Hey guys! I'm sorry it has been so long since I published anything! Back in February, I went skiing for the first time and broke my knee which lead to surgery and a long recovery. Also, COVID-19 has made my job as a nanny get a lot crazier because I now have to also be a teacher. But I think I am finally back on track with my writing so hopefully I will be getting stories out more regularly now. Anyways, on with this story.
Kara had convinced herself she was fine. Although after spending four and a half months at the Vanishing Point unsure of if and when she was ever going to see her sister and friends again, she knew she was just barely holding it together.
Once they had gotten back, the first week was insane trying to get everything figured out and saving the world again. She and all the Superfriends had spent four days together, processing everything that had happened with Oliver and trying to get everything settled with what was happening now that they were all together.
However, once everything had gotten resolved, including the fact that Lena was no longer mad at her and they were once again friends, Kara finally found herself alone in her apartment.
The first night she was alone, she was absolutely exhausted and laid down in her bed to sleep at 7 pm which was almost unheard of for her. However, almost as soon as she closed her eyes, she was back at the Vanishing Point, scared and feeling very alone. She had put all her focus while they were there into figuring out what to do, but now, her walls were breaking. She woke up terrified, glancing at her clock and sighing when she saw it was only 8:15.
She couldn't sleep so she decided to go flying. She ended up flying all night because she couldn't get her mind to slow down.
They next day, she was exhausted but went to work, hoping maybe that could help get her mind off everything. She was miserable and tried so hard to focus, but she ended up getting very little done.
During her time with the Superfriends, she had gotten very little sleep as well, so she was running on about a week of no sleep already.
Nia noticed how miserable Kara looked sitting in her office and decided to check on her mentor and friend.
"Hey Kara," the young reporter said, knocking lightly before coming in, "How are you?"
"I'm fine," Kara said, adjusting her glasses, "Just a little tired."
"You sure?" Nia asked, worried about her friend, "Is there anything I can do?"
"I'll be fine," Kara said, stifling a yawn.
Nia nodded, leaving Kara's office. The next few days didn't fare much better for the blonde hero. She had some Supergirl stuff to handle that left her even more exhausted. Alex, Kelly, Nia, and Lena had all planned a girl's night for Friday at Kara's house. By then, Kara was really not feeling well.
She knew she needed sleep, but she just couldn't sleep without being back at the Vanishing Point, alone and terrified. When she was actually there, she had Kate, J'onn, and their other friends, but now, in her dreams, she was always alone.
Alex and Kelly showed up first, bringing with them pizza and potstickers and movies. Alex hadn't seen Kara much that week because they had been so busy, but the minute the younger Danvers opened the door, Alex knew something was wrong.
"Hey guys," Kara said, opening her door, leaning heavily on the frame.
"Hey Kara," Kelly said, coming in followed by Alex.
"Kara," Alex said, givng her sister a look.
"Not right now Alex," Kara said, shaking her head, letting her sister know she wasn't ready to talk.
Alex leaned over, giving Kara a big hug. The reporter held back tears as she held onto her sister a little longer than normal.
"You know you can talk to me," Alex whispered quietly in Kara's ear.
Kara nodded, holding on for one more second before letting go. Alex could see the tears that Kara had been trying to hide in the superhero's eyes.
Alex went into the kitchen to help Kelly while Kara opened the door for Lena and Nia. They all migrated to the couches, eating food and talking.
Kara was oddly quiet as the evening progressed which did not go unnoticed by anyone. Kara had chosen to sit in the single chair in her living room, leaving Kelly and Alex cuddled on the loveseat and Lena and Nia on the couch.
"Kara," Lena said, drawing her friend's attention, "You feeling alright?"
"Yeah," Kara said, drawing her attention back to her friends, "Sorry. Just tired."
"Do you want to come and sit on the couch with us?" Nia asked, patting the spot between the two of them.
"I'm alright," Kara said, pulling her favorite blue blanket around her shoulders.
"You sure?" Lena asked, knowing Kara loved being close to people, especially when she wasn't feeling well.
Kara nodded, putting her head on her knees. Everyone just decided to hold off on pushing a clearly delicate Kara. They started a movie, Kara drifting off about ten minutes in. Then, five minutes later, she woke up screaming.
"Kara," Alex said, getting up and running to her sister.
"I gotta go," Kara said as soon as she realized what was going on.
Before anyone could stop her, she was out the window.
"What just happened?" Nia asked, looking at the other three women in the room.
