This day was not supposed to be the turning point in his life. It was supposed to be just another day, not unlike any other day. He'd been Superman now for five years, working as a journalist for five years, part of the Justice League for three years, and engaged to get married to Lois Lane for one year. Yet, this day, a seemingly normal summer's day in July in Metropolis, was the turning point of his life. But he should have known by now that there were no such things as normal days for him.

Using his sorcery Felix Faust enchanted Solomon Grundy making him stronger, madder, and even more uncontrollable, except by him. Their first stop on the road to reign as much destruction on humanity as possible was Metropolis. This was going to be a test for his new improved Grundy. Faust wanted to pit his enhanced Grundy up against Superman, the Man of Steel himself. Unfortunately, Superman wasn't in town because he was saving people from a volcano eruption, so the Justice League sent Shazam, Zatanna, and Green Lantern, John Stewart, to deal with them.

New Troy, one of the six boroughs of Metropolis and the hub of all business, was being destroyed by the confrontation between Faust and Grundy and Shazam, Zatanna, and John Stewart. Grundy was proving to be more powerful than expected by Stewart and Shazam, while Zatanna battled to subdue Faust. The news media of Metropolis was all over the battle sending reporters in vans with cameramen, flying above in helicopters, and even newspaper reporters on foot with photographers to cover the growing chaos and destruction of the city.

In Gotham City in the luxurious Chairman of the Board office of Wayne Enterprises Bruce Wayne watched the havoc being caused on a flat-screen television that he had turned on when notified by his secretary of what was happening in Metropolis. Wayne Enterprises ran at least two divisions out of Metropolis. Pulling out of his pocket a small communicator that each Justice Leaguer carried, he contacted the Watchtower.

"Batman," answered the calm voice of J'onn J'onzz.

"J'onn, we better scramble more leaguers to end this now and then start helping with the cleanup. Metropolis is taking too much damage. It needs to stop before we have too many civilians injured or killed," Bruce stated.

"I agree. I have contacted Diana, Hawkgirl, Hal Jordan, Flash, and Cyborg to go to Metropolis. They are all on their way."

"I'm headed to the Batwing. I'll be there in less than an hour," said Bruce.

He ended the communication then he buzzed his CEO Lucius Fox to let him know he was going to be out of town for a few days. Bruce had a feeling that this bit of destruction was going to be trouble for the League, especially when Clark finally showed up and saw what happened to his city.

Superman finished diverting the lava flow away from people in Sumatra. Usually, he would stay on and clean up the mess and help refugees, but his hearing had picked up what was going on in Metropolis. His city needed him. Still not using his top speed, which would screw with the space-time continuum, he headed for his home city at best speed.

Lois Lane wanted to get in on the story. She hated to lose a story to anyone. But more than that, she was a true reporter which meant she was partially addicted to the adrenaline of a big story, especially one that was dangerous to get. With Jimmy Olsen by her side, she made her way as close to the action as possible. She got close enough to have Shazam land in a crumble of concrete a foot away from her. Immediately, Jimmy started to take photographs of the knocked senseless Shazam then he aimed his camera at the raging Solomon Grundy. It was then that he panicked. Grundy was holding an SUV over his head and aimed the vehicle at them. He let it fly.

"Lois, move!" he yelled, as he tried to grab her arm to get her out of the way, but she pushed him aside.

Lois looked up in time to see the SUV above her head.

"Shit," she whispered, "Clark is going to be devastated."

The SUV landed on her while hitting a glancing blow Jimmy and sending him into the air then landing hard on the street. Superman arrived in time to see a pair of legs sticking out from under an SUV, as well as a seriously injured Jimmy Olsen a few feet from the vehicle. He landed and used his x-ray vision to see that it was Lois under the vehicle. She was crushed; she was dead. A hot rage, an anger he'd never experienced before in his life, overcame him. He wanted to kill Grundy, to end his existence and nothing or no one was going to stop him. Shazam, who had finally recovered, stood up. He saw the expression on Superman's face and knew there was going to be a level of trouble that should be avoided.

