Violet sank into the couch, careful to position herself in a way that might prevent the shooting pain and the wince that followed when she moved too quickly. She knew that Alex and Maggie were both going to be hypervigilant with her for a while, and the more she could avoid showing pain, the better it would be for everyone.
Alex rounded the couch into the living room with her arms full and immediately illustrated Violet's point beautifully. "You doing ok? Just sore? Or more painful? Your room is all made up if you want to take a nap, and anything you need is here; I have your meds and water and Gatorade and snacks and books and movies and—"
Violet stopped Alex with a small smile and shake of the head. "I'm fine, just a little tired. Big day."
Alex stopped and lowered herself onto the coffee table so she was seated in front of Violet. "Very big day. And I'm glad you're home. But do me a favor; don't mask what you're feeling just because you think you're supposed to be fine now that you've been released. If something hurts, tell me. If you need something, let us know."
She had come up with her and left Maggie to park and bring up Violet's bag. They'd been watching her face in the car, and every time it turned a little too fast or went over a bump or pothole in the road Violet's face very noticeably tensed up. She thought she was so clever, making it seem like she wasn't in pain, but neither Alex nor Maggie was falling for that.
"I don't want anyone to worry about me any more than they already are." Violet met Alex's eyes with honesty. She had to keep so much to herself, which was exhausting, so she might as well be truthful about every little thing that she could.
"Kid, I promise you I will worry more if I think you're hiding something. I will do my absolute best not to hover or coddle, but that'll be a lot easier if you can meet me half way." Alex silently prayed this conversation would make the at-home recovery go a little smoother than the last time they had to navigate the patient/caregiver relationship. Violet relaxed a little and nodded as the door opened and Maggie stepped inside.
"Car is parked and unloaded, you getting settled in?" Maggie asked tentatively. She figured they'd either come home with a tired Violet or a grumpy overwhelmed Violet, and the ride home was so quiet that she honestly didn't have a clue which she would be walking into.
"All good here," Violet smiled tiredly at both of them. "Maybe this would be a good time for that nap? Behind a closed door for once?" she jokingly asked. The trip home was a little more draining than she had planned for, and the idea of a bed sounded like exactly what she needed.
"That could be a great idea," Alex smiled back, "And hey, before I forget; Kara texted and she wants to come by tonight – if you're up to it," she hurried.
"Yeah for sure. Invite everyone. It'll be nice to feel like things are back to normal." And Violet meant that, truly. After so long at the D.E.O., professionally monitored and constantly visited by doctors and nurses, it would be a relief to have a relaxed and comfortable night at home with her family and friends.
Maggie grinned as Alex nodded happily, "sounds like a plan."
Violet sat next to Kara in the living room, empty plates between them, and watched the buzz through the apartment with a content smile on her face. Maggie, Winn, and James were around the table, laughing and loudly discussing something NCPD related. Alex had gotten up with a grin and an eye roll and started clearing the table, leaving the three of them on their own. They were all equally stubborn, and clearly taking up different positions on whatever they were talking about, but were still somehow smiling and agreeable.
Violet had felt great when she got up, like she had finally been able to sleep soundly for the first time in ages. Kara had already been there when she woke up, quietly hanging out with Alex and Maggie, and Winn, James, and J'onn had arrived soon after. After a potluck style dinner, it was down to an easy, relaxing evening. No plans, no structure, just everyone together and happy. Violet was loving the people watching, relieved not to be the center of attention for once. Kara was people watching too, but had settled on just one person. The peaceful happiness on Violet's face was captivating, and Kara couldn't tear her eyes away.
Alex and J'onn eventually (and inevitably) found themselves talking shop in the kitchen. It was hard not to discuss work when they were together, there was just so much going on at any given time. And with everyone else preoccupied they sort of gravitated towards each other. J'onn finished giving Alex a quick rundown of the little progress they had been able to make with their Cadmus 'acquisition' over the last few days. Alex listened intently, nodding along as she and J'onn finished up dishes, completely unaware that Violet had come up behind them to add her and Kara's plates to their pile.
"Knowing that they're responsible for the attack in the warehouse means we need to be absolutely certain that we don't make any rash decisions," J'onn murmured to Alex, head down to muffle his voice. "This mission will be done right, by the book, with no room for emotional missteps."
Violet's ears perked up, realizing that they were talking, in a sense, about her.
