A/N: I didn't proof this at all. I got lazy. Sorry bout it...

It took Sam a few days, her mom coming into town and the resulting fight put everything on hold, but she finally made it down to the DEO. One because J'onn told her she should so she could get a real answer to her question and two because James needed a ride home. She didn't get the whole story but she was told it was a Guardian related incident and she had seen the news. The Guardian had gotten his butt kicked by Matello and Lena Luthor was an escaped felon and must be working with her mother.

It was a poor use of her infraction day off but James needed her and Sam wasn't going to turn her back on a friend. She told John it was a family emergency. He was understanding but also very unhappy. He'd be even less so when she called off for her psych tests.

She was not excited to be going into the DEO, for her own reasons on top of James being hurt. She had made it almost two days without speaking or seeing Alex and Kara. She wasn't eager for that streak to end. She clung to the anger instead of being embarrassed at how easily she was shaken by their mom simply being there or the hurt that she was still an outsider in their family. Anger was so much easier.

She gave all the necessary info to the woman at the front desk then headed toward the med bay. Hopes to avoid her sisters were demolished as she walked right into a storming away Kara, followed by James. Kara met her eyes but wasn't able to say anything as James got her attention. Sam hung back so they could talk. She knew both Kara and James missed each other. They needed this and despite how Sam was feeling at the moment about her sister, she wouldn't deny her the opportunity to mend a friendship.

Not that much mending happened. James was the one who ended up storming away. "I'll be outside." He muttered to Sam as he passed her. She turned to watch him go, weighing her options. There were only two: leave and let things be or confront Kara. The latter felt much more appropriate to Sam at the moment. Watching Kara be so self-righteous was infuriating. Add that to how she'd been feeling the past couple days and Sam was itching to go off. Especially on Kara.

"I'm not sure when you thought you cornered the market on being a hero but maybe you should lay off on James."

"That's not what–"

"That's exactly what you're doing. It's not your place to tell someone what they can and can't do. Who the fuck cares if you're Kryptonian? James wants to help and he is. And you heard him, he doesn't need you to protect him. Not everyone does and I really never understood why you think that? You aren't the end all be all protector, Kara, so maybe stop being so condescending and let James help."

"I'm not saying that he can't–"

Alex walked out as Kara's voice started inching higher. Sam rolled her eyes and fought the urge to just walk away then. "Sam?" She looked at Kara, seeing her distress then back to Sam. "What's going on?"

"Just letting Kara know that she isn't the superhero police and maybe she should stop being such an asshole and leave James alone."

"It's none of your business what happens between James and Kara."

"But it's your business what happens between me and Kara? Because that makes so much sense." Sam sneered. "Just go away Alex."

"No. Maybe you're the one who needs to leave if this is how you're going to act. Kara is allowed to be worried about her friend, she's allowed to advise him."

"She isn't 'advising' him! Are you kidding!?" Sam scoffed, wadding dangerously towards irate. Not because of James. Not because of James at all but because here was Alex, defending Kara. Even when she is so clearly wrong. "Kara is being tyrannical! And you're encouraging it! She's out here, putting all this faith in Lena but won't do the same for James! Two people who are both trying to better themselves! So, what's the difference, huh, Kara?"

"There isn't one! Lena is out there right now, Rao knows where and she could be hurt. Despite what you seem to think, that's the same reason I don't want James out there as Guardian! Because he. Could. Get. Hurt."

"But it isn't your place to tell him he's not allowed to be a hero! You aren't who gets to decide that!"

"Sam, stop." Alex stepped in front of Kara. Stopping whatever response she was going to have but effectively shielding her from Sam. A position of protection. For Kara.

Sam quieted, nodded her head. "Right." She said. All heat and volume gone from her voice. "You know she's wrong. But, you're still protecting her. Just like always."

She didn't wait around for whatever excuse Alex was replying with. James was waiting for her to take him home. She didn't want to hear it anyways.

The talk with J'onn didn't happen but Sam was in no mood to seek him out. She was pretty sure he just watched that argument unfold anyways. He was never far from wherever Alex was.

James didn't say anything to Sam as they walked toward his car. The only interaction they had was him silently handing his keys over. A slight concussion was keeping him from driving and was the reason Sam had to come pick him up.

"Where to?" She asked, never having been over to James's place.

"Let's go to your place." He answered. James was going to use this injury as an excuse to check in on Sam. Yesterday, when she had finally picked up his call, she hadn't been forthcoming with any details. Only confirmed that she was fine then hung up with a hasty goodbye.

"Uh, or I could just take you home. You'd be more comfortable there."

"Sam, my head is killing me. Just thinking about giving you directions to my place is making it worse. Please don't make me do that." He gave her a lazy smile and tried to make it as pained as possible. Which worked. Sam huffed once then started their drive.

James tried his best to pay attention to where they were going but his head really did hurt. After struggling through a few streets, he decided that he could just pin drop his location once they got there and James closed his eyes. Seconds later, at least that's how it felt, Sam was nudging him awake.

"We're here."

He looked out the window at a tall apartment building, closer to the coast than the center of the city but not in the docks side of town. The seedier part of National City.

They made their way up to the seventh floor. He was surprised to see a view of the ocean outside of her window. An old fire escape blocking part of the view. A testament to how old the building was. It wasn't run down or junky in any way though. Just older.

The next thing James noticed was the distinct lack of…everything. Just a general lack. Sam's duffle was tossed by an air mattress in the middle of the room. A single stool sat underneath the bar that separated the kitchen from the rest of the room. No TV, no real table, no real bed. If James didn't know that she had moved out hastily than he could've guessed it by what was in front of him.

"Welcome to my humble abode." Sam mumbled.

"Yea, thanks." James said, trying not to make his observations too obvious.

"I'll text Winn to come pick you up. He knows where you live right?"

"You have Winn's number?" James asked, shocked. He completely forgot about his worry over Sam when she said that.

She rolled her eyes at him. "I don't hate him as much as you guys think. At first, yea. I definitely hated him but now he's fine. Plus, Kara made sure that I had everyone's number in case anything happened."

"Of course."

"I said something to her for you."

James turned, a bit too fast which caused his mind to pitch sideways. "You didn't need to do that, Sam. In fact. I wish you hadn't."

"Why?" Sam furrowed her brow at him before looking down at her phone and tapping out her text. "She was being a dick."

"Yea," James nodded. "She was but this is between Kara and I. You don't need to get in the middle of it. We'll be fine and I want you guys to be fine too so please, I appreciate it but, don't fight my battles for me."

"Duly noted. Don't do James any favors. Got it, big guy." She flopped onto the air mattress. "I'd say make yourself at home but there's not much here." She rolled over and pulled her blanket over her. "Winn will be here soon."

Then she completely ignored James. He had no idea if she actually fell asleep or not but let her be all the same. His head hurt too much to go toe to toe with Sam.

She heard James's phone go off and then him get up. His steps hesitated somewhere near the door but then she listened as it opened and closed behind him. Sam rolled onto her back and looked around her apartment. Alone. She sighed and sat up. It was probably a good idea to get something to eat. Maybe call into the DEO and apologize to J'onn.

There was no excuse for how she acted. Really, she owed an apology to Kara and Alex too but that wasn't happening anytime soon. Sam wanted nothing to do with them. But she wanted everything to do with the DEO. Time to swallow her pride.