I sighed heavily, walking out of the elevator into the bullpen of the Daily Planet newsroom. I had plenty of FMLA time to stay home, but I didn't want to. I sat home and all I did was think about Lois. Mom and Dad had begged me to stay home, but they understood how I was feeling. If there was something I was always thankful that the three of us were so close. I would do my best to have that with the twins.

"Clark! What in the Sam Hill are you doing here?"

I heard Perry's weakened voice come from the door way to his office as I turned my head his direction.

"Couldn't stay home, chief."

He walked out of his office and in my direction. He was weak. He shouldn't be here. If anything, he should be home, spending what little time he had left with Alice. I know if I had only a limited amount of time with Lois before either one of us were going to die, I would have been with her every second. But I suppose he had his reasons for being here just as I did.

"How are the kids, son?"

Inhaling, I nodded, telling him they were fine. He laid his hand on my back as I sat at my desk. I was exhausted. I didn't get exhausted, not usually, but I was. Missing Lois exhausted me more than I could explain.

"You know, aside from not having to be here, I'm actually glad you are here."

Looking up at him, I asked why.

"The new owner of the Daily Planet is here."

We'd had so many new owners since I had started working here, I could scarcely believe it myself. Something told me that Perry had told me about him before today, but I couldn't remember really. Everything over the last few weeks has been a jumbled mess. I was sure he wouldn't hold it against me for not remembering.

"He should be down here any moment to meet everybody. So, I'm glad you're here."

And as he said that, a somewhat familiar voice sounded ahead of us, prompting both of us to turn to look in that direction. I knew this man, not really as the man standing in front of me, but I knew his other identity better, just as he knew my other identity. We knew who we were outside of our superhero identities, but we hadn't had that much to do with each other, since he lived in Gotham and I lived here in Metropolis, but we had worked together enough times, especially after his idea to form the Justice League, so we were pretty familiar with each other.

"As am I," Bruce Wayne said as I stood up to greet him. "I'm Bruce Wayne. So nice to meet you, Clark Kent." He smiled. "I know you from your byline, Lane and Kent." He bowed his head briefly, continuing more solemnly. "My condolences."

Breathing in deeply, I nodded and took his hand he had outstretched to me. "Thank you, Mr. Wayne."

"Please," he interceded. "Call me Bruce." Turning from me after our handshake, he offered his hand to Perry this time. "Perry White, I presume."

Perry nodded affirmatively. "Yes. Welcome to the Daily Planet, Bruce."

"Thank you." He smiled. "It is a lovely operation you have here, Perry."

"Thank you. We like it."

Bruce laughed, turning back to look at both of us. "I look forward to getting to know each of you. As for right now, I'm due for a board meeting upstairs. Lunch, later?"

Both Perry and I nodded, and Bruce turned to leave us. I'd never had much to do with him as Bruce, but I was looking forward to getting to know him out of his superhero identity. He was a good man, and I knew it. I knew it, because I knew Batman. I hadn't thought today would be anything more than mundane, but it was great to meet him, even in spite of losing Lois.