It is as if time has stopped. Nothing moves. Everything is still.
Kara looks at Lena. There is so much anger and disappointment on her face, Kara has to look away.
"Just take me back to my office," Lena says.
"No," Kara answers adamantly.
"What?"
"No."
"Kara! Take me back to my office! Now!"
"No."
"You can't do this! I don't want to be here with you!"
It is as if someone has plunged a knife into Kara's heart.
Kara knows she has to do what Lena says. She has to take her back. But Kara isn't thinking straight. All she can think is that if she takes Lena back, she will have lost her. It will be the end of the friendship. It will be the end of everything.
"Lena, let me explain."
"No."
"Please!"
"There's nothing to explain. I thought you were my friend and I trusted you. You didn't trust me. I can never trust you again."
"I am your friend, Lena. I do trust you."
Kara can tell from the look on Lena's face that she doesn't believe her.
"Lena, please," she pleads.
For a moment Kara thinks Lena is about to cry. Then her eyes glaze over. A harshness appears on her face.
Kara feels a thump on her nose. Lena has elbowed her in the face! Having been caught completely off guard, Kara lets go of Lena's legs. She's now only holding on to her with an arm around her waist. Suddenly there is movement everywhere. Lena is trying to kick her, punch her, bite her. She's trying to wiggle free from Kara's grasp. Kara can't help but think how feral Lena looks. There's a wildness to her that Kara has never seen before. Does she even realize that if I drop her she dies?, Kara wonders. What on earth has happened to her friend? How did it all come to this?
Kara's heart breaks as she holds on to Lena. She's trying to move with Lena's kicks and punches so Lena won't hurt herself too much.
"Lena, please stop it," she urges her friend.
But on and on Lena goes. Kara is surprised by Lena's stamina and physical strength. She can't believe how much fight there is in her.
"Lena, please stop. You're hurting yourself!" she says as she sees blood appear on Lena's knuckles and elbow. There are scratches all over her legs and knees. Kara also realizes Lena's shoes are gone. She must've kicked them off. Kara didn't see them fall and can only hope they didn't hit anyone before they fell to the ground.
As Lena shows no intention of giving up, Kara finally grabs hold of both of Lena's wrists leaving the other arm wrapped around Lena's waist. Lena tries to pull her hands from Kara's clutch. When she realizes Kara is just too strong, she lets out a primordial scream that pierces Kara's heart.
"I hate you!", Lena screams.
"I know," Kara says quietly, still holding on to Lena's wrists.
And then it's over. It's as if Lena has used up every last bit of energy in her body. She collapses into Kara's arms. Kara hears Lena sob quietly in her ear. Kara lets go of Lena's wrists, now using both arms to hold her friend against her. After a while the sobs slowly stop. Kara feels Lena's body go slack.
"Lena?"
Kara holds Lena by the shoulders while supporting the back of her head so she can look into her face. As she does so, Lena opens her eyes open very slowly. Her gaze is hollow and she looks utterly spent.
Kara moves Lena back into her old position by moving one arm under her knees and the other behind her back. Lena surprises Kara by laying her head against Kara's chest and closing her eyes again. Kara can hear Lena's heart starting to beat more slowly. As she continues to hold her, Kara hears Lena's breath deepen.
Worried Lena's about to fall asleep, Kara whispers, "Lena, do you want me to take you home? Can I take you somewhere else?" But there's no response.
Kara looks at Lena's sleeping face. How peaceful she now looks. How beautiful. To think that she hurt this amazing woman so much that …. Kara looks away; it's unbearable.
Kara looks down at Lena's cuts and bruises. They don't look that bad. They do need to be cleaned and covered though. Kara feels so worried for Lena. Will she look after herself if she drops her off at her apartment? Kara isn't sure and really doesn't want to leave her on her own like this. Lena also won't accept her help; Kara is certain of that. Their friends are not an option either. Kara knows Lena must feel betrayed by them too. The DEO or hospital then? Kara knows Lena would hate the questioning looks, the fuss. Then Kara thinks of her foster mother and all the childhood photos of Alex covered in scratches, bruises and Band-Aids. Eliza will know what to do. And of all the people Lena is angry with, Kara doubts Eliza is one.
And so, as the sun sets over National City, Kara, with Lena in her arms, heads to Midvale. She will ask Eliza to tend to Lena's physical injuries. As for her emotional injuries, Kara has no idea where and how to even start mending those.
