Author Note: Well. Shit I don't know how that time went so fast. My sincerest apologies to anyone that has been waiting for this fic to be update. I can't believe I haven't updated for so long. 2019 went so unbelievably quick and I can't believe this happened. It's all excuses I know but I am sincerely sorry. For anyone still here and sticking around - I haven't forgotten this story, I just got caught up with life and shit. Thank you for still reading, hope you are all well, now have some angst. Content Warning: Angst, strong coarse language
Tess stared up at the shelves, holding a stack of plates in her hands. How could shelves be so intimidating. Her hands were sweating and she already felt like her arms were starting to shake with the effort of lifting the plates. She'd been out of hospital for two weeks at this point, but even so her chest still ached. The large incision looping down from under her armpit to the centre of her chest was painful at the best of times, let alone when she was trying to do things she shouldn't. Kara had left a note that she'd gone out to to deal with an emergency whilst Lena was out getting food for dinner. Alex and Maggie were coming over later, so Tess wanted to do her part and at least put away the dishes. But for the time being Tess felt a little helpless. Every time she tried to lift the plates higher her incision stretched painfully, as did the smaller stabs wounds on her torso. She finally no longer had any stitches, just a few bandage strips holding the wound edges closed, but it still felt like she was one wrong move away from the wounds tearing themselves open. Especially doing something she wasn't supposed to do for at least another week or so. Tess took a painful deep breath before lifting the plates up higher to the shelf height before the front door swung open, startling her and causing her to drop the plates, "Shit!"
Tess looked at the broken plates scattered around her feet before looking up and meeting eyes with Alex and Maggie.
"Are you okay Tess?" Alex dropped some items on the kitchen bench before closing the distance between them, her shoes crunching on broken plates. Tess looked back at the floor, looking at the sea of shards surrounding her feet, blocking her from moving in any direction. "I was just trying to help..." Tess muttered more to herself than Alex.
"I'll clean this up don't worry, babe." Maggie quickly appeared with a broom to sweep up the pieces as Alex checked Tess over.
"You really shouldn't be trying to do things like that yet Tess." Alex's voice was full of concern as she carefully directed Tess out of the mess through the path Maggie cleared.
Tess silently followed Alex, her shoulders slumping as she was directed to the couch.
"I don't want you putting any unnecessary stress on your incision, it'll delay your healing." Alex knelt down in front of Tess, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Tess can you look at me for a sec, please?"
Tess slowly looked up at Alex, her silent facade crumbling as she met Alex's eyes again and her lips started to tremble, "I just wanted to help Alex."
Alex instantly leant forward, capturing Tess in a hug, "Ssshh, it's okay. I've got you."
Tess clung to Alex, burying her face in Alex's neck, "I can't do this Alex."
Alex rubbed circles into Tess' back as she held her tightly, "Yes you can hun. I'm here for you. So is Kara, and so is Maggie and so is Lena. We've got you."
Tess stayed silent apart from the small sobs escaping her, her knuckles white from holding onto Alex so tight.
Kara opened the door to her apartment one-handed, the other occupied with two pizza boxes. Kara had quickly dealt with a Supergirl emergency and had still had time to meet up with Lena on her way back from getting potstickers and pizza for dinner. It was actually lucky considering Lena was struggling to carry the large number of potstickers Kara had insisted on ordering. Kara laughed at the joke Lena had just made about her appetite before she finally looked into her apartment. Maggie was sweeping up broken plates still and after a few moments Kara laid eyes on Alex near the couch with Tess holding onto her tightly. Kara's forehead crinkled as she quickly took in the scene and placed the pizza boxes on the table, "Is everything okay?"
Maggie knelt down to pick up the large shards of plate, "Nothing we can't handle Kara."
Lena placed the potstickers onto the table next to the pizza, noticing Alex in the background with Tess, "I'll help you finish up with this Maggie." Lena motioned for Kara to go over to Alex and Tess as she walked over to Maggie to help.
