Linda Danvers: Girl of Steel

6

"Linda's Sacrifices for Love"

Written by Mark Moore

Author's note: This miniseries is the sequel to my 12-issue "Linda Danvers" maxiseries. Reading "Linda Danvers" is not necessary to understanding this miniseries but is recommended.

I wrote this story from Wednesday, December 17, 2003, 6:00 PM to Wednesday, December 31, 2003, 11:38 PM. Feel free to send/leave me reviews, whether you love, like, dislike, or hate the story. Enjoy!


Monday, December 1, 2003, 8:22 AM

Linda woke up and turned her head to face Lara.
Lara woke up and looked at her. "Hi."
Linda smiled at her. "Hi. Happy Birthday."
Lara smiled. "Thanks. What do you want for breakfast?"
"Oh, no. I'm making you breakfast." Linda replied. "What do you want?"
"You." Lara replied.
Linda laughed. "Keep wishing."

Linda and Lara walked into a Japanese restaurant.
A girl walked over to them. "Hello."
"Hello." Linda and Lara said.
"Just two?" the girl asked.
"Yes." Linda replied.
"Okay." the girl said.
The girl picked up two menus, turned, and walked to an empty table. Linda and Lara followed her.
Linda and Lara knelt across from each other on the floor.
The girl placed the menus on the table and walked away.
Linda and Lara picked up their menus and read them.
"I'll have teriyaki beef, ramen noodles, and Pepsi." Linda said.
"Me, too." Lara said.
The girl came by with a pad and pen. "Are you ready to order?"
"Yeah, we'll each have teriyaki beef, ramen noodles, and Pepsi." Linda ordered.
The girl wrote it down. "Okay."
She walked away.
The girl came back, holding a tray. She took the two plates off of the tray and placed them on the table. She also took the napkins and two pairs of chopsticks off of the tray and placed them next to the plates. Then she took the two glasses, filled with Pepsi, off of the tray and placed next to the plates.
"Thanks." Linda and Lara said.
"Enjoy." the girl said, smiling.
She walked away.
"I don't know how to use chopsticks." Lara said.
"It's easy." Linda picked up her chopsticks and broke them. She held them in her left hand and demonstrated.
Lara picked up her chopsticks, broke them, held them in her right hand, and tried to use them.
"Okay, I think I got it." Lara said.
Linda and Lara started eating their beef and noodles.
"I like this." Lara said.
Linda smiled. "I'm glad."
When Linda and Lara finished their beef and noodles, they drank their Pepsis.
Linda took her wallet out of her front left pants pocket, took out a $5 bill and a $1 bill, placed them under her plate, closed her wallet, and put it back into her pocket.
They stood up and walked over to the counter.
"Thanks, girl." Lara told Linda.
"You're welcome." Linda replied.
Linda took out her wallet, opened it, and took out money. She paid the bill, closed her wallet, and put it away.

Linda and Lara walked into their bedroom.
"Well, I guess I'm gonna shower." Lara said.
Linda smiled. "Not so fast. I got you a present."
"Oh, really?" Lara asked.
Linda went over to the dresser, opened the top right drawer, and took an album out from under the undershirts. She went back over to Lara and offered it to her.
Lara took the album and looked at it. "Cool, the new Madonna single." She turned the album over and read the track listing. "Cool! It's got her live VMA performance with Britney, Christina, and Missy!"
"That's not entirely true." Linda told her. "Britney wasn't singing live."
"Oh." Lara said. "That sucks."
"Of course, Britney has never sung." Linda added.
"Ha, ha." Lara said. "Listen to all of her albums. You might like her."
"No, I don't listen to B.S." Linda chuckled. "Her initials are B.S."
"Oh, shut up!" Lara told her.

Tuesday, December 2, 2003, 4:31 PM

Linda sat on her bed, and Lara sat to her left.
Linda took off her headband and wig. She tossed them onto the floor. She took off her boots and socks and dropped them on the floor.
"Sorry that I wasn't able to fly today." Lara said.
"It's okay." Linda said. "You can try again tomorrow. I'm gonna call my parents."
Linda picked up the receiver and dialed her parents' home phone number.
The phone rang twice.
"Hello?" Fred answered.
"Hi, daddy." Linda said.
"Hi, Linda." Fred said. "How are you?"
"Good." Linda replied. "How are you?"
"Good." Fred replied.
"I sent you something." Linda said. "I was wondering if you got it yet."
"Uh, I haven't checked the mail yet." Fred said. "Hang on."
Linda waited for two minutes.
"There's nothing from you, Linda," Fred said, "just store papers and something from...Southwest Airlines?"
Linda smiled. "Open it."
"Okay." Fred said. "Two round-trip tickets to Chicago on the 23rd?"
"Yup." Linda said.
"Thank you." Fred said. "Your mom will be happy. I'll have her call you when she gets home."
"Oh, no need." Linda told him. "I'll see you two in 21 days."
"Okay." Fred said. "I love you."
"I love you." Linda put down the receiver.

Linda walked into the living room and then into the bedroom.
She picked up the laundry basket, turned, walked out of the bedroom, and walked over to the front door.
Linda unlocked and opened the front door. She then unlocked and opened the screen door.
She walked outside and over to the garage.
Linda opened the small door and walked into the garage. She turned on the light.
She walked over to the washing machine and set the basket on the floor.
Linda opened the washing machine and put the clothes into it. She picked up a bottle of laundry detergent and opened it. She poured the laundry detergent into the cap and then poured the detergent from the cap into the laundry machine. She closed the bottle and set it on the floor. She closed the washing machine, set the dial, and started the machine.
She turned and walked back over to the door. She turned off the light.
Linda walked out of the garage, closing the door behind her.
She walked back over to the house and opened the screen door.
Linda walked into the living room.
She turned, closed the screen door, locked it, closed the front door, and locked it.
Linda turned and walked into the bedroom.

