I just noticed you still hadn't gotten a fdk folder. So here you go! I could've created one for you at work where I actually read the story... but by then, break time was over.

But yeah, a rather sad story, eh? Weren't you punishing poor Clark enough in your other stories yet? *g* I like how Alt Clark is trying to comfort Lois, and ends up failing misserably and even making the situation worse. But you gotta feel sorry for the guy!

Also, I'm not sure I fully understand your ending. But the way I read it (or want to read it) is that everyone gets their happy end. Maybe if I read it in the morning, when I'm focused and mostly sorta awake, I'll be able to see your intended meaning.

Saskia

Not too happy for altClark though.

I believe that he decided to make the ultimate sacrifice for Lois' happiness. He hijacked Wells' machine and took Clark's place just before he was sent into the time stream to be lost... forever.

Lois gets her own Clark back, Clark gets to be with Lois and altClark, who has no Lois and thus nothing to live for, gives up his existence so Lois could be happy. So his pathetic life has meaning.

Everyone wins... sort of.

Tank (who thinks altClark's actions were quite noble... stupid, but noble)

Oh. Wow. Okay, so I read this in completely the wrong way and thought that altClark killed our Clark and then was going to take his place without telling Lois...

Yeah, that'll teach me to try to skim through things. Having read it through a second time after reading the first two comments in this thread, I have no idea how I had gotten it turned around in my head.

So anyway, this was a very sad and powerful story. Thanks, Cat.

That's how I read it at first too Beth but I thought he'd knocked Clark out just so he wouldn't go to the meeting. It didn't even occur to me that he was going to take his place, but I skimmed it pretty quickly too the first time.

Now that it's clicked... It's touching and so sad . At least for Alt Clark.

Carol

<insert big wobbly lip here>

Cat, that's so sad. I've always had a soft spot for Alt-Clark and this made me leak actual, real-life tears. Lois doesn't want him - can I have him?

BJ

Initially I didn't understand the ending (blame it on sleepless hours of coding) The hitting of "our Clark" threw me in for a loop.... I too thought Alt-Clark turned villainous, but then the line about touching Lois through time and space didn't make sense.

After reading the fdk thread it makes perfect sense! (maybe I just don't understand subtlety heh).. ingenuous!

It's one thing for a hero to die in the split-second decision of a crisis, knowing that the death of one will save another (or others). This is different, though. He has gone through and decided that his own life is valued less than the other Clarks. If I'm not mistaken, he felt as if his life was worth less because he didn't have a Lois in it. While I can't fault him for his sacrifice, I can't say that I agree with him that his life is worth less. Life inherently has great value attached to it.

Another convuluted and poignant tale you've written, Brucie. You always make the readers cry and think.


Elisabeth

I did understand that altClark was going to do something, as Tank put it, noble - stupid, but noble - so that "our" Lois could have "her" Clark.

So... while Lois and Clark might not ever know what altClark did for them, there's going to be more, right? Where H.G. Wells steps in and fixes things (Maybe he could toss in the evil Lord Kal-El from Long Strange Trip?) or maybe altLois fixes things, or maybe...

Right?

Right?

Definitely a lip-trembler. An extremely well written one, of course.

'Toc