"I think it has something to do with everything that happened during the crisis," Alex said, hands on her head as she paced, "J'onn told me they were at the Vanishing Point for months, not knowing what was going to happen."
"I can't even imagine," Kelly said, shaking her head.
"I think we just need to let her fly it off for a while," Alex said, still pacing, "Man, I should have been more on her about this."
"It's not your fault," Lena said, shaking her head as the other women agreed.
"She'll be back," Kelly said as Alex sat down on the couch next to her girlfriend, "And we will all be here waiting to help."
"Thanks guys," Alex said, sighing.
She really wasn't sure if having everyone around would help Kara because her little sister was so private when it came to things she was struggling with.
About an hour later, Kara flew back through the window. She looked startled that everyone was still there.
"Kara," Alex said, noticing that her sister didn't just go change, "Is everything alright?"
Kara just shook her head, tears filling her eyes as she ran into the bathroom, slamming the door.
"I'll be right back," Alex said, chasing her sister as the other three women sat there shocked.
Alex quietly opened the door, finding her sister curled up in the corner, wrapped in her cape.
"Oh Kara," Alex said, sitting down next to her sister, "What is going on?"
Kara just sobbed into Alex's shoulder, "I think I blew my powers."
Alex wrapped her arms around the younger woman as she cried.
"I'm right here," Alex said, just rubbing her back.
Kara cried for like 10 minutes before the tears started to taper off.
"Ok," Alex said as Kara sat up a little, "What is going on? You blew your powers? How did that happen? Were you fighting?"
Kara shook her head, playing with her cape.
"Kara," Alex said, putting a hand under Kara's chin and moving it up to look at her, "Talk to me. I'm right here."
"I haven't been sleeping," Kara mumbled, eyes darting back to her cape.
"For how long?" Alex asked.
"Since the Crisis," Kara said, playing with a loose string on her cape, "I tried. I really tried, but every time I fall asleep, I'm alone at the Vanishing Point and I wake up screaming and can't sleep."
"Why didn't you call?" Alex asked gently, not wanting to make her sister feel guilty about anything.
"I don't know," Kara said, "I thought I could just power through and get some sleep eventually once I got through it. But then tonight when I was flying, I started to feel weird so I came back and almost didn't make it before my powers gave out."
"Oh Kara," Alex said, pulling her sister into a hug as tears sprang out of the younger woman's eyes, "I'm so sorry. I'm here now."
Kara cried for another minute before pulling away again.
"Ok," Alex said, "This is what is going to happen. You are going to shower and get cleaned up and when you are done, we will figure out what to do next."
Kara nodded as Alex helped her up.
"I'll put a pair of pajamas in here for you," Alex said as Kara began pulling off her supersuit. It was so much more of a chore when she couldn't do it at superspeed. Alex went back into the living room, finding their friends all still there, cleaning up the kitchen and the rest of Kara's place.
"We didn't know what to do," Nia said from her place at the sink, "But we thought cleaning up never hurt."
"Thanks," Alex said, smiling at their friends.
"Is she alright?" Kelly asked, going to her girlfriend.
"Not really," Alex said, shaking her head, "She hasn't been sleeping since the Crisis. She pushed herself too hard and blew her powers out so she feels even shittier than before."
"Is there anything we can do?" Lena asked.
"Just be here for her," Alex said, shrugging, "I'm planning on staying here for the next few days, but you guys are welcome to stay too. She just needs to know she isn't alone."
"I'm staying," Kelly said.
"Me too," Nia said, nodding.
"I will too," Lena agreed.
"Thanks guys," Alex said, smiling at their friends, "It will mean a lot to Kara. The couch is a pull out, and I think Kara keeps a blow up in the closet just in case. I'll pull it out when I go grab Kara some pajamas."
Alex went into Kara's room, grabbing out her sister's favorite pajamas as well as the air mattress. She put the clothes in the bathroom before grabbing sheets for both extra beds.
She went back into the living room, finding the room rearranged so that the couch was a bed and there was space for the air mattress.
"I am going to make some hot chocolate for Kara," Alex said, "It's one of her favorite things when she isn't feeling well. Anyone else want some?"
Everyone nodded, Lena following Alex into the kitchen while Nia and Kelly made the beds.
"Did I see cookie dough in the fridge?" Lena asked as Alex grabbed out the milk.
"Yeah," Alex said, nodding, "We eat it by the tub when things are not going well."
"I was going to make cookies, but I can leave it if you think that's best," Lena said, not wanting to upset Kara.
"No," Alex said, "Cookies are good too. We are just never patient enough to get them baked."