Linda walked into the living room and over to the front door.
She unlocked and opened the front door. She then unlocked and opened the screen door.
Linda walked outside and over to the garage.
She opened the small door and walked into the garage. She turned on the light.
Linda walked over to the washing machine and opened it. She opened the dryer.
Linda took the clothes out of the washing machine and put them into the dryer. She closed the dryer and started it.
She turned and walked back over to the door. She turned off the light.
Linda walked out of the garage, closing the door behind her.
She walked back over to the house and opened the screen door.
Linda walked into the living room.
She turned, closed the screen door, locked it, closed the front door, and locked it.
Linda turned and walked into the bedroom.

Linda walked into the living room and over to the front door.
She unlocked and opened the front door. She then unlocked and opened the screen door.
Linda walked outside and over to the garage.
She opened the small door and walked into the garage. She turned on the light.
Linda walked over to the dryer and opened it.
Linda took the clothes out of the dryer and put them into the basket. She closed the dryer.
She picked up the basket, turned, and walked back over to the door. She turned off the light.
Linda walked out of the garage, closing the door behind her.
She walked back over to the house and opened the screen door.
Linda walked into the living room.
She turned, closed the screen door, locked it, closed the front door, and locked it.
Linda turned and walked into the bedroom.

Saturday, December 6, 2003, 2:02 PM

Linda, dressed in her winter Supergirl costume, walked out the front door of her house.
Lara, dressed in sneakers, sweatpants, and a sweatshirt, walked out after her.
Linda held onto her wallet and house key with her right hand and closed the front door, locking it.
The two girls walked into the driveway. Linda was wearing a micro-tape recorder on the left side of her pants.
"Okay, let's run to the 7-11." Linda told Lara.
"Okay." Lara said.
Linda pressed Play on the recorder.
"Dare" by Stan Bush started playing.
Linda started running, and Lara ran after her.
"Now, fly!" Linda flew into the air.
Linda landed in front of the 7-11 and turned around.
Lara ran up to the 7-11, stopped, and breathed heavily.
Linda pressed Stop on the recorder.
"I couldn't do it." Lara told her. "Sorry."
"It's okay." Linda said. "Keep trying."
Linda turned and opened the front door.
Lara walked into the 7-11, and Linda followed.
They walked over to the counter.
Linda got one of each Snickers Marathon bars and placed them on the counter. Lara did the same.
"She'll pay for these." Lara said.
The cashier totaled the price.
Linda opened her wallet, took out the money, put the money on the counter, and closed her wallet.
The cashier counted up the money and put it into the register. "Thank you. Would you like a bag for those?"
"No, thanks. We're gonna eat 'em now." Linda replied.
"Okay." the cashier said.
"Have a good day." Linda said.
The cashier smiled. "Thanks. You, too."
Lara picked up her bars. Linda picked up her bars.
The two girls walked over to the door.
Lara opened the door. Linda walked outside, and Lara followed.
Linda unwrapped one of her bars and ate it. Lara unwrapped one of her own bars and ate it.
When Linda was finished with her bar, she threw the wrapper into the trash can. When Lara was finished with her own bar, she threw the wrapper into the trash can.
Linda unwrapped her second bar and ate it. Lara unwrapped her own second bar and ate it.
When Linda was finished with her bar, she threw the wrapper into the trash can. When Lara was finished with her own bar, she threw the wrapper into the trash can.
"Let's try it again." Linda said.
"Okay." Lara said.
Linda and Lara ran off.

Friday, December 12, 2003, 7:34 PM

Linda opened the door and let Lara walk in first, then Linda followed her into the Dollar Tree.
"Don't you think that your mom would like something more expensive?" Lara asked. "Like a new watch or a gift certificate or something?"
"Nah." Linda replied. "My mom loves cheap shit like this."
Linda picked up an angel statue, a glass candle holder, and a rain forest candle.
"I think I'll get some cologne for my dad." Linda said.
Linda picked up a bottle of cologne.
They walked over to the counter.
Linda placed the items on the counter.
The cashier totaled up the price and added the tax. Linda took her wallet out of her front left jeans pocket and opened it. She took out the money and handed it to the cashier. She put her wallet back into her pocket. The cashier put the items and the receipt into a bag and offered the bag to Linda.
Linda took the bag. "Have a good day."
"You, too." the cashier said.
Linda and Lara walked over to the door. Linda opened the door and let Lara walk outside first, then Linda followed her.

