No Words

Post Arctic just after Clark sees Lana's goodbye and Lois walks in.

Disclaimer: None of these characters belong to me.

The first thing that Lois noticed when she came in was that the tv was on, but it wasn't a show, and it wasn't a movie. It was Lana, who looked like she was in agony, talking to Clark from the screen with her eyes brimming, ready to overflow, and her voice breaking.

"Please, don't come after me. I love you Clark, more than you will ever know."

When Lana turned off the camera and the screen turned to static, Clark just stood there for a moment, but then it was as if he sensed that someone was behind him, and he turned around. Lois could almost feel the anguish rolling off of him in waves. He tried to smile when he saw her, but it fell flat, and he looked at the floor, tears in his eyes. Lois had heard the words heartbroken many times, but she never truly understood the meaning until she looked into the eyes of this strong man who had just had it ripped out of his chest and crushed. She could feel tears come to her own eyes, and before she knew it, her feet were moving and she threw her arms around him.

"I'm so sorry..."

She could feel him clinging to her, and felt her shoulder start to become damp as his breath hitched. She helped him to a couch when his legs started to give out, and just held him. His soft whimpers and sniffles were somehow worse than if he'd been full out sobbing. He sounded like someone terribly wounded who was just trying to hang on, and she had to fight to hold her own tears back.

She didn't know how long it took, for time had seemed to lose all meaning, but he finally pulled back, a few drops still making their way down his cheeks. She got up long enough to get him a glass of water and a box of tissues. He blew his nose and sipped at the water, but stayed silent. He didn't look embarrassed or ashamed about crying in front of her, but then Clark had always been honest about everything. His emotions as much as anything else. She took his empty hand and squeezed it gently. She knew there was nothing she could say, there were no words for this, but she could be here.

Clark felt like his heart had shattered into a million pieces at Lana's words. How could she leave him now, after everything that they'd been through? He thought he heard someone, and he turned around. It was Lois, and he could tell from her expression that she'd heard at least part of what he just did. He tried to smile, he felt his mouth twitch, but he couldn't keep it up, and he looked away.

The next thing he knew, he felt arms around him, and Lois was whispering that she was so sorry. He hugged her back, desperately needing comfort, and let himself break down. He couldn't even sob, he needed all his air just to breathe, and that was hard enough. He could feel his breath hitching and wheezing, and it made his chest ache. He felt his knees go weak, and she helped him to the couch.

He didn't know how long he cried on her shoulder, all he could feel was the pain, but he finally sat back, in somewhat of a daze. He felt her leave and then return, and looked up to see her holding out a glass of water and a box of tissues. He took one and blew his nose then drank some of the water. He felt her take his hand and squeeze it, and he squeezed back. There was sympathy in her gaze, but she stayed quiet. Maybe she knew that there were no words for this, but he was glad that she was here.

The End

May 4, 2009