“If the sun does that to him, then he is obviously built differently than us,” the doctor pressed.

“There is something in him that is different, granted. But that’s genetics. He has the same organs and bones and muscles as us, all of which are aching right now, and he functions the same as us, now more than ever.”

“It makes sense,” Martha said, aside, to Lois.

Lois nodded her head absently, taking this all in. She didn’t know why, but she had a lot of trust in this man. Dr. Klein. He was a friend of Henderson’s and seemed to want to help Clark… or Superman as he believed… with every ounce of his being. “Why don’t we try it?” Lois said to the doctors. When they looked at her, she added, “just a little. Don’t give him the complete dosage to all his pain… just a little, to make sure it’s okay.”

“I’ll help you,” Dr. Klein said to the other doctor, walking with him into the hospital room.

He was looking at her. He looked like death and looked like he could barely keep his eyes open, but he was looking at her. Sort of dreamily…

“Clark…” she whispered, her eyes glazing over with tears. She whispered it quietly, in surprise, almost to herself. With his powers gone, he probably didn’t even hear her, she realized. “You… you’re awake!” she said, elated.

“Feels like it,” he said, slowly, wincing.