Kryptonian Nights 9
Deanlu
Supergirl is the property of DC Comics and the CW. I am just using them for entertainment purposes. I'm exploring the many faces of love.
That which is lost can be found
Part 1
Kara looked at the sun setting over the mountains on the horizon as she drove the old Chevy truck down a backroad in Texas. The old blue Chevrolet Silverado C1500 was borrowed from a Durlan that Kara knew about. One the DEO didn't know about and which blended in perfectly with the world around him. He was an artist. So he spent huge amounts of time creating alone. His work was well sought after by the upper class in society since he penchant for using rate metals like gold and platinum and precious jewels in his sculpture.
Kara had disappeared two weeks ago. She needed a retreat after everything with Reign, Purity, and Pestilence. Purity and Pestilence were dead. Reign was in two pieces. Sam would take months to recover mentally was under the care of the DEO Psychologist and Dr. Hamilton. Reign was now encased in methrium. Essentially dead for all points and purposes, yet still alive within the metal. The Legion had returned to the future. Mon El explaining he had duties to uphold with the Legion which Kara was relieved about. Her relationship with Lena was good, but they had been arguing lately. Most of those arguments were about Sam and how Lena needed to be there for their friend right now. Kara couldn't fight the logic. She had seen when Lena had sat by Sam's bed whispering soft words of encouragement and healing. So she had stepped back. Alex was busy with caring for Ruby and being a support for Sam.
Supergirl felt as if she had failed. Failed enough that Kara decided she needed a break because she was the fulcrum of the problem. Lena in a moment of rage and fear had lashed out at her about the solution. Alex and Jonn were on her case about her approach to the world killers solution going as far as to suspend her from the DEO for a month. Even Cat Grant had sent a text questioning her solution. While black kryptonite wasn't the end all be all Kara had hoped it would be and had caused her to endanger herself. It had worked splitting Sam and Reign into two pieces. The danger had been great even as Jimmy Olsen had trusted her and done what she asked holding up the black Kryptonite at the last second with Kara too close. She had felt not just the searing and separating, but as she had stumbled away saw the shadow of herself she couldn't lose try to step out. She had just gotten behind a lead wall before it could, but it had shaken her. Shaken her to the core.
The other option her mother had given her while in Argo city was not one she had wanted to embrace. Rao didn't need another bride. Kara shivered at what had been offered feeling the whisper of power and its seductive draw in her mind again. She had almost embraced it. If not for those haunting green eyes that never left her the young Kryptonian would have taken Rao's offer fully. The young reporter shook her head throwing out the memory. She turned on the signal to take a right and head up the nearby mountain. She'd basically decided that Supergirl wasn't needed. Not to mention she needed a break physically and mentally. She was still healing from the final showdown. Her left shoulder where a piece of Kryptonite had been lodged was still causing her trouble. She suffered from a low grade fever as the Kryptonite poisoning was slow to leave her body and her right knee still had not fully healed either. She still suffered from nightmares and night terrors, but they were slowly getting better. She didn't care though. She had checked herself out of the DEO without anyone's knowledge and just left. She pulled up to a small cabin carefully parking as she watched two golden retriever run up to the truck. The young heroine stepped out quickly throwing her bag over her shoulder. She closed the door and stooped down to pet the dogs even as she was covered in multiple doggy kisses. "Hey there, missed me did you? How's your mistress? Did you take good care of her?" Kara asked the pups while looking to the porch of a nearby cabin. An older woman had risen from her seat and looked toward her.
"Kara! Did you get the pictures you wanted out on the desert floor?" Adelaide called from the porch of a dark blue cabin next to the Superheroes forest green cabin. Adelaide had been a saving grace. She was seventy-two, still very agile and a spitfire. She was lean with a long face, dark green eyes, and soft white hair. Her body showed the endurance of time with its wrinkles and sun worn skin, but there was a gentleness that endeared her to the Superhero. Kara would often have dinner with her or sit and chat with a glass of wine in the evening. Adelaide hadn't pushed her on why she was there in such a lonesome retreat which Kara appreciated greatly. They had become friends in a short time.