"Once we can confirm the information that he's given us, we can put together a team," Alex quietly offered up her own suggestion on how to move forward, "and go after Cadmus in a more substantial way."
Violet froze. There was a roaring in her ears and she suddenly felt everything around her fade away.
She knew that word.
That name.
She remembered the anger and furious determination that flew across her mother's face any time it was mentioned. She remembered how much of her life had been dedicated to taking them down, to destroying them. To getting revenge.
They were the reason Maggie was gone.
Cadmus.
And it was already starting. If Cadmus was on their radar, if they were already at odds… then it was only a matter of time. I can't save her. We can't save her. It's all going to happen, all over again. Violet couldn't breathe. Couldn't move. Any hope she'd had that her presence alone would be enough to save Maggie disappeared the instant she heard the word 'Cadmus' pass Alex's lips.
Kara, still watching Violet closely, noticed her abrupt change; a look on her face that was miles away from the peaceful and content way she had been observing everyone around her. As Violet paled, Kara stiffened. Something was very, very wrong. "Violet?" she quietly called out, doing her best not to draw too much attention, "you ok?"
Alex heard Kara's voice and turned to see Violet behind her, wild eyed and petrified. She moved to her immediately, quickly taking stock of the situation. It didn't take much for her to realize Violet wasn't breathing; was too busy lost in her own head, frozen in place.
"Hey, Vi, breathe. Whatever it is, it's ok. You're ok." Alex murmured softly, leaning down ever so slightly until she was eyelevel with Violet. Maggie turned, sensing the shift in the room. She saw Violet and immediately stood up and left Winn and James to the rest of their conversation. As she made her way across the apartment she watched Alex gently reach out and take hold of Violet's wrists, careful not to smother her. "Violet. Baby, I need you to talk to me. What's wrong." Alex was getting more and more freaked out by the second. She had assumed this was another panic attack, but this time it was different. Violet seemed genuinely terrified and shaken. This 'episode' was significantly more intense than the overwhelmed panic that Alex had seen when she'd first arrived.
Maggie reached them both and guided them into the hallway, away from worried and prying eyes. Violet finally took a breath and made eye contact with them both, suddenly aware of her surroundings. "Hey, kid. Where'd you go? What's going on?" Maggie asked softly.
"I—" Violet stopped. She needed to get her shit together. She couldn't spill it all now, it would only push them to delve further into the Cadmus hole that would eventually get Maggie killed. If she was going to do something about this, if she even could, she had to do it herself. "I'm sorry, I'm ok," she forced a smile, but the look in her eyes told Alex and Maggie that she was far from ok. "I don't know what happened, I just… remembered something I guess."
Alex and Maggie glanced at each other, fully aware that Violet wasn't telling them everything. Or anything really. She was still so incredibly obviously freaked out.
Violet took a couple breaths, deep but shaky, and did her best to slow her racing heart and settle her mind. She knew when she had talked to Kara, when she told her not to change the past, that certain events, THIS certain event, was likely still coming. But facing it now, being able to see that far into the future…
"Hey, guys we're going to take off, give you your apartment back," Kara poked her head around the corner and spoke softly, not wanting to spook anyone any further. She wanted to give them space to deal with whatever was going on, and knew an audience was the exact last thing Violet needed right now. "Call me later, k?" she quietly directed to Alex. Alex briefly caught her eye and nodded once before she returned to focusing on Violet.
Violet watched Kara disappear, heard a bit of shuffling, and then the front door opened and closed. She immediately inhaled, centered herself, and forced herself to meet Alex and Maggie's worried faces. "I'm ok, I just… maybe this was all a little too much for my first night home. I'm just going to go to bed, k? Sorry I ruined the night."
"You didn't ruin anything," Alex assured as Violet pulled away and headed back through the apartment. She and Maggie stood in place and watched as Violet disappeared into her room.
"What. The fuck was that." Maggie whispered over her shoulder to Alex, eyes trained on Violets closed door.
"I have no idea."
Uninteresting (p)update: Broken doggo has had her surgery, gotten her cast off, gotten her stitches out, AND today she finally got to lose her Cone of Shame.
All that's left is a lot of boring kennel rest.
Which sucks for her, but for me it means I'll have plenty of time to make sure I'm writing at a "post-twice-a-week" pace. So we can all look forward to that, hopefully from here on out with as few hiccupy interruptions as possible.