Kate and I finish lunch rather quickly. We leave as soon as we're done eating and head back to her shop. As soon as she opens the door and walks in, I make a beeline for the book shelves.

"Katherine, this is fantastic!" I yell from behind the stacks. Kate laughs then turns on the television. The channel is on PGN (Planet Global Network) news, and from the sound of it Cat Grant is doing her daily news feed. When I come out from behind the shelves, I can see she's reporting on the explosions in Suicide Slums. The call for help came across my Justice League com-link earlier but before I could respond, Superboy said he would take care of it.

Kate is paying attention to the television so when I speak she jumps slightly. "That's Cat Grant, took over for William McCoy a few years back. I've always liked her nose for news but in person she's kind of annoying. Half the time Lois wants to rip Cat a new one. Of course Clark is there to intervene."

"Lois, as in Lois Lane?" I figured since she's an investigator, Kate would know who I associate with but maybe she's not as interested in Linda as she is in Supergirl.

"Mhm, she's Clark's girlfriend. Runs the digital division there. Pretty much the producer. Clark prefers to work with newspaper division."

"And Clark's your cousin?" I can't tell if she's playing dumb because she can't let me know she's Batwoman, or she honestly forgot the conversation I was having with him a few nights ago.

"Yep. He's the cousin I used to visit in Smallville." Kate looks like she's about to say something but my attention gets called to the screen.

"Here is the footage from earlier today," says Cat.

The clip starts off with some girl filming and narrating footage of Suicide Slums. "I know that voice," I tell Kate. "That's Lucy's."

Suddenly, an explosion happens across the street. She falls back slightly but recovers and heads towards the explosion. Just as she hits the sidewalk, another building explodes half a block down the street, then another, then another. The entire area is on fire. The next explosion knocks Lucy on the ground. I can feel the heat rise behind me eyes and my grip on Kate's counter tightens to the point where I'm compressing the metal. I know it is past footage, but I still find myself praying for Lucy's safety.

To my relief, the camera slowly rises and continues filming. It turns to the sky and I see a streak go across it. Superboy, like usual, makes a harsh landing and starts putting out the fires. No matter how many times Clark and I chastise him he still causes some level of damage when he lands. When all is said and done, the fires are out and those who were in the street are clapping and cheering. In the corner of the video I see a hand move and hear a loud whistle.

"That's my girl, that's my Lucy." I loosen my grip on the counter and my heart rate slows down. An elated feeling fills me as the tape goes on for a few more seconds before it cuts back to Cat. I don't bother listening and grab my cellphone to call Lucy. After four rings she picks up.

"Hello? Oh Lucy, thank the Lord you're okay."

"I guess this means you saw the news, huh? Good timing right?"

"Mhm, I just saw it. You were definitely in the right place at the right time."

"I'd say so. After Superboy left I called Lois and gave her the exclusive. After she chewed me out, she gave me a hug and got my story."

I keep talking to Lucy like a preppy school girl until I'm amongst the book again. There, the elated feeling goes away and I start talking straight to her. "Luce, before you get out another word, I just gotta say my heart stopped when that explosion knocked you down. I thought the worse."

"Sorry girl. I was only there to do a mini-documentary on the homeless. The explosions weren't on the to-do list."

"Do they know what caused them?"

"If by 'they,' you mean the police and firefighters, then no. Lois has her theories though."

"Let me guess, they all revolve around Lex Luthor."

"Pretty much. I keep reminding her he's in jail and those explosions wouldn't benefit him much but she's still holding on. Clark thinks it has to do with Intergang."

"That's a lot more plausible than Lois's theory. Though they're usually not this open with their attacks. There's gotta be something or someone else at play."

"Clark thinks so too."

"Good, good." Lucy and I talk more about the story and the different humanitarian projects she's working on when she throws an idea at me.

"Hey Linda, you know how Colonel Kane does that fundraiser for the women's homes and the VA?"

"Yeah."

"Do you think it would be okay if I come to Gotham for a little bit? You know I've never been and I've always wanted to go. Besides, Lois says I need to take some time off and rest a bit."

I want to tell Lucy that Kane has been neglecting his duties to the women's shelters but there's no reason for me to pop that bubble just yet. "Usually the Daily Planet doesn't cover the fundraiser, only PGN does, but I'll see if Perry or Cat can get me in."

"Cool. When is the fundraiser?"

"A week from now."

"Great, I'll talk it over with Lois. Maybe if Perry says yes to the DP covering the event, I can go with Jimmy on its expense." Leave it to Lucy to find a way to not have to pay for something. Wait a minute…

"What makes you think Perry will send Jimmy?"

"Because you two work together well and you have a history and he'll probably volunteer and-"

"Okay, I get it, I get it." I leave the bookshelves and head back to the register. Kate was flipping through the channels but stopped halfway through my conversation with Lucy.

