I don't own these characters; DC/the CW does.
A/N: this chapter has no sex, just messy emotions.
3: Second Chance
Alex woke from a dead sleep and her first thought was I'm so sore. Heat sex was serious business and it had been many months since she had to deal with someone's heat, so her body forgot what it was like, which also explained why she fell into such a deep sleep when she had the chance. But, since Lena had not woken her out of her sleep for another round, she guessed the heat was over. Turning over onto her right, she sat up to find Lena gone.
Not surprised, but a little disappointed, Alex crawled out of bed and shuffled around to find her clothes. Usually, she liked to stick around even when the heat was over, just to pamper her omega, but then again, Lena was not her omega. Which was probably for the best. I had two wonderful omegas and screwed it up. Who was to say she did not screw up being a second to Lena? She did not want to disappoint Kara like that, but that was not up to her.
Boxers found, she eased them on, even though they were pretty gross with dried fluids in them. It was fine. She just needed to get home. Next, her pants and her shirt, which was kind of useless as the buttons were all ripped off. She had not realized she tore the buttons when she took the shirt off. She closed it as best she could and then put on her suit jacket, securing that shut and assumed she liked she had just had a wild night, which was fair.
She walked out of the room and down the hall to find Lena sitting at her kitchen counter, sipping what smelled like coffee and reading on a tablet. Lena did not bother to look up at her. Alex's stomach twisted. Should I say something or just go? This is so fucking awkward. Why did I agree to be a second in the first place?
Alex opened her mouth, about to ask for coffee, but she could not find the words. Asking for something and being denied would just let her know she had failed in this one task that Kara asked of her. She was supposed to look out for Lena and she could not, just like she was supposed to protect Kara and she could not.
"I'll let you know if Kara gets in touch with me," Alex said, even though they both knew Lena would be the first to know.
"Sounds good," Lena replied, still not bothering to look at her.
Alex took the hint and slinked out of the penthouse, going home. Thankfully, her bike would get her there fast and the wind against her body helped her feel a little less dirty. But, she still felt like she was covered in a thin grime. She needed a shower. A shower forever, maybe. Wash off the sex and worthlessness. Somehow, it felt even worse when she got home.
Shit, am I going to feel like this my whole life? She stuck her head under the hot spray, and again, somehow, felt worse for it. It was like the water made everything cling to her and it got everywhere. Second. That was what she was worth in everything. Second. The only time she had ever been first was with Maggie and she did not deserve that. She could not handle first, so she was second.
-8-8-8-8-
Lena should have said something to Alex, but for once in her life, found she did not have any words. She did not want to see Alex and was pleased Alex did not linger around when she woke up. With her heat sated, all Lena could feel was shame. While she had heat-partners before, she had never been with a second and really had little desire since bonding with Kara. Now, she had slept with Alex, Kara's… well, she was not sure there was a word to describe what the hell Alex and Kara were to each other. Sisters, partners, mates. None of those covered it.
Lena never questioned Kara and Alex's relationship. She saw them together, knew it was something beyond her understanding, first because she did not have many close relationships, but then because she saw it was beyond basically anyone's understanding. Sometimes, she was not even sure they got it. They just felt it.
And, during this heat, Lena felt something that might wreck whatever the hell Kara and Alex had. It was strange to feel like a homewrecker when she was the one in a relationship. But, then again, maybe it was because this could wreck two relationships, theirs, but also hers. Kara was her bond-mate. Kara was enough. Kara soothed her during her heats. But… She shook her head, hating to even think about it.
The world always said that omegas could only be truly satisfied during their heats by alphas. Lena had always thought that was utter bullshit, especially since she had helped several omega friends through their heats and they had done the same with her. Being bonded with Kara had not changed her views. Except, Alex's knot had felt so damn good during her heat.
She craved Alex's knot even now, even though she had personally designed the phallus Kara used, typically when she had her heat. And that was the other thing, usually Lena was content with Kara's mouth and fingers. Yes, sometimes, they used toys, but not like that. Kara was enough, and now there was this.
"Why couldn't you just be here?" Lena growled and chucked her coffee cup across the room. She sobbed as it shattered on the wall, hot coffee staining the lime green and shards clattering to the floor. She dropped her head to the countertop and cried.
It was not supposed to be like this. She was a billionaire genius who helped save the world and had her mate by her side. She should be happy. She should not want for anything, yet there was yearning for a fucking knot like some cartoonish omega whore. Heat sex was not meant to be this way!
