Alex had a smile on her face even before she opened the door, but as she did open it she said, "congratulations."
"Thanks," Cass said as she entered the apartment and Alex shut the door. "I can't begin to tell you how hard it was not to scream in excitement when he told me I could be second chair on the trial. I wanted to text you sooner than I did, but it felt like I was on the run all day."
"It's ok," Alex said, her hands in her back pockets. They hadn't moved from away from the door and she was beginning to feel a little self-conscious just standing there like that.
"I know this is probably a bad idea given you're on medication, but I brought some champagne," Cass said.
Alex smiled. "It's ok," Alex said. "One or two glasses won't hurt. After all, you have reason to celebrate."
They retired to the couch after Cass got them some glasses to drink from and poured their first drink. By their second drink Alex was laughing at a story Cass was telling about one of her first cases and how the defendant tried to escape during a break and managed to get himself stuck in a ladies' restroom window.
Cass was actually the one to find him as she had to go to the restroom.
"What did you say to him?" Alex asked.
"I didn't say anything. I was so shocked to see him – or rather see his ass and legs hanging there that I walked right back out and got the baliff."
"How long did it take to get him out of there?"
"Long enough that we postponed his hearing until the next day," Cass said. "The best part was that we bring him in the next day and inform the judge and his attorney that we have filed escape charges against him and he yells 'objection' and then goes on to say that he can't be convicted of escape since he didn't actually escape."
"Interesting argument, but I'm guessing it didn't work."
"No, it didn't," Cass said. "But I think the judge appreciated the humor of it."
"Well counselor, you have come a long way – from prosecuting dumb criminals to being second chair for the trial of the year here in National City," Alex said.
"Second chair is a lot of responsibility," Cass said. "It's what I've been working toward because if things go well it could really open doors for me. It's been hard to be patient, paying my dues and everything, so to know my boss has faith in me means the world to me."
"You are probably going to be really busy aren't you?"
"That would be an understatement," Cass said. "All the case files were sent over to my office today and my first case meeting is in a few days and I need to be prepared, which means making sure I know the material."
Alex realized in that moment that Cass probably should be using this time to review that material, not be here with her.
"My reading skills may be in a bottomless pit right now, but if you need me to listen to anything to do with the case, you know if you need a sounding board, I'm right here," Alex said.
"Thanks," Cass said. "I might just take you up on that offer and you may regret offering. And you will have to come to the trial to see me in action."
There was a slight pause. "I didn't mean see, like …" Cass started to say.
"It's fine, I understood what you meant," Alex said.
"I know you are probably tired of people asking this, but how are you really?"
Alex was tired of people asking that, even though she understood why they asked. And she knew Cass was also only asking out of concern.
To answer, she just sort of shrugged. "I don't know," Alex said. "I guess don't know how I should be feeling about it. I have all these thoughts swirling around in my head and I feel like I should be doing 100 different things in order to prepare for life like this, but at the same time I don't want to do any of those 100 things because … because to do them would make it all seem more real to me. It's stupid. I know my eyesight isn't going to come back and part of me accepts that but another part of me doesn't want to accept it."
Cass moved in closer to her and took her hand. "You don't have to accept it, not fully, not right away. Move at your own pace."
"How do you always know the right things to say?" Alex smiled.
"I'm an attorney, it's what I get paid for," Cass laughed.
Alex was feeling a little relaxed with the alcohol in her system and she wondered if this was one of those moments where she should give Cass a kiss. She thought about it, wanted to do it, but she wasn't even sure where exactly Cass' head was so she didn't.
As unsure as she was about most things right now, she truly wasn't sure how to date someone when she couldn't see them. It sounded stupid to even think it, but she couldn't help it.
She hadn't really thought about long-term relationships before she realized she was gay because she hadn't had a long-term one – ever. Once she was able to accept herself for who she was though, she had thought about the idea of waking up next to that someone special.
Being blind, she didn't know how that was supposed to work. Then again, maybe she was just overthinking things like she tended to do and she should just slow down and deal with the things she could deal with in the immediate future.
She realized that she had paused so long that a kiss now didn't seem a possibility, so she merely sat back a bit on the couch and brought the conversation back to Cass and her case.
