Mid-mornings are slower for Lois than most other times of day--sometimes it takes the blood levels in her caffeine stream enough time to return to normal. Today she's been out, trying to get a couple of Clark's regular contacts to talk to her for a bit until he's back at work.

(Because it's an 'until.' However bad things are, she does have faith he'll pull out of it. Too bad he's not really letting people help.)

As a result she looks more than a little exasperated when she steps in, with the only-to-be-expected cup of coffee in hand.