Heat sex was supposed to be best shared with a mate. Yes, a knot was nice, but a mate was best. She had never once thought about having a knot when she was with Kara, but, fuck, having Alex's knot was a thing of wonder. What did that say about her? What did that say about her relationship with Kara? She loved Kara. She would be Kara's mate proper if only the damn mating mark would stick.
And that was another thing, during her heat, whenever Alex's lips drifted to her neck and shoulder, her body shuddered with anticipation. Along with the knot, she dared to want Alex's bite. Well, maybe not Alex's bite. Maybe just a bite. She always wanted it when she was with Kara during her heat. Kara biting her was nice and calmed her, but deep down she had a feeling, a worry, that Alex's bite, or any alpha bite, would both soothe her and ignite her body like never before. And, she hated it. She hated herself.
She just wanted Kara. Was that so wrong? She had been betrayed by everyone in her life, and was able to forgive several of them, so now she was to be betrayed by her own body. What had she done for such cruelty?
-8-8-8-8-
Lena took two days to go back to work and Kara found her at her desk. Kara rushed into the office and wrapped her in a hug, twirling her around. Kara's laugh was musical and infectious. Lena laughed and hugged her back around the neck. They looked into each other's eyes and smiled before Lena was overwhelmed with sorrow. Her eyes watered and she burst into tears.
"Oh, Lena! What's wrong, my love?" Kara picked her up, cradling her to her chest.
In the past, Lena would have loved Kara holding her like this, but now it just reminded her how Alex held her. She wept harder and Kara held her closer. They ended up on the sofa and Kara stroked her hair.
"I missed you so much!" Lena bawled. It was the truth, but the admission was more to cover her guilt, which made her weep more. She could not recall the last time she cried like this. But, then again, she could not recall ever being this messed up or messing things up like this. It's like I don't know how to be happy!
"I'm sorry I was gone so long and couldn't send word to you. But, I did save a planet from being destroyed." Kara grinned, chin in the air, so proud and noble.
Lena wrapped her arms tighter around Kara and cried more. "My heat…"
"Oh, yeah." Kara gave one of her dopey "aw shucks" looks. "I'm sorry I missed your heat. I tried to get back as soon as I could, but villains don't respect appointments." She wrinkled her nose, adorable as always.
Lena tried to laugh. "Bastards." Why does it sound like I'm still crying?
Kara stroked the side of her head. "They are, especially since they made me miss something important. But, we do have our agreement with Alex. Did she take care of you?"
"You haven't spoken to her yet?" Lena was not sure how Alex would frame their time together. Probably as the obligation it was and how rude Lena was to her when it was all over. Alex probably had no idea the bomb that she set off inside of Lena.
"No. I came to see you first. I wanted to hold you." Kara rubbed her cheek into Lena's hair.
Lena hid her face in Kara's shoulder. She could not look at her, but even this move, trying to hide worked against her. Now, she was surrounded by Kara's scent and it was amazing at all, but the back of her mind compared it to the spice of Alex. "I love you so much." I do love her with all my heart.
"I love you, too. So, what's wrong? Did something happen with your heat? I'm sorry I missed it. I know how rough it can be. Did you not ask Alex to help?"
"I don't… I don't want to talk about it." Lena frowned. She was not even sure what she would say. How could she explain what happened? How could she explain that she loved Kara with every fiber of her being, but Alex did something to her body that no other alpha or Kara had? The betrayal.
Kara sighed. "I know you have a thing against Alex, but she would've helped you if you asked. She gets why you're mad at her. I mean, I wish you weren't, but she wouldn't just let you hurt over it."
It was insane to Lena to find herself without words yet again. She had talked to some of the smartest and most dangerous people on the planet (and that was just her own family), yet she could not figure out what to say here. Everything was a jumbled mess inside of her.
"Tell me when you're ready," Kara said, caressing Lena's side. It made Lena want to melt into her, hide in her, and never come out, but she did not deserve that sort of comfort now.
"I don't know how to tell you," Lena replied.
"Okay. Well, was your heat bad?"
"No." It started eased when Alex promised to help her and then took a weird turn when Alex showed up, but it was not bad in the way she feared.
Kara nodded. "Okay. Did Alex help or did you get suppressants?"
Lena whimpered. "Alex."
"Okay. Um… Was she bad?" Kara grimaced, like she did not want to ask that, but probably had no idea what else she should ask to explain Lena's emotional state.
"I love you."