…
Alex woke the next morning, reaching for her glasses from the bedside table. She felt around for them and accidentally knocked them to the floor.
Groaning, she reached toward the floor, while still lying down on the bed.
Her head ached a bit, although she was sure it had nothing to do with her condition. When Cass left the night before there was still champagne left in the bottle, and Alex told her that she would handle dumping the rest out.
She hadn't actually done so, helping herself to the rest of it, and then topping it off with one of the bottles of alcohol she still had in the apartment.
It wasn't one of her smarter moves she could admit, but it felt good to pass out and she was pretty certain that any dreams she may have had last night stayed in the recesses of her mind because she slept straight through and didn't recall any dreams.
She was about to say screw the glasses and go back to sleep when she heard a knocking on the door. It was probably her mother and sister. She had thrown away the evidence of her drinking last night so maybe she could avoid any lectures.
Sitting up in bed, she knew she would have to get her glasses now so she got out of bed but as soon as her foot hit the floor, she heard the crunching sound and felt the impact that indicated she had stepped right on the glasses.
"Son of a bitch," she swore.
The next sound she heard was a key in the lock of the door to her apartment and a moment later it opening.
"Alex?" her sister called out, clearly having heard her swear. "Is everything ok?"
"My glasses, they fell on the floor and I just stepped on them," she said.
"Are your eyes closed?" her mom asked.
Alex sat back down on the bed, "of course they are," she said, already wishing that her sister had come alone, or not at all. She heard noise from the other room – curtains being pulled back and the window opening and then closing and the curtains being closed once more. A moment later someone entered her room.
"I sent your sister to the DEO. Winn had been working on the spare pairs so maybe one of them is done," Eliza said. She could hear her mom move closer and then the sounds of her picking up the broken pair and placing them on the bedside table.
Then she felt the bed dip a little to her left where her mom had sat down next to her, but she didn't say anything.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
"Thirsty."
"I'll get you some water."
She heard her mother leave the room and once she did, Alex opened her eyes. It would be dark in her room, or mostly so, so she didn't figure it would trigger another episode. Keeping your eyes closed all the time wasn't exactly something that came natural, which is why Alex was thankful she had the glasses.
The night before Cass had asked her if she could see her eyes. The request had caught her off guard even though Cass had a big lead in about wanting to ask her something that she should feel free to say no to and she even apologized for asking. Alex wasn't sure why she wanted to see her eyes and Cass couldn't seem to explain it well either, but Alex had taken the glasses off and opened her eyes while facing her.
There was only one light on in the room and it was behind Alex so she wasn't too concerned.
"Your eyes," Cass said. "I know you said that everyone said they looked normal, but I guess I didn't think that they would really look the same."
"Yeah, I think it throws most people off," Alex said. "But I swear, I really am blind."
"I wasn't asking because I thought you were lying."
"I know," Alex said. "Just a little blind humor. Or at least my not so good attempt at it."
Cass touched her face, causing a slight tense up, and cupped her jawline before leaning in for a kiss.
"Alex, you need to keep your eyes closed," her mom said, knocking her from her recollection. She closed her eyes because she knew that would be easier than responding to her mother.
"Here is your water," Eliza said, and Alex held out her hand and when she felt the bottle she gripped it and unscrewed the top and took a long drink.
Eliza took a seat beside her on the bed. They continued to sit there in silence until Kara returned. Kara entered the room slowly, seeing her adoptive mom and sister on the bed and Eliza looked up at her and Kara just shook her head no.
"Winn said he could probably have the extra pair done today, but they're not ready quite yet," Kara said. "It may not be until tomorrow."
"I need to take a shower," Alex said, her voice flat. "You should probably get to work Kara."
She didn't wait for a response, merely got up and walked toward the bathroom.
"You need to let me put waterproof coverings over your bandages," Eliza said.
Alex stopped but she didn't turn back to them. "I forgot, I can't even shower on my own."
"Alex," Eliza started to say.
"It's fine," Alex said. "I'll just forgo the shower."
