Chapter Three: The Sleeper Awakens
She felt the tide pull her under again. She was swimming helplessly to the surface of the waves; her body was weighed down, and her arms struggled to move. Alex couldn't breathe. Kara. She'd been here before. Alex tried not to panic, she was so close to the surface she could her the murky sounds of a conversation above her. Almost there, her arms broke the surface and her eyes opened with a gasp.
A hand steadied her from the jack knifed position back to a more restful one. Alex blearily searched for the source of the hand, her eyes opening and closing rapidly in the dim room.
"Kara?"
The hand rested on her shoulder comfortingly. "Just me I'm afraid, Agent Danvers. Supergirl is recovering in the sunroom." Oh. Alex blinked the lingering anesthesia from her eyes and Maura came into focus, looking very tired in scrubs and her lab coat. A bright light shone in her eyes without warning.
The squeal Alex let out was definitely not badass. "Dr. Henderson!"
"Hm, looks like Dr. Lowry was right; no concussion, thankfully. How are you feeling on a scale of one to I just punched a robot in the face? Can you hear me okay?" Maura's sense of humor was a little morbid, which is probably why she and Alex got along so well. Alex tracked Maura's hands as the prodded the sterile bandage above the cast that covered her right arm from knuckle to just below the elbow. Alex winced in pain.
"I'm at about 'just went a bout with an Alacorian with no backup', and yes I can hear you fine." Alex regretted referencing her rookie mistake that had landed her in the operating theater the first time almost immediately. Maura smirked and reached into the medicine cabinet for a sterile syringe and her specialty concentrated cocktail of antibiotics and pain relievers.
"Maura, please not the Ambrosia mix. I'll be tripping over my feet and craving donuts for days. I'm fine, or even just regular morphine if you are insistent." The Ambrosia was the medical department's crown jewel. Alex herself had done some bio-engineering on the project, so she was well aware of how potent the drug was - and the weird craving for donuts that came with it.
Ambrosia was an all in one regenerative drug that was designed to be an comprehensive rescue shot in the field. Alex had the dubious pleasure of experiencing its effects in the past, and she was not eager to repeat the experience. That was the one downside to the miracle drug: the crash afterwards almost made you wish that you had the original pain back. It was specifically designed to do that to prevent agents from accidentally becoming addicted to the medicine.
Maura ignored her and drew 25 ccs of the medicine, and then deftly stuck it in Alex's IV tap and pushed the plunger. Alex felt the warmth of the medicine immediately causing her face to flush. Maura serenely leaned over Alex's prone form and pulled the blanket up tighter, tucking the younger agent in like a small child. Alex fought the urge to close her eyes. It was possible to fight the effects of the painkiller and stay awake; it wouldn't make for a very good field drug if it knocked the agent out immediately.
"That was for your own good. I just spent seven hours in surgery repairing your eardrums and trying to salvage your arm, not to mention the electrical damage. In my report I'm including the recommendation to pull the static frag grenade from the R&D lineup. Lowry spent 4 hours alone digging little slivers of metal out of your hand. And don't think I'm not pissed at you for all this. When you're discharged and put on Stand Down, you and I are going to have a long conversation about recklessly throwing yourself at enemies in the field." Maura's voice was tight with muted anger and exasperation. The older woman adjusted the protective covering on Alex's ears to check the integrity of the seal. The heat on Alex's cheeks wasn't just from the medicine anymore, and the flush traveled up her neck and down her chest. Alex hated disappointing Maura.
"You promised me you were going to be more careful in the field." Alex inhaled deeply, trying to maintain her composure at the other woman's quiet dressing down. Honestly, Maura could give a worse lecture than her own mother.
"I didn't mean…what was I supposed to do, let that thing kill Kara?" Maura turned her back on Alex and began to walk towards the door, not wanting to get into an argument.
"Of course not, but you acted completely irrationally. Your devotion to Supergirl is going to get you killed one day. Alex, I'm too old to be investing my time and energy into just any of these recruits here, I learned not to get attached years ago in the Army. But I'll be damned if I lose you now. I've spent years mentoring you and I'm not going to let your obsession with protecting Kara consume you. I've recommended you for a psych eval before I sign off on returning you to the field. Rest up, I'll check in on you in a few hours."
Maura's flat tone made Alex squirm in discomfort; Maura had taken her under her wing the moment she entered the labs at the DEO. At first she had assumed Maura would lose interest after the first few times the Chief of Medicine colluded with R&D to assign Alex impossible deadlines and projects. However, Alex had refused to back down and fought hard to finish whatever they threw at her, no matter how long it took or how difficult the project. Alex's perseverance and meticulous attention to detail had impressed Maura.
Despite being notoriously standoffish with her younger subordinates, Maura had seen something in Alex and decided it was worth the time and effort to mentor her. Alex had blossomed under Maura's watchful eye from Probationary Agent all the way to Operations Commander.
This wasn't the first or the second time they've had this conversation, and now Maura had made good on her promise to send her to psych if she didn't start taking care of herself more.