"Yeah, I did. I think they will sell well. Give me twenty minutes and we can talk." Kara called out as she headed into the cabin. Kara set her camera bag down, laid her jacket over the chair and went in to shower. Once out she threw on a pair of jeans, a M.I.T. t-shirt she had taken from Lena, and her lime green converse. She stared at her image in the hallway mirror noticing she had lost weight and her eyes still held the exhaustion she felt when she first arrived. She ran her hands over the MIT shirt thinking of Lena missing her bubbly laughter and soft touch. Kara took a deep slow breath and shook her head. She joined Adelaide out on her porch where a bottle of wine and dinner already waited.
"You look better today. I didn't hear you call out in your sleep last night. The dreams are finally fading aren't they?" Adelaide asked as she poured a glass of wine for Kara. Kara sighed deeply as she served herself some of the chicken Caesar salad that Adelaide had made. Her thoughts had been on Alex and Lena most of the day. Kara had accepted that Lena probably only wanted her as a best friend and not a lover anymore. After how far Lena had gone to help Sam, Kara had decided to step back and let Lena and Sam's relationship move forward. She wasn't going back to National City for a while. Alex needed time to find her pathway without Kara messing up her sisters life. Not to mention Winn, James, Vasquez, Jonn, Sam and Ruby didn't need her around to remind her of the Worldkiller problem they had just come through. She looked over at her new friend.
"Yes and no. Yes, a few less nasty dreams. No, not much better. The time out on the desert floor though helped with some solace and healing. I'd forgotten how these desolate places can contain so much beauty. I was even able to get some really good canyon and high rock area shots." Kara stated as she went to take another bite.
"You know you shouldn't be climbing without someone with you Kara. One misstep or trip and you could be at the bottom of one of the area canyons with no help around." Adelaide said reaching across the table and taking the young woman's hand firmly in her grip. "Promise me you will be careful while you are out and about?" Kara stared for a few moments into the concerned eyes of her new friend then nodded her head.
"I promise. I'll be okay." The young report whispered softly squeezing the hand back. Adelaide nodded and looked to a cabin further over with two trucks parked there. Kara looked up and saw where Adelaide's attention was drawn too. She looked toward the group cabin just a ways from them seeing the trucks. "New neighbors?"
"Yes, they came in earlier today while you were out. Large group. They are all nice and seem very sweet. They are staying for a week or so." Adelaide looked back at Kara. "Are you going out tonight for night shots?" Adelaide asked as she took a drink of her wine. Kara had finished her salad and was now ladling some Gazpacho into her bowl. When she first arrived here her digestive system was so messed up she could barely eat. It was an effect of the Kryptonite. Adelaide had helped when she found out the young woman couldn't keep anything down by starting Kara on broth, oatmeal, bananas, rice, and toast just to help. It had begun to work itself out, but some nights Kara still had issues and couldn't eat much. It was why since arriving she hadn't used her powers at all. They were pretty much non existent. Thankfully Kara didn't have to tell Adelaide that she had been nude sunbathing to allow for the maximum absorption of the sun.
"I might. I need to use the hot springs. My shoulder and knee are speaking loudly due to all the walking and climbing I did today." Kara stated as she watched the sun begin to set. She took a drink of her wine and leaned back waiting for her stomach to settle. The quiet evening wind cooled her brow. It would get cool tonight. The sky would open like a flower so far away from the night pollution of the cities showing off the cosmos in all its glory. For just a little bit as Kara gazed upward she would feel like she was on top of her homes roof on Krypton. The red of Rao now relenting to the darkness of the she once saw and knew by heart coming sparkling into the night sky. The loneliness would abate for a short time.
