Supergirl is the property of Warner Bros. and DC Comics. I'm just messing around with the characters and will hand them back when done. Supergirl ROCKS! Can't wait to see what is in store for the second half of the season!
Kara sat quietly, shoulders slightly hunched forward, listening as Lucy left her apartment to meet James in the lobby. The tension was palpable. She could almost feel the waves of disapproval emanating from Cat. It didn't make it any easier knowing she wasn't the focus. Adam was silent, not moving, while Carter was fidgeting from the tension between his mom and brother.
What Adam had said hurt. A lot. His apology and promise not to out her as Supergirl did little to negate the damage of his initial outburst. His words hit her harder, she realized, because she did like him. She enjoyed the time they spent together prior to Bizarro making her appearance.
Suck it up, Kara. He apologized and you're gonna have to trust him not to tell the world you are – or were – Supergirl. If he does … well, maybe I'll sic Alex on him. The thought of her protective big sister made her smile as she recovered some of her natural good humor. Yeah, I can see Alex totally ruining his day. She'd enjoy it, too.
"Mom, we need to talk about this some –"
Carter was cut off by Cat, "Not now. Later. In private."
Kara didn't need her eyesight to know Cat was looking in her direction. Kara bit back a sigh. I'm sorry, Cat. I'll keep my distance. I don't want you to feel you have to choose between me and Adam. There's no choice – he's your son. You two were finally starting to build a relationship – don't blow it because of what he said about me. I'll be okay.
Kara took in a breath and held it before slowly letting the air leave her lungs. Focus on something else. Anything else. Wonder what Lucy's going to tell James about our adventure tonight?
Kara frowned as she concentrated on what she heard in the lobby. Someone's shooting at Lucy? Wait, that's the signal from James' watch. Kara abruptly stood up startling the other occupants in the room.
"What's going on?" Adam asked.
Kara cocked her head. She wasn't listening to him.
"Mom, something's going on – she's turning into Supergirl," Carter observed sounding awed and a little wary.
"Cat – someone shot James. He and Lucy are in the elevator on the way up here right now. Call the police. The gunman is trying to shoot Lucy – has to do with the trial. I'm going to see if I can't help them," Kara announced. "Keep the door shut and locked behind me. Whoever it is probably doesn't know you and Carter are here so, keep quiet."
"I'm going with you, Kara," Adam announced.
"No, you're not," Cat contradicted.
"Yes, I am. She can't see. What if –"
"She's impervious to bullets – you're not," Cat reminded him.
"Cat – call the police. NOW!" Kara said as she started walking in the general direction of the front door. She felt around for a few seconds looking for the actual door.
"Kara, I'm going to be your eyes," Adam said as he grasped her arm. "The door's over here."
Adam opened the door and quickly led Kara through it.
"Close the door and lock it," he called over his shoulder. "Elevator is to the left, over here."
"What's over there?" Kara asked pointing.
"The end of the hallway … a stairwell. Why?"
"I can hear someone in there running up the stairs. How far down the hall is it?" Kara asked. Using the wall as a guide, she was already jogging toward the stairway.
"About sixty feet," Adam said as he followed her.
"Okay, got it," Kara said quickly closing the distance to the door. She grasped the handle of the metal stairwell door and turned toward Adam. "Get back to the elevator – help Lucy and James! Get them into Lucy's apartment and wait for the police. I'm going to make sure this guy can't get through the door. Wait – the door – are there any windows in it?"
"No – no windows."
"Good – get back. Help them and wait for the police – go!" Kara ordered as she heard steps approaching the door. Hone into this guy's heartbeat, memorize it, follow it if it moves away from the door. Concentrate.
Kara ignored the silenced gunshots she heard on the other side of the door.
/
Lucy waited against the wall as the elevator doors opened. Almost immediately an arm broke the plane of the doorway. Gotcha, asshole! Lucy grabbed the arm and executed the classic straight arm bar take down taught in her basic hand to hand class. She made sure to take her adversary's face into the back wall of the elevator as she took him down. She grimly smiled with pleasure when he cried out as his nose broke against the wall.
Adam? What the hell?
"Ow! Son of a bitch! Lucy? It's Adam! I'm not the bad guy!" Adam's voice was a mixture of pain and annoyance. "Shit, I think you broke my nose."
"Adam? What the hell are you doing here? There's a guy with a gun –"
"Yeah. I know. Kara's keeping him from opening up the stairwell door. She wanted me to help you and James into your apartment." Adam looked to the other side of the elevator door where James had crawled to make himself a smaller target and to give Lucy more room to work. "Aw, man, you don't look so good."
"Back … back at ya," James replied with a ghost of a smile. "Luce … a little …help?"
"I'll help," Adam offered wiping the blood from his still bleeding nose on his shirt. "Where is the … um … bullet hole?"
"Back … other side … just … just help me up … yeah – okay" James felt his knees wobble as Adam helped him into a quasi-standing position. Hard to breathe. Maybe collapsed lung? Come on, James. You have to get out of this elevator.
Lucy carefully checked the hallway. Kara was still holding the doorknob of the stairwell door.
"James, put your arm around my shoulder if you can. There, like that, go ahead and lean on me if you need to," Lucy directed. "You ready? Okay, let's go."
