Wendy, Wendy, Wendy. You give us a little hope, and then you *yank* it away, like pulling the rug out from under our feet and sending us tumbling onto our rears. I was so hoping, along with everyone else, that the vial held the answers. But the road you pave is never easy, is it? However, I did love Lois's thoughts about Clark. And the end of this part! Go, Lois! If you can't take control of one aspect of your life, grab hold of the rest with both hands and yank it where you want to go.

I'm about to fall off my seat, since you keep leaving us at the edge of it. When are you going to let us sit securely again?

Since I can't really see the screen at the moment ... I'll have to come back later to post feedback ... but Wendy I just have to say, YOU ARE BREAKING MY HEART!!

Yes, and then Clark blithely dismissing the flakes of "something metallic". Having this be mercury is their "only" hope, but Lois doesn't think mercury poisoning symptoms quite fit. Could there be another "something metallic" that produces similar symptoms?

And getting married as a way of dealing with her parents -- aie!

"Mom, Dad -- Clark and I got married tonight."
"WHAT??? Baby, you're not... Are you pregnant?"
"No, actually, I've been poisoned."

I've been wise-cracking my way through most of these sections (I think it's called distancing <g> ) but... just can't do that here.

That shaky, teary hug... still, I was holding it together until this part:



That's just... so mundane and so filled with meaning and so *sad*...

But now I mostly want to see the next section to get Clark's reaction <g>

PJ

This story makes me want to bawl like a baby. Completely heartbreaking, Lois talking about the end, telling Clark not to let her parents take over... Ouch, my heart is in serious pain here.

A little bit of happiness over the thought of the two of them getting married, but under the circumstances...

*whimper* really is the right word.

So sad I can just imagine the look on Clark's face at that one please post more soon

That just makes me laugh. Given the dire circumstances our heroine is facing, this response is hardly appropriate, but that hasn't stopped me yet.

Awwww.

I could say I was shocked, but that would be a lie.

So sad yet so sweet.

Like this part.

Oh the angst!

*sob*

As if it weren't getting bad enough...Oh wait, there's still more.

And if that doesn't say it all.

Wendy, you did it. You broke my heart. /me faints dead away...

If this were the next-to-last post, I'd expect the blood test in Vegas to show something the doctors in Metropolis had missed, and she gets an antidote (probably something mundane, like a chocolate sundae) just in time.

But that would be too easy, too quick, too not-heart-rending, so there's no way that's going to happen.

Wow! I'm glad I'm not Clark right now.

And since I know some in-laws who are a bit like the Lanes, I sympathize with Lois's desire to leave them a note saying, "Sorry, I'm dead. Be nice to Clark. He's your new son-in-law." What a hand grenade that would be!

Wendy, I have been waiting impatiently for this installment, and I have to say that I'm impressed. A great piece of writing! I fell apart when Clark started to cry. I think they hugged to affirm life and comfort them both. It was an attempt to hold on to each other for dear life.

I can't wait to read the next piece!! Please, pretty please with a cherry on top, post soon!!


(One note, though: your "lab testers" are histologists. )

Wendy, you are killing me here! I don't post often, but I have to say this is one of THE most gut-wrenching stories I have ever read. You weren't kidding when you say your fans eat angst for breakfast! I have to go get a new box of kleenexes now.

Marcy

SOOOOOOO SAD! How can you do this to them???

The suspense is killing me here and when Clark broke down??? WOW

And Lois proposing???? My God! MORE!

Oh Wendy...this has to be one of the sadest parts yet. i just love that Lois and Clark are coming together an inch at a time each part you post. And now you have Lois asking clark to marry her...Ah! I may need another box of tissues. Please more and soon!!!!

Wow! Well another dead end, but then I can't complain what with Lois proposing and all

And loved Lois' contemplation especially her wanting to reaffirm her connection with Clark with the manila folder.

What can I say but yes, yes, yes, I agree with everybody? Except possibly with anyone who doesn't want Lois and Clark to get married under the circumstances. Of course they should get married, and although it's an absolutely heartbreaking scene it's still one of the loveliest proposals I have come across in LC fanfiction. Lois means it. She is *not* just trying to get away from her parents. And if you cure her, Wendy - *when* you cure her, I mean - Lois won't regret being married for a second. Well, assuming Clark is willing to do his part to see to it that they get married, and assuming Lois is still sufficiently alert to know what to say when the minister asks her the question...