"I think you need to let your family and friends know where you are. I'm sure they would like to know you are safe even if you are unsound yet." Adelaide softly stated as she watched Kara relax with closed eyes. Sweat dappled the brow of the young woman. Adelaide reached over to check Kara's flushed cheeks running a soft hand across them. The young woman's skin felt warm and clammy. It was obvious Kara was not doing well tonight. "Kara, you're running fever again. This is not good. You are still sick and the fever means there could be infection. You need to see a doctor." Kara turned her hand gripping Adelaide's and squeezed softly to reassure the older woman as she opened her eyes.
"I'm fine. Nothing that time and rest won't heal. I'll be okay." The young Kryptonian sighed getting up to head back to her cabin. "I'm going to change and head down to the hot springs. You know where I will be if you want to join me." Adelaide watched Kara head into her cabin and then a few minutes later step out and head toward the hot springs.
"She's sick, very sick." Adelaide spoke to the brunette and the auburn haired woman that stepped up next to her. "She doesn't know you are here and I'm not fully sure she won't run. She hasn't used her powers at all while here. So I'm not sure if she has them right now." Adelaide stated looking up at Lena Luthor and Alex Danvers. "You need to let her know you are here before she discovers it and runs. Lena nodded as she looked across toward the group cabin as Ruby and Sam stepped out heading toward her and Alex. "I will tell you that she thinks you're lost to her Lena and that Alex is angry with her. She blames herself for the a lot of things. She is carrying a lot of grief." What Kara hadn't known was the DEO had found her shortly after her arrival and sent Adelaide. Adelaide was a psychologist with the DEO. She had been briefed on what everyone knew, but since her arrival the psychologist had found that Supergirls friends didn't really know how bad Kara's psyche was now. Lena let out an exasperated sigh.
"I should have made it clear that no matter what I loved her. I need to rectify that right away. Alex, I'll talk to you later." Lena headed off in the direction of the hot springs hoping that this surprise didn't cause Kara to run. Alex watched as Sam and Ruby joined them. Sam kissed Alex softly as Ruby hugged her.
"Still blaming herself isn't she?" Sam asked as she looked at Alex. Alex nodded hugging Sam for a moment as she looked to where Lena had walked off too. Ruby shook her head.
"That's stupid. She saved my mom. Destroyed Reign. How can she blame herself?" Ruby said, "I want my Aunt Kara back. I want the person who always gave me hope that things would work out." Alex knelt down to look Ruby in the eye. She gently ran her hand through Ruby's dark brown locks tucking a hair behind her ear. "Rubes, it's not always that easy. Kara carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Two worlds. She blames herself for your mom's situation. She blames herself for the deaths of Purity and Pestilence. She's angry at her father for his actions. Plus our reactions to her solutions didn't help. We are gonna get her back, but we are going to have to be patient." Ruby nodded hugging Alex. "We just have to remind her she is not alone."
"Lena will be the start." Sam said looking in the direction of the hot springs. Adelaide hoped they were right. The girl of steel was needed in this world badly.
The Hot Springs…
Kara looked around to make sure no one else was there. Adelaide had told her that evenings were fine to sit and rest in the warm water. She opened the pack she had brought and set two water bottles near the edge. She then slowly removed her t-shirt to prevent too much pain. "Hiss! Ohhhhhhhh. Damm that hurts." Kara groaned out as she looked at the mottled skin where the kryptonite had been stabbed into her wasn't used to being in constant throbbing pain. She then removed her jeans noting that her knee was swollen badly. She slid into the hot water letting the water engulf her body seeking relief. A rock shelf just below the water provided an area where she could sit. She gazed up at the stars overhead as her body began to relax. Chills ripped through her body causing an almost continuous tremble that rippled the water.
Lena watched from nearby shocked by how bad Kara actually looked. Her shoulder had not healed back to flawless skin, but had a mangled scarring on the front and back. The Kryptonians ribs were showing from her lack of sustenance to keep her body strong. A fine sheen of sweat announced the fever her body was fighting off even as she trembled in the water. Her knee was swollen badly as she had limped into the water. She could tell from the furrowed brow the young reporter was in pain and worried. It was time for this to fixed. She couldn't let Kara go on like this anymore.