"Supes," he started to say and went to grab his arm in order to calm him down, but Superman slapped him with the back of his hand harder than he ever been hit in his life. When he finally landed, Shazam ended up destroying a coffee shop on the first floor of a building five blocks away.

Superman picked up speed as he went at Grundy, who prepared to fight back. As he got closer he brought back his arm to punch Grundy. Solomon Grundy did the same thing, but he wasn't ready for what was coming his way. Superman's fist was thrown with such speed and strength it made a sonic blast, causing windows from dozens of buildings to explode in shards of glass. When the punch connected with Grundy's jaw, his head sort of disintegrated in a red mist and the corporeal revenant ceased to exist. No magic was bringing back Solomon Grundy this time.

Anybody who saw it, from Justice Leaguer to average citizen, it was awe inspiring display of sheer strength that left more than a little fear in the pit of one's stomach. Zatanna took advantage of Faust's attention being drawn to the death of his cohort to wrap magical chains she created around him. He was finally under control. Even though she wanted to stay to help deal with Superman, Zatanna transported herself and Faust away for fear that Superman might do the same to Faust as he did to Grundy because he was the one your started this mess.

Diana arrived, as did Hal Jordan and Cyborg. The Flash had arrived minutes earlier and sped his way over to Lois's body. He knew that Lois Lane was Clark Kent's fiancee and Superman was Clark Kent, so he knew how devastating this for for Clark. Before he could do anything to get the body free from the smashed SUV, Superman returned and lifted it up and tossed the remains of the SUV away like it was an empty soda can. He knelt down beside Lois' crushed body and began to weep. The Flash put his hand on Clark's right shoulder.

"God, I'm so sorry. This is so wrong," he said softly.

Clark looked over at Jimmy then said, "Get him medical care now, Flash. Please."

"Will do," replied Barry Allen.

He sped over picked up Jimmy Olsen then sped away to the nearest hospital. As more of the Justice League arrived, they started to deal with the aftermath of the battle. John Stewart was boom-tubed up to the Watchtower by Cyborg to have his broken ribs and broken leg mended. The rest of them started doing search and rescue of innocent citizens. Clean up could wait until all those injured and dead could be be taken care of.

No one bothered Superman, though. They allowed him to kneel beside the body of Lois and mourn. Even the police department and fire department left him alone for now. The only one who dared to approach him was Batman. After he landed his Batwing in Centennial Park he was updated by Diana on all events then he headed over to Clark. Getting close to him, Batman whispered, "Clark."

Instead of turning to talk or standing and facing a man that was his friend, Superman took off rocketing into the sky. Suddenly, he was gone.

JLJLJL

News casts went over the incident over and over again. It became a repetitive cacophony of opinions and banalities. Newspapers wrote about it. Pundits, like General Lane, spoke about how the alien needed to be controlled. He was too powerful to let exist without restraints. Of course, his daughter died because Superman couldn't save her, so he had a grudge against the Man of Steel. Hal Jordan and Diana took on the role of spokespersons for the Justice League. They appeared on network news shows and cable shows trying to calm the public and telling them that Superman was not a threat to the public. Yet, that image of Solomon Grundy couldn't be erased from the public's mind. Superman had killed and everyone with a TV saw it.

Several governments called on the Justice League to punish Superman, or in some way place some controls on him. The US Government called on him to appear in front of congress and answer questions about the incident. Yet, there was silence coming from Superman. He was nowhere to be seen or heard from.

On the Watchtower Jo'nn knew where Clark was as did Bruce and Diana. Along with Kara they knew about his Fortress of Solitude in the Antarctic. A meeting was called by senior members to discuss the Superman situation. Diana, Bruce, Jo'nn, Barry, Hal, John Stewart, Dinah, Oliver, and Arthur Curry met in the large conference room on the Watchtower. The Justice League needed to have an official response to the calls for Superman being punished.

