August 18, 0655h

	Lois Lane emerged from the steamy bathroom into the aroma of cooking 
bacon.  It smelled wonderful, but it still drew her eyebrows together in a 
frown.  She hastened to the bedroom to dress, worried about her husband.  By the 
time she had drawn on her suit coat and put in her earrings, the bacon was 
undercut by French toast and coffee.  Her stomach rumbled, and she headed for 
their eat in kitchen.
	"Clark?" she asked, watching as he stood over the stove flipping golden 
triangles of French toast.
	"Morning, Lois!  Orange juice?  It's fresh squeezed."
	He had it sitting in front of her before she could answer and was back to 
the stove as she settled at her place at the table. 
	"I used Ma's recipe," he explained, sprinkling powdered sugar on four 
toast halves and setting the plate down at Lois' place.  "Coffee?"
	"Uh, yes, please," she acquiesced.  He was moving too fast to slow down.
	The oven door opened and he pulled out a plate of bacon without using a 
pot holder.  Not that it would hurt him, but Lois couldn't help a reflexive 
wince.  "Clark."
	He turned, a spatula in his hand.  "Yes?"
	"Clark, stop."
	He looked at her for a minute, then returned to the stove, putting 
together his own plate.  After a moment, he brought his breakfast to the table 
and sat.
	"Clark," she began, reaching a hand to his wrist.  "I love you.  This is 
sweet.  But Clark -"
	"I know.  You don't have to eat it."
	She shook her head.  "Clark, that's not it.  Please.  It's wonderful.  
But..."  She reached a hand to his cheek. 
	He accepted the gentle contact.  "I'm sorry, Lois.  I just - I just feel 
*helpless*."
	Lois nodded encouragingly.
	"It's - I think I stopped remembering how fragile they are.  Batman racks 
my balls every chance he gets - he's tough as nails.  And Nightwing - he 
*flies*, Lois.  I remember him reaming me out for interrupting one of his jumps.  
I forgot that they're still -"  He put his face in his hands.
	"They want you to forget," Lois reminded him gently.  "It's called pride."
	"It's foolishness!  You didn't see - that little boy -"
	"Clark, you've seen that much and more every day.  The world's a tough 
place.  You do what you can; you make it easier for so many."  She resisted the 
urge to sigh.  This wasn't the first time they'd had a conversation like this.  
It seemed like for every life he saved, he counted more that he did not.  He 
always recovered, throwing himself with renewed vigor into his crusade, but when 
it was a teammate, someone he cared about...
	"I know," he whispered, taking her hand.
	"Look," she said briskly.  "Why don't you call over there and see how he's 
doing?  I'm sure Barbara wouldn't mind knowing folks are thinking about them."
	Clark stared at her for a moment, not quite seeing her.  Then he nodded.  
"Yeah.  I'll do that."  He rose from his chair, giving Lois' hand a little 
squeeze.  "Thanks, Lois."
	She smiled.  "Hey, there's a reason they call me your better half," she 
teased.  "Hurry, or I'll eat your breakfast, too."
	He chuckled and reached for the phone as Lois began eating.  He thought 
for a minute, dredging the Graysons' number from his memory, then dialed.
	After four rings, he frowned.   *It's not the Manor,* he reminded himself, 
calming himself.  Who knew how far anyone was from the phone or who was around 
to answer it.  Maybe they even turned the ringer off, although that was not 
Barbara's style.
	Ten rings.
	He glanced up at Lois, who paused with her fork halfway to her mouth.  
"What's up?" she asked.
	He shook his head.  "No answer."
	Her eyes were troubled, but her tone was no-nonsense.  "Well, that doesn't 
mean anything.  They've probably just had a long night."
	Clark reluctantly hung up the phone.  "Yeah," he agreed.  "But still-"
	He pulled out his JLA communicator and tapped a code in.  And waited.
	And waited.
	Lois raised an eyebrow at him, concerned.
	Clark continued to stare at his communicator.
	"Batman has his moods..." Lois began.
	"Yeah."
	He waited a moment longer.
	"He's gone weeks without talking to any of you before, right?"
	"Yeah."
	Clark looked into his wife's eyes, seeing his own unease mirrored there.
	"Maybe I better head on over," he said.
	"Yeah," Lois agreed.  "I'll make excuses for Perry."
	Clark nodded, firmly shutting down his signal.  "I'll call you," he 
promised, leaning over to kiss his wife.
	"You have to," she reminded him, and then he was gone in a red and blue blur.