Lena laughed as she grabbed the industrial sized cookie dough bucket out of the fridge and scooped two dozen of them up before throwing them in the oven. Lena went to help Kelly and Nia as Alex continued making hot chocolate.
Once it was done, Alex went to see how things were going, finding that the pull out was made and the air mattress was in the process of being blown up. Alex went over to Kelly and took her hand, leaning on her girlfriend.
"Do you want me to talk to Kara?" Kelly asked, "Maybe help her out a little?"
"Not tonight," Alex said, shaking her head, "Maybe tomorrow, or later this week. She just needs to be close to people she loves tonight."
Kelly nodded, knowing her girlfriend knew what was best for the young superhero. Just as they finished getting the beds set up when Kara came out of the bathroom.
"You're all still here?" she said, rubbing her red eyes.
"Of course, we are," Lena said, nodding as Kara walked over to her and she wrapped her arms around the clearly exhausted woman, "We are all going to spend the night if that's alright with you."
Kara nodded as Lena guided her to the pull-out bed. Alex climbed in on the other side of Kara as Kelly and Nia sat down on the end of the bed.
"You guys didn't have to stay," Kara said softly, shivering a little as she leaned on Alex, letting her big sister stroke her wet hair. "
We know we didn't have to," Nia said, putting a hand on Kara's leg, "But we wanted to."
Kara buried her head in Alex's shoulder. Alex could feel the hot tears coming out of her sister's eyes and onto her shirt.
"Do you want to go into your room?" Alex asked softly into Kara's ear.
Kara shook her head a little, just staying where she was.
"Ok," Alex said, lifting her head, "I have hot chocolate in the kitchen if anyone wants it."
"I'll go get it," Kelly said, getting up.
"I'll help," Nia said, getting up and following the therapist.
Lena gently rubbed Kara's back as they sat here. Kelly and Nia came back a minute later with the cups, handing them out to everyone. Kara pulled her head out of Alex's shoulder and took her own cup.
"Sorry," Kara said, wiping her eyes, "I'm not great company tonight."
All four of the other women quickly reassured her that she was fine.
"Do you want to watch a movie?" Nia asked.
"Or talk?" Kelly asked.
"I don't know," Kara said, shrugging, "I am really tired."
"We can just go to sleep," Alex offered.
"No," Kara said, shaking her head, "Let's watch TV or something. I don't think I can sleep yet."
Kelly turned on the TV as Kara cuddled down between Alex and Lena. Alex played with her hair while Lena rubbed her back. Kelly and Nia moved to the love seat to be more comfortable. Kara was asleep within five minutes of starting the show. When the show ended, the rest of them turned off the TV.
"Someone can take Kara's bed," Alex said, "I'm going to sleep here with her, if that's ok with you babe?"
"Of course," Kelly said, moving from the love seat to kiss her girlfriend goodnight.
"I'm gonna take Kara's bed if anyone wants to share it with me," Kelly said, heading into the bedroom.
"I will," Nia said, following the woman.
"I'm going to sleep on the air mattress," Lena said, knowing the bed wasn't big enough for the three of them, "I want to be close if you guys need anything."
"You're really a good friend," Alex said, readjusting her and Kara's position as Lena got up. Lena smiled as she turned off the light.
Alex held her sister, just watching her sleep. She always hated when Kara got like this, not because she was mad at her sister or disappointed or anything. It was more that she was disappointed that she didn't pay better attention to her sister to help keep her from getting to this point.
This time, Alex had all but forgotten what had happened because to her, the world was the same it always had been. She should have kept a better eye on her sister. She ended up staying awake for almost four hours, just watching her sister sleep.
Alex eventually fell asleep, only to be woken up two hours later when Kara had a nightmare. The thrashing and tears also woke Lena who climbed into bed next to her best friend, offering support as Alex held Kara close.
All three of them fell back to sleep within a half hour.
The next morning, Nia and Kelly both woke up around 7, finding the other three women sound asleep on the pullout. The two of them made coffee and went to drink it on Kara's patio.
About three hours later, Lena came out and joined them.
"Are both of them still out?" Nia asked as Lena sat down on a chair next to the young reporter.
"Yeah," Lena said, nodding, "Kara woke up around 4 from a nightmare."
"And Alex loves her sleep," Kelly said, laughing.
"Maybe we should order breakfast," Nia said, her stomach rumbling.
Lena and Kelly both laughed, knowing that Nia, like Kara, had a pretty fast metabolism and liked to eat. They ordered before Lena and Nia headed out to go get the food. Kelly stayed behind on the patio, just scrolling through her phone.
