Thanks

Corrina.

Whoa. Seriously incredible and can't wait for more.

I'm on the edge of my seat with this story! I too couldn't wait for Lois to get the box to see what Clark had written:
I wanted to cry--of course he would ask about his parents! How Clark of him!

Boy you sure know how to write a story!!!! I love this fic soo much!! This is some seriously powerful stuff here. I feel so bad for Clark and I sure hope that Lois and Clark get a happy ending!

Moyne has friends in high places. Lois asks Dan about Clark's family, and the next day Moyne is telling Lois that the alien will try to manipulate her by attempting to appear human... such as by mentioning family. Hmmmm....

I am thinking Lois's gut is dead on. I have several scenarios playing through my head:

- Moyne breaks into the closet, takes a kryptonite rod, and enters the cell to attack Clark. Lois rushes in to save him.

- Or, just the opposite. Moyne follows Lois into the cell and attempts to murder her. Clark saves Lois. (I'll just bet he tried, unsuccessfully, to save those other two also. Which is more than most people in his position would do.)

- Moyne attempts to get a little too familiar with Lois up in her office. Clark, whose powers have now returned, flies through the one-way mirror, saves Lois by grabbing her out of Moyne's grasp, and carries her up through the roof as he escapes his prison. (hehe. I think I like this the best.)

- none of the above?


I still have doubts about Clark and why he doesn't talk. Is he so conditioned that he still doesn't dare, even though Lois has made it clear that she wants to communicate with him? Or is there more to his silence?

How very Clark of him to ask about his parents. When I read what he'd written, my heart just went out to him. Come on, Lois, trust your gut! (Maybe that should be added to the title. (You) Trusting Me, (Me) Trusting You, and (Me) Learning to Trust Myself Again)

Wow I am speechless. More please!

What a nailbiter!

JD

I too see him escaping, whether to protect Lois or not. He is rarely exposed to the rods anymore and has more sunlight exposure. His hearing is returning. I like the idea of him whsking her away to saftey. Of course then she may not be able to be there for her dad...

However I am liking the slow earning of trust, which would change dramatically if she were whisked away to saftey.

I can't wait to find out what happened to the Kents. Please let them be in some safe house somewhere safe.

Yes, a crayon! I was thinking about what she could give him to write with that couldn't be used as a weapon, and I came up with a crayon, too!

Another great way to move things along ... now she has a name to research! And I had not expected this to be his question, though it makes perfect sense. Oh, Clark.

Yes! Good! That's exactly what Daniel needs, to realize that things aren't what he's been led to believe. And he's clearly conflicted here, especially after learning that Moyne has friends in high places. C'mon, Dan, let your decency win out.

Moyne is very smart and very good at being evil, I'll give him that. Clearly this is exactly why the other agents were killed, because they began communicating with Clark and realized they'd been fed lies about him.

Yikes! Hurry, Lois! Get there and help Clark!

*please let this end with a bullet in Moyne ... please let this end with a bullet in Moyne ...* (Hey, I can hope, can't I? )

Kathy

The Kents might believe their son is dead. I do hope Lois has some friends in high places herself.
Dan(you bureaucrat you) had the right idea though, the woman does need some time off.She's going to implode.

I have to agree. It would probably make for a dramatic rescue scene, but I have no idea where the story could go after that. I should probably corral my fanciful ideas and just let the master create.

Coming into this late, but wanted to say this story is intriguing.

I find the twist in alt-universe/alt-timeline you use here quite compelling.

Not sure how you are going to be able to wrap this up so quickly and answer all the questions I have but definitely interested to see where you take this. In particular one question I still have is what was the operation performed on Clark. Will we find out?

Thanks for posting something thought provoking.

I loved this long part and the only thing I want to say is if all three agents go to the funeral and Lois is *alone* to guard to prisoner - surely her curiosity will get the better of her and she will enter the cell and attempt to have a normal conversation with the prisoner?

Awww, that is so Clark. I was also thinking what is the first thing I would write after 7 years of being help captive and I guess would follow Lois' train of thought with the not so lady like words. But this, what the prisoner wrote, characterises Clark so well that even after more than 7 years, his first concern would be his parents (or Lois if he knew her then )

And from the preview: I am actually wondering if Lois will later find out that her gut feeling was right?