Alex felt like someone had scrubbed her nerves raw with wet sand. She felt open and exposed, and honestly she was still in pain. She only wanted one thing, but Maura might just kill her if she tried to get out of bed. Alex looked at the digital clock on the wall and then to her own vital monitors, searching for an identifying feature to the room. The style of the air vents gave away her position. She was in one of the recovery rooms near the main med bay. The sunroom was several corridors away, with heavy agent traffic in between them.
She was going to need an accomplice.
As if summoned by Alex's sheer force of will, there was a knock on the door. Agent Lowry entered the room, tucking a wild curl that had escaped her bun back into place with an annoyed huff. She looked freshly showered and was wearing clean scrubs. Alex had never been so glad to see her combat medic before this very moment.
Lowry looked up from whatever paperwork she was signing on her tablet and jumped when she noticed Alex's intense stare. She clutched the tablet to her chest and took a breath.
"Agent Danvers! You're awake. I didn't think you would wake up until this afternoon, but it looks like Chief was right. How are you feeling?" Alex studied her features closely, Dr. Lowry was one of those genius kids that had graduated from med school at like eighteen and somehow got conned into working for the government. Technically, Alex herself was one of those genius kids if you swapped the M.D. for her Ph.D., but that was beside the point. Lowry looked like she was maybe just old enough to drink, but had probably more emergency medicine experience than most E.R. heads. Lowry's sweet young face was going to be her ticket out of this jail cell.
"Jennifer! Just the doctor I was hoping for!" Alex completely ignored the question about her pain and cheerfully greeted her teammate. Lowry stuttered to a halt, blushing at the unusually perky greeting; Alex couldn't actually tell because of the combination of the dim lighting and the dark shade of Lowry's skin, but it seemed she was clutching her fingers the way Kara did when she was blushing. Alex actually really liked Lowry, which is why using this tactic tugged at her conscience a little.
"Was there something you needed, Agent Danvers? Do you know what kind of pain killers they gave you? You seem a little…off." Alex had her off balance; before today, most of their conversations had been strictly mission related. Alex had only ever called her by her first name once.
Alex distinctly remembers the last time she used Lowry's first name. Alex's team had received bad information and they had been led to a trap; only Agent Cooper's keen ears saved the DEO from a total party wipe. The alien they had been tracking had knocked Lowry into a wall and into an unconscious state. Alex had dead man dragged her out of the combat zone and forced her awake by shouting her name.
"Actually, there is something you can do for me. Dr. Henderson and I were just talking about Supergirl's recovery, and I was hoping to visit the sunroom but Dr. Henderson had important Chief of Medicine stuff to do and had to leave me here. Could you help me get my IV set up and walk with me to the sunroom? I need to see that Supergirl is okay." Alex did her best to seem both nonchalant and sincere, hoping to play the sympathy card to get what she wanted.
Lowry chewed on her bottom lip, her eyes flickering to Alex's steady vitals, and felt indecisive. Agent Danvers had risked her life and placed herself in severe danger to save Supergirl, but on the other hand Lowry could tell when she was being played. She knew Agent Danvers should be resting so soon after surgery.
"Please, Lowry?" Alex tried again, this time sincerer. Agent Danvers was a mess, but Lowry felt her resolve crumble to dust. Lowry sighed and began to methodically unhook and turn off the vital monitors until all that was left was the IV stand. Alex smiled at her in thanks. That was probably the first time Lowry had actually seen Agent Danvers truly smile. Lowry couldn't wait to tell the team that yes, Agent Danvers was in fact human and not a lifelike cyborg.
Alex threw off the carefully tucked in blanket and swung her legs off the side of the bed. She steadied herself on Agent Lowry with one hand and the IV stand in the other. Alex fought to keep her expression neutral as the sudden change in altitude caused her to feel slightly dizzy. Lowry's grip was firm and supported her as they quietly made their escape down the corridor.
Lowry felt a little like they were on an op with the way Agent Danvers's eyes jumped back and forth looking for anyone that might stop them. Lowry shouldn't be facilitating this kind of bad behavior, but Agent Danvers looked so determined to see Supergirl. Lowry knew Agent Danvers was going to get to the sunroom one way or another, so she would rather Agent Danvers walk there supervised.
They arrived at the room unaccosted. As soon as they entered, Lowry felt Agent Danvers begin to relax at the sight of Supergirl sleeping peacefully under her sunlamps. The DEO had burned Kara's contaminated uniform and placed her in recovery in nothing but the tight bike shorts she wore under her skirt and her sports bra.
"Lowry, help me up would you?" Lowry paused for a moment, stunned. She hadn't realized Agent Danvers would want to crawl into the sunbed with Supergirl. Lowry lifted the overhead lamps up and gingerly helped Agent Danvers onto the slim table.