Monday, December 15, 2003, 4:42 AM

Linda was sitting at her desk at the Chicago Tribune.
She was typing up an article.
Her phone rang.
Linda picked up the receiver. "Linda Danvers."
"Linda, there's a man named Webster Swenson on line 3 for you." the receptionist said.
"I don't know him," Linda told her, "but I'll take it."
Linda pressed the Line 3 button on the phone.
"Hello?" Linda asked.
"Hello, Ms. Danvers." Webster said. "I was wondering if I may converse with you for a while."
"Uh, sure." Linda said, confused by his choice of words.
"Spiffiness." Webster said. "First, I would like to discuss your alternate identity with you, Ms. Zor-El."
"You're mistaken." Linda told him.
"That is not the case." Webster said.
"Look, a lot of the staff and a tabloid reporter saw me interview Supergirl in October." Linda told him. "Trust me; I'm not Supergirl."
"You are lying, Danvers." Webster told her. "You may be able to fool others but not me. I know that you are Supergirl, and I intend to prove it for all the world to see. I know where you live, and I know that you live with Lara Love."
"How do you know my address?" Linda asked him.
"I consulted an online phone directory." Webster replied. "Now, regarding my plan, I have kidnapped Ms. Love, and she is currently dangling above State Street."
Linda felt scared. "You're bluffing. There's no way that you could take her on."
"I utilized a tranquilizer dart." Webster told her. "Come and get her, if you dare."
Linda slammed the receiver down.
She stood up.
"Something's come up." Linda told her coworkers. "I have to go and pick up a friend. Someone please tell Mr. Wycliff to get to State Street."
Linda ran out of the room.
She left the building and ran into the parking lot.
Linda got her car key out of her front left pants pocket, ran over to her car, and unlocked the driver door.
She opened the door, got into the car, closed the door, and put the key back into her pocket.
Linda took off her shoes, pants, and shirt.
She picked up a towel from the passenger seat and threw it to the floor. Her regular Supergirl costume was lying on the seat. She picked up her hot pants and put them on. She picked up her blue shirt and put it on. She picked up her boots and put them on. She picked up her blonde wig and put it on. Finally, she picked up her headband and put it on.
Linda opened the door, got out of the car, and slammed the door closed.
She flew into the air.
Linda soon arrived and landed on State Street.
A man with long brown hair was holding onto Lara.
Lara was slowly waking up but not fully conscious yet.
"Let her go, Swenson." Linda demanded.
"Very well." Webster said.
Webster picked up a surface-to-air missile launcher and fired a missile at a boat.
Then he threw Lara off of the bridge.
"Which will it be, Supergirl?!" Webster asked. "Save a boat full of innocent people or the roommate and best friend of Linda Lee Danvers?!"
Linda flew up and off of the bridge. She flew down. Lara was alert and screaming now. Linda caught Lara. Linda could hear the missile strike the boat, but she flew back up to State Street and set Lara on her feet.
"Are you okay?" Linda asked her.
"I think so." Lara replied. "A guy broke into the house and shot me."
"With a tranquilizer dart. His name's Webster Swenson. He's convinced that I'm Supergirl and called me up at work. He told me where he had taken you. He said that he intended to prove to the world that Linda Danvers is Supergirl." Linda filled in.
"How?" Lara asked.
"Supergirl!" Webster called.
Linda and Lara turned and faced him.
Webster fired a missile at one building. Then he reloaded and fired another missile at another building.
"I'll get one; you get the other!" Linda told Lara.
"How?!" Lara asked.
"Fly!" Linda flew into the air. "Come on! You can do it! Fly!"
Lara jumped and flew into the air.
Linda grabbed hold of one missile. She saw Lara grab hold of the other missile. They pointed them down to the water.
The missiles exploded.
Linda and Lara flew toward Webster. He had reloaded. He fired a missile at them. The girls flew forward and caught it. Webster jumped off of the bridge to avoid the collision. The girls slammed into the side of the bridge.
The missile exploded.
It didn't hurt Linda as much as she expected it to.
Her Supergirl costume was torn in many places. So were Lara's clothes.
Lara was still alive.
The two of them looked at each other for a moment. They smiled at each other. Linda took hold of Lara's right hand with her left hand.
They flew into the air.
It was dawn. The sun cast its light upon them.
Linda and Lara flew to the police station and landed on the roof.
Lara hugged Linda. Linda hugged Lara.
"I love you." Lara said.
Linda was silent for a moment. She didn't know what to say. She ran the fingers on her right hand through Lara's hair. Then she put her hand back on Lara's back.
"I love you, too." Linda finally said.
Linda knew that she could never take that back or pretend that she didn't say it, but it felt okay to say it at the moment.
"What happened?" Lara asked.
"Webster tried to expose me by giving me the choice of saving you or a boat full of people." Linda explained. "I chose you."
"Oh, Linda." Lara said.
Linda leaned forward and kissed Lara on the lips.
After thirty seconds, Linda stopped kissing Lara.
They let go of each other.
"Thank you." Lara said. "What's going to happen?"
"I don't know." Linda replied. "I need to tell the police what happened."
"Will they take away your authority to arrest people?" Lara asked.
"I dunno." Linda replied.
"What if they demand that you reveal where you live?" Lara asked.
"Then I'll have to tell them." Linda replied. "Come on."
They jumped off of the roof and landed on the concrete.
Linda opened the front door. Lara walked into the police station, and Linda followed.
They walked over to the front desk.
"I need to speak to the chief right away." Linda told the officer.
The officer got on the phone and paged the chief.
Soon, Chief Terry Hillard came over to them.
"I'm sure that you've heard about the fight on State Street." Linda said.
"Yes." he said. "Follow me."
Linda and Lara followed Chief Hillard to his office.
He opened the door.
Linda and Lara walked into his office.
He walked into his office and closed the door behind him.
Chief Hillard walked over and sat in his chair.
He got a tape recorder out of a desk drawer, put a new cassette into the recorder, and pressed Record.
"Monday, December 15, 2003, 5:09 AM. Testimony of Kara Zor-El and Lara Love." he said. "What happened?"
"This man, Webster Swenson, broke into my house and shot me with a tranquilizer dart." Lara began.
"He called Linda Danvers at the Chicago Tribune and told her that he had taken Lara to State Street." Linda continued. "He wanted Supergirl to come there. I stopped by the Tribune, and Linda told me what had happened. I went to State Street. Webster was holding Lara, who was just regaining consciousness. Webster picked up a surface-to-air missile launcher and fired at a nearby boat."
"Then Webster threw me overboard." Lara continued.
"I flew down and caught Lara." Linda continued. "The missile struck the boat. I didn't see what happened to it, but I heard the explosion. Webster then fired two missiles, each at a different building."
"I finally developed flight capability at that moment, and Kara and I each went after a missile. We sent them down to the water."
"We flew toward Webster. Webster then fired a missile at us. We caught it and went at him. He jumped off of the bridge to avoid the impact. We survived the explosion and came here." Linda finished.
Chief Hillard was silent for a moment.
"Thank you." he said finally. "I'll call and let you know if we need anything else."
Linda was surprised. She and Lara slowly got to their feet.
"Okay." Linda said.
Linda and Lara turned and walked over to the door. Linda opened the door. Lara walked outside, and Linda followed, closing the door behind her.
"I can't believe it." Lara said. "What now?"
"We're gonna go home and get cleaned up, then I'm going back to work." Linda told her. "I need to report on this. We need to make today's paper, so we can stop any rumors from, um, flying."
Lara chuckled.

