightly annoyed.  She didn’t have time for all the distractions, not today. Richard was normally so much more direct.  What was with him anyway?  If she didn’t know better she would think he was taking a page right out of Clark’s playbook. “Richard, just out with it, what is it you need to tell me that is so important.  Surely it is not more important than Superman’s well being.”

Clark caught his breath and again looked down at Jason then looking back at Lois he started again.  “It is about Superman and why he’s acting so strange.  You see somehow… um…”  He looked away unable to keep eye contact with her then once again looked at Jason drawing strength from the little boy’s obvious confidence in him.  He had to figure out just the right way to put the impossible.   “Jason told me about a movie he likes, Freaky Friday?  I take it you’ve seen it?” 

Lois sighed deeply, wondering where this could possibly be going.  “What do you mean he told you about it?”  She threw her arms up in the air exasperated, “We’ve each watched it with him at least a dozen times.  And what the heck does that work of fantasy have to do with anything?  Why are you trying to keep me from searching for Superman?  Either you know something or you don’t, so what is it?”       

Just as Clark opened his mouth to try and answer he heard the telltale sound of the elevator doors dinging open out in the hallway.  He watched, shocked, as Richard came out, walked into the bullpen almost tripping over some invisible obstacle then proceeded to adjust his glasses, surely for effect.  He stood there with his mouth hanging open unable to say anything, realizing it was too late - he was already caught.  All he could hope to do was control the damage.

Lois turned hearing the elevator open and seeing Clark ran to meet him half way.  “Clark, I’m so glad you’re here…”

Jason sprang into action running after his mother grabbing her hand he pulled for her to come with him.  “Mommy I gotta go potty, real bad!”   

“Richard, please, can’t you take him?  I need to talk to Clark hopefully he’s heard or knows what’s going on with Superman.” 

Clark stood in place gaping at Richard, surprise and trepidation written all of his face.  “Um…”   

Richard merely smirked back at him. 

Jason saw the look between his two dads and tugged again on his mom’s hand crossing his legs dancing slightly as if in dire need for relief.  “No Mommy, I want you to take me.” 

Lois looked down seeing Jason’s distress.  “Oh alright honey.  Why do you always wait until it’s an emergency?”  She looked back over her shoulder as she allowed him to almost drag her off.  “Don’t you dare leave Clark. I really need to speak with you.”

Richard answered smiling deviously, “Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.”

Xox

Kristina watched Lois leave with Jason tugging her along.  She had heard and seen it all and was hoping that what she was beginning to suspect was not the case.  Surely she wasn’t the cause of Superman’s sudden strange behavior.  Or was she?

Xox

“Hurry up Jason I want to get back to talk to Clark.”

“I gotta wash my hands first.”  Jason proceeded to jump up on the sink balancing on his stomach so he could reach the facets but as he extended his reach for the soap he slid off.  He jumped back up and Lois came to his rescue holding him in place.

“Here let me help.  They make these too high for kids, don’t they?”  Jason proceeded to wash his hands then reached for more soap to start over.  “That’s good honey.”

“Mrs. Morgan says that you have to wash for at least twenty seconds so you don’t get sick.  You don’t want me to get sick do you?”

“No of course not.”   Since when did he follow that rule? she thought.  Finally he finished and she let him down.

She watched as he jumped up under the towel dispenser grabbing a hand towel and proceeded to dry his hands then jumped to grab another towel to wipe up the mess he had made on the sink.  “Jason?”

“I don’t wanna leave a mess.”

She rolled her eyes and tried to no avail to hurry him along.  “That’s good.  Let’s go.” 

“Mommy, aren’t you going to wash your hands too?  Mrs. Morgan always says you should wash your hands whenever you go into a bathroom.”

She sighed and placated him by washing her hands.  As she was drying her hands she noticed something on his shirt.  Wetting another towel she stooped over him and started to rub the stain out.  “Is this strawberry on your shirt?  You haven’t been eating strawberries have you?”

‘I don’t know what it is. Me and Daddy went to breakfast.  It could be strawberry.”  He turned and ran out of the bathroom before she could react. 

Lois ran after him but before she could catch him he had opened the door to the stairs and disappeared.  She looked back into the bullpen seeing Richard and Clark in what looked like a deep discussion.  Resigned, she opened the door and tried to figure out where her son had taken off to. 

“I’m down here, Mommy. I want to see what they have in the vending machine down here, I’m hungry and they never have anything good where you work.”

What is going on with the men in my life today?  I think they have all gone a bit crazy, is there something in the water?  What am I missing?  Shaking her head in confusion, she tried to catch up with her unusually wayward son.         

Xox

Richard closed the distance between him and Clark.  “Bet you weren’t expecting to see me, were you?  Or perhaps you weighed the risks of telling me about that pocket universe.  I must say, it was just too handy a thing to have just the one.”   

Xoxo

Many thanks once again go to SHADOLibrarian for serving as Beta.   

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