Kara quickly moved to Alex and Tess, kneeling down next to Alex, "Hey, what's going on..."
Tess didn't release her grip on Alex as she slowly turned her head to look at Kara, "It was my fault."
Kara reached out to wipe a tear off Tess' cheek, "That doesn't matter. Are you okay?"
Tess slightly loosened her grip on Alex, "Everything's aching again..."
Kara looked at the clock before looking back at Tess, "You're due for your medicine now..."
Tess sighed, nodding as she let go of Alex but left her head resting on Alex's shoulder, "Can we eat dinner on the couch though?"
Alex chuckled, "Move over so I can sit next to Maggie and we have a deal."
Kara chuckled a little herself, "Yeah okay fine, Lena and I will sit on the other couch."
Tess finally smiled a little, pulling away from Alex to slowly shuffle over on the couch.
Kara tucked into the potstickers as she sat crossed legged on the couch next to Lena. She surveyed the scene as she took another mouthful. The two pizza boxes were strewn on the floor, as was an already empty box of potstickers. Maggie was taking a swig of her beer as Alex lazily leaned against her, occasionally yelling out answers to the gameshow playing on TV. Alex's other arm was draped around Tess, gently holding her close, Tess was in turn leaning against Alex, holding a cushion to her chest for comfort. Kara looked at Lena next to her, raising an eyebrow as she met Lena's eyes.
Lena sat with her elbow resting on the arm of the couch, propping herself up with a smirk on her face, "How are you still eating, Kara?"
Kara blushed a little, "Potstickers can't go to waste."
Lena's smirk just got bigger, "If only I had a kryptonian metabolism."
Kara shrugged, giving Lena a once over, "You don't have anything to worry about babe."
Lena bit the side of her lip, "Maybe you can remind me later tonight?"
Kara inhaled sharply, opening her mouth to reply before she was hit with a cushion.
Tess glared at her from across the room, "Don't be gross."
Kara blushed again as Lena laughed, "Sorry Tess."
Alex piped up, "Hey we heard it too! Keep it in your pants Luthor."
Lena shrugged, "Didn't stop you and Maggie last week in my bathroom, Danvers."
Maggie nearly spit out her beer, "How do you know about that?!"
"You broke my tap!" Lena exclaimed.
Tess pulled away from Alex, "Ew Alex really!?"
Alex grinned sheepishly, "So that's why you have that bruise on your ass…"
Maggie slapped Alex, "Alex! Too much information!"
Tess stood up, blocking her ears and walking away, "Someone go put me back in a coma, please."
Kara quickly chased after Tess, "Hey we're allowed to talk about our relationships!"
Tess rolled her eyes, "Of course, but you guys are gross."
Alex came over too, pulling Tess' face to hers and giving her a kiss on the cheek, "But you love us."
Kara joined in, kissing Tess' other cheek, "Even if you think we're gross right?"
Tess couldn't stop herself from laughing as she wiped her cheeks, "Fine okay you win. Go kiss your girlfriends not me!"
Alex gave Tess another cheeky kiss on the forehead before moving back to Maggie, "Only cos you said so."
"Don't worry Tess, Kara and I do a lot that we keep to ourselves." Lena smirked at Tess before getting up and meeting Kara with a deep kiss.
Tess groaned, "I don't need reminding Lena. I sleep in the next room."
Kara's eyes widened as she pulled away from Lena, "I didn't think of that…"
Lena shrugged, "That's why I make her go to bed early and tell you to be quiet," Lena leant closer to Kara to whisper in her ear, "And why I told you about that other item last week."
Kara's face turned a bright red, avoiding Alex and Maggie's confused look as she spun round to the fridge, "Does anyone need another drink?"
Lena smirked and raised an eyebrow as she looked up at Kara. Finally Alex and Maggie had gone home and Tess was in bed sound asleep. Now her and Kara could get to what they'd been alluding to all night.
Kara was straddling Lena's waist, her legs either side of Lena's hips and her hands next to Lena's head. "You're so beautiful."
