She sits, her gaze intense yet still sparkling with mirth, maybe even wonderment. Kara searches deep in the back of her mind for a clue as to who the beautiful brunette is who won't stop flashing flirtatious little smirks her way. She knows she feels content with this raven-haired beauty, she can tell she's even grinning wildly along despite her lack of knowledge on the conversation.
"Well, Supergirl may have saved me but you, Kara Danvers, are my hero," the woman seductively whispers, forcing a blazing heat to swim violently beneath Kara's flesh.
She blinks, desperately trying to focus on the moment and remember who this woman is but her mind is blank. A blank piece of paper just begging to be scribbled upon.
When she opens her eyes again, the world is dark. She scans her surroundings but it's as though she is being forced to stare down a tunnel and observe only one thing at the end. That brunette again. She hears herself screaming to the woman, pleading for her to climb, encouraging her that she can do it. Her heart suddenly jump starts, as if paddles are being pressed against her chest, urging electricity to the organ to keep beating.
She's panicking, she doesn't know why but the brunette's eyes are sparkling from unshed tears and Kara just wants this moment to end. She's yelling at the stranger again, to keep climbing, while internally she's petrified of losing this unknown woman. She tells the struggling woman, blinking up at her with fear shining right through her eyes, (god, she wishes she could make out what color is peering up at her so hopelessly), anyways, she instructs her to jump.
And the woman obeys, taking a leap of faith and Kara knows in her heart that she will do whatever it takes to save this stranger. She's confident when her hand stretches out for the other woman that she has her, safe, even if it's only by one hand. She saved her life.
Except, when she blinks to admire the woman clinging to her hand, she finds nothing. In fact, Kara feels like she is the one falling instead. She squeezes her eyes shut, begging for the world to stop rushing by her. But when she opens her eyes again, she can vividly see the towering buildings zipping by her as she free falls and she panics. Her brain is screaming to kick, to squirm away...to fly, but her body is refusing to cooperate. She slams her eyes shut again and she is tortured with that beautiful brunette once more.
She jolts awake, flinging forward in bed, gasping for a clean breath of fresh air.
"Hey, hey, it's okay, it was just a nightmare," Regina softly coos, running her warm hand up and down Kara's back.
She takes a shuddering breath, her body involuntarily shivering and that's when she realizes she's soaked in sweat. She closes her eyes again as she attempts to regulate her breathing but she sees that brunette staring back at her with those fearful eyes and nope, she forces her eyes open again.
"You're safe," Regina whispers, carefully sliding onto the edge of the mattress, her hand never desisting from those soothing ministrations. Kara simply gasps for her next breath, hunched over as she tries to focus on calming her erratic heart. "Would you like to talk about it?"
"I-I just..I mean...I don't..."
Regina gently shushes her before she swiftly scoots away, provoking a deep routed panic to bubble up inside of Kara.
"Where are you going?" She anxiously cries, clinging to Regina's wrist like maybe she can save this brunette if she couldn't protect the one from her dreams.
Regina frowns, tenderly wiping away the damp strands clinging to Kara's forehead. "I'm just going to get you a new shirt. You're soaked."
Kara nods once, releasing Regina's wrist as shame and embarrassment from her neediness swells inside of her. She shivers again, watching as Regina creeps in the night toward the dresser and retrieves another tank top. She quickly changes, her mind too distracted by her nightmare to be modest about her bare chest in front of Regina.
"Would you like some water?" Regina kindly offers but Kara's already shaking her head and sliding back down into the bed.
"Just..." she trails off because her mouth can't express what she's feeling but her hands know what she truly wants; opening and closing frantically as the international come here sign.
Regina doesn't have to be told twice. She gingerly glides onto the bed with open arms and Kara would be a fool not to sink into that woman's embrace. She curls into Regina and even though Kara has a few inches on the brunette, she burrows, pressing her face against the warmth emitting from her neck. Regina is right there, her fingers lazily dragging up and down Kara's back, chasing away whatever demons that are still attempting to torture her.