Linda and Lara walked into their bedroom.
They were both still dirty and bruised. Lara was more bruised than Linda.
Linda took off her headband and wig and tossed them onto the bed. She took off her boots and set them on the floor.
Lara took off her sneakers and set them on the floor.
Linda took off her torn shirt and looked at it.
"I think it's unsalvagable." Lara told her. "I'll sew you a new one. You can throw this one away."
"No." Linda told her. "I'm gonna keep it. It's one of my costumes. Let's preserve it for historical reasons."
"Okay. I'll toss mine out, though." Lara said.
Lara took off her torn shirt and blue jeans and dropped them on the floor.
Linda tossed her shirt onto the bed and took off her torn hot pants. She looked at them. "Same with these."
She tossed the hot pants onto the bed.
Linda took off her socks, undershirt, and panties. She threw them into the laundry basket.
Lara took off her own socks, undershirt, and panties. She threw them into the laundry basket.
Linda and Lara briefly looked at each other.
Then Linda turned and walked to the bathroom. "I'm gonna shower first, because I need to get to work."

Linda walked over to her desk at the Chicago Tribune.
"Danvers." Mr. Wycliff called.
Linda turned around to face him. "Did you get my message?"
"Yes, I did." he replied.
"Did you get there in time?" Linda asked.
"Yes." He offered a digital camera to her. "I took pictures of the entire battle."
Linda took the digital camera from him. "Good. I wasn't able to. I didn't have my camera with me." She sat in her chair. "Let's get the pictures on the computer. May I have this article?"
"Sure." he replied. "You're our Supergirl reporter."
"Thanks." Linda hooked up the digital camera to the computer and put the pictures on the hard drive.
She looked at them.
Then Linda finished typing her current article and started typing her new article.

Linda walked into the living room.
She closed and locked the screen door and front door behind her.
Linda walked into the kitchen.
"How do you feel?" Lara asked.
"Relieved." Linda replied. "Happy."
"Don't be." Lara told her. "We still have to see how the public handles your decision."
"True." Linda said.
"I've been taping the news." Lara said. "Public reaction's mixed."
"Cool." Linda said.
"I've been thinking about what you did." Lara said. "I'm not sure how I feel about it. 200 people died. Why'd you choose to save me over them?"
"Because I didn't know those people on the boat. Because your life is worth more to me than all of their lives. Because I couldn't stand not having you around everyday. Because...I love you." Linda replied.
Linda knew that she could never take those words back or pretend that she didn't say them. She just stared at Lara, waiting for a reaction.
"I love you, too." Lara replied. "I'm not upset that you saved my life. I just feel unworthy."
"Don't." Linda told her. "Okay?"
"Okay." Lara replied. "What do we do now?"
"I dunno." Linda replied. "Kiss a lot?"
"Well, let's dance for now." Lara suggested.
"Dance?" Linda asked.
"Yeah." Lara replied. "It'll calm you down. Then you can watch the news footage and put your article on the site."
"Good idea." Linda agreed.
Linda and Lara walked into their bedroom.
Lara turned on her computer and monitor.
When Windows had loaded, Lara opened Media Bar and opened an MP3.
"Let's Fly", the theme to the 1995 "Gatchaman" OAV series, started playing.
Lara turned around and offered her left hand to Linda.
Linda accepted her left hand with her own right hand. Lara placed her right hand on Linda's left hip. Linda placed her left hand on Lara's right hip. The two girls started dancing.
They kissed.

The phone rang.
Linda picked up the receiver in the kitchen. "Good afternoon. Supergirl Enterprises. This is Linda speaking. How may I help you?"
"Are you crazy?!" Fred asked.
"Hi, daddy." Linda said. "No need to yell. I have super-hearing, y'know."
"You let 200 people die to save 1 person!" Fred yelled.
"It was Lara." Linda told him.
"I don't care who it was!" Fred yelled. "You do not let 200 people die to save 1!"
"Should I have let Lara die?" Linda asked.
"Yes!" Fred replied. "She's not worth as much as 200 people!"
"No! I refuse to let arithmetic decide such things!" Linda yelled. "Lara's worth more to me than all of those people! I wouldn't sacrifice her to save 200 people or 2,000,000,000!"
Fred was silent.
"I made my decision." Linda told him. "Accept it or never speak to me again."
Fred was silent for a moment longer. "Okay,...I accept it."
"Okay." Linda said. "Bye."
"Bye." Fred said.

Tuesday, December 16, 2003, 4:21 PM

Linda, dressed in her winter Supergirl costume, was flying above Chicago on patrol.
Suddenly, Linda heard a girl yelling "Help! My kitty's stuck in the tree!"
Linda arrived there in twenty seconds.
She picked up the kitten and landed on the sidewalk.
Linda opened the kitten to the little girl. "Here ya go."
The girl took the kitten and hugged it. "Thanks, Supergirl!"
Linda smiled.
A woman walked out of a house and over to them.
The girl turned to face her. "Mommy, Supergirl rescued Kitty from the tree!"
"Get in the house." the woman told her. "I don't want you speaking to her."
Linda stopped smiling. She watched the girl walk into the house.
The woman looked at Linda. "We don't want your help."
"I wonder if you'd say the same thing, if your daughter was in danger. I don't have to save anyone. I do it, because my conscience requires it." Linda told her.
Linda flew into the air.

Linda and Lara were sitting at the kitchen table, eating gyros for dinner.
"I did something nice for a little girl, and her mother told her to get away from me." Linda said. "She didn't even want me saving a kitten."
"Well, fuck her." Lara said. "Hey, maybe we can get a cat of our own."
"I don't want a cat." Linda told her.
"Oh, c'mon." Lara said. "You can have some of your DNA spiced into its body, and it can become Streaky the Super-Cat!"
"I don't think so." Linda said.
"Krypto the Super-Dog?" Lara suggested.
"No." Linda replied.
"Comet the Super-Horse?" Lara suggested.
"No." Linda replied.
"Bibbo the Super-Monkey?"
"No!" Linda yelled.
Lara chuckled.

