CH.9: Death bed confession
Kara groans as her lids appear heavy…like a certain weight was on them keeping her from seeing where she was. Panic began to set in as she feared she was buried…it hurt to breathe…and her mouth for better words felt dry. A soothing hand eases her back down and she finally manages to open one eye and a soft smile appears on her lips. "Well…looks like it takes something bad to happen for you to visit huh?"
Standing there was none other than her cousin Kal-El…or known to those on this planet Superman. He stood there with his cape lying low against his back for there was no wind to push it out. His arms were folded as he seemed to be fighting against the pain he was no doubt feeling…given her condition she did not blame him. Clark was a lot stronger than her…in emotional crisis…strength well she proved who was the strong one.
"I am going to try and change that. How do you feel?" He goes to take a seat in the chair next to her and she manages to sit up…albeit it puts a strain on her and her hand goes to cover a cough.
"I've felt better. Last thing I remember was dancing with Lena…no…it was throwing up in the bathroom and my glasses…"
"I bought you a new pair before coming over…we can't have the world seeing through a disguise that has been solid all these years for me…and for you as well. As for Lena…I still don't trust her. Let me speak…and…given you are in no condition to argue back I imagine speaking is the last thing on your mind. Look Kara…Lena is a Luthor and sooner or later she will betray you. We still don't know who placed that bug inside you or on you. You say that you and Lena had a romantic flight…something right out of my playback too. Anyway…she was in close vicinity to you so it could have very well been her-."
"I questioned her…as Supergirl…she swears it wasn't her…" Kara feels like she is going to hurl but at this point…did she even have anything left in her?
"Lex was very much the same way when something went wrong…and…I questioned him directly. The thing is…as Superman I was never friends with Lex…I could never trust him I am glad that I managed to keep that much a secret. Some part of me still misses Lex as a friend and if I had seen the warning signs when I had…I could have helped him. Some people can't help what is in their genes…same goes for Lena. James told me a bit about your friendship with Lena…how you can blind at times with her-."
"Clark…you don't know anything!" Kara feels herself becoming angry now…which didn't happen too often between the super cousins and all.
"I do know Kara…and I know perfectly well one can be blind in these situations…which is why I agree with James. You need to set aside your feelings and look at the bigger picture here. Turn Lena away…if you don't-."
Kara turns on her side which proves difficult as each movement stirs up pain and more chances of puking, though if she does it will be facing away from him. "Thank you for visiting Clark, I mean it, but it would be best if you left now."
"Kara…quit being stubborn, Lena is bad news and it is much worse now that she knows who you are." Kara doesn't turn around but she is visibly shaken by this.
"H-How did she find out?" Kara finds her voice soft and she holds herself. When had she given away such information?
"She saw you lying on the table…and she put two and two together…it probably didn't help much that you were also in your costume without your glasses. J'onn contacted me and filled me in on what was going on. Alex had scanned you before noting how you were ill…and…using my X-ray vision I was able to determine the cause…a bug planted deep inside of your body feeding off much of your Kryptonian DNA. You are unable to heal, use your strength, cold breath, heat from your eyes; far as I can tell, depending on how your body holds up flight is still possible. X-ray vision may put the less toll on your body but even then it would not be recommended."
Kara finally turns around and fights back a difficult cough…as she pulls her hand back she notices the blood. "So…after all this time…I am going to die human huh?"
"Everyone here has been working hard trying to find a way to remove the bug without harming any of your vitals…but…so far any attempt has sent you into cardiac arrest. It is clear there is some sort of trigger out there…perhaps someone controlling the bug so any attempt at removing it will send you over the edge. I am sorry Kara."
Kara figured he was sorry for that…not sorry though for stating how he felt about Lena and the fact she was a Luthor. Everyone seemed set on that and that alone…not about the strong capable woman who had taken a company built on evil and made it something more. Lena was smart, beautiful, and intelligent…and she was in love with her. It took her so long to realize it…but…it was how she felt. Supergirl may have ruined things by giving in to people and their claims about her…but Kara, no, her only fault was questioning her sexuality and leaving not once but twice.
