Just as she had expected Irene didn't have the peace of mind to sleep a reasonable amount of hours as her mind had wondered for most of the night to the thought of Perry completely pulling apart her Bibbowski story. The idea haunted her so much that she really had no choice but to wake up earlier than usual to get one of the first printed copies of today's paper, not only from the Daily Planet but bother papers as well.

Her tendency to read the daily paper was something that her brother constantly teased her about as he claimed that no one read the newspaper anymore. A claim that wasn't completely wrong but was always successful in irritating Irene anytime that Angel brought the topic up.

As she took a seat at her desk in a nearly empty newsroom she began to read through some of the newspapers she picked up on her way to work. Although she was extremely tempted to read the Planet first but for the sake of her own sanity she started with the Central City Picture News. Jimmy always questioned her necessity to read other popular papers, but to Irene the reason was obvious as she liked be aware of the competition in her field. If there was another up and comer Irene had to know about them, the competitiveness inside to her wouldn't let her be blind to anyone who was better than her.

By the time she finally began to flip through the pages of the Planet the newsroom was slowly becoming chaotic as everyone did their best to meet their deadline before the mornings budget meeting. The scent of coffee, chatter and ringing phones was what made the Daily Planet feel alive. One quick look around the room told her that everyone was already here. Well, everyone except for Jimmy who was undoubtedly getting coffee and Cat who was predictably an hour late as always.

As she skimmed through her colleague's own stories Irene's mouth practically fell open at the sight of hers being placed in a prominent column of the paper, with one of Jimmy's pictures taking up its own generous space. A flicker of hope sparked within her, one that she knew she had to extinguish as it could really mean nothing and was only a result of the lack of stories for the day. But as she continued to read through her story she realized that it was published untouched, that Perry hadn't made any changes to her piece. Before Irene could think on the fact too deeply Cat Grant loudly took a seat a her desk, clearly wanting to make her arrival known.

"Good morning Irene." Cat greeted as she took her seat on the desk across from Irene's, she had the same bright and carefree smile on her face that she always did. It always seemed like Cat Grant never had a bad day in her life as she always went on in life without a care in the world. At least that's the way it seemed to Irene as she really didn't know much about Cat's personal life other than the fact that it seemed perfect.

"Good morning Cat." Irene replied retuning her smile before putting the paper down and changing her focus to her computer screen that was currently showing a long list of emails that needed her attention. She intended to answer some emails before their morning meeting, but she stole another glance at Cat who was adjusting some of the items on her desk getting ready to work. The two women had a routine of having friendly conversations during work hours and never going into anything that was too personal. It was a routine that Irene enjoyed as she didn't really feel comfortable sharing personal information with others but after years curiosity was getting the best of her. "I just have to ask. Why are you always late?"

"I had a long night." Cat stated suggestively as she raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Irene was very aware that Cat enjoyed her nights out in the company of various men, or at least Cat had told her as much multiple times before. Yet, there were some things that didn't make sense and there was simply no way the Cat went out every night. Not when she was as hard working as every reporter at the Planet.

"I highly doubt you're always late because of some long night." Irene countered immediately knowing that couldn't be the case at all. Perry was extremely strict with all his writers and one had to have a perfectly crafted excuse to really do anything that he hadn't ordered or assigned. Cat being late everyday had to come with an amazing excuse for Perry not even blink an eye when Cat was an hour late everyday. "You have to have some valid excuse for Perry not to question it."

"Typical Irene always looking for mystery where there isn't one." Cat said with a smile as she leaned forward on her desk. "I believe the real mystery here is where you ran off to in such a hurry yesterday. Have a hot date?"

This was a clear attempt to steer the conversation away from herself, and Irene knew when to drop her questioning no matter how persistent she tended to be. With a sigh she leaned back against her chair feeling a hint of irritation at the fact that she felt a need to explain herself. "No. I promised to help my brother with something."

