A/N: This story will fall between the episode 'Solitude' and the next one 'Falling,' the Red-K episode, that will air next week. In 'Solitude,' Lucy broke up with James, but in this story, Kara doesn't know quite yet. In this one shot (for now), after Kara is infected, things get a bit out of control. This is not connected to my earlier fiction 'With You.' Please read and review. Thanks, everyone.
~o~o~
Something Real
Late evening at CatCo:
Frustrated, worried, and upset, James Olsen had just hung up the phone with Alex. Then after watching the shocking news feeds, he turned off the monitors, but it appeared to be true. Supergirl was acting totally unlike herself. She wasn't interested in rescues, leaving the scene too quickly or not arriving at all. He'd also heard about Ms. Grant 'falling' off the balcony, but she had been saved from certain death. The citizens of National City were losing hope and James had to talk to her about all of it.
It wasn't just the way she dressed, it was her demeanor. She seemed more confident, aggressive, self-assured and even arrogant, entirely different from the Kara he knew. He wanted to confront her, but he was afraid. He felt like a failure, and after so many years to try and make it work with Lucy, it wasn't meant to be. He had to tell Kara the truth and so he straightened his spine determined to get it out in the open, but was it the right time?
Working late and hoping to catch her so they could talk, he was about to leave when she stepped off the elevator. Still dressed like she wanted attention, not sure from whom, but she didn't look like herself. Her eyes were vacant, she seemed lost and maybe a little afraid. Something wasn't right and he had to find out why she was acting this way before someone got hurt.
It was nearly eleven o'clock and he wondered why she was there so late. He slowly walked over to her not sure how to approach her. Kara spotted him as she approached her desk.
"Oh, there you are. I knew you were here; I followed you," Kara said as if it was no big deal.
"You followed me?" He asked confused. "Oh, you mean you followed my heartbeat?"
"Yeah, your heartbeat." She watched him come closer then she stiffened. He was staring at her strangely. It put her on edge. "Why aren't you at home … with her?" She looked him up and down. "I have to wonder why you're with her in the first place."
He frowned and lost his train of thought. "What do you mean?"
"I can see right through you James, and I mean that literally." She said and watched him squirm.
She put down her things and crossed her arms. "I know what's going on here. I'm not blind. Every time I see you two together, you're arguing about something. I try not to listen but then my name comes up. Supergirl this and Supergirl that. Lucy's not blind either and you're doing her a disservice, leading her on. It's wrong and you know it."
The elevator dinged, so he hurriedly grabbed her arm and led her into the supply closet to talk privately. He wasn't surprised by her rant about Lucy, because over the past several days, Kara's feelings about their relationship seemed to have risen to the surface.
"Kara, you need to stop this. I'm really worried about you and," he stopped at her glare.
"Oh, you're worried about me?" She huffed. "That would be a change." She crossed her arms and glared at him. James hoped she wouldn't burn him alive.
"What is going on with you? Just think about what you're saying. You need to stop this."
She sighed and tried to calm down. "I'm just trying to stay one step ahead of my co-worker, you know, Cat's new personal assistant."
"Yeah, I've noticed her snooping around. You should be careful Kara."
She rolled her eyes. "Don't worry about me; I'll be fine." Her comment was a bit clipped.
"Are you mad at me?" James asked worried about their friendship. "Is that what this is about?"
"No, I'm not mad. Actually, I wanted to thank you for making me do the right thing. I knew I couldn't do it alone."
Relieved, he said, "You're welcome." He watched her hoping to read her. "So you're back at the DEO?"
"Yes, I am," Kara replied, then she suddenly felt tired of doing the right thing all the time. It wasn't what she wanted; not at all. She headed for the door and opened it, but her eyes glowed red. James didn't see it. She closed and locked the door. Then she turned and stared at him.
The looks were back, he realized. Coming closer, still staring, and then she did something that he had never thought to see again. He hadn't imagined it. Her eyes slowly roamed over his face then down over his chest and then they went lower. Totally and utterly confused by her behavior, he didn't know what was going on with her.
"Kara, why are you looking at me like that?" She came closer still staring which caused his heart to race.
"James, I just can't get over how … how big you are."
Frozen in place, he swallowed. "Oh, well, I am 6'4" and."
"Wow, 6'4", so that explains why your chest is massive and your arms; I can't seem to think whenever I'm near you or when you walk by. It's too much sometimes," she whispered provocatively still staring at his chest. She came closer; he backed up. "It's cozy in here; more privacy. Don't you think?"
