A/N: Last chapter I thought I changed all of them but I missed the very first, and a few others, mention of Maggie drinking a beer. She is NOT drinking. I re-posted last chapter with it fixed. My bad!
Sam wasn't bad per say but she was worse than Maggie. Especially as her feet stumbled and she swayed when she leaned over to take her shot. All signs that she was drunk but Maggie was guessing she wasn't going to have to haul her anywhere.
She leaned on her stick as Sam squinted at the table. "So, are you going back to Alex's tonight or what?" Sam shrugged then whiffed her shot horribly. The cue ball missing everything but the green felt far side of the table. Maggie smiled as she laughed at herself. Another touch of actual personality. "What happened today at the scene?"
Another shrug.
"Technically you still have two vetos but you're answering at least one of those."
"Make your next shot and I'll answer."
And Maggie did. She gave Baby Danvers a smug smile. It wasn't a simple sink either. Alex would have been proud. "So?"
"I haven't decided if I'm going back or not."
"Oh, come on! That is not an answer!"
Sam chuckled and circled the table. Or tried to as her foot caught on the floor. The speed in which she could catch herself drunk was impressive. Maggie found herself wishing she saw Sam disarm that thief earlier at the scene. It had to have been considerably more impressive.
"I guess not but I really haven't."
"Then what happened at the scene earlier? Alex told me her side but I want to hear yours."
"Why?" Sam straightened a bit from her shot, hands still poised to take it, to look at Maggie. It wasn't a challenge, not really. An edge to it, sure but it was more defensive. Maggie has heard it before. At the precinct, from kids in custody who were used to getting the detriment of the doubt. It was sad.
"Because there are two sides to every story. Especially when dealing with siblings."
"Do you have any?" Sam's voice was hopeful. Like maybe, just maybe, someone would know what she was going through. That this was normal. But it wasn't because how many families adopted aliens and one parent got forced into a secret government agency? The Danvers had a situation all their own that no one could properly relate to. Also sad.
"I don't." Maggie admitted. "I won't even pretend I know anything about what you're going through. I mean, I have my own family issues but it's different."
Sam eyed her. Nervous side eyes that she kept dragging back to the table. Finally, she straightened up and reached for her glass to take a drink. Maggie waited. She knew what was coming. She'd let Sam get her bearings, gather up some courage to ask.
"What happened?"
"If I tell you, you have to answer both my questions. Like really answer them. Deal?"
"You sure do like you're deals." Sam mumbled. She lacked the volume control to keep it under her breath thanks to her alcohol consumption.
"It's an effective way to get things done. Do we have one or not?"
"Deal."
"Alright then." Maggie took a deep breath. "Not a word to Alex, okay? She doesn't know this."
"Why not?"
"You want the story or not? This doesn't include side questions." Sam sat back against the pool table. Both hands on her stick, resting upright in front of her. Her silence was Maggie's signal to begin. "Right, so, I'm guessing you and Alex haven't talked a lot about me."
"She said you were really great. That's it."
"Awe, Danvers." Maggie smiled at the thought of her girlfriend flustered and happy, probably blushing a little from telling someone new about them.
"Are you going to tell the story or not?" Sam mimicked back at her.
"Sorry. She's just so cute." Sam mimed a gag and Maggie got her shit together. Now was not the time to swoon, she had a sibling to win over. "Anyways, I, uh, grew up in a small town in Nebraska. Middle of nowhere and all that. I was pretty much the only non-white kid in the entire town.
"My family moved up from Texas, like I said, but even in Texas, they were pretty country. Very conservative. Long, sob story, short, I came out when I was fourteen…well, I was outed when I was fourteen and my family kicked me out. I haven't talked to them since."
"Where'd you go?"
"I had an aunt who let me live with her in Lincoln. She wasn't too much older than me, didn't have a good relationship with the rest of my family because she was pretty liberal so she didn't care that I was gay. I was lucky I had her. I'm not sure what I would have done otherwise.
"Moral is, I know how it is to have a wedge driven between you and your family. I never got my parent's side of the story. I don't want that to happen to you or you sisters. so, talk to me. What happened today?"
Sam stared hard at Maggie. As hard as she could. She had drank too much. It was starting to hit her now in force. Her limbs felt heavy, her vison was slow and tilting, a step behind. Her tongue too big for her mouth. But maybe it was better this way. She could probably talk to Maggie this way.
"Alex was mad because I didn't need her."
"What? That's not true."
Wasn't it? It felt like that. Or was she mad because Sam left the apartment? What happened felt too long ago, there was no way to really know. Sam blinked once, twice. Slow and lingering.
"Yea, it was. I didn't need saving. That and she was mad I left; which, I didn't realize I was on lockdown."
"You aren't." Watching Maggie shake her head pitched Sam's mind to the side. She clenched her jaw to grasp at balance. She had never been a fan of the spinning feeling. "Nevermind. Sorry, I'm not here to justify or defend anything; I want your side of the story. Sorry, go ahead."