Bruce sat and listened to the on going arguments. He was unimpressed by them. Some, like Arthur, Dinah, and Oliver, wanted Clark suspended as punishment while others like John Stewart and Diana, who regretted believing this needed to be done, called for him to be removed from the league as punishment. Diana had come to understand that if the people feared them then they could do no good in this world. And right now the people feared Superman.

Bruce decided to abstain in his opinion and vote. The one thing he did say was this should be voted on by all members not just some. Superman was too important to leave it to a few. The vote was set for the whole Justice League the next day.

JLJLJL

Bruce along with Dick Grayson, Barbara Gordon, and Tim Drake showed up for Lois Lane's funeral. It was a solemn affair with most of the staff of the Daily Planet, including her fiancee, Clark Kent, attending along with his mother and cousin Kara. Her father, General Lane, could be heard saying that he hoped that the alien freak showed up so he could give him a piece of his mind. The reverend quoted the bible and gave a homily about faith and rebirth then Lois' coffin was lowered in the grave. It began to lightly rain.

Slowly, everyone drifted away heading towards their vehicle. Clark stood by the grave. He had no intention of leaving. His mother, Martha Kent, stood beside him along with Kara. Some patted Clark Kent on his shoulder before they left then headed to their car. Bruce, Dick, Barbara, and Tim came over to him.

"Mrs. Kent," Bruce nodded his head at Clark's mother then he stood beside Clark. "Anything you need I'm here for you. Anything at all."

"Thanks, Bruce," mumbled Clark.

"Clark, I'm sorry," added Dick Grayson, who had taken the name Nightwing from a Kryptonian story Clark told him.

Clark nodded. Barbara gave him a hug then backed away and Tim watched.

"I quit my job," Clark said.

"And moved to the Fortress, too," added Bruce.

"It's no longer in the same location as before. I moved it deeper into Antarctica. Only Kara knows where it is and she won't tell you. I need it to be like this right now," Clark told him.

"The Justice League is voting on punishing you today," stated Bruce.

"You're not there?" asked Clark.

"I told them I abstained. I won't sit in judgment of you," Bruce replied. "Some day we'll talk about what you did, but you should mourn and take time."

Clark nodded. Bruce then handed his umbrella to Martha Kent. She smiled sadly, opened it, and held it above her head.

"I mean it, Clark, whatever you need, just ask," Bruce said.

"Again, thank you, Bruce," he said.

Bruce looked at Dick, Barbara, and Tim and motioned them to leave. Everyone started to leave, except Dick. He walked up to Clark.

"You're a good man, Clark. Remember that," smiled Dick. "No matter what is said about what happened or is doing to be said about you, you are a good man, one of the best. I believe in you and always will believe in you."

"Thanks, Dick," said Clark.

They shook hands and Dick joined the rest of his family, who waited for them. As they walked Bruce spoke to him.

"You did well back there. He needed to hear that," said Bruce.

"It's the truth."

JLJLJL

The Justice League voted to revoke Superman's membership. They released a statement saying that besides his membership being revoked that the League would keep an eye on him and his actions and would react accordingly. It sounded like a threat. Batman resigned after they made their statement. He wasn't the only one to resign, either. Arthur Curry resigned, also. He said Atlantis needed him full-time. Zatanna resigned. She told the board of directors that she joined because of Batman and Superman and now that they were gone, she saw no reason to stay. The Flash thought about resigning but ended up staying because he believed in what the League stood for and thought it might collapse if too many of them resigned. Other than the Green Arrow and Supergirl, no other Leaguers resigned their membership. But the damaged was done. The League was lessened without Superman and Batman, and those others that left.

For the next three months, Superman was nowhere to be found. Natural disasters or the likes of Metallo, he avoided the public letting the Justice League or Kara handle it. Kal El spent all his time at his Fortress and Clark Kent made occasional weekend visits to see his mother in Smallville. On the whole he was a recluse with only Kara paying visits to him.

"Kal, you can't live out your life in this representation of Krypton," she said to him on a visit.

"I have Kelex for company and you. Plus, I visit ma now and then and spend time on the farm," said Clark.