She still went to the restroom and shut the door and Eliza indicated to Kara that they should go out to the main room. Kara stopped first and picked up the broken glasses.
"Winn can fix these. Maybe quicker than he can get the other pair ready," she said.
"Go ahead and take them to him now and then get to work," Eliza said.
"Maybe I should stay here."
"No, you've missed enough time at work," Eliza said. "Just go. I'll stay."
"I want to do something to help."
"You are," Eliza said giving her a hug. "You are here for her, but Alexandra, she needs to be willing to accept help and she isn't there yet."
Kara looked in the direction of the Alex's bedroom. "I thought maybe she'd snap out of it by now. You know be all gung ho about something, anything."
"This isn't something she is going to be able to just bounce back from, which is something I'm not sure even she realizes yet."
"She is hungover," Kara said. Normally she wouldn't rat out her sister but in this case she felt she needed to.
"Yes, I know," Eliza said rubbing her forehead. "I will speak with her about it."
A knock at the door had Kara and Eliza looking at it a moment before Kara moved to open it.
"Maggie," Kara said.
"Hey Kara," Maggie said. "I just came to speak with Alex a bit. Is now a good time?"
Kara moved out of the way for Maggie to enter.
"I have to get to work," Kara said, to Maggie and then turned a bit. "Alex, I'm heading to work. Maggie is here."
Kara nodded to Maggie and then stepped out.
"Hi," Maggie said Eliza. "How is she?"
"She broke her glasses so the day isn't starting out great."
"She's probably going to need spares anyway."
"Yes, we're already working on that," Eliza replied, taking a moment to consider this woman. She knew that Maggie was gay and knew something had happened between her and Alex but she didn't know the details. In addition to being independent, Alex also didn't like to share details of her personal life so most of what Eliza knew she got from the little that Alex did say (and what Kara would tell her).
She knew Maggie cared for her daughter – that much was obvious to her from the moment she had come to her to ask about getting Alex a shower at the DEO.
"Hi," Alex said, coming out into the main room. She wasn't exactly looking in the direction of her mom and Maggie as she hadn't heard anything to indicate where they were.
"Hi," Maggie said. "I thought I would stop by before I went into work."
Eliza looked from her daughter to Maggie and back again.
"Why don't I let you two talk," Eliza said. "Alex, I'm going to get some breakfast, would you like something?"
"Sure," Alex replied. "Just pick me up anything."
"Ok," she said, and she said goodbye to Maggie before leaving.
Maggie waited until the door was closed, thankful that Eliza and Kara had left.
"So," she said, turning back toward Alex. "How drunk were you last night?"
"What?"
"You heard me. How drunk were you?"
"How did you know I was drinking?"
"Because of the texts you sent me."
"Texts?"
"Wow. I figured you were drunk but the fact that you don't recall texting me answers the question of how drunk you were," Maggie said. "Alex, why would you get drunk like that?"
"I don't know," Alex said throwing up her hands. "Oh wait, I know why, because I'm blind."
"That's it then. You're blind, so you are just going to what get drunk every chance you get? Come on, you are better than that."
Alex moved over to the couch and sat down. "If you are going to lecture me, feel free to walk back out that door."
Maggie seriously considered doing just that, but she knew that was probably what Alex wanted so that she wouldn't have to deal with this. Instead she came over to the couch and sat down, pulling out her phone.
"The first text was pretty average, it was just 'hey,' followed by 'hi,' followed by 'are you awake,' then the first of my favorites, 'what are you wearing?'"
"Oh God," Alex said, bending over and burying her face in her hands.
"I'm just joking, you didn't send that last one," Maggie said and Alex sat back up and swatted her hand at her, managing to hit her arm.
"That's not funny," Alex said.
"It was a little," Maggie said. "But in all seriousness, you did send me like 18 messages, including telling me I could have your bike because as you said and I quote, 'I'm blind so I probably shouldn't be riding around town on it.'"
"At least I was being truthful."
"I don't want your bike," Maggie said.
"It's a really nice one."
"Do you want to talk about why you decided to get drunk last night?"
"Not really."
"There is a reason I didn't want to say anything in front of your mom," Maggie said. "But I can wait until she comes back with breakfast if you would like."