"Yeah, and I love you, but that doesn't answer the question. Did Alex… hurt you?"
"No! Of course not!" She could not believe Kara even asked that. But, maybe that's what you do to their relationship. Maybe you poisoned them.
Kara shook her head. "I don't mean she did it on purpose or anything. I know it's one of things she was scared of when she agreed to be our second. She was also scared she couldn't please you."
"It wasn't that!"
Kara smiled and caressed her cheek again. "Then, please, just tell me what happened. I want to make you feel better."
"I don't deserve that!" Lena shoved at Kara, even though she knew it would not do anything. "Here you are worried about me and my stupid heat when I had to actively think about you during it or I'd have fallen on Alex's knot like a common whore!" Hell, she still fell on Alex's knot just like that.
Kara pursed her lips. "So… you actually had a good time during your heat and you're upset about that?"
Lena sighed, sagging against Kara in exhaustion. "I feel like I cheated on you, like I cheated on you with Alex, but like with Alex, who had no idea I was doing that."
Kara's face pinched. "Are you in love with Alex?"
"No! You're my bond-mate, always and forever." Lena clutched Kara tightly. She would not give Kara up for anything. "It was just…"
Kara tilted her head and gave her one of those puppy looks. "Your body enjoyed something I can't give it."
Lena scowled. "You give me everything I want and need." The idea that she could need more than Kara was enough to dry up her tears. They talked about this every now and then, but Lena was adamant when she assured Kara that she was happy with everything they did. She did not need anything else.
Kara chuckled. "It's all right if that's what happened. While Alex and I don't make it a point to talk about sex, she told me about being with Maggie during her first rut as a couple and how different it was compared to me helping her through her rut. There are biological differences and it's all right to acknowledge them."
Lena's mind could not comprehend what was being said to her. "You're okay with me wanting Alex's knot?"
Kara's face did not change, just as bright as always. "I understand why you do. I'm not upset over that. She promised to help you with your heat and she did. I'm sad you're upset over it. Do you still love me?"
"With all my heart."
"And I still love you." Kara kissed her softly. "You enjoying your time with Alex doesn't change that. In fact, I'm glad you did something with Alex you liked. I wish you got along with her."
Lena still could not believe this. "I know, but I figured you'd like me getting along with her through something like science."
"Well, I don't mind. As you know, I view sex in a different manner than your society. I don't think you cheated on me because you enjoyed your heat with Alex. I'm glad you had a good time. I love you and I want you to be happy and if that made you happy, then I'm all over it. I would be upset if you hid or lied to me."
Of course, this was how Kara would take it. Sex and intimacy were not the same thing for her. It was how she was able to help Alex with her rut so many years ago and then remain as close to Alex, or maybe even more so, when they stopped sleeping together. That was also how Kara could ask Alex to stand in for her if she was not available for Lena's heat.
Lena shook her head. "I didn't know how to tell you. And, it sort of took me by surprise. I love you and I love what we do in bed, so why did being with Alex feel so fulfilling?"
Kara smiled. "Same reason why you'd rather talk to Brainy about your scientific breakthroughs than with me?"
"It is not the same thing!"
"Isn't it?" Kara scoffed. "It's about a connection you have with someone. Brainy can match your wits and enthusiasm. I don't mind talking about science, but I'm not going to reach his level of almost giddiness with you. Alex offered you a knot and alpha pheromones. I will definitely always enjoy making love to you, but I can't give you those things and maybe sometimes you really want that. Maybe sometimes you even need it. And, to me, you deserve what you want to be happy."
"So… I deserve to sleep with your…" There was that lack of word for Kara and Alex's relationship. "Alex?"
Kara smiled. "Well, that's really a decision left to Alex. Would you love me less if you slept with her?"
"No…"
"And I wouldn't love you any less."
"Would you… would you also take a lover?" Lena was not sure she would be able to handle it.
Kara chuckled and nuzzled Lena. "I'm more than happy with you. Although, if you convince Alex to share a bed with you, I wouldn't mind joining in every now and then." She snickered.
"Do you miss having sex with Alex?"
"Not really. I enjoyed it when we did it, but my relationship with Alex is never about one thing. It's a whole collection, just like my relationship with you. Take away one thing or add something to it, the relationship doesn't really change. I love you for you."
Lena would need time to process this, even though the main point of it probably would not matter. "I was very rude to Alex, so she probably wouldn't want to be with me anyway."
Kara's forehead wrinkled. "You were rude to Alex? Why? She kept her promise, right? Was she grumpy about it? Well, no, she's grumpy or mopey about everything."