"Thanks Lowry. I'm gonna go back to sleep now and try and get some rest. I guess I'll see you at our next team meeting if not sooner." Lowry opened her mouth to say something, but the words died on her lips as Supergirl's arms snaked around Agent Danvers in her sleep. Agent Danvers was no longer looking at her, instead she was staring at Supergirl's sleeping face intently for signs of pain or distress.
"Right then, sleep well Agent Danvers." Lowry blushed as she made a hasty exit. Definitely not a cyborg.
With Kara's arms instinctively wrapped around her and in their preferred cuddling position, Alex felt about a thousand times better having Kara solid and warm beneath her. Alex lowered the sun lamps and snuggled into Kara, enjoying the contact with Kara's exposed skin. The light scent of Kara's perfume and blood still lingered. Kara would need all the Sun exposure she could get. The regular beeping of Alex's IV caused her to give in to her sedative and fall asleep.
Hank placed head in his hands and gripped his short hair in frustration. In his personal office, all of his monitors were currently displaying media footage; three viral portraits of #SuperX, and select news features about the Lord Lab Fiasco. One of his best agents had her identity compromised to the world, and as if that wasn't bad enough, the entire planet was debating the nuances of Agent Danvers's relationship with Supergirl. Thankfully the DEO scrubbed their agents' electronic fingerprint from the internet, so anyone who went looking for Alex Danvers came up empty. Hopefully Vasquez would be able to keep Alex's name out of the press since it was too late to keep her face off of the front page.
"Sir, would you like me to work up a new identity for Agent Danvers? I've already left some nasty traps for those who are skilled enough to know where to find Agent Danvers's real name, but I'm sure the added security of a new identity would pull attention away from Dr. Danvers."
Hank considered it for a moment and reached for an Oreo. He and Eliza were not on good terms at the moment, but he would be furious with himself if the media found out the connection between the Danvers family and Supergirl. Certainly not the connection they think it is. Well, the media wasn't wrong about their assumptions if Alex's thoughts on Kara were any indication, but the bad press that would come along with realizing two foster sisters fell in love would destroy their delicate balance.
Hank was feeling particularly overprotective today. First the girls nearly sent and got themselves blown up by a robot, then Kara's own boss released a media storm exposing Alex's face to the world, and now everyone and their dog had an opinion on #SuperX.
Hank was at least thankful that Cat Grant had spearheaded this story, manipulating it into a poetic partnership of human and alien rather than picking at Supergirl's sexuality or attempting to dig for details on Alex. Hank even liked the nickname 'Agent X'. Initially he had puffed up with paternal pride that his second in command had been nicknamed by the press for wearing J'onn's family symbol of a red 'x' on her tac suit. The press might not have realized it, but for better or worse every alien on the planet now knew the Martian had a daughter now - and she was ready and willing to kick their ass.
"Go ahead and make three or four possibilities. Partner those options with new identities for Supergirl as well." Vasquez looked up from the desk he had given her when they began the media assessment.
"How should I partner the identities?" Hank could hear the actual question that hadn't been said. Vasquez was probably the only agent beside himself that knew Alex and Kara had begun as foster sisters, that the reason they shared a last name wasn't due to marriage as most assumed, but because Kara had taken her foster family's name.
Hank had known for years about the conflicted feelings Alex had for her foster sister. He had listened as Alex had talked herself into circles over and over again, the guilt and frustration and love slowly eating her up on the inside. It was clear as day that the Danvers girls cared for each other on a level that could not be labeled as "sister", "best friend", or even "girlfriend". Hank had been content to allow Alex and Kara sort their feelings out for themselves no matter how long it took - as long as it didn't interfere with the mission.
Now, their relationship was a problem for the DEO considering the stack of newspapers and printed articles Agent Vasquez had handed him earlier proclaiming "Agent X and Supergirl: Star Crossed Lovers", "Gal Pals! Supergirl and the mysterious Agent X spotted leaving on a helicopter together", and his personal favorite "Agent X: the untold story of Supergirl's personal 007".
"I…just make them all married, like most people assume, and be done with it. Just don't actively mention it when you present the identities. That way I don't have to deal with the long drawn out angst of them finally sorting themselves out; they can figure it out on their own time." Hank wanted the girls to be happy. He knew nobody made them happier than the other, so if he overstepped a little to push them in the right direction, it was at least well intentioned.
"They'll figure it out, Director. They have to confront it now. There's literally no escaping the conversation at this point." Vasquez was right. He eyed the clock, he should go check on the girls. According to Maura they would be up and about sometime soon.
"Hank?" Speak of the Devil. Maureen entered his office with a knock and nodded at Vasquez. She glanced over the wall of images and sighed.
"Your daughter is driving me crazy," Maura reported, her lips twitching to keep a smirk from appearing on her face.
"My daughter? Why is she suddenly just my daughter when she's driving you crazy, but she's your daughter when she's inventing new genius designs for R&D?" Hank countered, playing along in their familiar game.
"She's your daughter when she is being defiant and disappears from her hospital room only hours after surgery, high as a kite on Ambrosia." Hank raised an eyebrow.
"Well where is Agent Danvers then?"