The three slowly made their way down the hall to Lucy's apartment. The sound of wailing sirens could be heard in the distance. Lucy banged on her apartment door.
"Cat, open up. Please – hurry! It's us. James is hurt. Cat –"
The apartment door opened slightly then widely as Cat stepped back allowing the trio inside.
"Floor's good … Luce … easier," James said as his strength gave out nearly dragging Lucy and Adam down with him.
"Adam? What –" Cat started to ask before Adam cut her off.
"I'm okay … just an accident. Did you call –"
"They're on the way. Where's Kara?"
"Last I saw she was still at the end of the hall guarding the door," Lucy said as she cut off James' shirt. "Carter? There's a first aid kit under the sink in the bathroom. Could you please bring it here?"
/
I think he's heard the sirens. Is he going up? Sounds like it … yep. Probably going to hide on one of the upper floors when the cops get here figuring they'll only search the lower floors. That's okay, mister. I know your heartbeat. When the time comes, I'll take the cops straight to you. Better get back to Lucy's apartment right now.
Kara was distracted listening to the heartbeat of the goon as she slowly walked down the hallway. Crap, is that about sixty feet? I can hear them inside the apartment. Where is that door? I don't want to –
"FREEZE! POLICE! DON'T MOVE! HANDS UP! GET ON YOUR KNEES! TURN AROUND! GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR!" Came multiple conflicting orders from both sides of the hall and the elevator.
Well the police are here, anyway.
"Officers, the guy who shot my friend ran up to the eighth floor," Kara said as she slowly sank to her knees and put up her hands.
"Do you have any weapons on you?" a voice asked from about six feet away.
"No, I told –"
"Okay – I'm going to check. Put your hands on top of your head and interlace your fingers. Good – just like that."
Kara felt someone grab her hands and hold them steady as a hand roughly checked her for concealed weapons.
"What are you doing to her?" Cat's voice was sharp. "She's with us. She –"
"Sorry, ma'am," another voice said. "She was out in the hall … wait, aren't you Cat Grant? Didn't you –"
"STOP! There's a man who is injured, shot, in this apartment. Are you going to continue to harass a blind woman or are you going to help?" Cat's acerbic tone was music to Kara's ears.
"Cat – the guy is on the eighth floor. Hiding someplace there!" She'll be able to get them to check.
"I've already got six officers checking the building, ma'am. We'll find –"
"Sergeant Biggs, is it? I suggest you have your officers immediately check the eighth floor first, thoroughly," Cat instructed.
"She's right, Sergeant," Lucy's voice came from Cat's location.
That must be where the door was. I wasn't too far off then.
"He may know someone up there," Lucy implied. "He's a white male, about thirtyish? about your height, medium build. I think he had on a tan jacket. I only got a quick look at him. The doorman, Ron, he can give you a better description. Is there an ambulance here? My friend was shot – he needs medical attention badly."
"Connors, let her up."
Kara allowed the hands to 'help' her to her feet as Sergeant Biggs continued to bark orders.
"I've got you, Kara," Cat's voice was close and soft as a hand wrapped around her left wrist. "You sure he's on the eighth floor?"
"Yes," Kara was reluctant to elaborate in front of anyone else. "How is James?
"He's hurt, badly. No – stay here. There's not too much room in there – we'll only get in the way. Lucy's had some medical training and," Cat continued in a loud voice, "I assume medical help will be here shortly."
"Paramedics are on their way up as we speak," Sergeant Biggs replied to Cat's unasked question. "Best in the – here they are now. In there, guys. This one's still alive."
"Exactly what do you mean by that, Sergeant?" Cat asked.
"Ah … not supposed to say anything to the media. Sorry ma'am. Any information needs to come from our press officer. But, hey, I heard there was a hellacious fire in your apartment this afternoon … good thing you were here visiting your friend. It's not –"
Sgt. Biggs' response was cut off by the sound of gunshots from several stories above followed by radio chatter.
"Gotta go –" the sergeant abruptly ended the conversation.
Kara stiffened. I don't … I don't hear his heartbeat anymore.
"What is it? Kara? What's wrong?"
"I … I think the police found him and … he … he didn't want to give up," Kara willed Cat to read between the lines. There were still too many people nearby.
"Oh."
Kara could tell from Cat's inflection that she understood.
"Gotta move, ladies," a harried voice said. "They're bringing the gurney out now – have to have some room to swing it around and get on the elevator."
"Can I talk to him? Please? Just for a minute?" Kara asked.
"He ain't going to have a minute if we don't get him out of here. Sorry."
The sound of people rushing, pushing a gurney …
That thready heartbeat. Weak. Fast.
"James? James – don't worry – these guys are the best, okay? Stay strong, I'll –," Kara called out.
"Lady, save your breath. He can't hear you. He's out cold," the voice said. "Come on, guys, move it! He'll be at National City General – they're the best with gunshot wounds. You riding in the rig with us?"
"Yes," Lucy answered. "I'm his …"
"You can't go, Ms. Lane, we still have questions to ask you," a youngish sounding officer said.
"Send someone to the hospital. That's where I'll be. Excuse me," Lucy countered. "Kara, Cat, I'll call you."
The elevator doors closed.