He blinked, still frozen, and so worried, unsure how to help her. "Kara what in the world is going on?" Suddenly afraid for some reason; he'd never felt afraid of her; not ever.
Kara sensed this. "Oh, James, you're afraid of me? I would never hurt you; you know that, don't you?"
Shaking inside, he replied, "Yes, I do; I do know that," he replied and stared at her. He tried to relax but his heart continued to pound. Was it fear or desire? He wasn't sure.
"Take a deep breath, relax; your heart is pounding; it's so loud." She touched his chest with both hands; eyes tearing up. "I care about you very much."
Her tears seemed genuine. He tried to relax. "I know you do."
"Do you really?" She paused as she stroked his chest, shoulders and arms, caressing him and he liked it. He wanted her to stop but he was still dazed by her behavior, but needing this more than he realized. "I know you're with her and I've accepted it, but there's a big part of me that wants to be with you and not just as friends."
"What did you just say?" He asked, shocked, but he needed to tell her the truth about Lucy. Her next words stopped that train of thought.
"You heard me. She doesn't love you not like … you need to be loved."
"Kara?" He didn't know what to say to that. "Do you realize what you're saying?"
"You can't be surprised." He still looked dismayed. "I remember our talks on the balcony and on the rooftop before she came here. She changed you James. You feel like we can't be close because of her, and that's just not true. We can still be together; just dump her and send her back to wherever she came from. You're not yourself and I miss you; I miss us." Her eyes roamed over his face. "I know you miss me; just admit it."
"Well, I ... I don't think you realize what you're saying, but," he hesitated. He did miss her.
She saw an opening and went for it. She grabbed his tie and kissed him. He was shocked at first then he closed his eyes and kissed her back. After a few minutes, she pulled away.
"Yes, we both needed that." He seemed dazed. She smiled and caressed his cheek and his throat. "I know you want me, James. I've seen it. Just accept it; you can leave her and be with me."
He sighed. "Kara, I have to tell you something," he whispered but he couldn't seem to think straight. She was staring at him in such a way that his head was spinning with a need to get closer. She must have read his mind because she closed her eyes and leaned into him her meaning clear. Just one more kiss, he thought, then he leaned down and they kissed, not sweetly, not slowly but with emotions that boiled to the surface.
His lips slanted across hers, tasting her tongue so warm and sweet in his mouth. Then he clutched her to him tightly kissing her with desire bottled up but finally set free surprising her and him, as he kissed her like he'd wanted to do for so long. His lips flowed across her cheek then down her throat.
"Oh, James, yes, yes!" Kara was so excited. She began to undress and he helped her. Kara backed up and led them to the sofa. Still kissing, they fell back and James was on top her but they managed to remove their clothing from the waist up.
Kara couldn't seem to stop touching him and James felt the same way. Minutes later, things became so heated, that they were nearly naked but then he managed to release her lips and looked into her eyes. She slowly opened her eyes and they glowed red but only for a moment. James realized the truth; Kara was infected. Why hadn't I realize it before? He wondered.
He slowly moved away from her, stood up and slipped on his clothes. He didn't say anything. I can't believe we did that, but oh, it felt like heaven. His thoughts were confusing but he still wanted her.
Kara slowly sat up watched him pull away from her. "James, what's wrong?" She sounded hurt but only for a moment. "I know you want me."
He turned to look at her and she was a vision to his eyes. Her hair had come loose; her lips swollen from his kisses; and her chest was exposed revealing that part of her that he had dreamed about. She was so beautiful; it hurt to look at her. He closed his eyes and turned from her.
"Yes I do want you, but this is wrong and you'll understand once I explain it to you."
Kara was suddenly angry. "It's that bitch, isn't it? You're thinking of her, aren't you?" Tears blinded, then she stood up and was back in her clothes in seconds.
He sighed. "No, Kara, I wasn't thinking of her. I was thinking of you and what we almost did."
She took several deep breaths to calm down. "You don't have to worry about me. Stay with her; I don't care!" She headed to the door.
"Kara wait please." He managed to bar the door.
"Let me out, James, please." She wanted to ball her eyes out. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Kara, the reason you're acting this way is because ... you're infected with a red stone from the Planet Krypton. It makes you do and say things you wouldn't normally do."