Alex shook her head a bit. "It wasn't my intention to get drunk," she said. "Not at first at least. Cass came over last night and brought a bottle of champagne with her."
"And she thought it would be a good job for you to drink?"
"It wasn't like that. She just wanted to celebrate because she got named to be second chair for this big trial coming up," Alex said. "I only had two small glasses but when she left, well …"
"Is that why your glasses broke?"
"Nope, that was just pure blindness."
Maggie didn't say anything to that, but she thought about what Alex had just said. "You said Cass was celebrating being named second chair for a trial, she is a lawyer?"
Alex paused before answering, "Yes, she's with the prosecutor's office."
"You're dating Cassandra Thielen," Maggie said, not really phrasing it as a question. She paused as she let this bit of information sink in.
Of course, she knew who Cass Thielen was. She hadn't personally had any cases with her, but she knew she had a reputation of being a total hardass in court.
And she was beautiful.
"I take it that means you have decided you can move forward with a relationship."
"I don't know," Alex said. "She says she is good with us taking it slow and she understands that I may not be able to fully commit to anything right now."
"I sense a but there."
Alex shrugged, "I guess I thought it would feel different."
"What do you mean?"
"I feel like I should feel more, like there should be some magical spark or something," Alex said, not mentioning that the only thing she had to compare it to was how she felt when she realized she had feelings for Maggie. "I do like her, I just don't know if I'm hesitating because of my eyes or because maybe I only like her and it won't go any further than that."
"Well the good news is that you have plenty of time to figure it out. Cass said she is good with taking it slow, so believe her," Maggie said. "Only you can decide what you really want."
I wanted you, Alex thought, but that didn't work out.
"Now, I need to get into work but the next time you feel like getting drunk do me a favor and call me first so I can tell you what a bad idea that is," Maggie said standing up. "And if you want to text me, you can just text me without the pretense of a drink in you. I might even tell you what I'm wearing."
"Still not funny," Alex said.
"Yes it is."
Alex stood up, "I didn't really text you anything like that did I?"
"I assumed you were using speech to text so some of the texts were just you starting and stopping I think. It was really hard to tell. But no you didn't ask me what I was wearing. You did offer me your bike a couple of times."
"It's not like I am going to be using it," Alex said. "It isn't a bad idea and I would like it to go to someone who is going to appreciate it."
"Why don't we hold off a bit on giving away your worldly possessions, ok?" Maggie said. "Now, remember, if you feel like drinking, call me. Deal?"
"Ok,"
"Good," Maggie said, and then she thought about giving Alex a hug, but she didn't want to startle her. Instead she told her goodbye and Alex escorted her the door and she left.
…
Eliza returned to Alex's place hoping she had given Maggie and Alex enough time to speak.
"I'm back," Eliza announced as she entered. She didn't see Maggie or Alex there in the main room so she assumed Maggie had indeed left.
She put her purchases down on the table and started to get them out.
"Alex, did you hear me? I'm back and brought you some food to eat."
When she didn't hear a response back and Alex didn't appear she made her way back to the bedroom. There she found Alex sitting on the edge of her bed, wrapping gauze around her head and not doing a great job of it.
"Here, let me," Eliza said, coming over to assist.
"Keeping my eyes closed isn't easy," Alex said. "Figured this was the best option until I get my glasses back."
"Hopefully, that will be today," Eliza said. "But in the meantime, yes this is probably for the best. Did you put any extra padding over your eyes before you started the wrap?"
"Yes."
Eliza ended up having to take most of the gauze off and starting over again. Alex remained quiet throughout.
Afterward, they went out and ate breakfast. Eliza felt a bit odd observing her daughter knowing that she couldn't see it was being done. If Alex had seen it, Eliza was sure there would have been some comment thrown her way by now, but again Alex remained quiet.
"I'm going to go lay down," Alex said after she was done eating.
She got up from the table, but Eliza, grabbed her hand.
"Alex …"
"Could you not do that," Alex said shaking her off.
"Sorry," Eliza said, releasing her. "Are you alright? Did something happen with Maggie?"
"No, nothing happened," Alex said. "I just want to go lay down."
