I'm so sorry! I meant to reply much earlier but the wireless internet at the hotel was on the fritz. Then I got back to work and a project that had been less than important was suddenly a major issue and had to be worked on. I was on-call and my evenings were spent putting out fires. Then, two nights ago, we found out that my mom-in-law has liver cancer and they're only giving her a few weeks to live. So the past couple of days have been spent finishing up work and getting travel plans put in motion. It might be a week or two before I'm able to post. If part five didn't feel so uneven to me, I'd post it now but there are a couple of spots where I'm still polishing.

Many, many thanks to everyone who has replied to this story. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know. I promise the story won't be abandoned, my priorities have just shifted for a while.

Lois: You know, I have a funny feeling that you didn't tell me your biggest secret.

Clark: Well, just to put your little mind at ease, Lois, you're right.
Ides of Metropolis