"Where do you think, Hank? She's lying in that damn sun bed with Supergirl." Hank rolled his eyes heavenward and prayed for patience. Hank shouldn't have been surprised that Alex disappeared from her hospital room and then reappeared deep asleep wrapped in the arms of their resident Kryptonian. There was no moving her back now, Kara's arms might as well be steel traps, impossible to pull a part. He sighed. Might as well get this over with.
"Vasquez, send for Collins to rendezvous with us in the sunroom, we're going to use the bandaid method for this one." Both Vasquez and Maura raised their eyebrows as Hank shoved three Oreos in his mouth and began to chew. J'onn was a notorious stress eater and he was running worryingly low on his rescue snacks.
"Sir, you're going to choke if you keep eating like that. I'll meet you there." Vasquez gathered the scattered papers of news articles and briskly left his office. Maura and Hank shared a knowing look, Maura squeezed his arm in support, snagged one of his Oreos, and left him to gather his thoughts.
It was going to be a long day.
Kara gasped awake, her heart beating fast. She could still taste the sea salt on her lips. It took Kara only a millisecond to come back to reality and realize the weight on her chest was Alex sleeping peacefully. Kara's brain short circuited for a moment as it tried to process everything. She slowly brought her free hand up to rest on the back of Alex's neck, combing her fingers through Alex's short locks.
It had just been a dream. A nightmare. Alex always seemed to know when she had the worst nightmares. Alex was here, safe and sound in her arms; no ocean would rip them apart.
Kara closed her eyes in the simple pleasure of having Alex near. The ambient sounds of hospital telemetry machines and far off conversations faded away until Kara could only hear her favorite sound, Alex's heartbeat. A smile curved up unbidden on Kara's lips remembering the many, many times they had woken up in this position in the past. Early on in Kara's adjustment to Earth there would be times when the only way she could block out the sensory overload was by focusing all her senses on Alex's steady presence. Alex's even breathing and heartbeat soothed the loud din of the world, and Kara could pretend it was just the two of them floating together in orbit.
Of course that codependency came back to haunt them when Alex left home for her undergraduate degree. No one but Alex could have guessed Kara's reaction to the separation. Kara didn't remember a lot from those three weeks apart, she just remembered being distraught - and Eliza's anxiety as she pulled away and retreated into herself. Kara didn't eat, she didn't drink, and she didn't sleep. Everything tasted like ash and every dream was a nightmare. After three miserable weeks Eliza found Kara unresponsive, clutching her sketchbook. She immediately called in a favor and had Alex directly flown home.
Alex had always known what to do. She had rushed home, pulled Kara into her arms, and rocked her until Kara was hugging her back and sobbing.
After taking a few days to rehydrate and heal, Eliza had dragged Kara to a therapist recommended by Clark. 'Separation anxiety', the therapist said, 'brought on by deep fear of abandonment caused by the death of all of Kara's prior significant relationships and the near death experience from the bonfire night incident.'
Kara clutched Alex just a little bit tighter at the memory. The bonfire night was one of the worst experiences of Kara's life, right after watching Krypton explode. The bonfire had been organized by Alex's friends, a group of graduating seniors celebrating their high school diplomas and new found freedom. Kara hadn't been invited. 'Graduates only party', Aaron had said when he picked Alex up in his jeep. Eliza had left directly after Alex's graduation to go give a lecture at Opal City University three states away, so Kara locked herself away in her room to paint her feelings away.
Before the bonfire, Alex and Kara had their first real fight that afternoon. Kara couldn't remember what the fight was about, it didn't matter in the end. Alex had left her alone and angry. Kara was wrapped up in an emotional painting session when she realized that the storm siren was going off in the distance. She almost didn't go check on Alex because she was still upset. Kara didn't want to think about what would have happened if she hadn't run four miles barefoot in the pouring rain to the Cliffside recreation area.
Kara had fished half of the graduates out of the rising tide waters looking desperately for Alex. Alex had pulled one of her friends to safety but slipped and fell into the tide, slamming her head against the rocks and falling unconscious. By chance, Hannah had caught Alex as the tide and current lifted her body to the boulder Hannah had been trapped on.
Kara had been on the edge of a panic attack the entire rescue. She had abandoned the other graduates to the little shelter of the picnic pavilion and flown Alex to the closest hospital. Thankfully, the rain was too heavy for anyone to see her using her powers, but that two minute stretch of time it took Kara to fly Alex to safety felt like an eternity.
If any of the hospital staff commented on Kara's bare feet and soaked pajamas, Kara hadn't heard it as she hysterically demanded someone treat Alex. Kara had waited cold and panicking in the waiting room of the ER as she watched the doctors take Alex back for an X-Ray, then surgery to set her broken arm. Humans are so delicate, she'd thought.
It was a special kind of hell being able to hear and see everything the doctors did to stabilize Alex. All Kara had been able to think about was what if Alex never woke up and the last thing they had said to each other was that they wished Kara had never been brought to the Danvers. Kara would have never forgiven herself.