"Rao, please let me reach her. Please let her heart open to me. Do not let her run Rao and if she does, let her run to me." Lena prayed to a deity she hoped existed as she kissed the necklace from Kara's mother. She would fight for the woman she loved. She stepped down the trail shedding her clothes as she went. Kara hadn't even noticed her arrival accentuating that her super hearing was non-existent. Lena slipped into the water causing the young Kryptonian to awaken suddenly where she had fallen asleep leaned back against the natural pools wall. "Lena!" Kara responded shocked at her presence. She began to move, but Lena grabbed hold and would not let go.
"Oh no! You are not going anywhere. It has taken me weeks to find you. Then when I do I find that you are not only ill still, but have not recovered from the battles you fought. I am not letting you go anywhere until I am sure you are fine Kara Zor-El. Even then I will chase after you." Lena whispered fiercely even as she held onto Kara wrapping herself around her love so she could not escape. Kara was quickly calculating every way to escape already figuring out that if Lena was here Alex wasn't far behind.
"Lena.." Kara began only to be cut off with a slow, sweet kiss from the CEO of L-Corp. Lena poured all her love into the kiss letting Kara know exactly how she felt. Kara Zor-El's struggles soon lessened as she became lost in the passionate kiss. The young reporters arms wrapped around Lena even as tears leaked down her cheeks. The kiss broke softly as Lena leaned her forehead against Kara's.
"I love you Kara Zor-El Danvers. I would go to the ends of the earth for you. I am sooo sorry I didn't say it earlier. I am so sorry we fought. I am sorry I did not mention about making Kryptonite or understanding how you felt about it. I am sorry about saying I could not trust you anymore. I do Kara. I do trust you. I am willing to take every day to prove to you I do. I'm sorry you thought I cared for Sam more. I love her like a friend. She's family Kara. I know I misspoke several things, but I do love you." Lena whispered to the young Kryptonian even as she gently ran her hands over Kara's body and through her hair. Her eyes held the other woman's eyes as she spoke. "There is not a hell deep enough, nor a ocean wide enough to prevent me from getting to you. I will always come for you Kara. I will always find you. No matter how long it takes. You are a part of me like my heart is a part of me. If you take yourself away I would cease to exist. Please love, don't run away. I need you. I love you Kara." Kara continued to cry even as Lena held her. The reporters sobs reaching the top of the trail where Sam and Alex were stationed listening to make sure they didn't lose the young Supergirl. They listened as soft, words of comfort slipped into the night as Lena fought for Kara emotionally and mentally attempting to bring her back to them. Skin to skin Lena scent permeated Kara even as she wove soft words of comfort and love. The sobs lessen and soon Kara opened her eyes looking into Lena's.
"I'm sorry." Kara's voiced cracked as she spoke. "I…" She stopped as Lena waited patiently for her to go on. "I love you Lena Luthor. I'm sorry for running." Kara whispered in her ear even as Lena hugged her tightly. Kara leaned back as Lena now waited and listened, as Sam and Alex waited and listened from nearby. "This year has been hard. I've had to make some choices...that I am not sure if they have been right. You being one of them." Lena's eyes widen, but she didn't say anything. She let Kara go on. "I felt it would be better if you had someone else. Someone who wasn't such a target. Someone who could give you what you who was more of a match. After Mon-El and Imrah, killing Purity and Pestilence, and separating Sam from Reign it was too much. I should have known when I lost Livewire there was going to be a high cost. When I almost lost Winn, Alex, Ruby, and you I decided maybe it would be better if Supergirl died or disappeared." Lena's soft gasp and tighten hold on the Kryptonian told Kara that was not acceptable. "Did you and Alex know I went and saw Lex?" Lena shook her head fearing what her brother had said to Kara. Alex turned to Sam in fear now. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." Kara chuckled softly shivering now. "I asked him for help in stopping in the world killers. In exchange I would give him what he wanted. Me, dead." Fear shivered through the Luthors body as she tightened her hold on Kara's body.