"Well, I left because I wanted a paper. I was going to search for a place but I don't have a laptop and I didn't want to go through Alex's stuff so I thought a newspaper would have a few places in it and I went out to get one. Then I was on my way back when all that shit was happening. I couldn't get past the police blockade so I stayed and I waited then that guy was running out and pointing a gun at that lady and then I was stepping in front of her.
"All my training kinda kicked in then, ya know? I mean, the fuck was I gonna do? Let him take me? No. I disarmed him and some agent came and took him and then Alex was there. Yelling at me. Why does she always have to yell at me? Wasn't that a good thing I did? I kept that lady from being taken hostage. And! And, I didn't get shot either. Isn't that good?"
It was like she couldn't stop her words from tumbling out. She knew she should. She wanted them to stop. This was too much. Too many emotions on display. And, she didn't even know Maggie. Someone who was on her sister's side. There would be no sympathy or understanding. Why was she doing this?
It wouldn't stop though.
"Yea, that is good. Not getting shot is really good, Sam."
"That's what I'm saying!" Sam didn't realize that she half shouted it. A few patrons turned to them but she didn't notice. Maybe for the best in her state. "Usually, when people don't get shot and don't let other people get shot, people are happy."
"I think you should tell Alex all of that when you come back with me. Well, I think you should tell her in the morning after you've gotten some sleep."
"I'm fine and, besides, she doesn't want me there." She was pouting now. Straight out pouting and Maggie laughed at her.
The alcohol was starting to press down on her eyelids and trip her tongue; Sam had an errant thought that she must have really overdone it to feel like this but then she made eye contact with some guy behind Maggie. "Hey! What're you…you got a problem!?"
She took a shambling step forward that Maggie intercepted. "Hey now. No need for that."
It wasn't hard for Maggie to stop Sam and that was worrying. As was the weight Sam let lean into her. The earlier observations of not that drunk were quickly deteriorating and Sam was much heavier than Maggie thought. Getting her out of the bar would be difficult but getting her into Alex's car and up to her apartment would be impossible. Reinforcements were needed.
But not yet. First, Maggie needed to get Sam out of the bar. The man she yelled at was eyeing her and grumbling to his buddies. Sam didn't need another fight and an NCPD detective didn't need to be wrapped up in one either.
"Come on." Maggie grunted out, more to herself, as she pulled Sam toward the door. She kept one arm around her waist and the other gripping her arm to help guide her. Sam tried to keep shouting out trash to the man, over her shoulder, but thankfully he didn't pay her any mind. Most likely thanks to Maggie's effort to get her out.
It was slow going. Sam's legs doing a quarter of the work and creating half of the problems. Her head rolled along her shoulders once they got outside. The cool air must have felt good for her. Sam's skin was burning where Maggie touched it and her face was flushed from the drinks.
Maggie leaned Sam against the brick wall of the bar, standing closer than she normally would to be there in case Sam fell forward. She grabbed her phone out but then hesitated. Which Danvers to call? Alex would want it to be here. Sam would hate that. It would destroy the fragile trust Maggie worked so hard to cultivate. Kara would be the more logical choice. Get Sam off the main road where Kara could just scoop her up and fly her home. Maggie had a feeling Sam might hate that more.
She didn't have many other options but did it have to be a Danvers who came to the rescue? She could call the PD, ask one of the on-duty officers to help her out. The DEO was out of the question. Maggie didn't feel comfortable about it either. Yea, she was given pretty much open access but she had never taken advantage of it without Alex there. Then, there was the small detail that Alex hadn't really come out to all her friends and co-workers, none of them except Kara knew that they were dating. Well, apparently Lena Luthor too but it wasn't like Maggie could call her.
Sam sliding sideways on the wall snatched Maggie's attention away from her contemplation. She grabbed Sam's shoulders to help keep her up.
"I'm fine, I'm fine. Just…keep doing the phone thing." Sam shook Maggie off and her wave at Maggie's phone took her the other way. Maggie reached out to grab her again, hanging on until she was sure that Sam was as stable and balanced as momentarily possible.
She didn't have time to think much more about this issue, Sam needed to get home. Maggie found the right contact in her phone and put it to her ear. Her free hand impatiently tapping against her leg. She kept her eyes on Sam, ready for the next drunken attempt to get better acquainted with the ground. A quick breath of relief escaped when the ringing stopped.
"Hello?"
"Little Danvers, hey! I need you to come help me real quick."
"Is everything okay? Is it Alex? Oh my god! Sam, it's Sam, isn't it?"
"Slow down, Kara. We're both okay. She's just…drunk and I need help getting her back to Alex's. Are you busy?"
"For you or Sam? Never. Where are you?"
"On Goldfield, near 57th and Euclid. We're outside."
"I'll be right there."
Neither woman bothered with parting words. It wasn't necessary. Barely five minutes later, Kara was stepping out of a side street and jogging toward Maggie and Sam.