Eventually one of the nurses had handed Kara a phone and a set of dry scrubs and surgical booties to change into. Over the phone, Eliza had promised Kara that Alex would be fine and she would be flying home as soon as possible. Kara would have offered to pick Eliza up personally, but nothing would convince Kara to leave Alex's side now. When they finally wheeled Alex into a recovery room, Kara had crawled into her hospital bed and cried. Alex woke up a few hours later with a wicked concussion and an armful of hysterical Kryptonian.
After that incident they promised each other never to part angry again. Kara spent the entire summer glued to Alex's side and fretting over her healing injuries until it was time for Alex to head to her freshmen orientation cast free. The separation only further ingrained how much Alex meant to Kara.
Kara shivered slightly at the memory and placed a tender kiss on the thin scar on Alex's temple. Kara had saved Alex that night, but Alex was the one who saved her every day in every way that mattered. Kara didn't want to move from her comfortable position, but the desire to check Alex for injuries won out. Kara lifted the overhead lamps with her free hand, then floated up off of the sun table still holding Alex. Kara gently placed Alex on the table, floating about five feet above her prone figure as Kara examined her from head to toe for injuries.
The ear bandages were the first thing she noticed; they were round white bandages pressed into a seal covering both of Alex's ears. Kara remembered the blood tracks she had wiped away from the side of Alex's head before they were evacuated. Kara couldn't tell what the injury was, but the ears themselves were whole and intact. That was good; Kara liked Van Gogh as much as the next person, but she really didn't want Alex emulating him.
Alex had several stitched lacerations along her body that were likely caused by debris from the fight. The real injury that made Kara tear up was Alex's right arm. It was like Alex had stuck her hand in a meat grinder. The skin had been torn away from knuckle to mid-hand and was covered in skin grafts. Alex's wrist was broken in two places, and her arm was broken, again.
Rao, what had she done? Punched the robot to pieces? Kara wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. Alex had a long history of punching those who hurt Kara.
A drop of blood dripped onto Alex's surgical gown. Kara frowned and brought her hand to her side, pain caused her to drop in height. Kara caught herself two feet above Alex and cautiously rolled over and laid down next to her.
Kara lifted her head and stared at the wide bandage on her left side. The lacerations had obviously been very deep since the doctors had bothered to put stitches in and the Kryptonite coating on the robot's claws had hampered the healing process despite spending hours under concentrated sunlamps. Kara gingerly rolled over so her injured side was facing the lamps. Kara jumped slightly in surprise as she turned into Alex's gaze. Alex's eyes searched Kara's face then skated down to the bandage on her side. Alex hesitantly reached out and caught a trickle of blood that escaped the bandage as it rolled down Kara's exposed abs.
They didn't speak, instead Alex opened her arms and Kara melted into her embrace. Alex was safe and warm. Alex's uninjured hand rhythmically traced the Kryptonese alphabet on Kara's back. Kara buried her nose into Alex's collarbone and sighed in contentment. Alex's hand moved to tangle in Kara's hair. Kara shifted her face slightly to expose her mouth to Alex's neck.
"Thank you for saving me," Kara murmured into Alex's jumping pulse point. The hand in her hair stilled for a moment before gently pulling Kara up to look Alex in the eyes. Kara was immediately entranced by the hazel color of Alex's eyes; she could never quite recreate the color no matter how many times she painted them. Kara felt a tell-tale blush forming on her cheeks and the back of her neck, Alex's stare looked right at her very soul and she knew it.
"Kara. I will always come for you. Always and forever, until I draw my last breath, and even after that I'll be there with you." Kara couldn't help the brilliant smile that overtook her face. This was supposed to be a serious moment but how could she keep a neutral expression to that?
"I love you, Alex." Kara tried to put her real meaning in her tone, but the frequency of the phrase prompted an automatic response.
"I love you too, Kara. Always." Kara took whatever she could get from Alex and held each declaration of endearment close, like a precious treasure. She relaxed further into an embrace until the space between them closed, and they were so tightly entwined it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended. Being close like this, the feeling of naked skin pressed to the thin material of Alex's surgical gown, was distracting. It was a kind of heaven Kara never indulged in but longed for desperately as any sinner stuck in purgatory.
"I don't know if I could do this without you," Kara admitted softly. Alex brushed a light kiss on Kara's exposed shoulder in reassurance. Kara shivered at the sensation.
"You've got the heart of a hero Kara, even if I wasn't here you would still be out there saving the day."
"But who would save me?" the small voice Kara used betrayed her fear and Alex leaned their foreheads together, bright eyes staring right through Kara.
"I'm here Kara, I'm not going anywhere. El mayarah, remember?" Kara's eyes slipped closed and let the tension leave her body. They floated together a foot off the table, entwined.
They were still resting their foreheads together, Alex draped over the top of Kara's floating body, when Director Henshaw entered without a knock. He was immediately followed by Vasquez, Dr. Lowry, and a blonde woman Kara didn't recognize. Kara and Alex's eyes turned towards the intruders accusingly. Neither liked having their quiet moments together interrupted.
