Yay!!! I'm first!! Look at me go! I'm a speed reader! <g>


AWWWW!!! *sigh*

Whooohooooo!!!!!!

Can't wait for the next part!

Welcome back, Wendy!!!

Sara (who's wondering if Wendy's still willing to work out that trade...Mere will never have to know )

Yay, some light is finally penetrating to Clark's skull! Lois did a great job capitalizing on what he'd done while asleep, arguing with him and finally convincing him to at least try. I was so pleased about that. And I really liked the part where he realized that he knew where the threshold was, between safe pressure and crushing someone. That should take care of any lingering doubts.

And now, he's kissing her! Whee! That should be an eye-opening experience. At least, once the kiss is over and his brain kicks back in <g>

They still have to get over the normal relationship uncertainty, but I have a feeling that won't take too long, now that the big obstacle has melted away.

Post more!

PJ

Waffy Sighs.... Oh Wendy that was very nice. I am so glad Clark knows now! It is about time<g> Good job and a nice kiss too. More soon. Laura

Yay for Lois getting through Clark's thick skull. Excellent part, Wendy! Brava!

Hi,

Great part. Lois had to give him some kissing lesson.

More ASAP, please.

MAF

Well, Wendy, it was time someone gave that boy a good metaphorical slap on the head!

As for the end... /me melts

'Nuff said.

Julie

FINALLY he sees the light!!

and YAY..smoochies!!

~Liz

Wendy

A superb part! Beautifully written!

Tricia

Excellent Part! I can't wait until the next part.

Melisa

Well, problem solved.

Story is done, I guess.

Next?

Tank (who thinks it would be funny if, now that Clark is convinced he can control his powers, he runs into that red kryptonite that caused him to lose control of his powers as in the ep with Perry's no good son)

That is *so* wrong, Tank!! But funny in a sick, twisted sort of way. <g>

Sara

Tank, that's horrible!! Poor Wendy just got these guys fixed up from your last little situation... at this rate Clark's going to need kryptonite-dipped antipsychotic medication!!

Wendy:

Big happy sigh! I just found this again-- why don't you TELL me when you're going to post... oh, wait, you probably did. I've been busy hounding (er, gently encouraging) Labby and Mere... thank goodness Yvonne hasn't fallen down on the job! Well, anyway, yay!, you've got them talking! Thank goodness Lois actually said something about his perceived unwillingness to be touched, as opposed to just getting upset and leaving his room.

And that little hint of more Yvonne-tinged good stuff to come--you were right! Very effective, very good! This is going to be another keeper, like Damaged, Just Thinkin', R&R... oh, I could just go on and on...

This was very funny:
Short, but to the point-- with just a few words I could see her rolling her eyes. Now that she understands what the problem is, she's just so calm and rational and matter-of-fact that she's calmed Clark down, too.

You did a very nice job of showing how Trask exacerbated a probably deeply buried sense of being different-- that is, Trask didn't start it, although one could see how 10 days of torture could turn the most rational soul into a trembling wreck. Instead, you again show how human Clark really is-- nobody could grow up that different, even with wonderfully caring and supportive parents, and not be at least slightly affected (psyche-wise) by the extreme differences between him and the "rest" of the world.

But he's getting it out into the open, acknowledging it, and forcing those fears to lose their power over him. It's pretty cool, too, the way you portrayed Clark as knowing instinctively exactly where the point between "ok" and "could hurt someone" is. Exploring the issue of control as it relates to Clark's powers is often brushed over-- not always, of course, but we find ourselves "what if"-ing the invulnerablity issue. He does sometimes crunch the phone or shred a blanket-- yet even while asleep, deep in the remembered panic of the encounter with Trask, Clark's control was constant. Lois' attitude to that is a sort of "yeah, so what" matter-of-factness that ought to reassure Clark quite a bit-- so we could see some more angst-less smoochies, I bet...

Anyway, now I'm going to be haunting the boards (oh, wait, I already do that) waiting for more...

~Toc

Wow! Even after my long hiatus, you guys are still here! Thank you!

Janet, sorry that you hadn't realised I was posting again! But thank you very much for your wonderful comments, and for the very flattering comparison to Damaged and R&R - not at all deserved, but very much appreciated!

Again, this scene owes much to Yvonne's very helpful beta-reading. Without her suggestions, I know it would have been much poorer. I'm so glad that you liked it and that you feel we're making progress!

Sara, I love your quotes and emoticons. Thank you for showing me your reaction to particular bits!

Glad you liked the kiss, José!

Pam, thanks for still being here and for the encouragement. Yes, Clark's a lunkhead, but he's had good reason for being one.

Laura, Rac, glad you liked the advancement of the B-plot!

Yes, Maria, finally - it's taken a long time, but he's getting there at last.

Julie, you want Lois to hit Clark? Glad you liked it!

Liz, smoochies!! Haven't heard anyone yell at me for those for a long time!

Aww! Thank you, Tricia! And

Melisa, thank you - and you won't have to wait too long.

Tank, Tank, Tank...

You mean you're happy for Lex Luthor to be at large still, and for Nigel St John to have instructions to ensure that Clark ends up in hospital? Not to mention the Planet being bugged... ). I love that you think I've done a good job of showing Clark as the victim of torture who didn't realise how deep the effects were buried. And this, too:

Thank you!!

Okay, Part 23 will be posted either in the next 20 minutes or, if I don't have time before I go out, later this evening.


Wendy