Here's the continuation of the story! If you have any comments, questions, or suggestions, let me know! Enjoy! (Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than the others.) -Brielle.
Kara woke up under the warmth of the sunlamps. She noticed right away that she felt remarkably better considering what Lilian had done to her only a day or so ago. She flexed the hand that was in the sling and she found it painless to do, so she started to take it off, but Alex's head was lying on her other arm. Kara smiled, thankful for the presence of her sister. She laid her head back down on the pillow and tried out her other limbs. Her legs worked fine; they were only a little stiff. The only thing that caused her pain still was her abdomen wrapped in the bandages. It was painful, but it itched terribly too. Kara started to scratch it without thinking and she gasped when she felt something tear.
"Ow," Kara whispered loudly, tearing her hand away.
Alex stirred at her side, her head turning to face Kara. Her eyes fluttered open, and she gave Kara a small smile.
"How are you feeling?" Alex asked, sitting up and stretching her back with a low groan.
"I feel a lot better," Kara said, trying to conceal her itchy wound with her arm.
"Are you hungry?" Alex asked.
"I'm always hungry," Kara smirked.
"I'll go find something to eat. Stay here and don't wander off," Alex said and tenderly lifted herself off the chair. Kara could tell her sister was still in a lot of pain by the way she held herself. Alex usually walked with her chin up, her stride confident and powerful. But now, Alex's gait was shortened, her back was slightly hunched, and Kara could hear how her lungs caught painfully with each breath. Not everyone has healing powers, Kara had to remind herself. She pulled the sling off over her head and sat up. Kara almost hit her head on the lamps as she scooted forward to the end of the bed and gingerly set her bare feet on the cold floor. A shiver ran through her body from the contact, but she slid off the edge. Kara tried to straighten up, but she was hit with a wave of dizziness. Kara grasped the bed with her hand, trying to keep upright. The moment passed so Kara took a couple steps to test out her legs. They felt surprisingly strong. She knew they were nowhere near peak condition, but she didn't feel completely helpless. Kara's abdomen was the most painful, and each breath she took stretched and ached her already sore torso. She placed a hand over her stomach and took a deep breath. She could feel the bandages extending, and she heard the crinkle of the medical tape on her skin. Kara stood higher, ready to walk out and find Alex to tell her she was fine, but she heard her stitches snap. She inhaled quickly, the sudden pain alarming and frustrating. Kara's hands started shaking, and her legs quivered slightly, but she looked down anyway.
"Damn it," Kara whispered angrily. Her blood was already seeping through the white gauze attached to her wound. There was no way she would be able to hide this from Alex. Kara stood there in the middle of the recovery bay in her black compression shorts and matching sports bra, barefoot, and only covered with the now bloodied bandages. She whipped her head around frantically for a shirt, robe, or anything she could put on to cover up the red liquid, but there was nothing of use.
"Oh my God, Kara," she spun her head to the door to see Alex standing there, her hands filled with leftover Chinese takeout. Kara's bloodied hands were trembling in front of her stomach as the stain continued to spread. "I was gone for two seconds," Alex huffed, putting the food down and rushing over.
"I just wanted to stretch my legs," Kara said quietly. "I guess I'm not quite healed yet."
"Clearly," Alex raised an eyebrow at her sister. "Come sit on the bed so I can clean you up."
Kara obeyed, but she couldn't help sighing as she plopped down on the white sheets.
Alex got some supplies from a drawer near the sunlamps, and Kara could see her shaking her head slightly. Alex stood in front of Kara, placed the new gauze, tape, and other miscellaneous materials next to her hand. Next, she slowly undid the tape holding the bandages on and unwrapped the white cloth from around Kara's torso.
"Oh my God, Kara," Alex gasped as she threw aside the blood-soaked bandages.
"What?" Kara asked, trying to see her stomach, but she couldn't see the wound very well.
"You completely ripped your stitches," Alex scoffed.
"That bad?" Kara winced.
"Yes, it's that bad," Alex sighed. "What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't," Kara said softly.
Alex picked her head up and her face softened. "I guess I shouldn't yell at you for this because I would have done the same thing," she ended with a small chuckle.
"I know you would have," Kara smiled, but then her face grew serious as she studied the way Alex's braced hand trembled. Alex was doing the same thing right now.
"I'm going to numb you because I have to put new stitches in and then take out the old ones," Alex put on latex gloves and then made sure she had the correct amount of anesthetic. "Small pinch," she said and poked Kara with the needle.
Kara winced as the needle pierced her flesh easily. She wasn't used to being so fragile.
Alex hadn't sewn Kara's wound up the first time, so she didn't realize just how deep it was. No wonder it was bleeding so heavily. Alex was thankful she was ambidextrous when it came to throwing punches, because she needed her dominant right hand to do these stitches, and luckily it was her left hand that was fractured. Kara sat patiently as Alex carefully stitched her up. It was hard to keep her breathing shallow because her being weak also affected her lungs.
"Done," Alex said, snipping the thread and dropping the bloody needle.
"Wow, Dr. Danvers, I'm impressed," Kara gave her a smile.
"Now, you need to stay put after I wrap this so that can heal," Alex said, giving Kara her "look."
"I will," Kara nodded. "I promise, Alex."
"You better," Alex said. "If I have to stitch you up again, I'll kick your ass in training the next time we go a few rounds."
"Right," Kara mouthed timidly, intimidated by her sister.
"I'll check back in with you in a little while," Alex said and turned to go.
"Wait, Alex," Kara caught her wrist. "Thank you. For everything."
"Always," Alex smiled.