Lena reached up, pulling Kara's face to hers and enveloping her lips in a kiss.
Kara reached down to the hem of Lena's top, not breaking away as her fingers gracefully started pulling up the shirt.
Lena let go of Kara's face, putting her arms up quickly to allow Kara to remove her top, leaving her in her bra before they returned to a passionate kiss. Her hands drifted underneath Kara's own top, tracing the hard muscle of Kara's abdomen.
Kara let out a small moan into their kiss, her own hands tracing up Lena's sides.
Lena smiled into their kiss, starting to remove Kara's top until Kara abruptly pulled away. Lena frowned at Kara's sudden frozen state, "Kara?"
Kara's head tilted to the side, she was distracted. Drowning out her own rapid heartbeat along with Lena's, she heard Tess' rapidly increasing from the other room.
Lena was puzzled, "What is-" Lena was cut off by a sudden scream.
Kara instantly ran to the other room, Lena pausing to pull on her top again before quickly following.
Kara was on the ground with Tess, her arms tightly wrapped around her and gently rocking her.
Tess was in tears, shaking in Kara's arms and gasping.
Lena dropped to the ground, joining Kara in wrapping her arms around Tess so that she was tucked tightly between them. "We've got you Tess."
"They're gone. They're just gone and it's my fault!" Tess was hysterical as she continued to shake in their arms.
"It's alright Tess. It's not your fault. It's not your fault." Kara placed a kiss on Tess' temple, lingering slightly in the hopes that some affection would help Tess calm down.
"It is…" Tess dropped her head against Lena, "You know it is…"
Lena rested her chin on Tess' hair, pausing to take a deep breath, "It's not. I promise. You are loved and you are safe."
Tess started to shake less, but her tears kept coming. "I don't deserve it…"
"Yes you do. Everyone deserves to be loved. Everyone." Kara pulled a hand away, wiping away some of Tess' tears and brushing hair out her face.
Lena's heart swelled at Kara, she melted at Kara's kind and gentle nature.
"Don't leave me…" Tess mumbled into Lena's chest.
Kara gently pulled Tess away from Lena to lift her up and take her to their own bed, "Come on, I've got you."
Lillian averted her gaze from the ceiling as a knock sounded on her cell door. She sat up abruptly as her cell door opened up, a guard with a bandanna covering the bottom half of his face entering the room, "Isn't it a little past visiting hours?"
"I guess it's a good thing I'm not here for a visit." The guard man lowered his mask, grinning at Lillian.
Lillian tried to hide her surprise, "What are you doing here?"
Marcus chuckled to himself, "Information of course. You're in a unique position to help me achieve my new goals."
"In prison?" Lillian glanced around her cell before returning her gaze to Marcus.
"Obviously you'll do more good for me on the outside." Marcus held the cell door open, "Ladies first."
Lillian eyed him suspiciously, "Surely any information I can give you isn't worth what you're offering me."
"You can get closer than I can to those I want information on, and I have the perfect hand to play to get you in close." Marcus explained.
Lillian slowly nodded, "Well, I guess it's a deal."
Marcus smiled at her again, "I knew you'd come around."
Lena groggily opened her eyes, taking a deep breath as she woke up. It took a moment before she became aware of the two bodies next to hers. Tess was tucked up against Lena, with Kara's arm draped over her waist. Lena smiled at the sight, realising that even though her night was interrupted she still got to wake up to two people she loved. Lena adjusted herself as she felt Tess move against her, Kara still remained sound asleep.
"Lena?"
Lena ran a hand over Tess' cheek, "Sshh, go back to sleep."
Tess shook her head slightly and opened her eyes to look at Lena, "I need to tell you something…"
Lena looked a little puzzled, "Go on?"
Tess snuggled into Lena more, closing her eyes again, "I'm really happy you and Kara are together. I love you."
Lena felt a flush of warmth run through her, "I love you too Tess."
Tess was already back asleep by the time Lena was finished her sentence, which left Lena back in silence again. How her life had changed since each of them had stepped into her life.