"No, no, no, no, no Kara. Tell me you didn't make a deal with him. Tell me he isn't the reason…" Kara shook her head laying a finger on Lena's lips. Lena relaxed just slightly, but didn't loosen her hold.
"No, that was all me. No help from Lex." Lena relaxed more as did Alex and Sam. "Your brother found it amusing. He reminded me that I had made a promise to you and that even when it was hard, so impossibly hard that I had to keep it. Period, end of discussion." Kara chuckled a little seeing how the brother of Lena Luthor stayed faithful to his sister in that one moment. "He warned me when I was leaving that he was the only one with the right to kill me and he would if I hurt you." There were tears in Lena's eyes thanking Lex for those words in that moment. He had saved her love and made sure she was still here. "As shovel talks go he's pretty good at them." Kara stated smiling. Lena burst out laughing hugging Kara to her tightly. She ran her hands over Kara's left shoulder causing a sharp hiss and moan of pain from Kara.
"Easy Kara." Lena moved examining the Kryptonian and not liking what she saw. "Alex," Lena shouted from where she was located. "I need you and Sam now." Lena had barely finished the words before both were there. Alex was in the water in second even as Sam held up Lena's clothes as Alex took her place.
"Kara," Alex said with relief and concern. She hugged her sister and began examining the shoulder. "Sam, can you x-ray her shoulder for me." Sam came over taking in Kara's shoulder with x-ray vision. Even separated from Reign, Sam retained powers from her Kryptonian lineage.
"There's a piece of Kryptonite still embedded in the shoulder. Right here." Sam stated pointing to the spot. "It's not deep, In fact from what I'm seeing it looks like it's working its way to the top." Alex nodded. Lena now dressed came back over.
"Right, first thing we are moving you back to your cabin and I'm taking that out. Second, we are going to check you over completely. Lena, you will be staying with Kara in her cabin. Third, you are staying with us. All of us. You will not run away. You will not disappear. Do you understand Kara!" Alex growled out as she looked her sister straight in the eyes not allowing her to let them go. Kara's eyes fell under the onslaught as she nodded her head.
"Yes, I understand Alex. I'm sorry." Kara whispered. The guilt and weariness coming through her voice. Alex nodded and pointed at Sam who came into the water and picked Kara up using her Kryptonian strength. Lena helped wrap her Kryptonian in a towel. "We will talk about you disappearing later. Right now I want to get that Kryptonite out so you can heal." Kara nodded too tired to argue with Alex as Sam carried her up the trail toward her cabin.
"Don't you dare slip away on me Kara. You have much to tell me about Krypton and my daughter still thinks you hung the moon and stars. Understand."Sam argued with the young reporter. Kara nodded slipping into sleep. Jonn and the others were waiting when they made it back. It was quickly decided that they would remove the Kryptonite in Kara's cabin. However, they were shocked upon the entry into the Cabin. The cabin was covered in photographs, paintings, drawings, and journal after journal of writings. The large wood table was cleared and instruments were brought to work on Kara. Lena with the help of James had moved her items into Kara's bedroom. Winn was working with Alex to remove the Kryptonite. Sam directed them with her x-ray vision even as Jonn watched from nearby. Alex held up the offending piece. It was an inch long and a quarter inch wide. Jonn held up a lead box which would contain the Kryptonite for later examination. Alex sewed up Kara's shoulder. She then examined the rest of Karas body. The prominent ribs would be fixed as soon as Kara began eating more again. The knee was another matter. Hopefully her healing powers would repair the damage. Lena brought out a set of clothes. Kara was dressed and moved to her bedroom. Jonn sat on the edge of the bed placing his hand on Kara's forehead whispering in Martian softly with eyes closed. With the Kryptonians powers nonexistence he was able to touch her mind. He walked around the edges of Supergirls mind embedding the thoughts of love, calmness, and family. He could see darkness swallowing the hope the young woman normally felt. He stepped forward into a glowing spot to be pulled full force into Argo city. He was in a lab where an older man worked. The nearby door opens and a young girl of seven years old skipped in followed by her mother. The young girl had brown hair, was lithe and agile, and had a bubbly personality.
