Luther"s choice.

Second time tonight the leader of the free world was woken by his kidneys.

It felt like a long and distant memory the last time his kidneys didn't ruin his nights sleep.

He sighed and made a careful attempt of slowly getting out of bed.

His confidence grew.

This time he was going to make it.

"Happy? I'm awake now!"

Came the familiar sarcastic moan from the bundle laying beside him.

Ain't making nothing this time Luther thought and settled back into bed.

"Go back to sleep Lois it's still early."

He suggested.

"Can't kidneys wake now. Have to pee!"

She sighed sitting up on the edge of her side of the bed.

"If your gonna be quick you can go first?"

"It's ok hon, I can wait." He said and watched as the woman he loved with eyes closed, made her way into their bathroom.

She didn't bother turning the bathroom light on.

Strange it's only lately in the twilight of their years that he came to realise how much she had sacrificed to be with him.

He had been so wrapped up on their political career, just took it for granted that he had everything to give her.

His wealth, love plus a career of being the best First Lady this country ever had.

He hadn't noticed what he couldn't give her.

It was at the end of the emergency press conference on the Zod conflict last fall that he began to notice.

She was gazing longingly at the reporters as they finished and rushed out of the Oval Office.

He knew she wished it was her rushing off. Breaking the news.

Lois had been one of the greatest investigative reporters of her generation. She lived and breathed that calling.

But once she choose him. Once she made that choice. It was over.

The public never forgave her.

How could she do it to 'him.'

Lex Luther and Lois Lane!

This is a betrayal of everything they believed in.

She gave up her world. Her life to be with him.

He didn't know why, but god, was he grateful.

He heard her Flush and out she came.

Eyes still closed.

"You didn't put the seat down again!"

She moaned climbing back into bed cocooning herself in the duvet.

"That's because I'm evil!"

He answered.

"It's because your a man." She yawned.

He smiled and made his way into the bathroom. "Same thing."

"You said it not me." She replied getting the last word in.

He did his business turned the light off and made his way back to bed.

Then his phone rang.

"Your doing this on purpose! No phones in the bedroom!"

She moaned and hit him over the head with a pillow.

"Sorry I have to take this. I'll go to the bathroom."

"Well it better be world war three or something!" She shouted after him.

He didn't reply.

He knew it was to close to the truth.

Closing the bathroom door he took a deep breath and answered his phone.

"President Luther here."

"Mr President this Is Tim-- sorry I mean officer Abrams- I was told to contact you direct if Detective Grey
Has a message for you."

"Are you with Detective Grey now!"

"No sir only on com link. Sir."

"Ok son this is very important what message did he give you?"

"Sir he said..Tell president Luther that god has turned?"

"Think did he say anything else?"

"Sir only to send back up."

The President went cold.

All his fears Realised in that short sentence.

"Give me his location right now!"

"Sir rooftop of old Wayne building. Gotham."

"Hold the line son!"

He pressed the hold button and dialled a fifteen digit number only the president of America knew.

"President Lex Luther code 666 verify voice recognition and DNA scan."

He placed his thumb on the phones screen a small fast pin prick stung his thumb.

<<voice recognition and DNA confirmed welcome to LEX CORP defence systems Mr President. How can I help you today?">>

The voice was female but automated.

Lex set it up that way to take human error out of the equation.

"Launch Crucifixion Two. Coordinates abonadoned Wayne building Gotham City. Lock onto Detective Dick Grey homing signal."

<<Confirming coordinates abandoned Wayne building. Gotham City. Detective Dick Grey homing implant.>>

"Confirmed. Now launch."

<<"Crucifixion Two missile launched. ETA 8 minutes Any thing else I can help you with Mr President.">>

The President hung up.

He pressed the hold button on his phone.

"You still there son."

"Yes Sir I mean Mr President I am - here."

"Tell detective Grey back up is on it's way ETA 24 minutes."

"Yes sir. He has received and understood."

"That's good son. Mind if I ask what's your location son?"

"Gotham in a mobile police van I'm about half a block from Wayne building."

"I see, you married Tim?"

"Well sir You could say I'm married to the job sir." Tim said. "My wife is a cop."

"Well ring your wife right now Tim. Tell her you were talking to the president of the United States."

"Wow, thanks Sir but I can't I'm still on duty. What if detective Grey calls back?"

"He won't son. call her. That's an order from your commander and chief!"

"Well Mr President if you put it that way."

"I do. Good bye Son."

"Good bye Mr President."

He turned the phone off to quickly.

He stirred at the bloodily thumb print on the phone screen.

What have I done???

He felt like there was a rubber band around his chest. Constricting his breathing.

As fast as he breathed in, the air was been pushed out.

In panic he rapidly tried breathing harder.

Get the air in.

Wasn't working.

Then he felt his heart.

Pounding.

Slow down. Slow down. His mind screamed but his heart wasn't listening.

He collapsed on the bathroom floor and she seemed to be there in an instant.

"Lex!"

She screamed getting down to the floor with him.

"Can't breath!"

He gasped afraid to tell her about the heart. "Can't -----brea---."

"It's ok. It's ok. It's just a panic attack, slow down. Catch-your- breath-," As she comforted she placed one hand behind his head and leaned him over.

"-slow---and breath-that's it"

The other hand had found the brown paper bag containing her make shift first aid kit.

She emptied all it's contents onto the floor and handed him the paper bag.

"There breath into this."

He took the bag and placed it over his mouth. Christ what have I done.

"Slow the breathing. Slow down.."

She hit the panic button that she slept with around her neck. The one he refused to wear.

"The marines are coming. Don't you dare die first Lex Leopold Luther. Your not leaving me alone!"

He wouldn't dare.