"What are you thinking about?"
Lena jolted from her thoughts as she quickly stopped staring aimlessly at the ceiling and looked at Kara, "Nothing…"
Kara's forehead crinkled, "Liar."
Lena sighed, moving a few strands of Tess' hair off her sleeping face before looking back at Kara, "I guess I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have you."
Kara smiled, "I think everybody would be jealous if I told them I got to wake up to Lena Luthor practically every morning."
"I think everybody would be jealous if I told them I wake up next to Supergirl." Lena replied with a raised eyebrow.
"I think Supergirl would be jealous if she knew Kara Danvers was getting some action from her girlfriend." Kara chuckled.
Lena sighed, glancing briefly at Tess unconsciously, "Or trying to."
Kara's face fell a little, "I'm sorry Lena. You know she doesn't mean to."
Lena shook her head, "No I'm being an asshole. My sex-life or occasional lack thereof doesn't come over Tess' wellbeing. I just-" Lena paused, realising she was about to admit more than she intended.
Kara sat up on her elbow, "You just?..."
Lena paused a little while longer before lowering her voice, "I just know that if I'm here next to you I don't have to worry about anything. The nights we haven't spent together I've had nightmares and I can't sleep." Lena stopped briefly before rolling onto her back to look back up at the ceiling, "I can only imagine what my mother would think of me. That I need Supergirl to hold me every night in bed so that I don't have nightmares."
"Screw what your mother thinks Lena. I'll always be here to hold you."
"Always?" Lena looked back at Kara.
"Always." Kara glanced down at Tess again, "Even if Tess is between the two of us."
Lena chuckled, "I guess this is what having kids will be like right?"
Kara nearly choked on her own spit at the thought, "Yeah!"
Lena smirked, "Sorry, too soon to talk about kids?"
Kara laughed nervously, "No, no! I mean…I'd at least like to get married first."
"You want to marry me Kara?" Lena raised an eyebrow at Kara, a smirk still plastered on her face.
Kara's face turned a shade of bright red, "I think I need to go to the bathroom."
After some breakfast, Alex came around to pick up Tess to take her to the DEO. It was the first time Tess had been back since what had happened. Tess barely had time to take a breath before Winn was the first to greet her with a giant, yet careful hug.
Tess returned the hug gratefully, "Hey Winn."
Winn held her as tight as he dared, "I'm so glad you're okay Tess."
Tess gently pulled away to look at him, "Thanks Winn. It's good to see you again."
"I've been working on salvaging your suit, I mean the thing was like, totally destroyed but it's repaired practically 98% of itself already. I was thinking now that you're back we could-" Winn started to ramble before Alex cut him off with a pointed look.
"We'll talk about that later Winn. Tess isn't here for that today." Alex placed her hands on Tess' shoulders to direct her away from Winn.
Winn nodded and closed his mouth, watching as Alex took Tess away, "I guess whenever you're ready. Just let me know..."
Alex walked Tess to her lab, avoiding as many agents as possible. But after a few agents pointed out how they were looking forward to having Surge back in the field Tess eyed Alex suspiciously.
"They don't know. Do they?" Tess sat down on the edge of the examination bed in Alex's lab.
Alex finished closing the blinds of her lab's windows before turning her equipment on, "Know what?"
Tess grabbed Alex's arm, making her make eye contact, "They don't know I don't have my powers back do they?"
Alex swallowed the lump in her throat, "I mean even we don't know that for sure Tess."
Tess frowned at Alex, "Alex it's been almost a month, I can't even make a spark of anything."
Alex sighed, "You're still healing. We can't be sure yet."
Tess scoffed, letting go of Alex and staring down at the ground, "I'm pretty sure I wouldn't still feel so shit."
Alex sat down in front of Tess, tilting her head so Tess would be looking at her instead, "That's why I want to run some tests to make sure you're okay."
Tess nodded, the corners of her lips twitching into a smile, "Alright."