"I just… I didn't know how to handle these feelings and I took it out on her." Lena's shoulders dropped. She did not want to say the next thing.
"Much like how you've been taking the secret identity thing out on her?"
Lena scowled. "She made a fool of me."
Kara shook her head, but her tone was as patient as always. "No, it was my decision. I could've told you at any time. Alex doesn't control me and you know that."
"No, but you take her words to heart more than anyone else. If she had told you it was fine to tell me, you would've done so instantly."
Kara shrugged. "True. But, it was still my decision. And, beyond that, just like you decided to forgive me, you can decide to forgive her. She'd probably like that and I think it would do wonders for you, too."
Lena knew that to be true. She took a deep breath. "I think I need to do something. I know we have a standing lunch date when you have time, but I need to do something different today."
Kara kissed her forehead. "I understand. I have some work I should catch up on since I've been gone for almost two weeks." She shook her head. "These off-world rescue missions are always killer."
Lena snickered. "Good thing I can support us."
"Oh, yeah. Okay, just so you know, Alex likes sweet stuff as much as I do. I just don't give her as much of a chance to eat them."
"I know." She was pretty observant, after all. Now, if only she could find the right words to set things right. Hopefully, she would find them by the time lunch arrived.
-8-8-8-8-
Alex was in the middle of writing down some observations in her notebook when the papers around the room, all properly weighted down, fluttered loudly. She looked up and saw Kara standing by her chair. Laughing, they grabbed each other into a tight embrace.
"How did things go?" Alex asked.
"Pretty good. Saved a planet. Wish you could've come," Kara replied.
"Hard to go to a planet whose atmosphere would certainly crush me to death." She was certain if she had a chance to work out the science, she would have figured out a way to get there, but there was no time.
Kara chuckled and patted her on the shoulder. "I know, but you'd have enjoyed it. It was actually good you couldn't come, though. You were here to help Lena with her heat. Thank you for that."
Alex sighed and pulled away. "Don't thank me. I wasn't a good second. She wasn't happy."
Kara scoffed. "She was, but she has to talk to you. I wanna tell you what's going on, but I think you need to hear it from her. But, I really owe you for the heat. Was it as awkward as you thought it would be?"
Alex laughed. "Of course it was awkward. You know how Lena feels about me. I'm the last person she wanted to help her." She sat down.
"Yeah, but you're the only person I trusted to do it right, the only person I trusted to take care of her like I would, and let her know how precious she is."
"I wanted to treat her how you would, but she wouldn't let me, but I guess that's for the best." Alex shrugged. "I mean, history has proven I don't know how to treat an omega."
Kara frowned. "That's untrue. With Maggie, you two unfortunately had different life goals."
"I dumped her for hypothetical children I'll now certainly never have. Maggie was perfect and I let her go for some future idea that's not going to happen."
"That's not true. Wanting a child is not a small matter and you and Maggie did the best for both of you. You didn't try to force her to have a child and she didn't try to drag you into not having one. That's a good thing. Yes, it might hurt, but you're both still free to pursue goals you have in life. Could you imagine what would've happened if one of you tried to change for the other? What if Maggie decided to have a kid with you and would've been miserable? Now, she'd be miserable and have to take care of a kid who didn't ask to be there. Or if you decided that maybe a child wasn't important to keep her, even though you know in your heart you want kids? You would've gotten angry and bitter and resentful as time went by."
Alex scratched the edge of her eyebrow. It all sounded logical enough, but it did not matter. Maggie was still gone. Kelly was still gone. And, she had failed at being a worthy second. She was a failure.
Kara smiled at her and cupped her face with both hands. "You deserve to be happy, Alex. You can be happy. You just have to stop punishing yourself."
Alex forced out a laugh. "At this point, I think it's just part of my personality."
"I don't think so. I think you're just someone who has loved and lost and it's scary to love again. Well, beyond me, anyway." Kara grinned.
Alex chuckled. "Yeah, I'll always love you, you goober."
"I know." Kara squared her shoulders. "We have to have a sisters' night soon. Maybe in about three days?"
Alex smirked. "So you can spend some time with your bond-mate?"
"Yeah, she's a little bummed right now."
"Still? She already took two days off from work. I was that bad as a second she needs this much recovery time from me?"
Kara only laughed. "The opposite is true, but you have to talk to her about that."