Linda and Lara walked into fye.
They went over to a display. Each of them picked up a copy of the widescreen version of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" on DVD.
"This is a great film." Lara said.
"Yeah." Linda agreed. "I especially like Mina Harker. It's so sexy, when she licks blood off of her hand."
They went over to the counter and paid for the DVDs. They received their change and bags. They placed their change into their bags.
Linda and Lara walked out of fye.

Wednesday, December 17, 2003, 5:32 PM

Linda and Lara walked into 7th Inning Stretch. They were each carrying 700 copies of Supergirl #5 in large plastic bags.
They walked over to the counter and placed the bags on it.
"Hey, Jimmy." Linda greeted.
"Hey, Jimmy." Lara greeted.
"Hey, girls." Jimmy replied. "I'm sorry, but I've received a lot of cancellations for 'Supergirl' since Monday."
"Oh." Linda deadpanned. "How many will you buy?"
Jimmy was silent for a moment. "20."
Linda was stunned.
"I know." Jimmy shook his head. "I'm sorry."
Linda placed a sheet of paper on the counter. Jimmy picked up the list and read it.
He went, got the comic books and other items, and returned to the counter. He placed the items on the counter, got a calculator, and calculated the total price.
"Linda, $28.32. Lara, $23.82." he told them.
Linda and Lara got out their cash and paid him.
He opened the cash register, put the money in, and put their items into brown paper bags.
"Okay." Jimmy took out money and closed the register. He counted as he placed the money on the counter, separating it into two piles. "$100, $200, $150, $300."
Linda picked up her $150. Lara picked up her $150. They each put their own money into their front right jeans pockets.
"Thanks." Linda and Lara said.
Jimmy took twenty copies of Supergirl #5 out of a bag.
Linda picked up her bags. "Have a good day."
"You, too." Jimmy said.
Lara picked up her bags, and she and Linda turned and walked back over to the door.
Linda opened the door, and she and Lara left the shop.

Saturday, December 20, 2003, 8:01 PM

Linda was sitting on the bed in the bedroom.
Lara walked into the bedroom.
"Are you okay?" Lara asked.
"I don't know if I can do this." Linda told her.
"What?" Lara asked.
"Be with you." Linda replied.
Lara sat to Linda's left on the bed. "Why?"
"Because I'd have to tell my parents." Linda replied. "I don't know how they'll react. They might disown me."
"Then don't tell them." Lara suggested.
"I don't think that I should hide this from them." Linda said. "Besides, they'd find out eventually."
"You hide other stuff from them." Lara said. "Hell, everyone hides things from their parents. It's normal."
"Well,...I dunno." Linda said. "If I hide this from them, it would be like they're loving not me but a lie."
"And, if you don't explore this due to fear of losing them, you would be not yourself but a lie." Lara told her. "Linda, the reason that we don't share things with our parents is because we know their prejudices, we know when they're in the wrong, and we know that they wouldn't like what we do. That's why there's privacy. Some things are simply none of our parents' business."
"You're right, but how long until they find out?" Linda asked. "What then?"
"I don't know." Lara replied. "You don't have to say anything to them right away. If this doesn't work out, there will be nothing to tell them. Tell them only if you feel that our relationship is working out."
"Until Clark, they were the only family that I had ever known." Linda said. "I don't know if I'm willing to lose them over this."
"Linda, in this case, you can't keep both your parents and your principles." Lara told her. "You're going to have to make a choice. You believe that your parents would be intolerant and disown you, but you also believe that they're wrong. I can't ask you to choose me over your parents, but I'd like you to be able to respect yourself afterwards."
Linda was silent for a moment. "Let's suppose that I tell my parents. What will happen?"
"There are three possibilities." Lara told her. "The first possibility is that they could disown you and storm out, in which case you would have to decide whether or not you would want to try to rebuild those bridges. If you do, don't make any concessions. They have to accept you as you are. The second possibility is that they'd be disappointed but not angry, in which case you can point out the benefits of a relationship with a woman to them, such as birth control and a lower risk of transmitting STDs."
"Birth control isn't an issue for me." Linda told her. "I can't get pregnant. Remember?"
"But you would be able to have a child in a homosexual relationship." Lara told her.
"How is that possible?" Linda asked.
"I read that they now have the technology to take one woman's egg and have it fertilize another woman's egg." Lara told her. "So, if two women want to have a child together, they can, no sperm required. I could be the one to get pregnant."
"You'd be willing to do that?" Linda asked.
"Sure." Lara replied. "That way, you could still have a biological child but not have to go through pregnancy and labor. The only difference is that you'd be the father."
Linda thought about that.
"Besides, you might not even need to say all of that, because there's the third possibility." Lara said. "They could accept the relationship."
Linda was silent for a moment. "Okay, I'll tell them. I just wish that I'd have a better feeling about this."
"I'll be there with you, when you tell them. You won't have to do it alone." Lara told her. "Besides, whatever the outcome, you'll still have someone that loves you very much."
Linda managed a weak smile.

Sunday, December 21, 2003, 11:07 AM

The phone rang.
Linda got a bottle of Pepsi Vanilla out of the refrigerator and closed the door.
She picked up the receiver with her right hand. "Hello?"
"Hey, Linda." Clark said.
"Hey, Clark." Linda said. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to invite you and Lara to the Justice League Annual Christmas Party."
"Oh, I see." Linda said. "You called, because you don't want to mail fancy invitations to us."
Clark chuckled. "Okay, you got me. I'm cheap."
Linda chuckled.
"It's on Christmas Eve, starting at 6:00 PM." Clark told her.
"Well, I already invited my parents up here." Linda told him. "May I bring them?"
"Sure." Clark replied.
"We'll be there." Linda told him.
"Bye." Clark said.
"Bye." Linda hung up the receiver.