Alex's hands moved swiftly, placing the sticky dots all over Tess' chest with precise coordination. Alex connected the last lead, but by that stage she couldn't help herself. Her fingers drifted over the large incision on Tess' chest, the big, angry, red line starting at her sternum, dipping down into a crescent shape. It dragged down across her ribs and curled back up to finish under her armpit.
"Alex..."
Alex jolted, her fingers pulling away as she looked back up at Tess' face, "Sorry."
"It's fine it's just very sensitive still." Tess gave Alex a small smile, "Is this one of the last tests? You've already taken a lot of blood and who knows what else."
Alex turned to her laptop, "Remember the hundreds of tests I did on you when you first got here?"
Tess groaned and rolled her eyes, "Like I could ever forget."
"I'm just wanting to be thorough to see if there's anything that can tell us something useful. Obviously I can't be as intensive because you can't...because you're still healing." Alex winced as she stumbled over her words.
Tess sighed, "I'm not sure you can fix this Alex."
Alex looked disappointed, "We could have prevented this. If we'd just got there sooner I wouldn't have to be trying to 'fix' anything. I mean we never should have left you-"
"Alex!" Tess cut her off, "Don't do this please."
Alex remained silent for a few moments, "I'm sorry Tess. I just…I can't stop picturing you lying in a pool of your own blood and Lena's screams. I was so scared we were going to lose you and it was going to be my fault."
Tess nodded, biting her bottom lip, "It's not your fault Alex. I'm sorry I scared you so much."
Alex shook her head, her eyes red as she held back tears, "He did awful things to you in there. I don't know why you're not so angry with Kara and I for not saving you."
"Because without you I don't have anything. You and Kara, and Lena, and Maggie you're all still here. You guys save me everyday just by being here. I-" Tess paused, taking a deep breath and closing her eyes, "I see them all the time. My 'family'. Last night after you guys left I just couldn't stop them in my head when I went to bed. It was like they were screaming in my head. Kara and Lena had to come calm me down. But every time I close my eyes I can still see them, and every night I can hear them."
Alex stepped closer to Tess, making sure she was within reach.
"I can see my dad, who looked so alive here, so full of life. He didn't have the scar through his eyebrow, the crooked nose from being broken so often. He was who I wanted my father to be. My mum…so bright and bubbly, so kind and caring." Tess' eyes opened as they started to fill with tears, "She held me even so tight even though she knew she was about to die because of me. The other me was terrified, it was like she was looking at the evil version of herself. And my-" Tess half-choked on a sob, "My little brother looked so scared of me. And he was right to be because I killed them…" Tess collapsed onto Alex, gripping onto Alex's jacket like her life depended on it.
Alex held onto Tess tightly, "I'm sorry Tess. I'm so sorry. I can't even imagine what that feels like."
Tess rested her forehead on Alex's shoulder, "I don't want you to imagine…I just want everything to feel okay again."
Alex nodded even though Tess wasn't looking, "I want that too." Alex kissed the top of Tess' hair, the two of them sitting in silence for a few moments before Alex noticed Tess starting to shiver. "You should get under the blanket while this test finishes."
Tess nodded, pulling away from Alex and pulling up the blanket on the end of the exam bed, "Or you know, you could run tests without me having to take my shirt off to stick stuff all over me."
"Sorry…I can't stick these on through your shirt." Alex said apologetically.
Tess shrugged, looking up at the ceiling, "Lucky I love you hey?"
Alex couldn't help but smile, "Glad to see you understand I'm doing this for your benefit."
Tess let out a chuckle, "You're saying that like you don't enjoy being such a nerd."
"Hey do you want to stay at my apartment tonight or what?" Alex jokingly threatened.
Tess flashed Alex a cheeky smile, "Fine I won't call you a nerd."
"Maybe we can just try..." Tess whispered, breaking Alex's concentration from her laptop. She'd been laying there for what felt like forever. In reality it was just over an hour, but she was getting a bit bored once Alex zoned out of their conversation to focus on her work.