"Send for Lena…I wish to talk to her…" Kara can see Clark fighting against such a request but Kara makes it clear she won't take no for an answer.
"Very well…however just so we're clear I do not agree with your decision." Clark walks over to her and kisses her forehead before he walks out of there.
"Duly noted…and…I do love you Clark…even if I do not agree with your decision." She smiles weakly and he smiles back before he disappears.
Kara had dozed off for a bit before she wakes herself realizing the longer she slept…the more likely she would pass on and never wake up. Lena was seated beside her and she looks down to see their hands joined. If she had the stomach to she imagined she would have butterflies at this point.
"You are awake…thank goodness. Kara, Supergirl…whatever you wish to go by, well, I am not happy that you did what you did. Why didn't you tell me before we kissed?"
Kara knew she had messed up…badly, and, to be honest even if she could go back revealing her secret; would not come close to being on her top of her to do list. Then again Clark had revealed his secret to Lois…but…at the time she didn't' feel secure enough in doing so. Somehow with Mon-El it had been easier…maybe because he was also alien like her.
"I am sorry for the deception Lena…and…sorry for keeping you at arms-length even while as myself. I know this doesn't really help matters, now, in the end. I could say it was for your safety…that those who know my secret will find themselves in trouble and if my enemies manage to get a hold of them they'd torture them for my identity, but, I imagine that would be your call wouldn't it? Look…I am not sure how much time I have left-."
"Don't you go talking to me like that…no…I won't accept it." Lena squeezes her hand and draws closer to her and Kara fights back tears. "In some ways I get why you didn't tell me…though it is still hard to manage. You and I…we both lead different lives and to some our pairing might be considered a bit on its head, still, for what it is worth…I do care about you. Supergirl or not you are in my heart…and now that you are one and the same…truth is there isn't one I would take above the other. Even if you are alien you are only human…you make mistakes and blunders just like the rest of us."
Kara tries to get up but it is clear her body and heart are not into it. Lying there she doesn't know how to respond to Lena's words. Lena of course does not take offense to this and instead just wears a soft smile.
"I should let you know that my mother is working on a cure…though…it probably doesn't help much she was the one to plant that bug in you…through me." Lena's revelation takes Kara back…but…instead of feeling anger she feels regret in interrogating her on their date.
"Your mother is responsible…why did I not see that sooner?" Kara coughs again and for the moment the bug isn't draining her too much so she is relieved to see no blood.
"My mother can be sweet…when it serves her best interest. She can also hide things well, and, to be honest you aren't the best at getting information out of others. I will tell you this…if there is a way I can help fix you…help cure you I mean…I'll take it, even if it is a trap. I love you Kara…and risk or not your life is worth it."
Kara is stunned by this but she wears a goofy smile and adjusts it a bit then knowing that teasing Lena now…when her time was short…would cut down on her getting her message across. "Lean in…I have something I want to tell you as well."
Kara watches Lena hesitate before leaning down. Kara then kisses her on the lips and holds the kiss a bit…putting every ounce of her breath and will into the kiss. Lena does not resist any and for a long moment the two of them just held the kiss; neither, for better judgement wishing to break first, understandable again given the time constraints.
"I love you too…and…please, for me…do not take any unneeded stunts or risks on my behalf. I have accepted what is happening to me; so, promise me….do not go to your mother, we both know it can be a trap." Kara swallows a bit managing her breath…though her lungs feel like they ran a mile; weird as that sounds.
Lena takes a moment before she nods her head. "I will, I promise. Now get some rest…and don't you go dying on me." Lena runs her hand through her hair and Kara settles back; her lips, they felt so nice against hers…sad that they just had their first real kiss…now….she was very sleepy now. Her lids grow heavy and soon she is asleep.
Lena leaves the room when she receives a call. Noticing it was her mother she walks down the hall and flips it open. "Hello mother…what do you want?"
"Hello daughter…I see you still have that same tone from when we last spoke. Listen, I have a cure for Supergirl…but…I am hoping I can give it to you at your office. Do you think you can meet me there in ten?"