"The mystery brother." The other reporter smiled as she leaned closer from across the two desk her interest clearly piqued. Cat never made any attempt to hide the fact that she wanted to learn more about Irene's private life which could be considered ironic as no one really knew much about Cat's. Except for what she wanted people to believe which Irene was now beginning to believe was all an act. "When will I get to meet him?"

"Hopefully never." Irene muttered as she turned back to her computer with the intention to end the conversation before Cat got any crazy ideas.

"Tell me do good genes run in your family?"

Irene couldn't deny that Cat Grant's instance to continue to talk about Angel was beginning to irritate her only for her tendency to be as overprotective of him as he was with her. She didn't want her brother to get hurt anymore than her already has, and being involved with a woman like Cat who wasn't looking for a serious relationship wouldn't to him any good. And although her instinct was to snap at her co-worker the reasonable voice in her head reminded her that Cat was only bantering with her. "Don't you... I don't know have to write about Bruce Wayne's new girlfriend?"

"Honey, Bruce Wayne doesn't do girlfriends."  Cat pointed out and although Irene didn't spend much time keeping up with celebrity gossip that was a fact that was widely known as Bruce Wayne was seen with a different model, actress, or dancer on his arm every week. "And don't you have to write some fluff piece about someone marrying their dog or something?"

Irene's cheeks instantly turned a shade of scarlet against her tan skin at such an embarrassing memory. That article that Perry had made her write three years ago humiliated her to this day. "Cute."

"It comes naturally." Cat replied with a shrug and her signature smile before returning to her work. The questions that Irene had were not answered and they probably never would be she had to respect the fact that whatever Cat's secret was, it was one that she did not feel comfortable sharing. After all Irene too got defensive and avoidant over the topic of her brother.

The two women had settled in a comfortable silence as they got sucked into their work, but the moment didn't last very long as Perry White approached them stopping beside Irene's desk. He was holding a copy of today's paper in his hand with a passive expression on his face which made it difficult for Irene to attempt a guess at what he could possibly want. After so many years Irene along with many of the other Daily Planet workers had become self proclaimed experts at predicting their editor-in-chief's actions and moods, but this side of Perry was one that Irene had yet to encounter.

"Irene." Perry greeted as his eyes wandered to the copy of the Planet's paper that was already open on Irene's desk. "Good job on your Bibbowski piece."

"Thank you Perry." She replied feeling slightly surprised by the fact that he seemed to go out of his way to give her a compliment on her writing. It was something that Perry White was not known for doing, in fact compliments as a whole were something that Perry rarely ever did.

"I wanted to discuss with you what your next story is going to be."

All the excitement that she felt from Perry's praise instantly vanished at the thought of having to wring another meaningless or humiliating puff piece. The Bibbowski story turned out to be one that she felt proud of and she didn't want to take any step backwards, the thought was devastating. "What did Lex Luther save a kitten from tree?"

"Like you would be able to get an interview with Lex Luther." Cat commented and it was no surprise that she was listening in closely to their conversation. Perry sent her a warning glance before turning his attention back to Irene wasn't very amused at the reality that she probably would never be an important enough journalist to get an interview with someone as important as Lex Luther, though Luther was known not to give out any interviews unless he was promoting something big.

"Lois is following an anonymous source to Ellesmere. This is a big story so you two are going to be co-writers on it." He stated in dismissive manner as if the news he was just giving her didn't have the possibility to completely change her life and career. This was a very different attitude than the one that he ha had yesterday and Irene wanted to know what could have caused such a shift in attitude even if he seemed to not find what he was telling her to be very big or important.

Irene took a moment to let his words sink in, but they stubbornly refused to let her mind clear enough to say something that wouldn't completely embarrass her. There were so many thoughts and questions running through her mind it was difficult to grasp one. "Ellesmere? As in Canada."

"Yes, as in on planet Earth. Pack your bags you leave tomorrow morning."

Even though his voice was void of any jest Irene still expected him reveal that everything he just said was some kind of cruel joke. After all if this story was as big as he claimed why would he put the reporter who he assigned fluff pieces to be a co-writer? "Really?"