Tuesday, December 23, 2003, 3:44 PM

Linda and Lara walked into the O'Hare International Airport terminal.
They checked a monitor for the plane's arrival time. Then they went to the baggage claim and waited.
"Linda!" Edna called.
Linda looked and saw her mother walking over. Fred was right behind her.
Edna let go of her carry-on and hugged Linda.
Linda hugged her mom.
"Hi." Linda said.
"Hi." Edna said. "How are you?"
"Good." Linda replied. "You?"
"Okay." Edna replied.
They let go of each other.
"Hi." Linda said to her dad.
"Hi." Fred said.
They hugged each other for a moment then let go of each other.
"How was your flight?" Linda asked.
"It was okay." Fred replied.
Edna and Fred each picked up a luggage off of the conveyor belt.
Linda, Lara, Fred, and Edna left the terminal and walked through the parking lot.
"Here we are." Linda got her car key out of her front left jeans pocket.
"This is your car?!" Edna asked.
"Yeah." Linda unlocked and opened the trunk.

Linda opened the screen door and then unlocked and opened the front door.
She and Lara walked into their living room, carrying the luggage.
Fred and Edna walked in behind them.
Linda and Lara set the luggage on the floor.
"So, wanna give us a tour?" Fred asked Linda.
"Sure. This is the living room." Linda pointed ahead. "There's the kitchen." She pointed to the right. "There's the bedroom. The bathroom's beyond that. You've already seen the garage."
Lara laughed.
"You two can take the bed." Linda told her parents. "Lara and I will sleep on the floor."
"Bed?" Fred asked. "I thought there were two beds."
"No, just one." Linda said.
"You and Lara share a bed?" Fred asked.
"Yeah." Linda replied. "Didn't have enough money after the car."
Lara smiled. "Don't worry. We've agreed to stay celibate for now."
Fred laughed.
Linda added a nervous chuckle.
"You don't decorate?" Edna asked.
"Nah." Linda replied.
"You lazy." Edna told her. "You should at least put up Christmas tree."
"Christmas trees are pagan." Linda told her.
"What this mean?" Edna asked her.
"Never mind." Linda replied. "They're just not Christian."
"But still look nice." Edna walked into the kitchen. "You buy dishwasher?"
Linda, Lara, and Fred walked into the kitchen.
"Yeah." Linda replied.
"For what you need dishwasher?" Edna asked her. "You can't wash dishes with hands? Sure, you don't have money for two beds. You wasted."
"I didn't waste it." Linda told her. "I thought that it would be nice to have a dishwasher, and it has been nice to have a dishwasher so far. I'm glad that we got it."

Wednesday, December 24, 2003, 5:57 PM

Linda, wearing her winter Supergirl costume, and Lara walked into the Hall of Justice.
Fred and Edna followed them inside.
Clark, wearing his Superman costume, walked over to them.
"Linda, Lara, hi." Clark greeted.
"Hi." Linda said.
"Hey." Lara said.
"Clark, these are my parents. Mommy, daddy, this is my cousin, Clark Kent." Linda introduced.
Fred offered his right hand to Clark. "Hi, Clark. I'm Fred."
Clark shook his hand. "Nice to meet you, sir."
They released each other's hand.
Edna offered her right hand to Clark. "Hi, Clark! I'm Edna!"
Clark shook her hand. "Nice to meet you, ma'am."
They released each other's hand.
Diana walked into the room. She smiled and walked over to Linda.
"I love your new costume." Diana said.
"Thanks. It's a winter costume. Lara got it for me." Linda said.
Bruce, wearing his Batman costume, Selina, wearing her Catwoman costume, and Holly walked into the room.
They walked over to Linda.
Selina looked at Linda's costume. "Meow."
"Thanks." Linda said. "Winter costume. Lara got it."
"Well, help yourselves to something to eat, everyone." Clark said. "We've got chicken legs, cheeses, cookies, sandwiches, and sodas."
Linda walked over to a table; picked up a plastic plate, a plastic fork, and a napkin; and selected some food.
Edna walked over to her.
Linda started eating her chicken leg.
"You don't eat meat on Christmas Eve." Edna told her.
"I do now." Linda told her.
"You have no respect for tradition!" Edna told her.
"Excuse me, but it's a European tradition, I'm not European, and it contradicts Jesus' words that we can eat anything that we want and not be made unclean." Linda told her. "Lay off."
Edna turned and walked away from her.
Linda chuckled.
Lara walked over to her. "Yikes. Guess we know how your mom'll react."
"Not necessarily." Linda said.

Lois walked over to Linda. "Hey, Linda."
"Hey, Lois." Linda said.
"How's it going?" Lois asked.
"Okay." Linda replied. "How are you?"
"Okay." Lois replied. "Did you have a nice Thanksgiving?"
"Yeah." Linda replied. "Did you and Clark?"
"Yeah." Lois replied.
Linda smiled. "Did you baste the turkey?"
"What?" Lois asked.
"You heard me." Linda said. "Gobble, gobble?"
Lois smiled and nodded. "Gobble, gobble."
Linda grinned.

Linda walked into the kitchen.
She leaned against a wall and drank her Pepsi.
"Hiding?"
Linda looked and saw Selina standing in the doorway.
"Yeah." Linda replied.
Selina walked into the kitchen, leaned to Linda's left against the wall, and drank her own Pepsi.
"It's too loud out there." Linda told her. "It's especially bad for me, because I can hear every single conversation. I don't know how Clark stands it."
"I dunno," Selina said, "but it's nice and quiet in here."
"Yeah." Linda agreed. "So, how's your hero thing going?"
"Good." Selina replied. "More people trust me."
"That's good." Linda said.
"Oh, I decided to try out a romantic relationship with Holly." Selina said.
"How's that goin'?" Linda asked.
"Okay." Selina replied.
"Lara and I have gotten together, too." Linda told her. "After the little incident with Webster, I realized that I do love Lara. I still don't know what my sexual orientation is, but that doesn't seem to matter at the moment. There's no harm in kissing a close friend."
"How's your romance goin'?" Selina asked.
"Okay." Linda replied. "We've decided to tell our parents. We're gonna do that tonight at dinner. I'm kinda nervous over how my parents will react."
"I'm glad that I don't have to deal with something like that." Selina said.
"Yeah, well, you're lucky. You're an orphan." Linda told her.
"So are you." Selina told her.
Linda laughed. "True."
"But you're lucky to have any parents." Selina told her. "I was put in a foster home. That was bad."
"True." Linda agreed. "I just hope that I don't lose my parents tonight."