About twenty minutes later, she heard the door open and looked up to see her girlfriend coming out of the apartment.
"Hey," Kelly said, smiling as Alex sat down in the chair next to her, "How did you sleep?"
"Eh," Alex said, shrugging a little, "I guess fine. I don't know. I'm just so worried about Kara."
"She is going to be ok," Kelly said, taking her girlfriend's hand.
"I know," Alex said, nosing, "I just wish I would have paid better attention to her this week. I knew she was struggling a little, but I didn't realize it was this bad."
"Well, we are all here now," Kelly said, "And if she wants, I can have regular sessions with her. Or get one of my friends to. It might really help."
"Yeah," Alex said, nodding a little, "I don't know if she'll go for that. Because of her secret identity, it's really hard for her to trust anyone. She's got me."
"I know," Kelly said, nodding, "I also know it's sometimes a lot for you."
"I know," Alex said, "But she's my sister, and I'm the person that she had so I just have to make it work."
Kelly just nodded, knowing that convincing Alex of anything to do with Kara was next to impossible. There was a lot of things that Kelly had gotten Alex to open up about, but her relationship with Kara was the one thing that was locked down and not up for discussion.
"I'm starving," Alex said, "Can we get some food?"
"Nia and Lena went to pick up a bunch of stuff from the diner," Kelly said, leaning over and planting a kiss on Alex's lips.
"Do we have coffee?" Alex asked hopefully.
"Of course," Kelly said, laughing as she got up and went into the kitchen.
Alex followed her, so grateful when Kelly handed her the steaming cup of coffee. Just then, Kara stirred in the bed, sitting up as she rubbed her eyes.
"I don't feel right," Kara said, looking around.
"You blew your powers," Alex said, going to her sister, "Do you feel sick or just without your powers?"
"Just without my powers I think," Kara said, "I mean, my head hurts a little, but that's it."
"That could be from the utter lack of sleep you have had recently," Alex said, rubbing her sister's back a little.
"I hate feeling like this," Kara said, leaning back into the pillows.
"I know," Alex said, hugging her sister.
"We've got food," Nia said quietly as she came in.
"Look who finally woke up," Alex said from her place with Kara.
"Hey," Lena said, smiling at her friend as she put her the bags on the table, "How are you feeling?"
Kara shrugged, just closing her eyes.
"We've got food," Nia said, "Anything you want, I'm pretty sure we have two of."
"I'm not really hungry," Kara said, shaking her head.
Four heads turned to her with gaping mouths, completely silent.
"Did you get sick from this power blowout?" Nia asked, never knowing her friend to refuse food.
"No," Kara said, shaking her head, "Just not hungry."
"That's ok," Alex said, rubbing her back, "There will be food when you're ready to eat."
The four other women all ate, Kara stealing a few potatoes from Alex's plate.
"Get your own," Alex said, poking at Kara's hand with her fork.
Kara just moved her hand back, not saying anything.
"I'm just kidding," Alex said, not expecting the reaction she got from Kara.
Kara didn't move though, just pulled her favorite blue blanket tighter around her.
"I think I'm going to go lay down in my bed," Kara said a minute later, "I'm tired."
Alex got up and followed Kara, sitting down on the bed next to her little sister.
"I'm sorry," Alex said, rubbing Kara's back, "I really was just kidding."
"I know," Kara said, sniffling a little as she turned to look at Alex, "I don't know why I'm so emotional."
"You've been through a lot recently," Alex said, opening her arms as Kara crawled into them, "Do you want me to just send everyone home, and I'll stay here with you until you're feeling better?"
"I don't want to be rude," Kara said, shaking her head.
"Oh, Kara," Alex said, shaking her head, "No one will care. They're all worried about you, yes, but they want whatever is best for you."
"Ok," Kara said, nodding, "Yeah, I really just want to be here with you, at least for the rest of the day."
"I will go make that happen," Alex said, moving to get up.
"No," Kara said, clinging to Alex, "Don't go."
"Alright," Alex said, laughing.
About twenty minutes later, Kara had fallen asleep and Kelly came in to check on the sisters.
"Hey," Kelly said, coming in and seeing Kara sleeping on Alex's lap, "Is everything alright?"
"She just needs some space," Alex said, "I was actually going to come let you guys you know can go home."
"Are you sure?" Kelly asked, moving a piece of hair from Alex's face, "Are you alright?"
"Of course," Alex said, nodding, "I've got her. I'll probably spend the night again."
"Alright," Kelly said, giving Alex a kiss, "I'll call you later. Let me know if you guys need anything."
