"It's been two days since the bomb. Why doesn't he text?" Kara was pacing the control room of the DEO in her Supergirl costume, rubbing her temples. She hadn't slept in three days now and while she could function on less sleep and rest that humans, her reflexes were slower than usual and her head was pounding.

But how could she even think about sleeping when Cat was somewhere out there? Alone, afraid, aching. And in need of her help.

"Kara, you have to calm down. He's playing with you. I'm sure Ms. Grant is alright," Alex cringed at the sound of her own voice. That had not sounded very convincing at all... "I… listen, Kara. You have to take better care of yourself. Eat. Sleep. – You wouldn't even be able to go and safe her if we did find her. Not in your state."

"But-"

"No backtalk, young lady," a stern voice came from right behind the two girls. Kara whirled around and threw herself into Eliza Danvers' arms, almost knocking the woman over.

Eliza smiled at Alex as she held Kara and stroked her back in comforting motions. "Alex called me and I am taking you home. I've ordered pizza and I won't relent until you eat at least three of them. And then, you are going to bed and sleep. – This is not up for discussion," she added, seeing Kara open her mouth. She quickly kissed Alex's cheek and squeezed her shoulder before she led Kara out of the DEO headquarters. If Kara wouldn't take care of herself, she would do it for her.

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Kara was half-heartedly eating piece after piece of pizza while her blue eyes were focused on the tv where a news mag was informing people about Cat Grant's kidnapping.

"So, Sean, do you reckon Ms. Grant is well and alive?"

"Well Rita, there haven't been ransom demands yet – at least not that we know of – but I believe there is hope. Cat Grant's car showed no signs of a fight and her driver has been left alive as well."

"Thank you for keeping us updated, Sean. The missing Cat Grant, lovingly called 'Queen of all media' by people in National City has been gone for four days now. We are-"

"Hey, why did you turn it off?" Kara's voice held irritation as she watched her adoptive mother throw the remote control onto the armchair.

Sitting down next to Kara, Eliza ran a hand through her beautiful dark blonde hair.

"Kara. It won't help you or her if you torture yourself with watching the news all day long," she said, pulling Kara closer to her and settling her head against her chest. "I know you care for Ms. Grant, Kara. But if you want to help her, you need to be on top of your game. I am worried about you and so is Alex. You are my daughter in all way but one and I hate to see you like this."

Kara started crying against Eliza's chest, gripping the older woman's shirt as if she was about to drown.

When Kara met her eyes, the baby blues teary and reddened, Eliza gasped as recognition dawned on her.

"You love her, don't you?"

When a heavy sob followed her question, it was answer enough.

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'Dear Supergirl,

I never wrote a letter like this which is probably due to the fact that I stopped believing in Santa Claus before I could write. But I do believe in you and I know that you exist.

So please, could you grant me my Christmas wish?

Please bring back my mom.

Yours,

Carter Grant'

Kara had found Carter's letter on Ms. Grant's personal balcony next to her office inside the CatCo Tower. She hadn't been able to sleep – even though she did know that she really needed some rest – and had flown restlessly through the night. In the end, she had settled on the rooftop of CatCo and spotted the letter when she was about to head back to the Danvers house and the room she'd spent her teenager years in. She'd read it four times before she'd tucked it away into her costume. She wished Santa Claus existed. So he could let both Carter's and her own Christmas wish become true.

Sadly, they both knew the man with the flying reindeer didn't exist.

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Cat had forgotten what day it was. Slowly, without her noticing, time had started to fade away for her, slipped out of her grasp.

The man hadn't come back since he'd finished the mark on her arm which let Cat know that at least too much time couldn't have passed. She was still alive after all. Yes, a gnawing hunger had started to grip her entire being and her lips felt chapped and dry. Thirst was the all-consuming emotion now, always in the foreground. But she was alive and a human could only go so long without water.

She wished she could at least move. Her legs and back were killing her, her neck felt stiff. She'd long given up to try and free herself though. The restraints were too tight, too strong. There was no escape.

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"Kara!" Alex stormed into her childhood home, rushing to their old room. "Kara wake up! We found something!"

"Found what?" Kara asked groggily, rubbing at her eyes. She'd just fallen asleep about an hour ago, determined to rest if it would help her save Cat.

"I think we know who took Cat Grant," Alex said, sitting down on the frame of Kara's bed. "We-"

Without her eyes being able to follow, Kara had changed into her Supergirl costume, looking tired and worn out but a new hope in her eyes.

"Who is it?" Kara asked, a dangerous inflection in her voice.

"Does the name Ross King ring a bell?"

Kara looked confused and finally shook her head.

"His wife died last month during the armed robbery at the National City Bank," Alex started to explain. "You couldn't save them all, there was a little girl who'd been shot and-"

"I chose her," Kara interrupted her sister. "I chose to take the child outside to the waiting ambulance. They shot the bank employee before I got back inside... I chose and his wife died."

"Everyone's seen Supergirl save Cat Grant time and again," Alex put the pieces together. "He knew you cared for her so she was the only possible option. He-"

"He won't let me choose her," Kara recognized with a flash of pain. "He… Rao! Alex do you think… do you…" Kara trailed off, the words too painful for her to say.

"No, don't even think that for one moment. I'll believe Cat Grant is still alive until I see proof that she isn't. And you should as well. Don't grieve her yet."