Alex stopped meticulously examining and scrolling on her laptop to look across at Tess curiously, "Try what?"
Tess rolled over, wincing slightly as the angle twinged her incision, "I mean...Winn said he practically fixed my suit?"
Alex looked at the time, "You're due for your pain meds again."
"Alex you're changing the subject."
Alex sighed, "I don't want you to be disappointed Tess."
"I know. But don't you think I have to at least try?" Tess looked pleadingly at Alex, wordlessly asking for her approval.
Alex paused, looking back at her laptop screen and biting her lip before she finally looked back at Tess, "Okay we'll try."
After a few minutes, once Alex had finally removed all the leads attached to Tess and she'd taken her medication, they moved to Winn's lab.
Winn looked surprised to see them, "I thought you said-"
Alex waved her hand to cut him off, "I know what we said. We just need to try something."
Tess was already standing in front of her suit as it hung hooked up to a tech rig. She stood nervously in front of it for a few more moments before she reached forward. The suit moulded itself around her as Alex and Winn watched.
"I'm not sure it's going to function 100%..." Winn trailed off as he watched the suit restore itself around Tess and his tablet read all green.
Tess took a deep breath, basking in the comforting feeling of her suit. It was just several seconds later though that she realised something was wrong. Or more correctly, the suit told her something was wrong.
The suit flashed red before a message activated, "Incompatible genetic profile, wearer ejection imminent."
Tess' eyes widened in shock, "Shit! Override!"
The suit continued to flash red as Winn typed as quickly as he could on his tablet and Alex rushed over to Tess.
"Activate override!" Tess continued to shout before she was promptly thrown across the room, crashing head first into a desk.
Alex ran over to Tess, her heart pounding in her chest, "Tess!?"
Tess sat up in shock, feeling like her chest was in agony as something dripped from her forehead down into her eye, "Fuck!"
"Winn grab a towel!" Alex inhaled sharply as she saw the small yet heavily bleeding gash on Tess' forehead just above her eyebrow.
"Fuck!" Tess shouted again, unable to feel anything but pain and anger.
Winn had already retrieved a towel and passed it to Alex, "What can I do?"
Alex shook her head, pressing the towel to Tess' bleeding gash, "I can handle this Winn just get me J'onn."
Winn quickly nodded, running from the room.
Tess blinked rapidly trying to get the blood out of her eye as she breathed heavily, trying to catch her breath back.
Alex held Tess' chin with her free hand, "Are you okay?"
Tess stared at Alex, her eyebrows furrowed together angrily, "No. Fuck. No I'm not. I want to go home!" Tess struggled to finish the sentence still so out of breath.
"Just take a deep breath Tess I think you're going to need some stitches first." Alex carefully lifted off the towel off Tess' forehead to check.
"I can't fucking take a deep breath Alex, it's too fucking painful!" Tess gritted her teeth, shutting her eyes tightly as she braced herself against the wall.
J'onn appeared with Winn in the doorway, "What happened here?"
Alex brushed off J'onn's question, "Can you carry Tess back to my lab please?"
Tess groaned, "I can walk I'm not useless." Tess tried to push herself off the ground but the pain proved too much and she stopped before she got much further.
J'onn wordlessly came over, kneeling down and lifting Tess off the ground, he'd already read Alex's mind and felt the intense anger radiating from Tess.
Tess didn't say a word as she held her ribs, staring at her suit lying discarded on the ground as they walked past.
Alex finished cleaning up Tess' forehead and securing the last of three stitches before she spoke again, "It's just a setback Tess."
Tess stopped staring at the floor to look up at Alex, "It's more than a setback Alex."
"We can fix this I know we can." Alex tried to insist.
"No. No we can't. You hear the thing, 'incompatible genetic profile', how the fuck do you plan on fixing my genetics."
Tess's blue eyes pierced through Alex's. Alex couldn't help but realise they'd lost some of their sheen. She also realised that Tess looked utterly defeated and it actually made her angry. Not at Tess, but at Marcus for how much hurt he'd inflicted. It made her blood boil and brought her back to the moments in that compound when she'd literally had to intubate the girl in front of her.
