Alex felt better now that she had her new glasses – and now that she had sobered up. Kara had ensured there was no more alcohol in her apartment to make sure she didn't relapse.

Her sling was back on and her mom had checked all her bandages upon getting there. She had taken her antibiotics and a couple of pain pills and using her phone she set reminders for her next dosage.

She was currently sitting on her couch listening to her mother who was trying to be helpful. For her part, she was trying to let her mother help.

"I've been researching a few things that you might find useful," Eliza was saying. "Just different labeling techniques we could employ around the apartment to assist you. There are also some electronic devises that will read labels for you. Of course, there are other things like we can employ smart technology to do things like turn on the lights for when you have company. You just need to figure out what you are comfortable with and we'll look into it."

"I know I need to do these things, but I don't even know where to start," Alex said. "I mean do I learn braille, do I need to arrange for some sort of meal service so I can eat. It shouldn't be up to you or Kara or anyone to do these things for me."

Eliza came over and sat beside her but made no move to touch her daughter – knowing now how unwelcome such things could be. She hadn't told Alex, but she had bought a few e-books to read – one of which was about how friends and family should cope with a loved one becoming blind.

"Lots of blind people live completely independent lives and it will be no different for you," Eliza said. "You may need some assistance to get there, but I know you of all people will get there."

"So where do we start?"

Eliza smiled, knowing that even this small step wasn't easy for Alex but the fact she was willing to accept help was huge.

They spent the day together going over various items including making several purchases. Alex decided she would have to learn braille, but she didn't want to have to go somewhere to take a class. Instead Eliza found a few self-taught kits on the internet which she ordered for delivery.

They also purchased some smart home technology, a label reader, braille labels for when Alex was ready for them and other adaptive technology designed to help the blind. Eliza got it all ordered for express delivery. She figured the sooner Alex had such items the sooner she could concentrate on something other than her current situation. Her daughter always excelled when she had a problem she could concentrate on and without her work, right now she needed other things to occupy her time.

The one thing that Alex balked about was buying a fold-up walking cane. Alex had actually questioned her on why she would need such a thing and Eliza found herself choosing her words carefully as she explained that just because she had those glasses on didn't mean people would realize she was blind. The cane would help her navigate but also let other people around her know she unable to see.

"Don't you think you're going to need it when you are outside or in public?" Eliza asked.

When Alex didn't answer immediately Eliza realized that maybe Alex hadn't really thought about leaving her own apartment.

"We don't have to order it if you don't want," Eliza said. "Remember, you have to do what you feel comfortable with."

"No, go ahead and order it," Alex responded, even if she sounded less than confident about it. "It makes sense that I should use one."

"Are you sure?"

"No, but I'm not sure about any of it, so we might as well just order it," Alex said.

"Ok," Eliza said, clicking the order button. "That should be good for now. Everything should be here within two days and then we can get started."

"Thank you," Alex said. "I know I was being a bitch earlier but …"

"You don't have to apologize," Eliza interrupted her. "It's expected that you are going to hit rough patches with this. Just know that no matter what I'm always going to be here for you."

"I know," Alex said and she moved over on the couch a little and gave her mother a hug.

…

Maggie was typing up a report when her phone beeped. Looking down she saw a text from Winn telling her stop by the DEO when she got the chance as he had something for her on Eddie's book. It took more than a little restraint not to get up and head there immediately, but she had her own work responsibilities she had to deal with first. She texted him back to tell him she could stop by after her shift if was going to still be there. When he responded yes, she returned her focus back to her report.

She had come into work that morning trying to keep her concentration squarely on her job as she had spent most of her evening thinking about what Kara had said to her. It had her questioning whether she was making a mistake in not telling Alex how she felt.

And she spent way too much time looking at that text from Alex where she said she still really liked her a lot. Several times she thought about deleting it just so she would stop looking at it, but she couldn't do it.

Did Alex mean that she liked her more than Cassie? Did she still want a relationship with Maggie?

All these thoughts were swirling around in her mind, but in the end she decided she was right not to say anything. She thought about how she would feel if she was dating someone and another woman confessed her feelings to her in the middle of that. And Maggie told herself Alex needed to concentrate on herself right now.

So, Maggie came into work determined to concentrate on the things she needed to get done.

Yet, even after texting Winn that she would be there after her shift, she was out of chair the moment she finished the report she was working on and sending him a message to say she was coming over now.

She wasn't even sure what she would be accomplishing by finding this K'atr – only that she felt like she had to do it, had to finish what Alex had started.

Plus, if he was a danger to the populace, it was her responsibility to do something about it.

It didn't take her long to get to the DEO and over to Winn's station.

"What do you got?"

"The code, I think I cracked it," Winn said bringing up scans of the writing. "You see here, it's a list of supplies and delivery times. I'm not sure what these others are, they appear to be names but they mean nothing to me."

"Those would be suppliers," Maggie said as she recognized a couple of the names. Eddie acts a middle man a lot of the times because he doesn't have a direct connection to things people need. So the question is, does any of this show anything about someone asking for neonatal drugs?"