"Ah, you are awake. Good that makes things easier. Supergirl could you cease the Exorcist act while we debrief?" Kara pouted, but obliged and returned them to the table. Kara sat up and swung her feet to hang off the edge, reaching over to a snag a pillow from one of the nearby tables. She propped it up for Alex to lounge on comfortably.
Vasquez had been typing steadily with one hand since she entered the room and had not looked up yet. Dr. Lowry moved closer to change Alex's IV bag. The blonde woman Kara didn't know smiled at them reassuringly before holding out a duffle bag.
"I hope you don't mind. Director Henshaw asked me to pick up some clothes and toiletries for you two." Kara liked her immediately, the cheerful teasing tone put her at ease as she took the proffered bag. Alex peered over her shoulder to look at its contents.
"Bless you Agent Collins, these surgical gowns are rough enough to cause chaffing." The blonde agent smiled at Alex. Kara cocked her head to the side.
"Thank you. We haven't been introduced, I'm Kara Danvers." Kara held out her hand for the other woman to shake. The agent's eyes lit up and she eagerly returned the handshake, smiling widely.
"Pleasure to meet you, Kara. I'm Sarah Collins."
"Agent Collins is an infiltration specialist, which is why you haven't met her before. Her line of work rarely overlaps with combat ops. And you know Dr. Lowry," Alex explained as she dug around for her clothing with one hand. Kara helped her without being asked.
Kara suddenly felt very grimy. Her skin was covered in surgical antiseptic, dirt, blood, and sweat. No wonder they cut her out of her suit and left her in her underwear. Kara raised her eyes sheepishly to Alex before turning to Hank.
"Hank, if you don't mind I would like to take a quick shower before debrief. I reek."
Hank looked at her side in consideration. "That's fine, let me get someone to put a waterproof seal on your bandage."
"No need, I can do it. She needs a new bandage anyway." Dr. Lowry looked at Alex warily. "Scoot over Agent Danvers, I need Supergirl to be flat to change the bandage."
Alex complied without a word and pulled Kara into a recumbent position next to her.
Dr. Lowry wasted no time in pulling off the old bandage.
Ouch. Alex threaded her uninjured hand with Kara's and squeezed lightly in support. She made a face at the four long claw wounds. The injury was bruised and barely scabbed over.
Dr. Lowry made quick work of checking the wound, rewrapping it with a new bandage and a watertight seal that could be removed later.
"That was fast. Thank you Dr. Lowry. Lex, I'll be right back." Kara pressed a kiss on Alex's forehead then moved at superspeed into the adjacent bathroom with her change of clothes. Kara could hear muffled conversation through the sounds of the shower, but didn't focus on it as she picked bits of rubble out of her hair. Superspeed was useful; in fact her shower only lasted as long as it took for water to wash out her hair.
Satisfied with her shampooed and conditioned hair, Kara scrubbed blood and sweat away with antibacterial soap. It always mystified Kara watching blood run clear down the drain. Clean, Kara exited the shower to dry off, only to hear Alex's sullen words in the next room.
"I want to shower too."
Kara tried not to think about helping Alex in the shower, which she was bound to do when they got home. The traitorous thought caused her stomach to flutter in anticipation. Kara heard Dr. Lowry tell Alex she would have to wait until Chief Henderson gave her the okay to remove the ear bandage seals. Kara didn't need X-Ray vision to know that Alex was doing her unhappy pouty face right now.
Kara hurriedly dressed in the T-Shirt and Sweats Agent Collins brought for her. Alex might not be able to shower, but that didn't mean Kara couldn't help her get comfortable. Kara grabbed a couple washcloths and towels, then filled one of the buckets in the room with warm soapy water and another half full with clean water. Kara reentered the room with a bright smile looking very proud of herself.
The first thing Kara noticed was the twin looks of bemusement on Director Henshaw's and Vasquez's face. Alex looked like a harassed toddler as Dr. Lowry changed her bandages. Agent Collins was sitting in the chair next to Alex trying to distract her from the pain with an amusing story of Agent Collins breaking into the Cairo Museum to maintain a cover.
As soon as Kara entered the room, Alex turned her head to give her puppy dog eyes to come save her from Dr. Lowry's care. Alex's eyes looked a little glassy, which told Kara she'd been given another painkiller. That would explain the pouting.
Kara smiled as reassuringly as she could and waited near Agent Collins for Dr. Lowry to finish her examination. Kara didn't have to wait long.
"There. All done you big baby. And look Kara brought some washcloths and soap so you won't stink that bad when you're sent to Stand Down." Dr. Lowry moved out of the way and allowed Kara to begin to gently wipe away the grit from Alex's exposed skin. Alex squirmed. Director Henshaw left the room and Kara could hear him chuckling down the hallway.
"Kara I don't need you to wash me. I can do it myself." Kara ignored her and wringed out a dirty wash cloth and grabbed a clean soapy one. Vasquez however had no problem calling her out on it.