She frowned and backed away from him. "I don't believe you." She turned and thought of the way she was feeling and to think that it wasn't real. Her feelings for James are real, aren't they; they've always been there; haven't they? Confused, she shook her head and refused to accept it. "No, you're wrong. I've never felt so free to do whatever I want, and no one can stop me."
"No, Kara, that's not who you are. Yes, you feel free, but that freedom with someone like you, can cause harm and I know you don't want to hurt anyone." He paused. "You have to listen to me."
"No, I don't have to listen to you." She was upset and worried this feeling would go away and she didn't want that to happen not yet. "You're lying to me. Why are you lying? I hate this place; I hate you too."
"No, Kara, I'm not lying. And you don't mean that." He was so worried.
"You don't know me at all. You pretend to be my friend … But I can't depend on you. And now you do this to me, leave me wanting you and I can't … I can't seem to breathe." She paused to gather her composure. "All you do is preach and preach; I'm sick of your sermons; I hate it so much."
He wanted to cry. "Kara, please, just let me help you."
"No, just stay away from me. I don't need you anymore. You can go to hell!"
He tried to stop her but she sped away. The door slammed shut behind her. He shook his head and tried to think. He pulled himself together, and pulled out his cellphone.
He reached Alex. "James, what is it?" He rarely called her. J'onn was with her so she put the call on speaker.
"Alex, I know the reason Kara is acting so out of character. She's infected with red kryptonite from her home planet, and the only way to remove the poison is with green kryptonite."
"Did you say red kryptonite?" Alex asked and glanced at J'onn. He nodded; he understood now.
"Yes, and you should realize that Kara won't be cooperative. She enjoys the feeling of freedom that it gives her to be herself; to speak her mind; to say whatever she wants; and do whatever she wants. It's invigorating to her," James said remembering their kisses.
"I see. Thanks, James, we'll think of something." She hung up, then they came up with a plan to help Kara. The next day, they tricked her into believing that James had been hurt badly and that he was asking for her, but he was at the DEO.
Kara rushed over to the bunker and they captured her rather easily. James was there waiting for her. He revealed himself then stood back and watched as Kara became weaker and weaker from the green kryptonite. She looked so helpless; he felt horrible.
She felt betrayed and so hurt that she wanted to cry and so she did. "Why are you doing this to me? I hate you all." Tears streamed down her cheeks. "Please stop; it hurts."
Her tears upset them, but it had to be done. It took a number of hours but the green rock did its job. Unfortunately, she would be vulnerable meaning no super powers for a while, not sure when they would return, but they would come back, along with her memories of what she had done and said to everyone.
Before they placed her under the sun lamps to restore her powers, Alex, J'onn, and James tried to apologize but Kara wasn't ready to forgive.
Lying on a bed in the med lab, she whispered. "Leave me alone."
"Kara, we had to do it. I'm sorry," Alex said feeling awful.
Kara covered her head with a pillow. "Just go, please," she said and tried hard not to cry again. Everyone left, except James.
"I said go; that means you too," Kara said and covered her head with a pillow again.
"I'm not leaving," James said and came closer. "Look at me, Kara."
"I can't and I won't," Kara said, stubborn as always. He sat down.
She removed the pillow. "Argh, how can you look at me?" She covered her head again. "I'm so ashamed."
"You weren't yourself," he said, knowing that the things she said to him were mostly true.
She slowly removed the pillow and sat up. "But I was; I was myself. For the first time, I was." She paused and stared at him. "You may not believe me but I still want you, James. That hasn't changed." He bowed his head. "It's not the Red-K talking. This is me but I won't put you on the spot; not again."
He had to tell her, he was also thinking of their kisses and how much he had enjoyed them. "Lucy dumped me." At her shocked expression, he whispered, "I'll let you rest." Then he was gone.
Stunned, Kara lay back down and pulled the pillow to her chest. He's free, but what about us? She wondered then she remembered everything she said to him. All of it was true, well most of it. She smiled and realized something.
We're both free. Now what?
The beginning!?
~o~o~
Song Inspiration: I Wanna Be That Girl, Leona Lewis.
A/N: I had to write this and I would love to continue it, but not before the episode premieres. When I found out that red kryptonite would be introduced, my head damn near exploded, literally. I was 'thisclose' to them having sex, but no; not quite yet. Well, I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading. Reviews/kudos/favorites, all are love!