"Here," he said, showing her a blowup of an entry.

"Yes!" Maggie said excitedly, pointing at the name Brooks. "That has to be Bobby Brooks. He is a drug dealer who works the west side. He must be who Eddie went to when he got the request."

She would need to check in with the sergeant from narcotics before approaching Bobby. For all she knew the narcotics division already had Bobby under surveillance of some type. It wasn't like everyone didn't know he was a drug dealer, but catching him in the act was another matter.

"Do you really think this will help lead you to the alien who hurt Alex?" Winn asked.

"I hope so," she said. "Thanks for your help."

"Anything for Alex."

…

Alex felt more than a little stupid when she had to explain to Cassie that it wasn't a good night for her to come over because her mother was staying with her for a few days.

She was lying on her bed speaking with Cass who was taking a break from work and wanted to call her. She hadn't told Cass about her little breakdown – only that she had a bad day and that her mom felt better being a little nearer to her for a few days.

She told her about all the things her mom helped her buy that would assist her in her transition.

"So, you are going to learn braille?" Cass asked.

"It makes sense to," Alex said. "Hopefully, it isn't too hard."

"I could help you study."

"Thanks," Alex replied. "But I thought I was supposed to be helping you study for your case."

"I'm sure we can come up with a way to mutually help each other out," Cass said. "I'm pretty sure I can help you out with Braille, after all I'm good at feeling things out."

"Well it will probably be a while before I even start on it," Alex said, wanting to steer the conversation away from her problems. "What about you, are they giving you time to exclusively work on the case?"

Cass laughed a little, "No. I'm still expected to keep up with many of my other cases, although some will be given over to others. Speaking of which I should probably get back to work."

"Ok. Thanks for calling and I will let you know when it's safe to come over."

"Please do," Cass said. "I'll talk to you later."

Alex got off the phone and continued to lay there for a while. Then she picked up the phone once more.

"Call Maggie."

The phone rang twice before Maggie answered.

"Hey Danvers."

"Can I ask a really stupid question?"

Maggie laughed, "Sure."

"I was on the phone with Cass and I was telling her that my mom helped me order some stuff including materials to help me learn Braille. And Cass said she was sure she could help me out with it because she's really good at feeling things out. Um … was she flirting with me?"

This time Maggie laughed more. "Yeah, Danvers, she was flirting."

"God, I'm such an idiot."

"Well, how did you respond?"

"I don't know I said something stupid I guess, something mundane," Alex said. "Like an idiot."

"You're not an idiot."

"No, I'm just too stupid to realize when another woman is flirting with me."

"Stop being so hard on yourself," Maggie said. "So, you didn't realize she was flirting, big deal. Worse things have happened."

"I know, I just can't help but think that …"

"Think what?"

There was a pause. "Think that if I had my sight, I would have known she was flirting. You know if I had something to rely on besides my hearing."

"Alex," Maggie said.

"I know, I know," Alex interrupted. "I should just accept that my sight is gone and …"

"Alex," Maggie interrupted this time. "You were on the phone with Cass, what help would sight have been?"

Again, another pause and then a small bit of laughter from Alex. "I really am an idiot."

"No, you aren't," Maggie responded. "Look, you are still relatively new to all of this. It will get easier and before you know it, you will be the one flirting."

"Somehow I doubt it," Alex said. "I wasn't good at flirting when I thought I was straight."

"Well now you know who you are better so I'm sure you will get a handle on it."

"Maybe that is the problem – I don't know who I am any better, especially now," Alex said. "I honestly don't know where I go from here and what I'm supposed to do. And … and I'm scared of that."

The admission surprised Maggie and she wished she was there right now to comfort Alex rather than just talking to her on the phone. She knew this was a struggle for Alex and she wanted to be able to do more than she was.

"You're going to figure it out," Maggie said. "I know you will. Come on Danvers, you are a badass and you know it."

Alex didn't feel much like a badass but she appreciated Maggie saying it.

"So are you working on any interesting cases?" Alex asked to change the subject.

"I'm working on what that I'm hoping to get a resolution to soon," Maggie answered. "In fact I need to get going but can I call you later?"

"Yeah sure," Alex said. "We still need to talk about you buying my bike."

"Buy? I thought you were just going to give it to me," Maggie said.

"It is a Ducati."

"Hey, I'm just saying you never said the word buy when you texted me about it."

"In my defense I was drunk."

"Not a good defense," Maggie said. "Alright, I got to go. Call you later."

"Bye."

Alex got off the phone feeling a little lighter. Talking to Maggie just felt natural to her – like she could talk to her about any subject.

She couldn't help but wonder why Maggie wasn't interested in her as anything other than a friend though. Alex had never clicked with anyone like she had Maggie.

Thinking about Maggie, she felt guilty for not thinking as much about Cass.

She liked Cass, she really did. But she also knew what she felt for her wasn't the same as the feelings she continued to have for Maggie.