"Kara! What do I owe this visit to?" The man said as he gathered the young girl into his arms.
"Hello Father. I wanted to know if you would tell me the story of the valley of Jeru tonight?" Kara asked looking her father in the eyes. The older man turned to his wife Alura with a questioning gaze. Alura responded by pointing to the door. Teenage Ein-El stood looking down at the ground. It was obvious some issue had happened with Kara and Ein.
"I will tell you the story if you remain my best girl the rest of the day and finish your language lessons on Kaldarrian." He stated smiling and tickling the young Kara under her chin. Kara giggled eliciting a smile from Jonn. He had never seen this Kara. Unguarded and without the weight of two worlds on her shoulders.
"Yes, I will father." Zor-El kissed his daughter softly on the cheek and then before she could hop down blew a raspberry on her neck. The young girl squealed hugging her father tightly. He let her down watching as Alura took her hand and walked out the door leaving Ein-El in Zor-El's presence. Once the door closed Zor-El waited until he was sure Kara and Alura would be far away.
"You have been warned not to encourage her desire to go to the valley of Jeru. You have been told repeatedly to stop telling her the stories of the Kryptonian you persist Ein-El. Why do you continue to disobey?" Zor-El said with -El stood boldly now before Zor-El.
"Kara will lead the family one day. She must know all the stories including the dangers she will face as that leader. You know she only has six years till she goes into the science academy. She must be ready." Zor-El rounded on the young man after pushing a button.
"Enough! Kara is not your daughter. You do not understand what she must know and when. You are but a young boy who needs to learn his place." The door opened to reveal Astra In-Ze. "You will accompany Astra. Your training begins today. You have been named to the military guild." Ein-El looked shocked.
"You can't do this. I am not to go for another year. You can't hide the truth." The young man yelled. Astra was there in moments.
"You do not know your place. We will soon teach it to you. Come, we will see your parents and then be off to your new home." Astra stated firmly. Ein-El deflated knowing he would not win this argument. He left begrudgingly with Astra. Zor-El looked toward Jonn.
"She is special Jonn Jonzz. She has been sent for Earth's last Hope. Do not forget what you see here. Kara has forgotten. She left with Alura, but snuck away to watch through the pinnacles eye just there." Zor-El said pointing to an area where a small opening in the stone that would allow one to watch without interfering.
"Who are you?" Jonn asked. Before him Zor-El transformed into Kara, but not the Kara he knew.
"I am the Lady Kara Zor-El Danvers Luthor. I was, am, and will be that which Earth needs. Guard me well Martian." Suddenly Jonn was shoved forcefully out of Kara's mind and across the room. He landed with a thud having taken Winn with him due to standing too close.
"Jonn! Winn! Are you okay? What happened?" Alex fretted as she checked them over. Lena quickly went to Kara's side to see if she was okay. All seemed fine. She looked toward Jonn. Jonn rubbed his head.
"Kara shoved me out of her mind. Her powers seem to be returning. She gave me one hell of a psychic kick." Jonn scowled at Alex. "Your sister is a little more than we know." Alex looked toward Winn.
"I'm fine. More surprised and tumbled than anything." Winn said picking himself up. He walked over and noticed that Kara was sweating. Lena came back in the room with a bowl of cool water and a cloth. She began to bathe Kara's body.
"Alex why is she sweating. You removed the Kryptonite. She should be healing." Lena complained with worry.
"I'm not sure. Honestly, with how long she has been sick it could be an infection from the Kryptonite poisoning. I've taken some blood and it's processing right now. We will know more tomorrow. We can only make her comfortable and go forward from there." Lena nodded as the other left. It would be a long night for her and Alex. They would keep watch as the young Kryptonian slept. Hopefully Kara would be fine. Rao's will be done. Hopefully.
To be continued...