Linda opened a cabinet, took out five plates, closed the cabinet, walked over to the kitchen table, and set the plates on the table. She pulled the table out.
She walked into the living room, walked into the bedroom, and grabbed the two computer chairs.
Linda walked back into the living room, walked back into the kitchen, and set the computer chairs by the table.
"We need one more chair." Linda told Lara.
Lara closed the oven, set the temperature, and walked over to Linda.
"Well, what do you want me to do about it?" Lara asked her. "Huh? Huh?!"
"Nothing, really." Linda replied. "Clark, can you go and ask a neighbor for an extra chair?"
"Sure." Clark replied.
Clark walked into the living room, unlocked the front door, opened it, unlocked the screen door, and opened it. He walked outside.

Linda, Lara, Fred, Edna, and Clark were standing at the kitchen table.
"We will say Our Father in Polish." Edna said.
"I don't know Polish." Lara said.
"Neither do I." Clark said.
"So, do in English." Edna told them.
"Don't argue with her." Fred told them.
They all performed the Sign of the Cross.
"W imie Ojca, i Syna, i Ducha Swietego, amen." Edna and Linda recited. "Ojcze nasz, ktorys jest w niebie, swiec sie imie Twoje, przyjdz Krolestwo Twoje, badz wola Twoja, jako w Niebie tak i na ziemi. Chleba naszego powszedniego daj nam dzisiaj i odpusc nam nasze winy, jako i my odpuszczamy naszym winowajcom, i nie wodz nas na pokuszenie, ale nas zbaw od wszelkiego zlego. Amen."
They sat in the chairs. They each selected what they wanted from the plates to eat. Edna didn't take any meat.
"So, you think Santa bring you anything?" Edna asked Linda.
Linda stared at her. "Santa Claus isn't real."
"Sure, he is real." Edna said. "I see him at Wal-Mart. I get picture taked with him."
"Well, good for you." Linda said. "Hey, you know how we always open our presents on Christmas Eve?"
"Ya." Edna replied.
"Do you ever wonder why we do that?" Linda asked her.
"No." Edna replied.
"It contradicts the story of Santa Claus." Linda told her. "Santa doesn't start delivering presents until Christmas Eve - after all of the children are asleep."
"Oh." Edna said. "Ya, you right. I not thinking about this."
"Linda's becoming a good journalist." Clark said.
Fred smiled. "Well, that's good to hear."
"I have something to tell you." Linda said. "It might make you angry. I don't know."
"What is it?" Fred asked. "Is it about the incident with Webster?"
"No." Linda replied. She was silent for a moment, trying to prolong the moment and delay whatever would happen next. "Lara and I are in a romantic relationship...with each other."
"What?!" Edna asked.
"Lara's homosexual." Linda continued. "After I nearly lost her earlier this month, I realized how much I love her."
"You are lisbian?!" Edna asked.
"I guess I'm attracted to members of both sexes." Linda said. "But my love for Lara seems to be enough for me to be able to kiss her. Sexual orientation doesn't matter."
"You are sick!" Edna told her. "You are really mentally sick!"
"Why?" Linda asked her. "Give me a reason."
"Man is for woman, and woman is for man." Edna told her. "What you doing is not normal."
"I wasn't made for human men." Linda told her.
Edna was silent for a moment. "Still, is not normal for woman to be with woman."
"Why? Because she doesn't have a dick?" Linda asked her. "I love her."
"You can love somebory without kissing." Edna told her.
"I want to do this." Linda told her. "You were upset that I would never be able to have children. Well, I can now - through Lara. My egg can fertilize her egg. I'd be the father."
"Oh, bushit." Edna told her. "This is not natural."
"I love Lara." Linda told her. "Love and common interests are what matter, not sex."
"Fine. You will go to Hell." Edna stood up and walked out of the kitchen.
Linda watched her walk into her bedroom.
Everyone was silent for a moment.
Linda looked at Fred. "You were quiet, daddy. What do you think?"
"I'm disappointed, Linda." Fred replied.
"But I've never been able to have children. It's not like I'm losing anything." Linda told him. "In fact, being with Lara gives me the ability to have children."
"Linda, this isn't about children; it's about right and wrong." Fred told her. "Your mother and I raised you with certain values, and we expect you to hold onto them."
"Your values aren't for everyone." Linda told him. "You may have raised me, and I'm grateful for that, but I'm my own person, not yours. I don't have to live my life according to your expectations."
Fred for silent for a moment, then he nodded. "Fine." He stood up. "Merry Christmas."
He walked into the living room, then he walked into the bedroom.
Linda watched him go, then she looked at her cousin. "Clark?"
"I don't have a problem with it, Linda." Clark told her.
"Thanks." Linda said.
Linda, Lara, and Clark finished their dinner in silence.
Then they picked up their dishes and brought them into the kitchen. They placed them on the counter.
Linda got plastic wrap and covered the uneaten food. Then she opened the refrigerator, placed the plates in the refrigerator, and closed the refrigerator.
Lara opened the dishwasher, placed the empty plates and utensils into the dishwasher, closed the dishwasher, and started the dishwasher.