"Agent Danvers," Hank's voice came through the intercom. "We've taken him into custody. He didn't willingly give up Ms. Grant's location but reading minds does have its perks…" he chuckled. "Supergirl, go and save your girl," he said, knowing Kara would be at Alex's side. "I've sent the GPS coordinates to your cellphone. It's some sort of underground bunker, built more than 70 years ago during World War II…"

"Hank, you can stop explaining, you know?" Alex smiled into her intercom. "Supergirl is long gone."

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Cat tensed in anticipation when she heard the telltale creak of the cell door opening. She wondered if he was there to hurt her or if he'd finally bought some water. She was afraid of his presence and relieved about it at the same time. At least she hadn't been forgotten, left behind to slowly die.

"Ms. Grant." The voice was different, female. It was warm and felt like a tender caress. However, she couldn't quite place it. Was it her assistant? Or maybe… Supergirl?

She squeezed her eyes shut and blinked when the blindfold was taken off. She'd gotten used to the darkness and the blinding light was too much to bear.

"Keep them closed until I tell you," the woman's voice said, a hand reaching out and brushing a strand of hair from her face. Cat thought the woman's voice sounded teary.

In the blink of an eye, the restraints on her legs and arms were broken and she was lifted into strong arms which tightly held her against a leather clad chest.

"Supergirl," she croaked out, burying herself closer into the hero, keeping her eyes shut. "I knew you'd come."

Kara smiled at the precious cargo in her arms and carried Cat outside and onto the surface.

"You can open your eyes now, Ms. Grant. We're outside and it is dark. It's the middle of the night."

Kara watched how green eyes slowly fluttered open and blinked several times. For someone who had spent the last almost 5 days in complete and utter darkness, even the night was a little too bright.

"Hey," she softly said, warmly smiling at the older woman when her eyes settled on her instead of the lights of the city in the far distance.

"Hey," Cat Grant said just as softly.

Her eyes remained on Supergirl throughout the entire flight back to the city.

"I am taking you to the DEO," Kara explained once she set down in front of the huge but abandoned looking building. "Our doctors will take care of you and you won't have to try and hide from a mass of reporters."

Cat merely nodded, her eyes still focused on Supergirl's face. The close proximity had given her a chance to intently study the hero's face. She'd known it was Kara since the day Supergirl had made her first appearance. She didn't know where she'd gotten that doppelganger from but still, the glasses and the ponytail might be enough to fool the public – but not her.

She could've fired Kara, knowing what she did. But in the end, she decided against it, coming to understand that the girl was right. No one could be Supergirl and save the world 24/7. If she wanted to be Cat Grant's assistant for balance, who was she to deny her?

"Supergirl," Alex Danvers rushed up to them as Kara carried her into the building. "Is she..."

"Alive. Yes, Ms. Danvers," Cat answered, startling both women with hearing her voice.

"She's dehydrated," Kara told her sister, walking alongside her further into the compound. "And she must be hungry as well. She-"

"-could also use a shower," Cat added, her voice small when she remembered the state she was in. She hadn't been allowed to clean herself or even use a toilet for the last days. She was dirty and grimy, she stank of piss. She'd never in her life been as embarrassed as in this moment.

Disgusted of herself, she tried to wriggle out of Kara's arms but the woman just held her tighter.

"Don't you dare feel embarrassed about what this asshole did to you," Kara said, her voice angry and firm. Then, she carried Cat into a brightly lit room, quickly dimming the lights when she noticed Cat's obvious discomfort.

She took her into a small adjoined bathroom and set her down on a soft carpet in front of the tub.

"I'll get you a cup," she announced and seemingly disappeared on the spot, returning a mere second later with a glass and filling it with water from the sink.

"Here."

Cat greedily gulped down the entire glass of water, the liquid soothing her throat as it made its way downwards.

"Thank you," she breathed out, closing her eyes for a moment.

"Do you want my help? To shower?"

Cat shook her head, unsteadily climbing to her feet.

"Easy," Kara cautioned her, placing a hand beneath her elbow to steady her. "I should really..."

"No," she snapped at her savior and saw her cringe, the hurt look in her blue eyes. "I have to do this on my own," she added in a gentler tone.

Kara nodded, understanding where Cat was coming from.

"I'll be right outside," she motioned to the door. "Call if you need anything at all."

And with that, she left the bathroom and closed the door.

Cat sighed and started to slowly peel herself out of her clothes, dropping them in a pile on the floor. These items needed to burn – she did never want to see them again.

Naked, she stepped into the shower and stood under the spray of the water, closing her eyes and just enjoying the thought of feeling like a human being again.

Eventually though, she opened them and her eyes found the barely healed, angry red cuts on her arms.

"What an idiot," she muttered to herself, tracing each letter with a weak smile on her lips. He hadn't known that he'd carved strength into her arm. Strength and hope. He'd tried to hurt her, to belittle her and disillusion her. Instead, he'd given her the strength to survive this.


AN: Thanks to everyone who's read or followed this new story of mine and especially to the few people who already decided this is worth leaving a favorite.

Thanks to SH4D0W44, the first reviewer of 'I choose you'. I totally agree. There's so much chemistry and potential between Cat and Kara as well as Calista Flockhart and Melissa Benoist and nothing of the sort between Supergirl and James Olsen. Unfortunately, TV is still largely stuck in its heteronormative ways - making Supergirl a lesbian? We sadly won't see this, I'm afraid. Lucky for us though, there is fanfiction.

So, let's get on with this. I hope you liked Chapter 2. It might be a few days until a post again as I am currently writing my 90-page master's thesis and I have to hand it in next Thursday.

Hang on and leave a review :)