The rest of the day was mostly spent with Kara sleeping and Alex watching Netflix.
Eventually, Alex brought some food to Kara even though the normally superwoman insisted she wasn't hungry. Kara just kinda pushed the food around, not really eating much of it.
"Kar, you need to eat to get your powers back," Alex said with a sigh as Kara put her plate down.
"I just don't feel well," Kara said, shaking her head, "I'm nauseous I think. I don't know."
"It could be because you're tired," Alex said, putting her hand on Kara's forehead, feeling a slight warmth, "You feel a touch warm. It could be anything though. Why don't you try to sleep? I can give you something to help you sleep."
Kara nodded as Alex got up and grabbed her purse. She kept a bottle of melatonin in purse for times she was struggling to sleep and not at home.
"Take five," Alex said, handing Kara the pills and water.
About twenty minutes later, Kara was asleep and Alex decided to call Kelly, just needing to talk to her girlfriend. They talked for over an hour before Alex slowly started to fall asleep.
"Get some rest, Love," Kelly said, hearing the sleep taking over her girlfriend, "And call if you need anything."
"I love you," Alex said sleepily.
"Love you too," Kelly said, hanging up the phone.
Both Kara and Alex managed to sleep most of the night.
Kara woke up feeling a little better the next morning, getting out of bed and finding Alex in the kitchen making pancakes and bacon.
"How are you feeling?" Alex asked, flipping another pancake onto a plate.
"Better," Kara said, grabbing a piece of bacon, "Not great, but better than yesterday. I think I need to go outside today, get some sun to recharge my cells."
"That's a good plan," Alex said, handing Kara a plate of food, "But eat first."
Kara nodded, taking a big bite of Alex's famous blueberry pancakes.
After breakfast, the two of them went for a long walk in the park before going back to Kara's place. They moved the couch so Kara could be in the sunlight while they watched a movie. The poor blonde superhero fell asleep in Alex's lap while they watched The Wizard of Oz.
Alex ran her fingers through her sister's hair as she texted with Kelly, updating her girlfriend on how things were going. Kelly offered to bring dinner over for them. Alex thought that was a great idea and asked Kelly to bring over two pizzas, extra-large with peperoni on one and extra cheese on the other. Kelly agreed and said she would be by in an hour.
Alex half watched the movie, but mostly, she was just watching Kara sleep and thinking about how she needed to keep a better eye on her. Alex had been so busy with Kelly and work and J'onn this past week that she hadn't been checking on Kara as often as she should. She brushed a piece of blonde hair out of Kara's face and swore to herself that she would be better about checking on her little sister in the coming weeks.
Kara woke up about thirty minutes later, rubbing her tired eyes.
"How long did I sleep for?" Kara asked, sitting up.
"Almost an hour," Alex said, rubbing Kara's back, "How are you feeling?"
"A little better," Kara said, loving the feeling of the sun on her cheeks, "Still no powers, but better than before."
"Good," Alex said, "Well, Kelly will be here in about twenty minutes with pizza."
"Yum," Kara said, smiling, "I think I'm going to go grab a quick shower before she gets here if that's ok."
"Of course," Alex said, nodding.
Kara went to shower and Alex went into the kitchen, finding a bottle of wine and some glasses. She brought them to the coffee table along with some plates.
Kara came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, rubbing a towel over her wet hair.
"Is Kelly not staying for pizza?" Kara asked, noticing there were only two cups and plates on the table.
"I didn't know if you would want her to," Alex said as Kara threw her towel on the hook before joining Alex on the couch.
"She can stay," Kara said, nodding, "She should. I like having her here. I like having everyone here most of the time."
"Just not last night," Alex said, knowingly, "I know it gets overwhelming sometimes. You know you can always call me if it gets like that, preferably before it gets this bad."
"I know," Kara said, playing with the fringe on her blue blanket, "I just didn't want to bother you. And I thought it would get better, I really did."
"I know," Alex said, getting Kara to look at her, "I know you did. And I should have checked in with you. I'm not blaming you. Just reminding you I'm in your corner no matter what."
Kara nodded, putting her head on Alex's shoulder. Soon enough, Kelly brought pizza and surprised them with giant cookies from their favorite bakery.
The three of them ate and watched movies and just enjoyed each other's company and, for the first time in months, Kara felt like her entire world wasn't crumbling around her.
So there it was! I started writing this as soon as the crossover ended and it feels good to finally have it done! As always, comments, prompts, and reviews always accepted! Stay safe and healthy!