Tess broke away from Alex's eyes, speaking quietly to herself more so than Alex, "That's what I thought."
Alex shook herself out of her daze, taking off her gloves and pulling out her phone, "Maggie will pick you up in five. You need to go home and rest, you nearly tore your incision open and you hit your head pretty hard."
Tess nodded, "I noticed…"
Alex sighed, "Tess, please don't do this."
"I'm not doing anything Alex. I'm just giving up. Thanks for trying but you can stop now." Tess carefully got up off the bed, "I'll go meet Maggie outside."
Alex didn't get a chance to stop Tess before she left, leaving her with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She waited until the footsteps faded before she threw the tray of medical equipment onto the floor, her frustration getting the better of her, "Fuck."
Maggie was waiting expectantly for Tess on the footpath, frowning slightly as she noticed the dressing stuck on Tess' forehead, "What did you do kiddo?"
Tess shook her head, trying to brush off the question, "Ignore it."
Maggie chewed her bottom lip for a second before sensing the vibe and opening the passenger side door, "Okay."
Tess breathed a sigh of relief, hopping into the car and wincing as she put on her seatbelt.
Maggie ignored that too, turning up the radio as she drove them back to Alex's apartment. She'd just turned off the car and moved to open her door before Tess finally spoke up again.
"Did Alex talk to you about that day?" Tess quietly asked.
Maggie pulled her hand away from the door, looking over at Tess, "What day?"
Tess huffed, "The day they found Lena and I? Did she say anything about it?"
Maggie paused, thinking things over before she spoke, "Alex won't talk about that day, at least not in detail. Why do you ask?"
"Because she talks about me like she…broke me? But she didn't. Marcus did."
"Tess. If there's one thing I know about Alex is that she feels responsible for a lot of things out of her control. Alex has only ever wanted to do the right thing. If Kara ever gets hurt she feels responsible. If I ever get hurt she feels responsible. You almost died Tess. Alex has the biggest heart in the world and she hides it behind a tough, badass exterior. I don't know what she would have done if she lost you. You survived obviously, but you lost your powers and Alex feels like she's personally responsible. Now she just wants to fix that for you." Maggie carefully explained.
Tess bit her lip, staring out at the street, "I don't think she can fix it though, and I don't want her to keep thinking she broke me."
"Are you broken though Tess? Are you broken without your powers?" Maggie kept her gaze firmly on Tess, watching as she played with her fingers and bounced her knee whilst she looked out the window.
"Aren't I?" Tess looked back at Maggie, sincerity in her voice as she asked.
"You had your powers since you were born, I imagine that it's incredibly hard to go from feeling invincible to instead being so vulnerable. Like I said, you did almost die Tess, and now it's a struggle to reach up to the top shelf and through no fault of her own I don't imagine Kara is helping." Maggie reached over, putting a hand on Tess' knee to stop it from bouncing, "Half the time you literally live with Supergirl. Your powers weren't exactly the same but I assume the feeling you both got was similar, if not the same. Every day you get to watch Kara literally fly out of her window and be a superhero. Meanwhile you're the one feeling scared and vulnerable and hell, maybe even resentful that Kara gets to keep her powers."
"I don't resent Kara." Tess replied flatly.
"You don't have to pretend with me Tess. Ever since you've gotten out of hospital you're much more clingy to Alex than Kara. Even after the absolute serve she gave you in hospital." Maggie explained.
"I deserved that." Tess straightened uncomfortably in her seat.
"No. No you didn't. You'd just gone through serious trauma. Of course you were going to lash out. Kara just happened to be the one in the firing line. I didn't say anything to Alex at the time because it would have just made her feel more like shit which wasn't exactly the thing to do as the supportive girlfriend." Maggie waited for Tess' reply but Tess just looked down at her hands unsure of what to say. "Alex loves you. She really does. She hasn't said anything but she's noticed you're relying on her more now than ever. Kara and Lena are caught up in their relationship because it's all new and different and exciting which is fine, but Alex is trying to compensate for you."