"Oh wow." Kara said as she was close enough to gauge Sam's state. "I haven't seen her like this in a while…"
"Yea. Let's get her back to Alex's."
Along the main street, they both slung one of Sam's arms over their shoulders and helped her walk down to where Kara had come from. Kara taking most of her weight. It made the process easier and faster than when Maggie had to do it on her own.
"I can take you both. It'd be a little hard but I could." Kara began to explain as she scooped Sam up. The youngest Danvers grumbled something unintelligible. Maggie guessed she would be passed out by the time Kara got to Alex's.
"No. Thanks but no. I have Alex's car."
"Okay. See you in a few."
Maggie watched Kara take off then took a deep breath before heading to the car and Alex's. This was going to turn into something. A sister pow wow between Alex and Kara and if it didn't then Maggie would start it. Two nights and two bad decisions involving alcohol was pointing toward Sam having a problem. Granted, Maggie mused as she started up the SUV and pulled out of her parking spot, Sam has had a rough few days. Discharged, arrested, reunited with her broken family. It would be enough to drive Maggie into a bottle.
"Why didn't you text me!?" Maggie stopped short, door handle still in hand and only a step into Alex's apartment. Her girlfriend was tense. Her shoulders stiff and her hands sat stony on her hips. More fear than anger in her eyes.
Maggie turned to shut the door. Slowly. Giving both of them time to take a breath. Maggie to remind herself that this wasn't about her. Alex, hopefully, to realize the same thing.
"Because," Maggie started. She walked closer to Alex and stopped a step in front of her. Kara was seated on the couch, presumably with Sam lying across it. "I didn't realize how drunk she was until we were leaving and I thought Kara could get her here faster. It slipped my mind to let you know what was going on."
Alex deflated and she closed her eyes. A deep frown on her face. "I'm sorry." She mumbled. "I really am. We just talked about this before you left."
"Don't worry about it. Not tonight." Maggie ran her hands up and down Alex's arms a few times before moving toward the couch. Kara sat with Sam's head in her lap. A glass of water and a bottle of pain killers on the coffee table. "How is she?"
"Passed out." Kara turned her worried eyes up to the women standing beside her. "Should we be worried?"
Alex shook her head and started, Maggie assumed, to deny it but she interrupted. "I think maybe you guys should be."
"Did something happen?" Alex asked.
"Not really but she drinks like you do." Maggie looked at Alex apologetically. Alex didn't have a problem as much as she was on the road to having one. It seemed like Sam was on that same road but a little further down it. "I think you guys should keep an eye on it."
"She's going to love that." Kara replied, looking down at Sam. She had one hand on her shoulder and the other curling with the side of her head.
Alex looked down at them. A twinge in her chest at the sight. She walked around Maggie and knelt beside them both. She took Kara's hand and rested her other on Sam's arm. She wouldn't let Sam do this to herself, or their family. They were working on it and she would help Sam work on this. Even if it would make things harder.
"We'll help her through it."
"She's going to be so mad though." Kara argued. "Sam hates being told what to do."
"We aren't going to tell her what to do. Right now, we're going to pay attention and see if Maggie is right." Alex's eyes reached up to Maggie's who smiled at her, keeping out of their moment but still offering her support. "If it is, and we both know it probably is, then we'll talk with her. Make sure Sam knows that we just want to help."
"Okay." Kara said quietly, a little sad. Alex's eternal optimistic sunshine was worried about their chances of getting Sam back. It scared her a little too but they needed to do it.
"Come on." Alex gently helped Kara out from under Sam. She hugged her tight. "Now go home, get some rest and we'll see what happens tomorrow."
"It'll all work out, Little Danvers." Maggie offered.
They both walked Kara to the door. After it was shut, Alex turned to Maggie who still had her jacket and shoes on. The prospect of her leaving made the weight on Alex's shoulders feel heavier. She wanted Maggie with her. The day had been one stressor after the next and she just wanted Maggie.
"Work?" Maggie nodded. "You can't stay a little bit longer?"
"No. I'm already going to be late as is."
"I'm sorry."
"Stop apologizing." Maggie said as she pulled Alex close to her, their noses brushing. Maggie leaned forward and to the side. Kissing her cheek. "I'm the one who said I'd go get her." Another kiss to her other cheek. "I'm the one who stayed there as long as we did." Then Maggie kissed Alex's lips gently and softly and it made Alex want to cry because it was so perfect and what she needed and she just really, really wanted Maggie to stay.
A sigh that sounded as disappointed as Alex felt escaped Maggie. "I'm also the one who needs to get to work." She pulled away with a smile. "I'll call and check up on her in the morning."
"One more day after this, right?"
"Right."
"God. I can't wait." Alex kissed Maggie again. "Be safe."
She stepped away after that. Alex wasn't sure she'd be able to let Maggie go if she didn't. "Always, Danvers." Then Maggie was gone and Alex was alone with her thoughts and her passed out sister. What a fucking day, Alex thought.