"Yeah, with one good arm and high on pain meds, good luck. And I'm sure as hell not giving you a sponge bath, so I would shut up and enjoy having someone nice enough to help you." Vasquez never let an opportunity to rib Alex go by, and Kara relaxed to the familiar banter between the two as she tenderly completed her task. Collins was absorbed in something on her tablet, chewing her bottom lip and eyebrows drawn together. Kara guessed it must be pretty important. Vasquez and Collins had both been occupied with their tablets since they entered. Dr. Lowry was busying herself by shutting off the sun lamps and wheeling them to their place on the wall.
Kara finished the impromptu sponge bath and helped Alex into her own clothes which was an old soccer practice T-Shirt and a pair of Alex's PT shorts that Collins must have grabbed from Alex's locker. Kara kept the jeans in the bag until Alex was ready to be discharged. Alex looked considerably better in her own clothes and semi-clean. Vasquez poked her head out of the door of the recovery room and called for Director Henshaw.
Hank reentered with stacks of newspapers and magazines. Kara's eyes widened.
"Rao! What time is it?" Collins checked her watch.
"Half 10, why?" Kara leapt up from her perch next to Alex. Startling Dr. Lowry beside her.
"I'm late for work! We're in the middle of a major print issue, I've got to get to Catco." Alex rolled her eyes, but accepted Kara's parting affectionate forehead kiss, then waved her away.
"Go on then, I'll handle the debrief. Don't overexert yourself or pull your stitches." Hank, Vasquez, and Collins all opened their mouths to speak at the same time as Kara turned to the door.
"Wait!"
"You can't!"
"Kara, hold on!"
Kara turned back in question. Alex stared at them in confusion. Kara's anxiety skyrocketed. There was so much going on right now and she really needed to stop spreading herself so thin.
"I have to go, Ms. Grant and I are not in a good place right now and I don't want to get fired."
"There's a media issue going on right now about the Lord Lab Fiasco. It would be better if you stayed here until we sorted everything out." Vasquez countered quickly. Henshaw was rubbing his forehead like he had a headache.
"Of course there is, it's Maxwell Lord. I'll be fine, I have to go." Kara didn't wait to hear the response, her mind shifting its focus from Alex's injuries to keeping her job.
Losing Catco now would wreck her; she needed the sanctuary of Cat's office to ground her, and the added safety net of her friends. Kara realized she didn't have a suit, but that couldn't stop her now. Winn could make her another one, and a new phone since hers was currently crushed to bits in her boot. Kara took off from her designated exit tunnels, which were old missile bays, and flew high into the air towards her apartment.
Collins stared at the spot Kara just occupied. Vasquez was looking accusingly at Director Henshaw.
"What the hell, Hank? You're just going to let her walk into Catco with this media shit show going on right now?" Alex's drooping eyes snapped open.
"Why is it a shit show?" The whole room went dead quiet. Alex sat up in alarm. "What is going on?"
Hank held up a hand for the others to be quiet.
"What are the odds of Kara not finding out until after the work day is over?" he asked Vasquez - even though he already knew the answer.
"Absolutely zero, Sir. She literally works for the woman who spearheaded this whole mess." Alex stood up in anger at being ignored, Dr. Lowry caught her as she swayed under the influence of the pain medication she had been dosed her with earlier.
"What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On," Alex said through gritted teeth, her expression as fierce as it had been while staring down that Frankenstein's robot. Vasquez picked up the top magazine and tossed it to Alex, who caught it deftly out of the air. Alex stared at the cover, her eyes widening and jaw dropping.
"Your identity has been compromised. Your face is on every screen and paper in America right now," Vasquez said evenly.
"That wasn't exactly what I meant when I said we were going to use the band aid method," Henshaw grumbled and turned on the largest monitor in the sunroom. Vasquez immediately pulled up the algorithm she had tracking the media storm. Tweets, articles, pictures, and video clips rolled across the screen.
"Agent X: Supergirl's Guardian Angel," Alex intoned without inflection, her hand tracing the picture of herself carrying Kara bridal style out of the combat zone. An explosion dramatically produced a fireball in the background.
Alex numbly leafed through the article, Cat Grant's deft writing style made the article read like an adventure novel.
"Who is this mysterious secret agent that is so competent, she can pull even the strongest of superheroes out of the line of fire? This partnership between our Supergirl and Agent X has been around at least since Supergirl revealed herself to the world, if not earlier. After hours of careful review of Supergirl's major battles, Agent X appears sometimes alone, sometimes with a team, as the primary support for Supergirl in every battle.
The main problem with most superheroes is they often believe they have to work alone in fear of others getting hurt on their behalf. This ideology has been the downfall of titans in the past. With regular support, a superhero can achieve so much more without exerting themselves. Supergirl has obviously embraced the idea of teamwork with her willingness to partner with this covert group - and Agent X specifically.