"I don't want her to compensate." Tess swallowed the lump forming in her throat and looked back up at Maggie, "I just want Alex…I would rather that than-" Tess cleared her throat, struggling to find the words, "Than…than my powers. I want the Alex I knew back."
"Then tell her that. I mean really tell her Tess. You're the only one who can get that through to her. Not me, not Kara, not anyone else."
Tess nodded slowly, "Okay. I can do that."
Alex came home late, far later than Maggie and Tess were expecting. They'd put some dinner aside and Tess was already in her pyjamas ready for bed. Maggie and Alex sat and talked for close to an hour as Alex slowly ate some dinner before Maggie noticed Tess glancing at them from the couch every so often. Maggie gave Alex a quick peck on the lips before pretending she had to go take a late phone-call. She walked past Tess in the lounge, tapping her on the shoulder before she retreated to the bathroom.
Tess took the hint, slowly making her way up to Alex, sitting next to her at the table.
"Hey…" Alex looked at Tess beside her, giving her shoulder a quick little squeeze.
"I don't need fixing." Tess blurted out.
Alex looked puzzled, "What?"
Tess scratched the back of her neck nervously, "I mean. Uh. Well I mean that. I don't."
"Of course you don't need fixing Tess." Alex replied.
Tess shook her head, "No you don't get it. I mean it Alex. I really, really mean it okay?"
Alex frowned, opening her mouth to reply again before Tess shut her down.
"I don't need my powers back Alex. I just want to be a kid. I don't need to be a superhero I just…want to be a kid. You and Kara said you'd teach me and I just think that that's what's best for us now. What's the point in trying to reach an unobtainable goal? You have fixed me more than once and I don't' want you to fix me more Alex. I'm okay being the Tess I am now. I love you and I love Kara and I love Maggie and Lena and I just want to be that kid. That kid that is surrounded by their weird adopted family that…that goes to the beach and eats ice-cream, that has movie nights together that does all the other weird shit that happens on this earth. I just want to be a family. I don't want you to fix me anymore. I just want you to be Alex. Not my doctor or whatever else. I just want things to be normal. I just want the Alex that doesn't look at me like I'm broken without my powers. Because I'm not broken, I'm surrounded by people that love me, and that's all I've ever wanted Alex."
Alex stood up out of her chair, engulfing Tess in a hug and kissing her head, "You're not broken Tess. You're family."
Tess hugged Alex tightly, "I love you Alex."
Alex took a deep breath, keeping her arms wrapped around Tess, "I love you too Tess."
Lillian walked into the warehouse, her hands in her coat pockets as she followed Marcus, "What are we doing here in the middle of the night?"
Marcus flicked on the warehouse lights, a multitude of lab equipment being illuminated, "Cadmus inspired me. But obviously with your imprisonment a lot of your labs were uncovered. Think of this as a donation to the cause."
"I thought you wanted information, not lab tests." Lillian replied with snark.
Marcus smirked, "Why can't I have both? This lab will supply you with what you need to gain information from my target. It's that simple."
Lillian looked around the warehouse, "Last time you asked for information on a specific individual, am I correct in assuming that your subject is still the same?"
Marcus nodded, "Partially. The subject no longer has her unique abilities. Without them she's probably got another month or so before she…expires. So I'd much rather prolong that, draw it out, lull her into a false sense of hope. In the meantime I need information stored at the DEO that will help me reach my goal."
"What are we bargaining with here? She won't just walk in here willingly for some experiments."
"I'm glad you asked," Marcus opened a door to the closed off section of the warehouse, "I believe you two have worked together previously."
Lillian kept her lips pursed as she took in the man in front of her as he stepped into the light, "Jeremiah Danvers. What a pleasure."
Author Note: Hope you enjoyed, even if there was a fair bit of angst. All feedback is appreciated! Come yell at me on tumblr - onceuponasuperfanfic