Looking forward to part 8 and then the next story

Nail biter, indeed! I've been semi-lurking for a while since RL has been so much MORE lately, but had to comment on this part. I, too, love the way you are slowly revealing Clark's humanity to Lois. There's a nice juxtaposition going on with the revelation of first Trask's character and now Moyne's.

I also think that Lois' gut is right on and can't wait to see how Clark and Lois escape from whatever Moyne is planning. One other scenario popped into my head - that Scardino will follow-up on the Kents and then just happens to be there to take out the trash when Moyne makes his move.

I hate waiting for new parts, but can't help but keep reading unfinished stories. It's a curse.


ETA: Wow! What response time. By the time I posted, part 8 appeared.

Thanks for all the lovely FDK.

L Thanks!

Mozartmaid

Trask had all of the walls and that window lead-lined. Depending on the dark/light ratios on either side, Clark might be able to see shadowy figures, but he can't use the x-ray vision.

Bellarase

You want a *happy* ending?!?

Vicki

Don't corral your ideas, Vicki, I enjoyed them. I also liked the last one best. Your second scenario was my initial plan, but it had holes - such as why Lois would choose to go into the cell when Moyne was around.

Loved your play on the title.

Laura I really appreciate your comment, Laura, because I know that initially you weren't sure you would enjoy this. Thanks for persevering through the early parts.

Jen I didn't leave the nailbiter hanging for too long ... although part 8 didn't bring much resolution.

Kyla I'm going with the 'slow earning of trust'. Clark picking up Lois and flying away is a fascinating idea ... I'm not sure how I'd write it.

Kathy No bullet for Moyne, sorry. Glad you liked the crayon. Very early on, Iolanthe was saying, 'Give him a crayon!'

SJH But if Lois has time off, that takes her away from Clark.

Lisamaree Yes, you will find out what the surgery was, but it's going to take awhile.

DW The funeral ... isn't there some saying about when the cat's away, the mouse will play ...

Brenda Welcome out of semi-lurking! I'm so glad you're enjoying the ride.


Thanks everyone!


Corrina.

I think Lois is wrong with that assumption at least concerning Moyne. It seems Moyne just needed a valve for his sadistic strand … It would be interesting to know how Moyne and Trask met for the first time and how Moyne became this … ‘nice’ fellow he is in this story.
It is sad that Lois still thinks she can’t trust the prisoner, even after looking in his eyes and seeing nothing mean in them.
I’m happy for Clark that Lois took the rods away from the three guards but especially from Moyne, well they never used them except when they were in the cell and since Lois is with them every time they go in she can give them a rod when they need one.
Now he doesn’t have to experience the pain anymore, or if he still feels it then it is very little pain.
Good be as unprejudiced as possible, Lois
Yuck!
He had a choice, he could have given her the second key when she asked for it … I wonder why and when he had felt the need for a second key …
Now I’m off to part 8.

Or maybe he just littered into the tinbox. Just saying…

Interesting thought, the possibility that every little thing could be a ploy. You know, if you hadn’t shown us Clark’s POV, too, it might have been very possible to believe that Trask is right.

Good choice. I guess. Also dangerous, but what is she to do? After all, she can’t just hand them off to a censor to black out all the prejudice etc in there





Oooh, a chance to be alone with him and build a *bridge* /hint hint/

He’s slick. And probably a sociopath.

But how does he know so much. I do have to say, I can’t help but wonder how I would feel right now without Clark’s side of the story already shown. This could be a true, painstaking thriller

/off to next part’s FDK /

Michael

Wow. So much lovely FDK to catch up on after a busy weekend. Thanks!

Kathryn

We can see that because we know the prisoner would *never* hurt her. But Lois is probably still alive because she doesn't trust easily. And she's been told he has killed twice before. And he could be alien invader.

Thanks for the comments, Kathryn!

Michael

I'm not good at hints, Michael!

It could be, except I wouldn't enjoy writing evil Clark. And if I'm not enjoying the story, it's never going to get finished - and never be posted.

Thanks, Michael,

Corrina.

No, not evil Clark. Just evil author leaving it ambiguous until the last possible moment, torturing the poor readers with their own, vivid imagination


Michael