Tuesday, May 16th, 2017. 9:45 AM.
• • •

The call had come in only moments ago, and while I tried to contain my emotions, I simply couldn't. Ben stirred beside me, his arm tightening around my waist- my phone was still pressed to my ear, the dial tone humming softly. They had done it.

Tears were streaming down my face, and a migraine-like the one Ben explained was blooming behind my left eye. With a sigh, I carefully pulled his arm off of me and swung my legs out from under me. A shiver ghosted across my skin, and I hurried to the bathroom. My hair skimmed my shoulders, and I caught a flash of red in the mirror as bile forced its way up my throat.

I barely made it to the toilet before all my stomach contents were either in my hair, down my chin, or in the bowl. In disgust, I wiped my chin and flushed the rancid puke. Slowly standing up, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I hadn't turned the light on such shadows were dark across my face, but I could see the bile stuck in my hair.

• • •
A WEEK LATER
Tuesday, May 23rd, 2017. 6:35 PM.
• • •

During my break on the Memoriam and now the shocking return of Superman article, I had found time to ask Lois about her latest project. She seemed very excited the other day when she was assigned to it, but now listening to what it was I was worried, Lois was very nonchalant about the danger attached. So many things have happened in the past week, Ben had sent in the red powder to the police after they took my statement, and I had a television interview on Friday the same day the article was due for publishing. Anything to take my mind off of the dreaded morning show interview was welcomed.

"Oh, come on, Lois! You don't think snooping around Gotham for more on Batman isn't going to get you hurt? Just because he's back doesn't mean those criminals are less scared to go out at night."

A sense of deja vu swam across me, I remember being worried for Clark over eighteen months ago, it was an entirely different situation, but it still felt familiar. Lois and Clark were more similar then I give them credit. I sat back in my chair in disbelief at her need to follow the story to Gotham. I stabbed at my half-eaten salad for a tomato and nearly choked on who walked in. My heart picked up, and I stopped chewing. The whole room had grown silent, and everyone was staring. I hadn't heard anything from him since that day, I didn't expect too, but seeing him here now was almost a slap in the face.

He looked healthy, his eyes were bright, hair perfectly swept back and memories of running my fingers through it bubbled to the surface. I noticed he kept his gaze from trailing to my desk, to me. Clark's desk had been packed up months ago, and a new reporter was sitting there. We were no longer a stone skip away from each other. I suddenly wondered where he'd sit and glanced around for an empty desk.

"Oh, my god. Is that..." Lois gasped, looking at me, and I swallowed the tomato and pressed my lips together.

"Did you hear anything? What the story is?" I asked, watching him as he followed an equally confused and amazed Perry into his office. Lois shook her head no and kept her gaze locked on his back like she was afraid to look away and lose him. Getting up from my seat, I pulled out my phone and dialed Bruce's number. He picked up, and I didn't give him a chance to say much, moving to the break room, I spoke quickly.

"Bruce. Clark just showed up to work. What's going on?"

On the other end, I heard him sigh heavily, "He wanted to get back to his life. I tried to tell him to give himself more time, but he wouldn't take no for an answer."

"What's the story?"

"He was injured during the battle eighteen months ago and woke up in a hospital with no memory."

"He's going with amnesia as to his cover?" I balked, it was too messy of a plan for Clark, "Bruce, something isn't right. He's not acting like himself."

"Why would he, Annie? Everything is different now. He's adapting to the world he came back to."

A twinge of guilt fluttered within me, and I sighed, screwing my eyes shut for a moment, "I shouldn't be questioning this. I wish I had a heads up. I should have been aware of this."

"Annie, I'm sorry, but you're just a colleague to him- it isn't your business to know about his personal life or actions anymore, I'm sorry. You know he's going to say the same thing if you ask him. Just give him space, let him settle in."

"Okay." I hang up the phone having nothing else to say.

Clenching my phone tightly in my hand, I don't hear someone enter the break room or recognize the cologne until I'm already jumping through the air, terrified with a heart ready to burst from my chest.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Ben said between laughs, "Did you forget I was picking you up from work today?"