Lena debates a bit upon hearing this. She knows that she promised Kara that she would stay away, but, right now Kara's body was dying and she could not afford to lose her. She did tell her she would do anything right? "How do I know this isn't a trap?"
"Now really…what reason would I have to trap you? I wish to earn your trust back, so, hear me out at least. I will be there shortly so I hope you do not keep me waiting. Oh and come alone…after all I would hate for Supergirl to show and ruin the reveal, as I am sure you would want to give it to her personally. Take care Lena."
Lena hangs up as she looks back at Kara's room. Should she leave her a message? No, she needed her rest. This had trap written all over it but if anything else she could stop her mother…stop her from going after Supergirl…and Kara…this was going to take some getting used to. Nodding her head and her mind settled she hurries off.
Lillian hangs up the phone as she gets out of the limo and looks up at the L-Corp building. Tucked away on her person was a Kryptonite weapon…one of the same that had been used by Alex in killing off Supergirl's aunt. Lillian knew all when it came to aliens and of course the fact who was Kryptonian and who wasn't.
"She is on her way. You did place the charges in the building where I told you to correct?" Lillian looks over and spots Cyborg Superman landing not that far from her.
"They are placed…still…not sure why you wish to have her die in such a manner." He stands up as he folds his arms.
"I wish for Supergirl to suffer…to realize she is beat and then and only then will I let her go to my daughter, though, chances are she will have inhaled a bit of the smoke at that point. She will not only have her identity revealed to the world but also losing someone precious. The funny thing is that Supergirl will be in Phase 3 of my project so she won't have much time to do anything to me. She will beg for death in the end…and…well if you wish to have a hand in that I do not mind. Be ready though…when Supergirl shows she will be quite determined to save Lena…we can't have her getting to the building too soon."
Cyborg Superman says little on this and she just smiles. Keeping Supergirl around…well…that was just a risk she could not afford to handle now. Superman of course would be coming after her and he would get his reveal soon enough. There was that reporter…Lois was it…she was his Kryptonite as what she heard from Lex. Soon though…once she freed Lex of his infernal prison he would be back and running that building…it was only a matter of when.
Kara struggles up and looks around. She was in her room…alone. Blinking her eyes a bit she swings her legs over the edge and feels a weight on her as she clutches at her chest. Taking a few breaths and waiting to see if she threw up, which was unlikely as she had nothing to, she gets up. "Lena…hey…you there?"
No answer, hmm, maybe she can try her phone. She reaches over and tries to call her but there is no signal. Walking over to the mirror she sees her reflection as pale…eyes sunken in…her figure having lost weight considerably. If she survived this she was having a diet of donuts and Cheetos. Finding her Supergirl costume she places it on under her clothes and holds the door frame for balance.
"Where is everyone?" Kara precedes a bit more till she hears a voice…wait…she knew this voice…
"Supergirl…if you are hearing this it means your super hearing has not gone yet, good. I am sure you have realized by now that Lena is not around. My daughter had to take some matters into her own hand at L-Corp, so, if you hurry you may still be able to catch her. Time is of the essence though…better round up the team…assuming you can…it is your call. I know you must in such pain…perhaps there is a cure waiting for you…maybe not…but can you afford to hesitate?"
The voice stills and Kara stands up. She manages to push aside the pain she is feeling knowing that Lena was in danger. Why didn't she keep her promise? Her vision still wasn't that great…but…if she managed fast and slow it might help her. "I'm coming for you Lena…hold on…"
Kara removes her clothes as she stands there in her costume. Taking a breath she rushes off knowing that by the time she gets everyone together it will be too late. For the woman she loved…she would push the limit of life and death.
Authors note: After reading this feel free to stop by chapter one again. Hopefully reading these chapters (2-9) that it will fill in that gap and also help you understand what went down. Next chapter will of course take place after chapter one. So…will Supergirl reveal to the world who she is when she isn't saving the world? And what of Lena's fate in that burning building?