"Kal, it's not enough. You need to see more people then us. You need to be part of the world," Kara sighed.

"Kara, I've spent time doing something I've never done before learning everything my Kryptonian heritage has to teach me. I have been downloading the knowledge of Krypton, as well as Krypton's knowledge of other worlds and societies and learning. Earth isn't the only place for us. There's Daxam. They are descended from Kryptonian colonists. Our powers are greater than theirs as pure breed Kryptonians, but they are strong, sturdy, advanced, and compatible with our DNA," he explained. "We don't have to live here on Earth."

"It would be nice not to be afraid of hurting someone when I hugged them," sighed Kara.

"Then there is Almerac," said Superman. "The royal family through selective breeding has immense psionic powers. This allows them to have reign over their people. Okay, I admit on the whole the royal family sounds dictatorial."

"Yeah, Almerac sounds like the family is filled with douche bags," Kara agreed.

"There is also New Genesis and a race that calls themselves the New Gods. New Gods, Really?" sighed Superman with annoyance. "Of course, there is their sister planet Apokolips, where Darkseid reigns."

He looked at Kara, who shrugged her shoulders.

"Not much of choice there, huh?" she smiled.

Clark laughed softly, which made Kara chuckle.

"It's nice to hear you laugh again, Kal," she said.

Clark stood up from the console he sat at and stretched. He was wearing jeans and a Kansas Football tee shirt. Kara walked over to him and gave him a hug then she stepped back.

"Bruce keeps asking about you. He calls me once a week about you. He's really concerned about you," she told him.

"I should visit him," sighed Clark.

"Yeah, you should," she smiled.

"Maybe Clark Kent will give Bruce Wayne a visit," smiled Clark.

"Why not have Superman visit Batman?" Kara asked.

"Because Superman is retired for now. The world is afraid of him, so he has no place in the world," he stated. His tone told her that there was no room for argument.

Kara sighed: "Okay. Visit Bruce then. You could use a change of venue. This place is too much like Krypton and the more you're here the more you'll end up acting like a Kryptonian."

"And that's bad?" asked Clark.

"Clark Kent and Kal El, you are both men in one body. Human and Kryptonian. Trust me, Clark, you act more like a human than a Kryptonian. You trust your emotions. You don't live your life by logic, or trust only your intelligence. No, you are more than that. I follow the House of El and you are the leader of that house, but I love and respect Clark Kent," explained Kara.

Clark smiled sadly then said: "I'm not sure I like emotions anymore. But I understand what you're saying."

"Good," smiled Kara. "Go visit Bruce."

JLJLJL

Bruce Wayne gave a morning interview to a cable business channel telling them that the sales for Wayne Tech's smartphone and tablets were better than expected and that they intended to make available smart watches for the Christmas Season. With that obligation done, he spent the rest of the morning into the afternoon in his Chairman of the Board office working on a special computer linked to his network in the Batcave trying to figure out what Penguin was up to with his new relationship with Intergang. He was about to have a late lunch when he secretary interrupted him on the intercom.

"Mr. Wayne, a Mr. Clark Kent is here to see you," she stated.

Bruce furrowed his brow. He wasn't expecting Clark, though he was glad to see him.

"Send Mr. Wayne in and get my car ready. I'll be leaving for the day soon," he told her.

Bruce leaned back in his chair and waited for Clark to be ushered into the office. Once he brought into the office, Bruce observed his friend. He was dressed in a blue oxford shirt and jeans with a black suit jacket. Clark looked good.

"Clark," Bruce said, as he secretary left them alone, "I'm glad to see you."

"Kara told me to talk to you so you wouldn't call her so much," smiled Clark.

"I've been worried about you," Bruce stated.

"I know. You don't have to worry, Bruce," sighed Clark.

"Let's get some lunch on me and talk. I have a private booth at the Gotham Club. We can talk, eat some excellent food, and just be friends," said Bruce.

"Okay," agreed Clark.