"No, sorry. I didn't hear you come in."

He eyed me thoughtfully, soft blue eyes bright with question. A smirk crossed his lips before he leaned down to capture mine quickly.

"Get your things. I have a plan that sets into motion the minute we step out of here." Ben stepped aside and allowed me back out into the central hub to grab my things.

"Oh? Is that code for sex, Ben?" I quirked an eyebrow at him casually looking over to try to see into Perry's office, but the blinds were drawn closed.

"Oh, color me intrigued." I laughed as he pinched my side, urging me to hurry.

I pushed away from the feeling of missing out and took his hand in mine. Ahead, Lois stepped out of the office, and our eyes locked.

"Hey, can I meet you downstairs? I need to run something by Lois."

I watched Ben glance between the two of us before waving hello to the fellow redhead, "Of course, be quick."

I nod and watch him walk over to the elevator. Lois is by my side, and we make our way out of the main offices standing by the elevator doors.

"Please, tell me something. Being the last to know is starting to bother me." I said, fiddling with my purse strap, my sweater was slung over my shoulder haphazardly.

"Ok. The story is that he woke up in a Delaware hospital two weeks ago with Amnesia spanning back a year, the doctors hoped his memory wouldn't be gone for long, and when Superman's revival began to make its way into the news, Clark naturally remembered the battle." Lois explained. "The doctors say he suppressed the trauma to protect himself."

"Oh. How is he?" I asked. For everyone who knew his secret, the story he was weaving seemed unbelievable, but to the rest of the world, Clark Kent was back, and it had no connection to the return of Superman.

"He seems okay, but..."

My eyes snapped to her, and I bit the inside of my lip, "But what?"

"He wants to work with me on the Batman article." Her voice was low, almost as if she didn't want to say it. She looked worried after I hadn't responded.

"I heard you. That fast?" I asked, "Is Perry going to let him on after the story he just told?"

She sighed and shifted in her heels, "Clark got Perry to agree to allow me to do the investigating. He'll help with research and take notes."

I nodded, jaw tight, "Okay."

"Annie, I can tell Perry to assign someone else. I know it must be weird for him to be working with me, given our history."

I shook my head, "Don't do that. We're not together anymore, Clark is a good reporter. You know that, and I know that. I'm, uh, going to go home. Ben has a surprise for me. I'll see you tomorrow." I told her as I looked over my shoulder to see the door to Perry's office opening.

I could see his shoulder, his chin, cheek. Oh no, his eyes were sliding this way. I said goodbye to Lois again and hurried to the elevator, relieved when the golden doors slid open. My heart was racing as I jabbed the first-floor button and closed my eyes, praying that he didn't stop the elevator and step in.

The long moment it took for the doors to slide shut felt like ages, and I sighed, relieved I wasn't stuck in an elevator with Clark.  I don't think I could handle looking at Clark every day knowing that I lied to him, and still am trying to uphold that lie. With Ben, I wasn't to be kidnapped and helpless to watch him die, no depression or long nights crying myself to sleep, and I wasn't stuck in my house terrified to leave. I was safe with Ben. I was safe. I needed to compose myself before I saw Ben; he'd know something was bothering me. As I neared the first floor, I slowed my breathing and nearly bolted from the box when the ding alerted me of my arrival.

Ben was sitting down watching the news, his back to me. I walked up behind him, leaning down to wrap my arms around his broad shoulders, my lips skimmed across his neck.

"I'm ready when you are,"

"Oh, I've been ready." He laughed, taking my hand in his as he stood up.

"So, what does this surprise entail?"

"Oh, yes, you've asked so sweetly, I must tell you. Come on, Annie, it wouldn't be much of a surprise, would it?"

"Fine, but this better be good. I hate anticipating things. You know that."

Around us, the lobby was filling with a dozen other people hurrying to get home. It was quiet for a moment, and now I had to lean into Ben practically on my toes to hear him, but one voice cut through all the rest.

"Annie."

I stopped dead in my tracks and tightened my grip on Ben's hand. He looked at me quickly before we both turned to see Clark smiling at me, holding up my sweater.

"I think you dropped this."