"Did the food not help your hangover?"
"It's not a big deal mom."
"Yes, it is," Eliza said. "You can't be drinking with the medication you are on. You know this."
"You know, I'm an adult, I don't need to be lectured by you or anyone else about what I choose to do," Alex said. "I had a few drinks last night, I think after what just happened to me I'm entitled ok, so lay off. In fact, just leave. I don't need you here. Go back home."
Eliza didn't react at first. She could see her daughter was hurting, trying to show she didn't need anyone and all she wanted to was give her a hug and let her know it was going to be ok. But Alex needed to make the first move.
"You want to be left alone, then fine Alexandra, I'll go," Eliza said. "Just know this, I love you, and I'm always going to be here for you when you need me. But you need to learn that needing someone isn't a weakness. Admitting you can't go it alone doesn't make you weaker."
Eliza got up and made it to the door and purposely paused, hoping that Alex would finally back down.
When she didn't, Eliza left.
…
It seemed like everyone with any sort of sustained criminal past knew Downtown Eddie, so it wasn't hard for Maggie to track him down. She found him holding court outside of a convenience store. There were several people around him, talking to him and she observed him nodding his head and writing something down in what appeared to be a small notebook.
She stayed in her car watching him from down the street for a while. While she did feel a bit better for having seen Alex this morning, she also was concerned about her – even more so now.
When she had woken and saw she had a bunch of text messages from Alex she immediately thought something must be wrong.
Then she started to read them.
She hadn't lied to Alex – outside of the whole 'what are you wearing' part – but she hadn't told her the complete truth either.
Looking at her text messages now, her eyes went to the last one Alex had sent – "I still really like you, a lot."
It hadn't taken much thought to realize Alex must have been drunk based on the messages. But still, Maggie knew they would have to talk about it.
The prospect of it didn't really make her happy. It wasn't that she wasn't pleased that Alex still had feelings for her, and this clearly gave her the opening to tell Alex about her own feelings, but the idea that Alex was drunk texting made her worry.
What she wasn't expecting was for Alex to not even remember sending them. She had decided almost immediately that it would be a bad idea to bring up that last text. What she needed was to find out why Alex felt the need to be getting drunk at all.
There was no way all her wounds had healed yet, which means she must still be taking pain meds, which meant that drinking was the last thing she should be doing.
And Cassie should have known better than to let her drink.
Assistant District Attorney Cassandra Thielen – now she had face to go with the name.
And yes, she may have googled her name the moment she left Alex's place. It's not that she hadn't seen a picture of her before, had seen her in person actually, but still she felt compelled to read up on her.
Cass was the second youngest person to be named an ADA in the city. A local woman, she had graduated from National City University and decided to stay here and practice law.
There was a lot to admire about her, but right now she wasn't Maggie's favorite person and not because she was dating Alex.
She understood that Cass might want to celebrate a promotion but letting Alex have alcohol was inexcusable. A part of her wanted to track her down and tell her how inappropriate it was for her to have done that, but the more reasonable side of her won out.
Putting her phone away, she out of her car and approached Eddie. She even had her NCPD jacket on because she wanted people to see she was a cop, see she had a gun. As she got closer a couple of the guys around Eddie noticed her and immediately took off running. But she paid them no mind as she walked right up to him.
The guy didn't even try to run, not that Maggie expected him to. Eddie liked to pretend like he was some sort of criminal mastermind who wasn't afraid of anything.
"Detective Sawyer, isn't it? It's been a while."
"Yes, it has Eddie," she said, smiling. "And if you tell me what I need to know quickly it will be another long while before you see me again. If you don't, I'm going to become your new best friend and hang out here every day with you. That should do wonders for your business. What is your business again?"
"Detective," he said, giving her a smile in return. "You know I'm always ready and willing to help out the NCPD. In fact, I was just heading into your precinct to give someone there a tip, so you have saved me the trip."
"Is that a fact?" she said, crossing her arms.
"When has Eddie ever steered anyone wrong?"
"Well, unless your tip has to do with someone approaching you about getting drugs, I'm not interested. You should think carefully about what comes out of your mouth next."
