It was rare for Kara to face threats that resulted in her draining her powers. On the few occasions when it did happen, she would retreat to the Tower and rest under the sun lamps until she felt better.
When Nia brought her back to the Tower one morning, surprising Lena who was in early, both superheroes looked exhausted. Lena quickly took charge, ordering Nia to bed and promising to watch over Kara.
After arranging the sun lamps around Kara, who was lying quietly on the bed, Lena sat down nearby so she could keep an eye on her. She felt a little worried, seeing Kara so still, that she didn't even get on with any kind of work, leaving all her focus for her friend.
"Can I get you anything?" Lena asked after a little while, expecting the sun lamps to have made more of a difference to Kara by then.
"I'm so cold."
"I can get you some more blankets," Lena offered. "I don't want to turn up the sun lamps without Alex's approval."
She wasn't sure how much power it took to run them and didn't want to blow them out by adjusting them when Kara needed them the most. She really regretted not asking Alex more questions about them before now, but she had been so focused on her magic studies that she'd never really had time.
Grabbing a couple of blankets from the cupboard in the room, she placed two over Kara. They were just the thin hospital blankets, but it was important that Kara get as much sunlight on her skin as possible so she had to keep her arms on top of them.
Kara closed her eyes and Lena went back to her chair, to watch and wait.
An hour passed, then Kara opened her eyes again. She smiled when she saw Lena there.
"How do you feel?" Lena asked, coming over to take her temperature.
"Tired. Cold."
"Hmm, you're a little below the average human temperature which for you is probably not good. I'm not sure what else I can suggest. Maybe some soup? Or coffee?"
"I just want to sleep, could you just.."
Kara mumbled the end of her sentence and Lena couldn't hear her. She leaned in closer, asking her to repeat it.
"Hold me? You always say it warms you up when we're watching movies on the sofa."
"Um, Nia removed your suit so the light could go directly on your skin," Lena reminded her.
"So?"
Lena chewed on her bottom lip before answering, "I suppose I could lie on top of the blankets."
"Lena, please..."
"It's just, I'd feel a little better..."
Kara's eyes widened, "Nia was right, you do like me like that."
Lena nodded, "I'm sure you understand why now, but don't worry, I've signed up with a dating agency and I'm sure they'll find me someone so..."
"What?"
"It's a really reputable firm, in Metropolis, they have lots of wealthy clients so they know how to carefully pick dates..."
"No."
"Andrea recommended them, actually and she said..."
"No, I mean, I like you back. Please don't date anyone else. Date me."
"Kara..."
Kara tried pushing the blankets off her to reach out to Lena who was backing away, "I didn't believe Nia when she said you liked me back, that's why I didn't say anything."
Lena shook her head, not quite able to believe what Kara was telling her, and falling back on simpler conversation, "you need to stay in bed. Lie back down."
"So will you go out with me?"
Lena moved back over the bed, tucking the blankets around Kara and getting her to lie down again, "you're too ill to be thinking about that now."
"But when I'm better?"
Lena blushed, "ask me again then, and we'll see."
"You won't go on any dates with the agency in the meantime, will you?"
"No, I'll let them know not to arrange anything."
"Good," Kara closed her eyes.
Lena was about to go back to her chair when Kara spoke up again.
"I'm still cold."
"Kara..."
"And if we're not dating yet, but just good friends and friends hug..." Kara managed to take hold of one of Lena's hands.
"You're incorrigible."
"I'm cold," Kara pouted, "and my friend won't help to keep me warm, after I blew out my powers..."
"Enough of that, I grew up around the best emotional manipulators on the planet and..."
"Please?"
Lena sighed, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try."
"Thank you."
Kara moved over, while Lena re-arranged the sun lamps so they would all shine on Kara's side of the bed. Then she lay down next to Kara, who shifted back against her and pulled one of Lena's arms over her.
"Much better," Kara told her, feeling the warmth from Lena's body along her back.
Lena closed her eyes, lying next to Kara was very comforting. She would give it an hour, then check Kara's temperature so see if it was really working.
A few hours later, Nia returned to the Tower to check on her friend. She smiled when she saw them and tiptoed back out of the room, adding it to the list of things that made her think they would make a great couple.
