Hi Blueowl!
. “My mom is not going to be able to mend this.”
“Is she . . . is she the one who took you from the . . . ship?” Lois asked.
Oh boy.
“I won’t tell anyone. All of it is safe with me,” she said.
“I know,” he whispered. He turned and faced her, giving her a tired smile.
So, does she know?
I asked her if there was anything I could do if you or Clark were attacked. She told me I could try that. She wasn’t sure it would work, but. . . .”
Okay, she doesn’t.
“I’m fine, really. As for what I did . . . well, Star said I could . . . anchor your soul to me during the spell.
And now their souls are linked. Entwined. Stick together like glued with Pattex (Do they have Pattex over in the US? /Checks Google/ Yep. Good. )
Only, because the spell wasn’t aimed at me, it didn’t affect me the way it did you. I felt how you were feeling, but I guess since I was, more or less, an outside observer, they didn't physically affect me.”
I wonder if she might have developed fear of being stuck. Constrained. Unable to get out. Which means, asking her to marry him could have her running for the hills.
She had gotten a busy signal, which likely meant she had been correct about Clark calling his parents before checking his messages.
Well, at least she now knew for sure he was home.
Or he started to pick up the phone when he collapsed. Oh, right, twelve hour limit.
how do you feel if the three of us stay here while we’re not at work? You, me, and Superman?
Ummmmm
I mean, I get that Superman has to go on rescues and stuff, but I can teach you two what Star taught me–”
“Lois?” Clark asked.
“–So when Superman has to go, you can go with him and you two can cover each other, and while at work, I can cover you.
It’s so eerie, reading this and Bek’s Destiny at the same time
“Lois?” He once again tried to interrupt.
“–And considering what we’ve seen, the trend seems to be one attack at night and one attack in the daytime so we have a little bit of time to figure it out.”
“Lois!”
“What?” she asked.
She’s babbling!
“Sorry, I just . . . I need to tell you something. It’ll actually make everything a lot easier, assuming you still want to be near me after I tell you, but I think–”
Oh no, he’s going to tell her that they could bring in Mayson to cover him and Lois can cover Superman.
“Clark? Is it . . . ?” Lois questioned fearfully.
He nodded as his breathing quickened.
“It’s–it’s different,” he rasped.
“I’m here, Clark. Whatever you do, don’t forget that. Focus on me. I’m right here,” she said,
So, will Lois figure it out when she gets the exact same experience?
even as he became aware of a strange sensation.
What was that?
It was emotion. Strong, determined, but—
Angry? Worried? Loving?
LOIS: Yes.
”So I live in a fantasy world? Perhaps. But it’s all about to come true,” Luthor gloated before coming closer. “I love Lois, but she’s much too independent, don’t you think? Well, leave that to me.”
LOIS:
Power condensed around him, power not his own, and then a sensation of shattering glass vibrated through his entire frame.
A masculine scream echoed from somewhere, but it was too distant for him to determine anything more.
The sense of coming doom lifted.
So, Baron Sunday has decided to stop pestering Clark?
”Clark! Clark, are you okay?” Lois asked.
He opened his eyes, finding himself on the couch and under Lois’ concerned gaze.
I can see why there was clamoring.
/Off to part 8/
Michael
.... 
sorry about your near food disaster! Glad you liked the chapter though