Alex was not sure about that, but Kara did not stick around to explain herself. There were hugs again and then Kara had to get caught up on work or end up jobless. Alex went back to her work until she heard someone else come into the lab.
"Kara, you couldn't have possibly—" Alex turned to see Lena in the doorway instead of Kara.
Lena smiled in a way that looked tense and painful. "Lunch?" She held up a white paper bag, which sat on a donut box.
"Shouldn't you be having lunch with Kara?"
"I'll be having dinner with her. I'd rather have lunch with you. Maybe you could tell me more about one of your projects." The smile grew, but it was still tense.
Alex was not sure what to make of this, but it seemed like a good thing. It probably had to do with whatever Kara hinted at before. "I am kinda hungry."
"Well, I got some Chinese food and I think you might actually get to eat the potstickers for once. Then, there's donuts if you want, too, and you will definitely get to eat your fill."
"That is promising." Alex was not sure when the last time she had more than a couple of potstickers before. More than one donut was a thing of dreams now.
Lena looked around. "Where do you usually eat?"
Alex shrugged. "I don't. But, I guess we can pull up to my desk." She cleared some space.
"You don't usually eat?" Lena asked as she grabbed a chair from the lab table and pulled it up to the desk. The chair was a little too high and would probably make it awkward if they talked, but Alex doubted there would be much conversation. There usually was not and Lena probably just wanted to let her know that she would never have to second again.
"There's always a lot going on in the day and I tend to skip lunch to get things done. I've gotten used to it," Alex replied as Lena pulled out containers from the bag.
Lena nodded. "I used to be like that, but now Kara sits with me for lunch everyday."
"She loves and wants to be around you whenever she can." That was probably the best way to get right to why Lena was down here.
Lena smiled softly. "I know. She wants me to be happy. Sometimes, it's hard to believe how happy she wants me to be. And, sometimes, I find it hard to believe that someone just wants me to be happy."
"You deserve it." Alex meant that. Lena had gone through a lot of crap, inherited her brother's sins and her mother's problems, and fought down her own dark side to come out all the better for it. She deserved peace of mind.
"Thank you for saying so, even though I've treated you so poorly."
"I understand."
Lena shook her head. "You shouldn't have to understand. It shouldn't be this way. I should've forgiven you a long time ago. I'm still someone who holds onto bitterness, apparently."
Alex shrugged. "You're not alone in that." Where is this going? It almost sounded like an apology.
"Yes, but you're not holding your bitterness to someone who's been helpful to you. I've been very awful to you, even after our talk, and you're still being civil. You didn't even tell me to fuck off when I brought lunch." Lena motioned to the containers.
"To be fair, I'm hungry, even though I don't eat." Alex grabbed a box and found it full of potstickers. She waited a tick and was surprised Kara did not show up. "You and Kara had a talk, didn't you?" Kara would leave them to eat and let Lena say whatever she needed to. It had to be important if Kara was passing up food, and giving up her lunch with Lena.
"I had to tell her about my heat." Lena grabbed a box of food.
Alex nodded. "So, the food is to soften the blow that she knows I was a horrible second?"
"No…" Lena took a deep breath and tore open a pair of chopsticks. "You were far from a horrible second and that was the problem."
Alex opened some dipping sauce and enjoyed a potsticker for the first time in a long time without big blue eyes pouting at her. "It… it didn't seem that way."
"I know and I'm sorry. I was… I was ashamed of myself and I took it out on you." Lena looked down at her food for a moment, but then locked eyes with Alex, as if to show how strong she was.
"Ashamed of yourself. For what?" Alex's face scrunched up as she grabbed another potsticker. She would eat the box and then have a donut. She was due a cheat day on her diet after all these years.
"For enjoying my heat with you, for enjoying your knot, and your scent, and your teeth on my skin. I love Kara with all my heart and there I was enjoying you fucking me. I felt like a whore and like I betrayed Kara, and did something even worse to you. This was just a duty for you and I went and perverted it."
Alex shook her head. "I did not get that feeling at all." If someone asked her about Lena's heat, she never would have said any of those things.
"I know you didn't. Every time I felt something and thought I was getting too into it, I took it out on you. I lashed out at you because I was ashamed of myself. I didn't want to enjoy having sex with you, and not because you're Alex, but because you're not Kara. I love Kara."
Alex ate another potsticker. "I understand that."
Lena's eyes welled up tears and she stabbed at her untouched food with her chopsticks. "And I don't want to lose Kara or hurt your relationship with her. You two have something so damn special and even though you used to get on my nerves, I would never want to do anything to ruin what you and Kara have."