Ann

Just wanted to clarify that if someone doesn't want L&C to get married under the circumstances, that person isn't me. I, for one, am happy that Lois proposed and am sure that she truly wants to marry Clark. I just meant that the happiness over it isn't encompassing me at the moment, because I'm still too heartbroken about her illness and the situation they're in.

If you didn't already know, Wendy, I can't wait for the next chapter. This is really masterful writing.

That's it. I've just fallen apart. That's all I've got. I'm broken. I can't even sign my name.

Wow...I never saw that coming! I'm intrigued by the possibilities of his answer. Under normal circumstances, he'd say no. But feeling like they're running out of time, willing to do anything to provide her with some comfort...hmmm. Of course, a quicker way to solve her stated problem would be to have Clark quickly write up a living will and get Lois to a notary.

A serious note to any readers out there: I know nobody likes to think about it, but it's important to have a will (or living trust) and a living will. What would happen if you were fatally injured by a drunk driver on New Year's eve? Have you provided a potential guardian for your children? Would your doctors know your wishes for medical care? There's software available to help you fill out the paperwork - a few hours of your time today could be very valuable in the event of a tragic accident tomorrow.
Susan

Wow talk about a roller coaster of emotion. They have five hours to fit in a life time of love! Maybe they'll get hit by lightning on the way and Lois will get Superpowers and the poison will be gone. OY! More soon. Laura

Jose

Owww... I need to give vent to my sorrow.

I'm broken to pieces.

There're 5 hours left to Lois and 4 parts to the story. I bet you're gonna let her (and us) on the rack until last part, aren't you? As ever, you gave us a silver lining in the end, but I'm sure you are scheming other heartbreaking twist. I can feel it. You're sadist and I'm masochist, because I keep reading and wrecking my heart.

I can't write any longer. My nerves are shattered. /me runs out to cry...

Andreia

Oh, now I get it... The rest of the story will be in Vegas! They'll celebrate being alive, she'll die, the story will end. Okay, okay, I'm with you now. See, I thought we were going to continue to look for a cure for her and save her. But no, this... this is good, too! She's had a good life. Why not?! WENDY!! They do not have time for this!!! The woman is running on borrowed time! Not that I don't love the idea of them getting married and confessions of an eternal, undying love; not that I don't like this plot twist, (which I could not have seen coming), but... THEY... DO... NOT... HAVE... TIME... FOR... THIS!!!! I'm not sure if it comes across in my posts, but I am very involved here! Very! And to answer your question, I am not having nightmares anymore, no... but I do think I could be sleeping more peacefully if Lois got an antidote. Thanks for the follow up!!

How could I have missed that you'd be doing something like this!!?! I mean, the track record should have prepared me! You threw me under the bus with the gunshot last time, I should have figured a marriage proposal was next. So it's not you, Wendy. It's me. And aside from the fact that I'm still recovering from some kind of angst-whiplash, I loved this part!

Or just wait to die. Waiting... a crucial element of this story. This line stood out to me for that reason. This is absolutely heartwrenching! Lois Lane, waiting around for others to take care of her and fix this situation... it's such a fantastic moment. So sad, of course!! )

She loves him so much. This is so sweet!

You're killing me, Wendy!

This is a nightmare! But you go through everything, and in such a way that it becomes so horrifyingly real to me!

#2 favorite line in the whole section (another tear-jerker, coincidentally... as much as I complain you're killing me, clearly I like it... what is wrong with me??)

And, me thinks he soon will!

Wendy, I can't even really be mad at you! This section was beautiful torture and I am sure with a possible wedding, the next one will be too! But honestly, WHERE is her cure? Should someone fly down to KYLE Griffin and give him like a truth serum or something, find out what he knows? I love weddings. And I cry at weddings. But this is just ridiculous! I really would like to have happy tears at some point in the near future. That's all. Thank you!

MORE MORE MORE SOON PLEASE! (I am growing frantically less patient, yes!)

