This story is a sequel of "Valhalla" (by TowandaBRA) and "Christmas of Valhalla" (by BiaZor-El) and includes references of both. But if you don't want to read them, don't give up. Here's the summary of the previous ones:
"Valhalla": "Kara had to deal with personal issues that could change anyone's life after being trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building for five days before they rescued her leaving the hero seriously injured."
"Christmas of Valhalla" by BiaZor-El: "After some time on the DEO med bay, Alex finally brought Kara home to have the Danvers-and-friends Christmas party." I highly recommend. It is really great :D
I wrote "Valhalla"; then BiaZor-El wrote "Christmas of Valhalla", and I came back writing this one. I call it "authors' crossover". It was a challenge mixing our ideas and especially our different styles. But it was also SOOOOOOOOO MUCHHHHHH FUNNNNNNNN! :D
I'm going to reveal Bia's super power. Her patience. She was tireless reading, suggesting, fixing my mistakes (a lot of them), teaching and encouraging me. Obrigada. :)
Also, thank you MarvelDC31. As always I learn a lot from you. :D
Enjoy :)
The mistakes are all mine :p
Disclaimer: Supergirl belongs to DC, CW and WB. (Did I forget something or somebody?)
After what happened in Valhalla and Christmas of Valhalla, Kara still has a long road ahead. But she's not alone.
Valhalla – Claustrum (*)
Chapter 1 - Darkness, pain…
Darkness, pain, silence, cold, solitude. Not even a tenuous light, not even a muscle she could move. Stuck, trying to breathe. Suddenly, Kara sat up in her bed searching for oxygen. For weeks her sleep had been interrupted, usually two or three times in the same night. They began during her recovery but they were sporadic, close to zero. The intensity and constancy increased as they reduced the medications doses. It wasn't exactly a nightmare, but a strong and growing sense of anguish and helplessness. Although consciously she didn't remember what happened months before, she knew the origin of all her fears. Even grudgingly, by her request, Alex and Hank told in detail what had happened, however that explanation had nothing to do with what she felt but with what her mind didn't remember… But her body did.
Scared, she turned the tv on, adjusting the timer. Before the device turned off, she slept on the couch. Sometimes, sleepy, the dog Cat gave her joined her, lying on the rug. Unexpectedly, he had become good company. Many times, when that not worked up, she changed her clothes and flew.
Kara always landed on the hill full of green grass, sitting down, observing National City, and holding the small rustic carved stone that Alex had given to her the day she recovered consciousness and now she always had with her. She didn't understand why that place had become her refuge, or why the object comforted her.
As her body got better, everybody was coming back to their own lives. Until the day Alex returned to her routine for good.
"Now you don't need me anymore," Alex said when she finally went back to her apartment.
"I will always need you, fool," Kara embraced her. "Thank you for everything, Alex."
"You'd have done the same for me. And the sisters' nights continue as always."
"No doubt about that."
She certainly would miss her sister by her side in the mornings, afternoons, and nights but it was also liberating to not rely on other people to help her day by day in such trivial things.
Physically, she was not only fully recovered but her body and powers were better than ever. However, since she had returned to normal activities, or even before, she had begun to be very uncomfortable in certain places.
On the first day, when Kara returned to the DEO, Hank reunited the members of the team in a small welcome reception including food, juice, and bad coffee.
Smiling, Alex waited for her in the elevator. The alien hesitated.
"Kara? Is everything all right?"
"Sure," she said, going inside with her sister.
If it was not for her skin once again being almost indestructible, Kara would have buried her nails in her own hands when closing them into fists. As each floor was reached, moving further underground, the sensation got worse. When the door opened, she saw her colleagues again, who were legitimately happy to meet her, made her distracted for a while, as well as the hugs and greetings. Among all, Kara gifted Doctor Hamilton with the longest and warmest embrace.
As the meeting continued and the attention on her decreased, she felt the restlessness increase again. She decided to go to the A.I. room to see her mother's hologram, that almost always tranquilized her. Except, she couldn't even come close to the door. As she went deeper and deeper she felt worse and when arriving close to the room she almost couldn't breathe. She went back, going by Alex and Hank.
"Sorry, there's an ambulance in the traffic jam. I have to go," she left as fast as she could and once outside, she tried to breathe desperately.
Alex went to the DEO's communication center.
"Check all the emergency calls for Supergirl and traffic reports in the last 15 minutes."
"No calls, ma'am," answered Vasquez.
"Damnit, Kara!" murmured Alex.
After that, Kara rarely went to DEO. Fortunately, she wasn't being constantly called. Hank or Alex informed her of the missions using text messages, telephone calls, or the communicator.
The first time that she went back to the cinema with her friends and Alex wasn't pleasant. As soon as the lights faded her hands began to sweat and her heart rate speed up.
"I'll buy more popcorn," she got up.
"We have three full buckets," whispered James.
"It's not enough. I'll be back soon."
Minutes later, outdoors, she texted a message to Alex.
"Emergency… Supergirl. Enjoy the film."
Elevators definitely weren't an option anymore. When arriving to the lobby of CatCo, after taking Cat's latte, she looked at the floor display, swallowed hard, and went to the stairs, climbing more than twenty floors. She made sure of being careful to do at a compatible pace like any human because of the of the cameras. Without windows, she stayed in her new office only when necessary and even then she keept the door open.
She thought about talking to Alex but then she gave that up. Her sister had put off her life in all ways—personal and professional—by staying by her side and taking care of her, day and night, tirelessly. It wasn't fair that once again Alex had to postpone things to help her.
"This is just a phase," she said for herself. "Everything is going to be okay."
In a rainy afternoon, the young woman received a call from the fire department.
"Supergirl, boy stuck in a well. They need to take him out before the rain gets heavier."
"A well?" she swallowed hard.
"Yes. Is this a problem?"
"No… not at all, I'm on my way."
Author Notes:
(*) Claustrum: Latin "a bolt, a means of closing, a place shut in, confined place, frontier fortress (in Medieval Latin 'cloister').
Claustrophobia is the fear of being enclosed in the small space or room and having in the escape. It can be triggered by many situations or stimuli, including elevators to capacity, windowless rooms, and even tight-necked clothing. It is typically classified as an anxiety disorder, which often results in panic attacks.
To be continue...
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