They are silent for a few minutes, neither one ready to pop the comfort bubble they have found themselves in. Simply existing in each other's presence, basking in the comfort and familiarity of one another. Kara's heart unexpectedly twists in its cavity, whispering that something is off.
"I-I don't...remember."
"I know, dear," Regina whispers, pressing a kiss to the crown of her head.
"My dream...I don't know..." Kara pauses, gradually pulling away from the safety of Regina's embrace to meet those rich irises that are always shining back at her with such adoration. "There's someone besides Alex." Regina's eyes shift back and forth, searching Kara's face for more information. "I know why I have felt so connected to you. You remind me of her. The other woman with black hair and a teasing smirk. I don't..." she frowns, a little crinkle forming between her brows as she struggles to explain herself. "I don't know who she is but I miss her."
Regina simply presses a kiss to Kara's forehead and then guides her back to the comfort of her chest. Neither one says anything for quite some time but that's okay, Kara has learned to simply bask in the presence of Regina over the last few weeks.
"Kara, I promise you, we will get you home. One way or another, you will find that woman again."
"And as much as I want to know all about my life, I also know it's going to come with a price and it's going to be not having you in my life anymore and I hate it. You already lost your parents, Daniel and now Robin. I don't want you to lose me."
Regina breathes out a depressing chuckle through her nose. "Always the hero."
Kara stiffens, her nightmare flying through her mind and crashing as she recalls the other brunette calling her a hero as well. It's all too much and that black hole of fear from not knowing who she is only seems to grow, sucking the life out of her. She quickly shakes her head, trying to erase those awful feelings.
"I thought that's what you call Emma?"
It's silent for a moment and Kara is sure Regina isn't going to answer but then she faintly whispers. "No, Emma is always the Savior."
"Do you think we succeeded?" Kara cheerfully inquires to lighten the mood. "Think we made her jealous and she will finally wake up and realize she wants to be with you too? Wait, hey! I forgot I'm mad at you." Regina pulls back from their cuddle, arching one eyebrow in questioning and reminding Kara all over again of that woman from her dreams. "Um, yeah, you promised you would sing when we got home but you didn't. You were too drunk and passed out the moment I got you to your room."
"I think I'm still a little drunk, dear."
Kara laughs, resting her head on the same pillow as Regina to meet those loving eyes. She gazes deeply into the rich swirl of hazelnut and honey and finds nothing but love and compassion. And she can't help but touch this gorgeous woman. Tenderly, she traces the outline of Regina's face.
"Knowing that I don't know what I'm missing back home...I just..." she sighs heavily and then closes her eyes in an attempt to make it easier to speak her truth. "I-I wish...maybe in another life I could be yours."
Regina's eyes flutter shut as she carefully takes Kara's hand into hers. Very slowly, she drags Kara's hand to her plump lips and presses a lingering kiss to her palm.
"Only in a world where Emma doesn't exist," Regina faintly murmurs.
"And the mysterious brunette from my nightmares," Kara chirps with far too much pep, instantly cracking through the tension of their heavy moment.
Regina chuckles, a deep, sexy bravado that Kara feels thumping against her own heart. The woman presses another kiss to Kara's knuckles, then eliminates the space between them, tucking herself beneath Kara's chin.
"You really are my hero, Kara. Your timing was impeccable."
She squeezes Regina extra tight and gifts her one long kiss to the top of her head. "We'll get your girl. I promise I won't let you down."
XXXX
The ship landed with a jolt but that's not why a shiver ran down Lena's spine like a tarantula crawling over every inch of her skin. No, now that they landed and she knows they are that much closer to finding Kara, she can't help but think about how powerful Reign must be to so easily cross into an entirely different Earth.
Earth-5 to be exact. An Earth where superheroes cease to exist. No Supergirl. No Superman. No being named Flash, according to Alex. However, Brainy cryptically explained that even though superheroes don't roam this planet, it doesn't mean something just as powerful doesn't lurk in the shadows. Lena had no idea what the hell he was rambling on about, but finally J'onn interrupted and informed their crew of magic.
Another tremor wreaked havoc upon Lena's body.
"I think it's best if you stay back," Alex quietly informs her as she hands over an earpiece, so they can all stay in touch.