"I'll call Lois and let her know our plans."

"Okay, I'll see you then." We chat for a bit more and then I hang up. I look over at Kate and give her a big smile.

"What's got you so happy?" she asks.

"Lucy. Lois wants her to take a break after what happened today so she's on her way here." The brief falter in Kate's smile does not go unmissed by me.

"That's great." She's not happy.

"It really is, and you'll like her. Everyone likes Lucy."

"If you like her, I'll like her." I think she's jealous.

"Cool." I slip my phone in my pocket and lean on the counter. "So…"

"So…" The confusion on Kate's face is evident.

"So…I like the books you have. I would get a few but I'm already so busy with work and books I still need to read."

"Well, when you're not busy and done with those books, you know where to find me."

"Yep."

Kate starts talking again but my hearing picks up a distress call. "Linda, are you okay?"

"Huh?" The call is from Cassie.

"I said are you-"

"Hey Kate, I-I've gotta go. I'm sorry but something important just came to mind."

"What? Like a story?"

"Something like that. I need to go. Sorry..." I don't even finish my sentence and run out the door. If Cassie is calling for help, the situation cannot be good.

X

Five hours later, Cassie and I hobble into the apartment. Well, it's more like Cassie is hobbling and I'm supporting her. "I told you going after its knees was a bad idea."

"How was I supposed to know that?"

"By me saying 'stop, don't go for the knees'." Cassie leans on me a little more as I unlock my door. "At least he only cracked your knee. It could've been your head if he had struck a moment sooner."

"You mean if I hadn't moved a moment sooner." I look Cassie in the eyes, our faces a mere inch or two from each other, and raise an eyebrow at her.

"After he kicked you through that wall, you slowed down. In other words, I stand by my statement." I open the door and help Cassie to the couch. "It's a good thing you're staying with me for a few days. Otherwise, we would be forced to explain to Diana how you got injured."

"It doesn't matter," she leans against the couch with one hand and looks at me, "she probably saw the news anyway."

"Well let's hope not for our sake."

I go to the kitchen and grab an ice pack and my last root beer from the fridge. I help Cassie onto the couch then hand her the root beer. She pops it open as I shift her so I can sit on the couch while her leg is stretched across my lap. Carefully, I roll her pant leg up and set the pack on her knee.

"You know, you could probably use your super breath and heat vision to take care of it."

"A, I'm not an Icy Hot Pack and B, that would only work if your muscles were sore. Unfortunately, the bone is cracked and even an Amazon doesn't heal that quickly."

"I would if I was on Themyscira."

"Oh, so do you want me to leave and explain to Epione, Diana, and Hippolyta how you got your butt kicked by an overgrown…whatever that was?" Cassie purses her lips and takes a swig of root beer. "That's what I thought. You'll have to make do with good ole' fashion healing."

"Whatever. Wait-ow!"

"Try not to move."

"Whatever. Don't you have that super-quickie, Kryptonian healer stuff?"

"Super. Quickie. Kryptonian healer stuff." I rub the bridge of my nose and pull my glasses off. "First off, it's a special Kryptonian salve and second, yes. However, I only have so much right now. I'd rather use it for emergencies."

"This is an emergency!"

"It's just a crack. A week or so in a cast will take care of it."

"A week!" Cassie flinches again as she shifts her leg. "I can't stay off my knee for a week!"

"Be glad you're Amazonian. If you were a normal human it would be longer."

Cassie crosses her arms and pouts like a three year-old. "It's not fair." I tilt my head and pout in return. She looks up and tries to resist my puppy-dog look but soon a small smile forms on her lips. I push my lip out more and make a whimpering noise. Her smile widens and she rolls her eyes at me. "I hate how that always works."

"Don't feel so bad, not even Jimmy could resist that look."

"Oh, so only Jimmy and me can't resist you?"

"Actually, you and Jimmy are the only ones I ever use it on. But with Jimmy I only used it twice on him. And that's when we were dating."

"I guess that makes me special."

I smile and pat Cassie on her thigh. "Very…Look if getting better quickly means that much to you, I'm sure I can spare a little bit of the salve."

"Thank you." I gently move Cassie's leg off my lap and go my bedroom. The healer's kit is underneath my bed in a black doctor's bag. It doesn't take long for me to mix the amount of salve needed. I grab a wooden bite stick from the bag too and walk back to the living room.

"Here, you'll need this." She looks at the stick pointedly.

"You're kidding."

"Nope. This isn't just a sprain Cassie. It's working on broken bone. Plus, I really don't want you screaming. That's the last thing I need my neighbor's to hear."

"Why? Has it happened before?" I rub the bridge of my nose again as Cassie smiles at me.