"Detective, you know I don't deal any drugs."
"Yes, I thought I knew that. Then someone laid a tip on me that you had changed businesses."
"I don't know who you are getting your tips from, but they are wrong. You know you should come to Eddie if you want good information."
Maggie had already had enough of this. Grabbing Eddie, she shoved him against the convenience store window and cuffed him.
"Hey, hey, detective, what's …"
"Shut up," she said, patting him down. She found the small notebook in his back pocket. It appeared to be written in some sort of code. She also found a handgun on him, which was loaded and she was betting not registered. Tucking the gun away in her jacket pocket along with the notebook. As she moved him toward her car, he began to protest, but she ignored him, putting him in the back seat once they got there.
As she took her seat behind the wheel, she took out the gun, ejecting the clip and putting it in her pocket once more and tossing the gun in the passenger side seat. Then she took out the notebook and looked at it more closely.
"Am I under arrest because you haven't read me my rights," Eddie said.
"I can read them to you right now if you wish," she said. "Or you can tell me what I want to know."
"I told you detective, I don't deal in drugs."
"Edward Marcus Yost, you have the right to remain silent," she began.
"Wait, wait," he interrupted. "I don't deal in drugs …"
She began again with reading him his rights.
"But I may know who in town you could be directed to if you were into that kind of thing."
She turned around and looked at him. "I'm looking for a very specific clientele who is looking for specific kinds of drugs. I have been told that this client – an alien – came to you for it after he failed to find what he was looking for when he robbed a clinic. Specifically, he was looking for prenatal drugs. Now did this client approach you?"
Eddie sat back in his seat and Maggie knew Brandon must not be wrong about this. But Eddie fell silent which was not something he usually did.
"Eddie?"
"I think I'm ready for you to read me my rights now," he said.
This was definitely not what she was expecting. She turned away from him and looked down at the notebook she had taken from him. She assumed the code was a way for him to take orders from clients without leaving evidence for law enforcement to track his illegal activities.
While it was strange for it to be in pen and paper, she supposed it was probably safer that way than stored electronically on a phone or computer.
She looked at him again. "Look Eddie, I don't care what you have been up to and I really don't want to bother taking you down to the station and filling out a bunch of paper work, but I will. The only thing I want to know is where I can find the person that asked you about getting prenatal drugs. That's it. You tell me that and you don't lie about it and you can walk out of here without me hassling you ever again. But I need that information."
"You don't want no part of that, detective," Eddie said. "Trust me."
"Look, I already know it's an alien who is wanting the drugs. I know he can be dangerous," Maggie said. "Now you say you don't deal in drugs, fine, but I know you well enough that you don't mind being the middle man either, so if you directed this alien to another supplier, I want his or her name."
She could tell he was weighing his options as he sat back and looked out the window.
"No one will know I got the info from you," she said trying to reassure him.
"You think it's that simple?" He sneered.
"Don't know. What I do know is that I want to find this alien and hopefully bring him in without ever having to pull a weapon. I know I'm not the only one looking for him either and trust me, it will be better for all involved if I reach him first."
"Who else is looking?"
Maggie considered what to tell him. It's not like she could say a top secret agency of alien hunters. But there was something that would either get him thinking or possibly spook him into making a mistake.
"Supergirl. And she isn't going to stop until she finds him."
"Supergirl? What's her beef with him?"
Now time for a little white lie.
"Back where she is from, he apparently hurt someone in her family, and she wants payback. I even heard Superman will be joining her in her hunt within a matter of days. Now it didn't take me any time to hear your name mentioned, what are the odds those two don't hear the same thing?"
This did seem to get Eddie's attention, although it didn't have the affect she was hoping for.
"Well, if Supergirl is interested in him then maybe she'll be able to find him and keep him from being a danger to anyone else," Eddie said. "You know keep us humans out of it completely."
Getting out of the car she opened the back door and motioned for him to get out. Pushing him against the car once he did get out, she undid the cuffs and walked back to the driver's side door.
"Is that it?" Eddie said.
"Yeah Eddie."
"You going to give me back my weapon and my notebook?"
"No," she said. "Have a nice day."