"Absolutely not-"
"Please, we don't know what's out there but J'onn, Guardian, and I got this. Winn and Brainy may need your help on the ship or if-"
"No," Lena firmly cuts her off, her mouth firing off from the boiling temperature in her blood at just the thought of not being there to help rescue Kara. "I don't care if I'm not a trained agent, or have a special suit to protect me, or some alien powers. Kara is my best friend and I will do whatever it takes to get her back and I'm sorry, but there is not a single soul on this planet or ours that can change my mind." She stands a bit taller, squaring her shoulders and asserting that Luther power that she calls upon whenever she feels so small and helpless. "Supergirl might have saved me a few times but Kara is my true hero and that was always without her powers. Now it's my turn to save her."
Alex frowns, her skeptical eyes scanning Lena's face for some kind of answer to her problems. They are both quiet for too long, both stubborn and holding their ground. It seems like an eternity when Alex's mouth slowly curls into a sad smile.
"Alright, you can come but you need to follow my lead."
"Of course," Lena hastily agrees, plugging that earpiece into place.
Lena follows Alex through the ship. On their way out, she catches Brainy speaking to Mon-El and his wife back on Earth-38, ensuring that they landed safely. Mon-El refused to come along, swearing up and down that it wasn't their mission to fight, despite his wife's plea to help and they had to worry about the future.
Bastard.
"Remember that time you bought Catco for Kara," Alex slowly drawls, her tone rich with smugness. Lena furrows her brows from the sudden change of topic. "Maybe you've already been saving her."
Lena's mouth pops open to argue but she is unexpectedly interrupted.
"Lena, what are you doing?" James investigates, decked out in his Guardian outfit.
"I'm coming with."
"But you-"
"She'll be fine," Alex vows, placing a small gun in Lena's hand, instantly washing away all of her fears about what's to come.
"No, it's too dangerous-"
"It's none of your concern," Lena adamantly states, reminding him of their brief discussion earlier as to why their beginning to casual dating will no longer continue.
"Are we all set?" J'onn questions the moment they all step off the ship.
Alex nods numbly, her eyes already scanning the perimeters of a dark and creepy forest for potential troubles. She seems stiffer this evening and Lena is positive that it has everything to do with the unknown of magic, something she is not accustomed to, unlike aliens. And maybe the never-ending, looming forest that lies ahead. James appears to be as confident as ever while J'onn scopes out the area just as intently as Alex.
As for her, Lena is slightly distracted by the sudden surge of electricity prickling just beneath her flesh. She quickly slides the gun into its holster near her hip. She swallows thickly, her hands clenching tightly and releasing in hopes to calm down her body. It's futile though, the buzzing remains, coursing through her veins and pleading to be released.
"Do- do you guys feel that?" She hesitantly inquires, her footsteps slowing down, so she can scrutinize Alex's face for any signs of discomfort.
"Feel, what?" Alex whispers, never breaking her laser focus with her gun pointed out in front of her.
"If you're feeling a bit queasy about all of this, I can take you back-" James begins but Lena is already strutting confidently in front of them.
"No, that won't be necessary. I'm fine, I just-"
"Lena?" Alex abnormally shrieks, her tone taking Lena by surprise and causing her to flinch.
She spins around abruptly, ready to question the agent on her pitiful yelp, except she's momentarily paralyzed by the scene unfolding before her. She can very clearly see Alex, J'onn, and James, she can even hear them frantically calling for her but she's stunned by their sheer panic.
"Alex?" She calmly calls, taking a step closer but the agent is shoving her gun behind her back, hysterically calling her name over and over again. "James?"
"Lena? Lena!" Alex cries even louder, her hands tentatively reaching out like she's petrified of the empty space between them. "J'onn, see if you can telepathically find her."
Lena's brows furrow in utter bewilderment. Can they really not see or hear her? Hear her, a sudden idea strikes and she quickly presses her finger to the earpiece. "Alex? Can you hear me?"
"Lena! What the hell! Where did you go?"
"What are you talking about?" She chuckles, even though her body is breaking out in a cold sweat from the unknown. "I'm right in front of you."