Linda, Lara, and Clark sat on the couch in the living room. Clark sat to Linda's left, and Lara sat to Linda's right.
Lara took a box off of the coffee table and offered it to Linda.
Linda took the box, unwrapped it, and opened it. She took out a blue shirt and looked at it. It was long-sleeved, but it wouldn't cover the midriff. There was a red-and-yellow "S" emblem made out of heavy cloth on the front. There was gold trim on the edges of the arms, neck, and waist.
"Wow." Linda said.
"It's to replace the costume that got destroyed." Lara told her. "I figure that fans might wanna see a bit more of you."
Linda laughed. "Yeah. So do you."
Lara laughed. "You got me there."
"Thank you." Linda said.
"You're welcome." Lara said. "There are velcro straps on the inside of the neck to fasten your cape to."
Linda briefly looked at them, then she set the shirt on the arm of the couch. She took a pair of blue shorts out of the box. They had gold trim on the waist and leg holes. There was a gold belt in the loops.
"Very nice." Linda put the pants on top of the shirt.
Linda took a red cape with gold trim out of the box.
"Oooh, this is nice!" Linda put the cape on top of the pants.
Linda took a pair of red boots with gold trim out of the box.
"Cool." Linda set the boots and the box on the floor.
Linda hugged Lara. "Thank you so much."
Edna and Fred walked out of the bedroom.
"You going to Midnight Mass?" Edna asked.
"I dunno." Linda replied. "I don't go to church."
"You should go and pray for forgiveness." Edna told her.
"Religion isn't about buildings and group prayer." Linda told her. "Jesus told us to not make a show of praying for everyone to see. Rather, we're supposed to pray in the privacy of our own homes."
"Do you even go to Confession?" Edna asked her.
"No." Linda replied. "There's no need for it. The three synoptic Gospels say that the curtain in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom upon Jesus' death. That indicates that Jesus, by his one perfect sacrifice, opened up communication with God to everyone. We can confess our sins to God directly, no third party required."
Edna stared at her.
"If you wanna go, the key's in the car." Linda told her.
Edna walked to the front door. Fred followed her. Edna unlocked and opened the front door. She then unlocked and opened the screen door.
"Don't you wanna open your presents?" Linda asked her.
"I don't want your presents, sucker!" Edna walked outside.
Fred followed her.
"I guess I'll mail them to her." Linda said.

Thursday, December 25, 2003, 2:19 PM

Linda was driving back home.
Lara was sitting in the passenger seat.
Linda had just dropped her parents off at the airport.
None of them had spoken to each other during the trip.
Linda pulled into a Taco Bell parking lot and parked the car in a parking space.
She shut off the engine, took the key out of the ignition, and unfastened her seatbelt.
"Why are we here?" Lara asked.
"I want a burrito." Linda replied.
"Linda, we've got a lot of leftovers in the fridge." Lara told her.
"I want a fuckin' burrito!" Linda blurted.
Lara looked frightened.
Linda felt ashamed of herself. "I'm sorry, Lara."
"It's okay." Lara unfastened her seatbelt.
Linda and Lara unlocked and opened their doors. They got out of the car, locked their doors, and closed them.
They walked to a door. Linda put her car key into her front right jeans pocket.
Linda opened the door. Lara walked into the restaurant. Linda walked in after her.
They stood in line, Linda in front of Lara.
Finally, Linda was at the front of the line.
"What can we get ya?" the cashier asked.
"Three beef burritos, please." Linda looked at Lara. "What do you want?"
"I'll have the same." Lara told the cashier.
The cashier totaled up the price and added the tax. Linda took her wallet out of her front left pocket and opened it. She took out the money and handed it to the cashier. She put her wallet back into her pocket. The cashier placed a tray on the counter and placed the receipt on the tray.
Linda and Lara moved aside to make room for the next customer.
The cashier soon placed their burritos on the tray. "Six beef burritos."
"Thanks." Linda said.
"Have a nice day." the cashier said.
"You, too." Linda picked up the tray.
Linda and Lara walked over to another counter. Linda took two napkins from a dispenser and placed them on the tray. Then she grabbed a lot of packets of Fire Border Sauce from a container and placed them on the tray.
"How are you gonna use those on the burritos?" Lara asked.
"I'm taking them home." Linda replied.
Linda and Lara walked over to a table and sat down. Linda placed the tray on the table.
Each girl took a burrito and unwrapped it. They started eating.
"So, what do you think?" Lara asked. "Was it worth it?"
Linda was silent for a moment. "I think so. I'll survive."
"You don't regret doing it?" Lara asked.
"No." Linda replied. "You were right. I still have someone that loves me. Two people, really."

Wednesday, December 31, 2003, 11:55 PM

Linda was standing in the kitchen.
She opened a cabinet and took two glasses out of it. She set them on the counter and closed the cabinet.
Linda walked over to the refrigerator and opened it.
She took out a glass bottle.
Linda closed the refrigerator and went back over to the glasses.
She opened the bottle and poured the liquid from it into the glasses.
Linda closed the bottle, set it on the counter, picked up the glasses, turned, and walked into the living room.
Lara was sitting on the couch, watching "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" on TV.
Linda set the glasses on the coffee table.
Lara stood up. "It's kinda silly that we're still waitin' for the new year, when the ball dropped almost an hour ago."
Linda smiled. "Welcome to Chicago."
Lara laughed.
"Y'know," Linda said, "I've been thinking about everything that I've been through this year. I can't believe how much things have changed. I developed more super-powers. I learned that I was adopted and am an alien. I graduated from high school. I moved to Chicago. I got a job. I started a business. I learned that I have a blood relative. Finally, I entered into a homosexual relationship with my best friend and alienated my parents."
"So, are you happy?" Lara asked.
"When I compare my life now to one year ago, yeah." Linda replied. "What about you?"
"Well, I graduated from high school, moved to Chicago, started a business, grew stronger, grew faster, learned to fly, and got you as my girlfriend." Lara said. "Yeah, I'm happy."
"It's almost time." Linda said.
Linda and Lara looked at the VCR clock.

Thursday, January 1, 2004, 12:00 AM

Linda and Lara faced each other and smiled.
"Happy New Year." Linda said.
"Happy New Year." Lara said.
They hugged each other.
Linda kissed Lara's lips.
They kissed for a minute, then they stopped and let go of each other.
Linda picked up the two glasses and offered the glass in her right hand to Lara.
Lara took the glass with her left hand. "What is this? Champagne?"
Linda laughed. "No, carbonated grape juice."
Lara smiled. "Aw, neat."
"To another great year." Linda said.
They clinked their glasses together and then drank their grape juice.

The End


Copyright 2003 by Mark Moore

Linda Danvers: Pretty Virgin Guardian

A New Bi-Monthly Miniseries Coming in February 2004!