It always kinda bothers me how no one ever mentions how Kara sacrifices so much for everyone. And well this came from it.
I tend to have a bad track record for finishing multi chaptered stories (sorry about that). So I wrote this whole story before uploading chapter one. I have some proofreading left on the other chapters but they should be up fairly quickly. All mistakes are my own! Hope y'all enjoy!
If I owned any of the rights I wouldn't be writing this:)
It's not like in the movies.
Slow, peaceful, quiet.
You don't slowly open your eyes to see sunlight shining through a wall of windows. Someone you love sitting at your bedside coming into focus. Holding your hand and smiling at you with unshed tears in their eyes.
No, it's not like that at all.
At least, not for Kara.
The first time she awakes consciousness swims just out of reach. And she tries and tries to open her eyes. She really does, to figure out where she is and how she got here. But all there is, is pain.
Heaviness and pain.
Throbbing, stabbing, blinding pain.
It's everywhere. The throbbing muscles. Her pounding head. However, she quickly decides that a headache is probably the least of her worries. Because the pain radiating from her head has nothing on the stabbing pain coming from her ribs. Or the white hot burning pain all over her back. Her stomach, her legs.
Everywhere.
Why can't she feel anything else?
Think Kara, think.
What the hell happened?
—
Earlier
It had started out like just another normal day for Kara. Relatively speaking a normal day for Kara still sounds like something akin to a science fiction film.
Between her day job of a reporter, and her more secretive job of punching rogue aliens into submission—life can get pretty hectic. Even on the most normal days.
She awoke just as the sun was starting to peek over the horizon into her top floor apartment. It's no surprise that Kara, who practically radiates sunshine, wakes with the sun rise every morning. Yet another "advantage" of her alien biology she supposes. Although, never needing to wake up to the shrill cry of an alarm clock was nice, it doesn't do anything to help the exhaustion weighing on her bones.
And Kara sometime wishes that she could just sleep in, just for once.
Maybe take Alex's advice. Alex, who keeps insisting that Kara needs to take it easy sometimes. It's an argument that they have fairly often. Kara working tirelessly at her day and night job, finally getting to the point where she can hardly keep her eyes open or even stand up.
Yet, despite that feeling, she still can't sleep a minute after sunrise. Kara guesses she owes it to her powers.
At night her powers are somewhat dulled due to the lack of sun radiation. Her exceptional hearing and eyesight more cloudy than when the bright orb is shining. Allowing for somewhat of a respite from the constant noise from the metropolitan area. But as soon as the first rays appear over the horizon, the hearing returns. And the peaceful escape of slumber becomes unobtainable.
With a sigh Kara rubs the sleep from her eyes and begins her day.
Sticking to her usual schedule for Wednesdays Kara stops at noonan's for a dozen sticky buns (mostly for herself) and 2 bagels to bring by the precinct before heading to Catco. A habit that had originally been started by Alex. Saying that with their crazy schedules, Kara needed to get to know Maggie in some way. And that way come through the mutual love of food.
It had started out with them meeting at noonan's. Kara would gorge herself on sticky buns and Maggie—taking the more conservative approach—stuck to bagels. Then at Maggie's complaint that, "Not everyone enjoys waking up at the ass crack of dawn," Kara had offered to just run them by the station.
They had settled on Wednesday's. Once again on Maggie's complaint that by the third day of the week she needed some sort of "pick me up" to keep going.
"Little Danvers," Maggie acknowledges with a smile as Kara approaches her desk.
"Good morning Mags," Kara says with her famous sunny Danvers smile.
"Ugh, not everyone is excited for the mornings like you. This alcohol induced headache can't take the sunshine." Maggie groans rubbing at her temples.
"Well, you're talking to someone who doesn't get hangovers sooooo," Kara sing songs causing an impressive eye roll from Maggie.
The banter continues as they go back and forth on issues at the department, Catco, and DEO. All the while laughing and keeping the subjects light.
Although Maggie has a nagging suspicion that Kara is overcompensating for something. Perhaps for the dreariness that is present in her eyes. How they don't quite light up the way they usually do Maggie notes. And her smile just barely reaches her eyes.
Most people would see nothing different in the reporter.
But Maggie knows better.
"How have you been Kara? Really, you look dead on your feet."
"I'm okay."
Kara immediately defends looking down at her hands.
"You know you can always—"
But Maggie's reassurance is cut short.
Because that's when the calls start coming.
One, two, three, then too many phones to count all start ringing at once.
All reports of an attack; some humanoid alien wreaking havoc. Because God forbid the city let her have just one Goddamn day without a disaster.
And Maggie can see that mask cover Kara's face in Seconds. Making eye contact with Maggie's Kara gives her a nod. Then hurries off outside the station. No doubt to save the day once again.
—-
Maggie is not a stranger to stress and long hours. It came with the job description. Serve and protect, when necessary, not when you feel like it. So when Kara walks in it doesn't take Maggie long to pinpoint her rigid stance. The way she holds herself very deliberately. Her shoulders taunt from the weight she carries.
It was one thing Maggie was convinced most people miss about Kara. Sure she was practically a ray of sunshine, always smiling and wayyy too happy in the morning for Maggie's liking. But there was always tension present in her stance.
In her eyes and the dark circles under them.
Like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Which Maggie knows is not far from the truth.
Because between saving the world and being the fearless reporter she was... Kara doesn't get many opportunities to take it easy.