"What?" Alex screeches, her hand trembling as she cautiously reaches out for her.
A sudden burst of rainbow colors explode in front of Lena and she can't help but lift her hand to connect with Alex's. "How did you do that?"
"Do what?" Alex nervously questions. "You guys, I'm freaking out here, why can't we see her?"
"You can't see me?"
"We are trying to figure this out but she is right there, Alex, her tracking device is locating her to be no more than two feet in front of you," Winn explains, just as hysterical as Alex seems to be and that's when Lena's heart free falls to the pit of her stomach.
"There must be some sort of force field," Brainy informs their crew.
"This must be magic," J'onn chimes in as his hand hovers beside Alex's.
"But how did Lena walk right through? How come she can see us but we can't see her?" Alex anxiously interrogates but the crew falls dead silent, not having a plausible explanation.
Lena, terrified of what might be occurring and so damn unfamiliar with magic is completely baffled on what her next move should be. Does she run back toward the ship, break free from this magical trap? Or does she stay in this bubble? Because who knows what might happen if she steps out of this magical force field? Maybe she won't be able to return and it was a one time chance? What if Kara is in this magical trap and she loses her one opportunity to get her back?
Her fingers tremble as she tests the barrier, tentatively reaching out until she sees that shimmer of bright colors once again.
"Oh my god, Lena! Is that you?" Alex breathlessly asks when dancing digits appear before her very eyes.
"You can see my fingers?" Lena very seriously investigates through her earpiece.
"Yes," Alex breathes a sigh of relief. "Can you step back over the line?"
Lena immediately snatches her fingers back and for a moment, she ignores the agent's cries of panic. She nibbles on her bottom lip, contemplating what her best option is to find Kara again.
"Lena! Please answer us!"
Very slowly, she reaches up and presses her earpiece. Silence fills the air around them as everyone waits with bated breath. She closes her eyes to calm her anxious nerves because the buzzing vibration ripping through her veins is becoming distracting. It doesn't hurt, which she's immensely thankful for but it's making her thought process more difficult than need be. She takes one deep breath and like a trailer to a movie, she sees flashes of golden curls, sparkling baby blues, crooked glasses, a blinding smile...it's all Kara.
"I have to find her," she calmly announces.
"Wait, Lena, no, you can't possibly go alone. You don't know what's out there!" Alex helplessly pleads.
"Why don't we all keep walking and explore the area?" J'onn suggests. "Maybe there will be a way that we can get through."
"No, she can't go alone, there's no way she can possibly defend Kara with that puny gun. We have no idea what lies ahead."
Lena pivots, ignoring as the crew argues back and forth on what should be done and the necessary precautions. She knows exactly what needs to be done and maybe she's a little terrified deep down that the magical force field allowed her inside and nobody else but she shoves that worry into a box and locks it away.
She lifts her chin, strong and confident like her mother taught her, fearless and smug like her brother molded her to be and struts confidently down the deserted road.
"Lena's tracker is moving," Brainy divulges, causing every single person to stop talking.
"Fine, I'm going too," Alex says, persuading Lena to peek over her shoulder.
And she sees Alex running, her mind already assuming that the agent will catch up in a matter of seconds but...
"Agent Danvers, your tracker isn't moving," Brainy reports.
"But I'm walking, I'm passing trees, I'm moving," she desperately defends.
"It's an illusion," J'onn says mostly to himself but it gathers everyone's attention.
An eerie shiver slithers up Lena's back, provoking all the little hairs on the back of her neck to stand to attention. She's horrified of the unknown but she's determined to find Kara, with or without backup. She swallows thickly, clenches her fists together and keeps on trekking, pretending the outfit Alex supplied her with is her own personal super suit. It may only be Alex's special agent outfit, all black to be sneaky in the night, but Lena forces herself to believe it will keep her safe and fuel her confidence to keep going.
"One quarter of a mile from the barrier," she hears Winn say into her right ear and that's when she looks up and discovers a green sign.
She presses her finger into the earpiece and whispers, "Welcome to Storybrooke."