There's a symmetry to this partnership. Supergirl in the limelight, while Agent X works in the shadows. Supergirl is the alien to Agent X's humanity. The color to the dark. It's poetic that just as we rely on Supergirl, she relies on Agent X. It's a kind of balance that can't be broken even by Kryptonite…"
Alex stared and stopped reading out loud.
"Agent X?"
"Yup. After your tac vest style. The big red X is pretty distinctive compared to the rest of your clothing, and it's a pun on your lack of name. Also, it makes for a great couple hashtag. #SuperX is catchy right?" Collins answered, making an X with her arms across her chest for emphasis. Alex stiffened.
"We need to get Kara back here, now." Alex hadn't looked up from the stack of articles in her lap. Alex had flipped to one of the gossip pieces.
"That's going to be difficult considering her phone is trashed at the moment. I'll see if I can scrounge up one of her friend's cell phone numbers, but I have a feeling CatCo is pretty busy at the moment."
"Oh shit." Alex's fingers twitched and scrunched the newspaper she was holding. Alex leaned forward to bring her head to her knees and her hands to her cover her face.
"Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit. This cannot be happening." Alex's heart rate increased high enough to set off an alarm from the monitor Lowry had connected her to earlier. Alex flinched away from Hank when he tried to comfort her.
"Don't touch me."
Lowry hovered near Alex's beside with a sedative syringe ready to go at Hank's command. He held his hand up to have Lowry wait. Alex's thoughts were racing too fast for Hank to understand.
"Alex I need you to listen to me. We are doing everything we can to make sure your name does not hit the press. I have Agent O'Reilly watching your mother right now. Kara will be okay, we just need to sort this out and everything will be fine."
"Fine? Half the damn world thinks we're lovers!" Alex holds up an offending article in disgust and throws it at Hank in anger. "I am supposed to be anonymous! How can I protect Kara if every man, woman, child, and alien on this planet knows my face? Every enemy Kara has is going to try and Lois Lane me to get to Kara!" Alex's shouts began to turn into sobs.
Collins and Lowry stared wide eyed and concerned at the senior agent losing her normally excellent emotional control. Vasquez bit her lip, a dull ache in her chest flared in empathy for her friend.
"Director, Collins, Lowry; may I have the room, please? Lowry, leave that on the counter." Vasquez cleared the room quickly as Alex rapidly lost all sense of composure. Lowry left the sedative behind as she and Hank walked out of the door.
Vasquez gave Alex a moment to herself as she took the stack of articles away and turned off the media screen.
"Do you want a sedative, Alex? It will make you feel less sick and you can get some sleep." Vasquez waited next to the bed for Alex to choke out a response.
"How the fuck am I supposed to sleep when I just got outed to the whole world? Kara and I haven't even," Alex sucked in a great shuddering breath "we haven't even talked about this before." Vasquez slowly put her hand on Alex's back to soothe her.
"Maybe it's time for you to finally have that discussion about your feelings," Vasquez offered as she pulled Alex into a loose hug. Alex was still stiff in her arms.
"But what if I lose her? Everything we've built together… Kara is my family, my heart... she gives me purpose and makes me a better person. I think I would die if I lost her, especially to this. The whole world would judge us if they knew that we were foster sisters."
"Alex, you could never lose Kara. The girl adores you and even if she's awkward about your past relationship, she would still want you in her life. The bond you two have is special. It's something people spend their entire lives searching for, and not everyone finds it. Don't let this separate you, look at this as an opportunity to finally have that perfect love." Alex hiccuped and leaned her head on Vasquez's shoulder.
"I'm afraid, V."
Vasquez moved back slightly to look in Alex's watery eyes.
"I know. But you're the bravest person I've ever known, so I know you can get through this. You once took on an Alacorian with no backup and won. You ran face first into a murderous robot to save Kara's life. And you managed to get through a date with Maxwell Lord without throwing up, which we both know is a big accomplishment." Alex laughed. "It's okay to be afraid, what's not okay is for you to run away."
"Your pep talks have really improved from your standard 'cheer up Agent Danvers there's only six alien hostiles this time. instead of twelve. Easy peasy for you right?'" Vasquez shoved her gently, breaking their loose hug.
"Don't tell anyone. I have a reputation to maintain. Let us take care of you Alex, and you focus on getting better and working things out with Kara." Alex nodded, her eyes slipping closed in exhaustion.
"Thanks, V."
"Anytime, A." Vasquez took the sedative with her as she turned out the lights and left Alex to sleep off her distress.
It was going to be a long day.
End Chapter Three
Author's Note: Okay guys, this story has really taken on a life of it's own, so I think it will be a couple chapters longer than I originally outlined. I'm afraid of introducing too many OC's, but I hope you liked the medical team, I really feel like Supergirl is a very team based show and needs some added characters to round out the story. I apologize for the updates being so slow, I have three exams this week that I've been getting ready for and haven't had a lot of time to write. As always, huge thanks to my amazing beta Beaglesinbowties for all their hard work. Constructive comments are greatly appreciated, and motivate me to keep writing. Thanks for reading! -AJ