Once she left the scene she drove directly to the DEO. After going through the intake process, she was directed to Winn's station. She had called him to let him know she was on her way. She tossed the notebook to him.
"What's this?"
"Maybe something, maybe nothing. I think it's some sort of order book, but it's written in code. I'm hoping you can decode it."
"Am I looking for something in particular?"
"The guy I got it off of procures items for people – illegally. I got a tip that the K'atr might have approached him to get the drugs he was after when he raided the clinic. I'm hoping something in there might be a clue that will lead me to him."
"Ok, I will get to it later."
Maggie resisted the urge to ask him why later as she reminded herself Winn had a job to do and Maggie really had no authority here at the DEO.
"How are the new glasses coming along?" Maggie said. "I was over at Alex's earlier and heard about her breaking the one pair."
"I feel bad because you know she needs them," Winn said, "But, it's not going to get done today."
Maggie looked around the room and realized there did seem a bit of chaotic activity going on.
"Is something happening?" Maggie asked.
"No, not really," Winn said, "It's just that J'onn had to leave suddenly and well with Alex not being here things are not quite running as smoothly."
"Where did J'onn go?" Maggie asked, thinking it was odd that he would leave without having someone here in charge – normally that person would be Alex.
"I don't know, he didn't say, only that he would be back later today," Winn said. "He wasn't expecting to be gone long, but he said it couldn't be helped."
"Well, I'm sure you can hold down the ship while he is gone," Maggie said just as she caught a glimpse of Eliza heading down a hall. She wondered why she was there and not with Alex. "Just let me know if you find anything with that notebook."
"Will do."
Maggie started to walk away and then took a detour and headed after Eliza.
"Mrs. Danvers," she called out as she started to catch up to her.
Eliza turned. "It's Eliza," she said.
"Sorry," Maggie said. "Um … you didn't have to bring Alex back here did you?" She didn't think that was the case or Winn would have mentioned it, but she also wondered why Eliza was here and not with Alex.
"No," Eliza said. "She's home."
"Good," Maggie said. "I was hoping there wasn't set back you know with having no glasses."
"Nothing like that," Eliza said, and it was the way she phrased it that caused Maggie to dig a little deeper.
"But something happened?"
"No, it's just hard to see her going through this and knowing I can't do anything to help or at least she won't let me help her," Eliza said.
"Yes, well, she can be stubborn," Maggie said. "When we first met she told me to get out of her crime scene. I didn't think she and I would go from that to …" She paused, not really know what to say. She knew she should say friends and leave it at that, especially with Alex's mom. "To being two people who care about each other."
"Well you are about the only one she had let help her so far, maybe I should send you over there to kick down her door again."
"She told you about that?" Maggie asked, feeling suddenly very stupid.
"Kara did actually," Eliza smiled.
"Yes, I have admitted it wasn't one of my smarter moves."
"I don't know about that," Eliza said. "It could be interpreted as being somewhat romantic."
Maggie was fairly certain Alex hadn't interpreted it that way, but still the comment made her smile.
"If you think it will help Alex, I would gladly kick down another door."
"I might take up on that offer," Eliza said. "But for now, I'm going to try and respect the boundaries Alex has put in place."
"Boundaries?"
"Alexandra made it clear this morning that she doesn't need me around and I should go home."
"Wait, what?" Maggie asked. "I'm sure she didn't mean that."
"I hope so too, but right now I don't know how to reach her," Eliza said. "I don't know, I thought things had changed between us for the better, that she knew I only wanted the best for her and for her to be happy and right now she's becoming untouchable."
Maggie knew that Kara had felt helpless, just as she had, but now Alex's mom just looked defeated. She hadn't gotten any sense from her this morning in the short time she had been around her so she figured something must have happened after she left.
"I'm sure she knows you love her and you want to help her," Maggie said. "But if you want, I could go speak with her."
"Thanks for the offer, but I think it's best if Alex comes around on her own," she said. "As you said, she can be stubborn."
"Ok, well let me know if you change your mind," Maggie said. She said her goodbye and even as she was walking away she thought despite what Eliza said, maybe she should go have another talk with Alex.