Bruce's car dropped them off in front of the Gotham Club. Over a one hundred and fifty years old, the Gotham Club had always been a conclave for the rich and powerful of Gotham. Bruce only went there when he didn't want to be bothered and wanted a good rib-eye steak. The doorman opened the door for them and the manger immediately greeted Bruce.

"Mr. Wayne, it's a pleasure to see you. Your secretary called so that your private booth is ready in the dining room. We are preparing two rib-eyes with garlic mashed potatoes and creamed spinach," he told him.

"Sounds about right," smiled Bruce. "Have a bottle of one of your better Merlot sent to the table."

"Yes, sir," he smiled then ushered them to the dining room area and to the private booth.

The dining room had the look and feel of a leather and dark wood haven for men and, since ten years earlier, women with too much money and power came to eat and cut deals. Clark was glad that the private booth was roomy, since it had to take the size and girth of both him and Bruce. Bruce was six foot two and a solid two hundred and thirty pounds of muscle and he was six foot four, though as Clark his slouched made him six foot two.

"Enjoy your meal, sirs," said the manager. "A waiter will bring the Merlot."

"Thank you," said Bruce then he reached into his suit jacket and took out a small device that he turned on and attached to the bottom of the table.

"A scrambler?" asked Clark.

"Scramble any listening devices or recording devices, just in case. I like privacy," said Bruce.

Clark smiled then the smile faded and he said: "I heard you resigned for the League. You shouldn't have."

"Yes, I should have," said Bruce. "They made a mistake so that they could have good PR and press. It was wrong to remove you from the league. You deserved punishment but not that."

"I'd destroy Grundy again under the same circumstances, Bruce," Clark stated.

"I know, Clark," replied Bruce.

"What would you have recommended?" asked Clark.

"Suspension followed by a campaign to make the public understand how close you were to Lois. I think the public would come to understand your actions if they knew Lois was special to you," explained Bruce.

"Lois," Clark said softly.

Bruce knew his friend's heart was still broken. It would be cruel to continue this conversation, so he quickly changed the subject.

"But that's in the past," sighed Bruce. "What do you intend on doing with yourself, Clark?"

"Besides spending time at my Fortress of Solitude and not being Superman?" he offered.

"To start with," Bruce said with a hint of annoyance.

"Kara has been on my case, also, about spending more time with people," remarked Clark. "I've decided to do what I was raised to do and work the farm for now. Pa Kent taught me everything I need to know and Ma is getting old. She's having trouble maintaining the place, so I thought I'd move home and work the farm."

"You're going back to Smallville," stated Bruce.

"Yeah, I'm going home," sighed Clark.

The waiter brought over the bottle of wine that Bruce ordered. He poured some in the wine glass in front of Bruce, who sampled it.

"Excellent wine. Please pour," Bruce said.

The waiter poured a full glass for Bruce then a glass for Clark. He left the bottle on the table then he left. Clark sampled the wine.

"A hint of plum and notes of chocolate, as well as organic fertilizer and hints of the oak barrel it was aged in," smiled Clark.

"Maybe you should skip being a farmer and become a sommelier, Clark," joked Bruce.

"Very funny, Bruce," smiled Clark.

Bruce took a sip of the wine, savored it for a moment then put his glass down.

"This world needs Superman, even if they don't believe it, Clark," stated Bruce.

"Maybe, Bruce. But I have to be sure first," said Clark. "People are afraid of me out there, Bruce. They saw what I did to Grundy and think that if I lose my temper that they are next. Before I become Superman again, I have to be sure that the people want my help. If they are frightened of me then I become a.. tyrant instead of servant."

"Clark, I think you're over-thinking this," said Bruce.

"The House is still calling for Superman to testify in front of several of their committees to explain himself and actions, while the Senate has set up an oversight committee to review the activities of metahumans and other super powered beings," snapped Clark. "This is because of me. They fear me."

"They'll get over it," stated Bruce.

"Maybe so, but you know you're welcomed in Smallville whenever you want to visit or check up on me. I consider you family, Bruce," smiled Clark.

Bruce sighed: "I still say the work needs you, Clark."

"We'll see," replied Clark.