"I didn't think you would." Lena never hid her dislike of Alex, but also never stopped Kara from seeing Alex, so it was clear she did not want to push them apart. Alex was probably lucky in that regard. If anyone had the power to make Kara turn away from her, it was Lena.
Lena laughed, but sniffled and rubbed her eyes. "Kara didn't think so either when I told her. She encouraged me to come talk to you."
"And now here you are."
"Yes. So, I'm very sorry about how things ended with my heat. I enjoyed my time with you thoroughly." Lena dipped her head and mumbled that Alex could not understand.
"What was that?" She grabbed another potsticker as she waited for a response.
Lena sighed. "This shouldn't be as hard as it is, but I guess I deserve this for how I've acted." She raised her head and managed some more eye contact. "Kara thinks I should ask you to help with my heat again. She understands that being with an alpha is different because of all the pheromones and things involved."
What? This is not how I expected this to go. "So… you want me to be your heat partner?" So many questions and Alex did not know where to begin beyond that one.
"Yes."
Alex arched an eyebrow. "Are you sure? You didn't seem thrilled about the idea in the beginning."
Lena grunted. "Well, yes, that's before I slept with you, though."
Alex sucked her teeth. "So, I get to work in your dungeon laboratory and fuck you during your heat. I'm just coming up awesome here, huh?" She did not mean it nearly as harshly as it sounded until it was fully out. Full offense now.
Lena shook her head and leaned in closer. She reached for Alex, only to remember she was holding a container of food. She put it down and laid her hand on Alex's forearm. "I didn't mean it that way. And, this isn't just about the heat. I just felt like I should get it out there. I'm sorry for how I've treated you. I didn't realize you were still looking out for me as I was being awful to you."
"Of course I'm looking out for you, you're Kara's bond-mate. So, just like you love Kara enough to give me a job, I love Kara enough to keep you alive."
Lena nodded. "Understood. So, about those projects?"
Alex could have been stubborn, but there was no point to it. Lena said what she needed to say and Alex would love nothing more than to have someone to talk science with, someone to bounce ideas off of. At least she had Vasquez for the security stuff, but her mind overflowed with science and had nowhere to go since she could only work so fast. Well, now it had an outlet and Lena listened. Of course, that did not mean she would ever sleep with Lena again unless Kara was indisposed.
-8-8-8-8-
Lena did not mean to, but she made it a habit to go see Alex after she had lunch with Kara. Usually, she wanted to check to see if Alex ate, but then start talking about a project. Lena knew it looked like she was trying to butter Alex up for her next heat, but she never brought the subject up again and neither did Alex. Lena hoped it would never come up again. Yes, she liked Alex's knot, but she learned she liked Alex even more.
That was most evident when Kara had Alex over the penthouse for their "sisters' night" and Lena did not hide in the bedroom like she tended to on rare nights when Alex was over. Instead, she joined them, resting against Kara's side as Kara all but laid on Alex.
"I've never actually seen this movie before," Lena said.
"It's an Alex favorite, so I don't usually watch it unless Alex is around," Kara replied.
"Because you have horrible taste in movies," Alex said.
"Hey, hey, hey. Mean." Kara glared at her.
Alex snickered and they all went back to watching the movie. By the end, Alex was asleep. Kara did not seem surprised by this.
"She rarely makes it to midnight anymore," Kara said as she eased up off of Alex.
"Probably because she's doing two jobs at L-Corp," Lena said.
"Ah, she told you."
"Of course you knew." It did not surprise her that Kara knew Alex was protecting her and just let her stew her dislike of Alex. She would not have taken it well if Kara told her.
Kara chuckled. "Yeah. She told me when she took the job, it was just to see how safe you really were. She wasn't happy with her first walkthrough. I told her that if something happened to you, I'd be there, but it wasn't enough for her."
"Yes, now I understand how much work she puts in when I go to see her."
Kara grinned. "She's your friend."
"I don't think she'd call me that, but maybe one day." Lena stared at the sleeping Alex. Maybe one day they could be friends. She would take that over a heat partner or even Kara's second. A second chance for them. One day.
-8-8-8-8-
The End.
I hope you enjoyed the story. Let me know what you thought, as I do have ideas for two more stories if you enjoyed it. I would like to thank my betas again, TheCrowDawg and Helpbutton95. Come say hi to me on Facebook or Tumblr (or even here). Back to my padded cell with me. I'll be back soon.