Perry looked at her blankly for a moment before shrugging casually. "I don't understand your surprise."

Before Irene could even string her thoughts together to form a professional reply Jimmy appeared before them carrying a drink holder holding and assortment of caffeine beverages which was something that every reporter practically lived on.

"Good morning." Jimmy greeted brightly as he handed Perry his daily coffee, and although he wasn't an intern anymore it seemed to be a habit that he had yet to let go of. Perry couldn't be happier because according to him Jimmy was the only person who could get his coffee exactly the way he like it. Though the need to please everyone was practically written in Jimmy's DNA so it really wasn't an inconvenience to him.

Perry took a long sip from his coffee before turning his attention pointing the rolled up news paper he had clutched in  his hands at the photographer's face. "Jimmy do you have plans for this weekend?"

Jimmy chuckled as he shook his head, one of his curls falling on his face in the process. "I never have plans Chief."

Perry seemed to know this as the only person that Jimmy spent anytime with outside of work was Irene. In many ways Jimmy and Irene were as similar as they were different and maybe that was what drew them to each other to begin with. "Then pack your camera you're following a story with Lois and Irene. Plane leaves tomorrow a six in the morning."

Jimmy patted the camera that was hanging off his neck proudly as he nodded. "Yes Chief."

"Don't call me chief." Perry ordered sternly before she turned around and headed back towards his office. Really after two years Perry had to know that Jimmy had no interest in calling him anything other than chief, at this point I really was a term of endearment than a method to anger him.

"Whatever you say chief." Jimmy muttered under his breath as he took a sip of his coffee, it was unclear if Perry had heard him but if he did he decided not to correct him again.

Once Perry was back in his office Irene slowly stood the news finally gaining some clarity in her mind. Jimmy handed her a cup of coffee which she immediately placed on her desk as a precaution in case her excitement got the best of her and the coffee ended up in the carpet. "This is it Jimmy."

"This is what?" He questioned as he took her seat leaning back to look up at her. As a photographer Jimmy was assigned to any story and as a result this trip to follow one of the Planet's journalist wasn't new to him. This was like all the other jobs that Perry had assigned him to in the past, but that wasn't the case for Irene as this story could change her career if she went about it the right way.

"Co-writing a piece with Lois Lane? This is the opportunity I've been waiting for." She continued still reeling over the idea and it's implications. Of course she would have to talk to Lois to get a grasp on exactly what story they were following, but if it was as big as Perry suggested she had no doubt that this was her chance to prove to him that she could be trusted with bigger and more groundbreaking stories.

"I heard that Lois read your story in the printing room before the meeting yesterday. Perry wouldn't let her do the story alone so she chose you." Cat suddenly stated her words instantly reminding Irene of the odd conversation she had with Lois before running off. Lois must have wanted to discuss this story with her and Irene couldn't have felt more like a fool for not seeing it before.

"How do you do it?" Jimmy questioned as she looked intently at Cat before handing her a cup of coffee of her own.

Cat seemed pleased with herself as she smiled brightly, a smile that Irene now recognized as one that Cat displayed whenever things were going her way. "I'm a reporter Jim. I'm always looking for a good story."

That was a sentiment that Irene could deeply relate to as everywhere she went she saw a story that needed to be told or a mystery that could be uncovered. It was a trait that very often got in the way of her personal life, but she considered anyone who didn't understand that side of her to not be worth her time.

Maybe in a way she admired Cat for being able to balance that side of her and continue having an exciting personal life. But at the moment Irene could only focus on her career and until she was in a place where she felt satisfied with her own progress in the fury of journalism would she consider working on other aspects of her life that clearly needed an improvement.

A/N: Things are moving forward! This was a shorter chapter but next chapter were are getting a lot of Lois and our first introduction of The Man of Steel. If any of you have read my previous stories you know I always write a slow burn so don't expect them falling in love and getting married in the next two chapters. But this story will include some very cute moments on the way, and who doesn't like some angst and a satisfying payoff? Tell me your thoughts! I would love some feedback. (Oh and don't forget to vote).