"How have you been Kara? Really, you look dead on your feet."
"I'm okay." Kara says quickly, too quickly.
And Maggie knows she isn't. A conversation she had with Alex the previous night coming to mind...
"She isn't sleeping Mags," Alex says with a somber look. "She was out on Supergirl Duty all night last night, then instead of going home and getting some sleep, she goes to Catco and writes an article on the anti alien movements going on."
"Well, have you talked to her about it babe?" Maggie asks gently. She of all people knows how Alex gets when it comes to her baby sister.
"Of course I have," Alex says frustration seeping into her words. "She always just gives me generic answers; "I'm fine," or "I'm okay." But I know she's not fine Maggie. Anyone that knows her can see that. But the more I push the more defensive she gets. A few days ago I pushed a little too hard and she almost bit my head off."
Maggie sighs. She knows Alex is right. For Kara to lose her temper on someone is almost unheard of, especially when that someone is Alex. So if she really did loose her temper...
Alex shakes her head and sets down the potato she had been peeling. Picking up another one, Alex sighs, "But that's not the worst of it. It was almost like she was begging me to tell her how she can rest. I don't know... I'm just worried about her."
"I know you are," Maggie placates. "But you know how stubborn your sister is, she rivals even you in that aspect."
Alex gave an indignant huff and eye roll.
"You'll just have to give her time babe, she will listen to you in time."
Maggie is brought back to the present when the phones start ringing. The front desk, Davidson's desk, then hers too.
And Maggie sees the demeanor change immediately. Kara's shoulders pull up, her face morph from an easy going laugh to the determined gaze of supergirl. It was no longer Kara sitting at her desk. No, this is Supergirl.
She nods at Maggie and then turns on her heel and out the door. No doubt to suit up and save the day.
And Maggie can't help the feeling of dread start to bloom in the pit of her stomach.
—
Come on, come on, come on.
Alex thinks.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
She curses her luck. Of course they would have to be caught in the traffic fleeing the very scene that they were trying to reach. Even with the sirens, lights, and the fake FBI insignia on the side of the black vehicle there is only so much they can do.
Because they can't fly above the sea of cars.
Can't ride through the crowds of people on the sidewalk.
The thundering from ahead only taunts them as they sit waiting for a way through. But panic blinds people to anything but their own safety.
Fuck it.
She's done waiting. That's her little sister out there. And
From the sound of the ongoing fight, it doesn't seem like this is an easy one.
Alex exits the van. Full tactical gear, and turns to the other agents.
"We aren't getting anywhere like this, let's go."
Alex leads the way. Running around vehicles and people as the flee from yet another disaster. And Alex wonders in the back of her mind how much this city can take. It's no secret that National City has seen more disasters over the past 4 years than ever before. And knows that Kara feels some measure of ornate responsibility for that.
But the moment she put on that cape there was no going back. She can't just hang it up and hope for alien invasions, and anti alien hate groups inciting violence to go away.
Alex knows that more times than not Kara carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Sees it in her stance. In the dark circles under her eyes. Because if Kara hears a scream, how can she sit ideally by and do nothing?
What kind of person would that make her?
Kara had asked Alex that same question just a few nights before. After Alex insisted yet again that Kara needed to get some rest. That she is always so busy saving everyone else, she forgets to save herself. But it's that million dollar question that Kara always fires back. The one that Alex has yet to find an answer to.
How?
How can she rest?
When they live in a city that someone is always trying to kill.
Destroy.
Take over.
Because the wicked don't rest. So neither can the hero's.
And every time Kara asks, Alex gets the feeling it becomes less of a rhetorical question, and more of a plea. Because it seems like Kara really does want an answer.
How? How can she get some rest?
Because even the girl of steel needs a break. But that is a luxury she can't afford. A luxury that National City can't afford.
"Alex!"
Maggie's voice jars her from her thoughts. She sounds worried. Scared even. And Maggie doesn't scare easy.
It doesn't take long to pinpoint the reason for her fear. Less than a hundred yards away Alex sees it. And the sight makes her want to run. Run towards her little sister who is currently suspended in the air. Held around the neck by a humanoid like alien. Standing 10 feet tall, legs and arms as thick as tree trunks. Green scaly skin, spikes up its spine measuring at least a foot long. But that's not what worries Alex the most.
No.
The most concerning this is that Kara is completely limp. Arms hanging at her side, head lolling around like a rag doll. Blood leaking from the side of her mouth.
"Supergirl!" Alex exclaims. As she finally gets her feet to move. She sprints towards the pair drawing her weapon. Knowing that if Kara still hasn't taken the alien down there is little she can hope to do. She knows this, but she doesn't give a damn. Her concern for her sister outweighing everything else.
Her movements draw the attention of the alien. A Zeteriod her brain supplies. Pulling that information from somewhere deep inside of her brain.
"A humanoid alien that has the power to sap energy from their target through physical contact."
Because Of. Freaking. Course.
The alien tears his attention away from his prey and narrows his eyes on Alex.
Good.
Not that Alex wants all of his attention but at least he's not focused on Kara.
However, her relief is short lived when the alien tosses Kara aside like she was nothing more than an unwanted piece of trash. Straight into a glass window of one of the nearby sky scrapers.
Alex watches in terror as the window shatters on impact leaving glass raining down on the prone form of supergirl. Deep red crimson slowly starting to seep out around her surrounding Kara in a halo of red.