"Just put the stick in your mouth." She follows my orders then gives me a wink; proud that her innuendo ruffled some feathers. "Keep smiling. You won't when this hits your knee."

"I dou-Ugh!" Cassie's back arches as soon as the salve touches her knee. I can hear the wood crack as her jaw tightens. Her fist starts banging against the edge of the couch and I grab it to keep her from breaking it. We stay in this position for one or two more minutes until she finally starts to relax. The salve only took a minute to work but the pain tends to stick around longer. A nasty aftereffect I've yet to stop.

"Cassie, you okay?" I brush her hair from her face and she nods.

"Why does it hurt so much?" she pants out.

"Impurities. On Krypton it only stung a little but since I can only use what Kal grows in his garden at the fortress, I had to improvise. On top of it, your body isn't used to healing at such an accelerated rate. Sorry."

Cassie grabs the hand that's running through her hair and holds it. "It's okay. Here's your bite stick back."

I laugh a little and take it from her. "You cracked it."

"You sound surprised. It was either bite harder or scream." Cassie winks at me and I pull my hand away.

"This is why I rarely hang out with you outside of Themyscira. Always with the innuendos."

"I thought it was darker reasons." She tries to make the comment sound light but the implications are there.

The smiles are gone and I let out sigh. "We do need to talk."

"I know. Just not tonight."

"Cassie."

"Please." It's not like Cassie to plead for anything, so I comply and let it go for now.

"Okay. Not tonight, but definitely tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

I jump when the Justice League communicator goes off in my ear. I forgot it was still there. "Supergirl, I need your help."

I know that voice. "Since when does The Question need help?"

"Since Kate's injured."

The fact she didn't say Batwoman lets me know she knows Supergirl is friendly with Kate. It shouldn't surprise me. There's a reason the first Question chose the Gothamite ex-detective as his successor.

"What happened?"

"A group of thugs got the better of her. I need you to get here and use that Kryptonian balm on her." I have no idea where she got that information from. It's not like I use it often.

"I'm a little busy at the moment." I look at Cassie and see she's resting with her eyes closed. "It might take a while."

"How long are you going to be?"

Cassie opens her eyes and gives me a weak smile. "Not sure. My friend deserves some attention at the moment."

"I understand."

I sit down on the coffee table and brush my fingers through Cassie's hair. She closes her eyes again and starts to hum. "Plus, she's a bit banged up herself. You can see my predicament."

"Yes, that would be difficult to get out of."

"However, you asked for help so I'll give it. I just need some time to prepare."

"Fine, I'll watch her as long as I can."

"Thank you. See you in a little while."

"Okay, good night Kara." I pull the communicator out of my ear and set it on the table.

"Why was The Question calling you?" asks Cassie.

"She needs my help. Batwoman's hurt."

"What happened?"

"She got bested. That's all I know."

"Okay." I can see the healing process tired her out, which shouldn't surprise me. It's another aftereffect of the salve.

"Here," I put my arms under Cassie and help her stand up, "let's get you tucked in before I leave."

Cassie wraps her arms around my shoulders as I walk her to the guest bedroom. "Can I sleep in your room tonight?"

"Are you sure that's a good idea?"

"I'll be fine Kara. And so will you." I look for any doubt, any small spark of fear, in Cassie's eyes. There's a reason we've avoided being alone together; there's still the fear of getting hurt, for her anyway. I've always been afraid of causing the fear.

But there's none in her eyes, only assurance and maybe a hint of stubbornness. "Okay. I'll get you some PJs." I set her on the bed and grab a t-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts for her. "This should do. You should be able to get dressed on your own." I leave the room to get the leftover salve, bite stick, and com-link. I also finish off her root beer and put the bottle in the recycling. By the time I'm back in the room, she's only changed her top.

In order to keep giving her privacy, I put the stuff in my bag and go to the large safe that's in my walk-in closet; it's where I keep my uniforms. I listen as she changes so I don't turn around too soon. When I'm sure she's ready, I pull out a uniform and get changed at super speed as I step out of the closet. Cassie smiles and hands me her clothes. "I always thought it was cool how you could do that."

I fold her clothes and set them on top of the chest of drawers. "It's cool until you start ripping a few shirts because of how fast you're going." I pull back the covers and tuck Cassie in. She snuggles into the bed and wraps her arms around the body pillow I handed her. I've never seen her tired like this before. The salve wouldn't have done it to this level. This has to be more than physical exhaustion. I should have a talk with her about it in the morning if at all possible. I kiss her on the forehead and grab the doctor's bag off the floor.

Right now, I have a red-head to go take care of.

For those who don't know this, this story is supposed to revolve around Kate (Batwoman) and Linda(Supergirl/Kara). But it's kind of been revolving around Kara and her relationship with other people. I guess it just goes to show you never know what you're gonna get when you start a story. For instance, I didn't think it would be this long.