~NICOLE


I do have to add just one thing, in case it wasn't clear... I LOVE that she proposed! She clearly loves him so much and he clearrrly loves her soo much, too! I'm just frantic for a cure!!! A 5 hr. marriage makes it look like Renee Zellweger and Kenny Chesney were lifers!

SOS, Wendy. PLEASE!!!! (STS, too!)

GET BACK HERE GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I NEED MY FIX!!!

You too Clark, get back here and look at this. DUH!!!! It could be something!!!!!!!!!!!

Hehehe *she loves him she loves him* YES!!!

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

Great part.


More ASAP, please.

MAF

My heart goes out to both of them on this very painful and seemingly hopeless time.

OMG! I didn't see that proposal coming! I went from sad tears to happy ones, then realizing that so much more could happen...to sheer panic!

Please pull me back from the end of my seat...SOON!

OMG! HOLY S***T! WAY TO GO WENDY!
keep the story coming.That was so beauitful.

Just a thought here. Seeing that Dr. Sutton is incompetent and has no time for Lois - well, he is, and he doesn't - why doesn't Clark take Lois to Starlabs and Dr. Klein? Am I missing something here? Are we in the alt-universe or something, so that Starlab doesn't exist?

And just so you know, Wendy, you almost killed me with that previous chapter, which ended with a gunshot. I thought for sure that now Lois had been shot as well, and not just poisoned! And just a few days ago, Pam ended a chapter of hers in almost the same way, making me think that Lois would be shot. That's the second time in a week that I've almost been killed by you guys. Reading too much Lois and Clark fanfiction can be hazardous to your health!!!

Good thing that all you FOLCs out there are reminding me with your comments why Wendy's story is so, so darn good that we have to have more of it or we will die anyway, this time of withdrawal symptoms! (And we can sure use more of Pam's story, too!) Thanks in particular to you, Nicole, you said it all. But I side with Terry Leatherwood, too. Maybe that chocolate sundae is just the antidote that Lois needs!

Ann

Wendy! I'm holding it together, but just barely. Alernately loving and hating this story - hating what Lois and Clark are going through, hating the situation, hating the posts that seem to end too soon <g>... but completely loving your writing, the emotion, and that it takes but a split second to draw me back into the story as soon as I begin reading a new post.

Hurry with the next one, please! I'm looking forward to seeing what Clark says back to Lois.

Tracey

You know, I had a feeling that the end of this section might get some sort of a reaction... Yes, there are other ways around it - Lois could arrange power of attorney for Clark or, as Susan says, she could write a living will. But those, I guess, just aren't options she would immediately think of. The living will is something she could do herself - Clark would write it for her, true - but would there be questions about whether it was really Lois's wishes? And if she wasn't compos mentis - which would be when it'd need to kick in - she couldn't verify that she drafted it. The power of attorney thing... she'd need to get a lawyer for that, and at 10pm that's not easy.

So she thinks of Las Vegas and a quickie marriage.

Aside from your reactions to her proposal, what really made my week with the comments on this section was those of you who commented on the manila folder linking Lois's desk with Clark's. I don't even know where that idea came from. It just appeared out of nowhere when I was writing, and I wasn't sure that anyone else would see it as touching, the way I did. Yvonne, when BRing, loved it. And, Pam, your reaction both here and on IRC made me want to hug you.

Seriously, I love your posts. You make me laugh, you make me blush and you leave me humbled and grateful. Thank you so much.

And, also, thank you to everyone else who's posted comments. all your feedback means so much to me. I don't think I have ever got so much feedback on a story before - certainly not consistently, on every section. And I'm in awe and very, very grateful. You're amazing and I love you all.

Part 18 coming up in a few minutes.


Wendy

I loved the whole manila folder concept. I meant to comment on it, but what usually happens to me is I get so absorbed into the reading that by the time I have to write comments I forget what I just read. I just remember how I feel.

Now that it is at the forefront of my mind:
That part made me get teary and thought it was so sweet and a wonderful touch. It is the little things like that, that people do that are awesome to me.

EDIT --
ohmyohmyohmyohmyohmy!!!!
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