Chapter Five: From Nowhere

"Nia, I need you to do me a favor," Kara said with a furrowed brow.

"Anything."

"Hit me as hard as you can in the face."

"What?" Nia asked, surprised by her boss's request. "What's wrong?"

"I almost did something stupid," Kara said, her head hanging low.

"What's that?"

"I almost asked Lena out. Jesus. I'm such an idiot. What's wrong with me? That woman has me under a spell. I know she's a patient. I know she is completely off limits and yet I keep pining for her like some kind of lovesick puppy dog. I can't get her off my mind no matter how hard I try."

"You are an idiot," Nia said, shaking her head.

"What? You could at least feign some kind of loyalty. I need to hear that I'm not an idiot just in case you were wondering."

"But you are. Why didn't you just ask her out? Alex is right. You need a life. Lena is gorgeous and sweet. She doesn't handle the stress of dental procedures well, but you are slowing winning her over there. She did something no other patient would dare do when she helped you the other night. You're an idiot. You should have asked her out."

"I wanted to kiss her so bad," Kara said, burying her face in her hands.

"Why didn't you? I bet she would have kissed you back."

"We need to have a serious discussion about medical ethics, Nia. You said it yourself, she needs me. She needs us. If I cross that line, I can't be her dentist anymore."

"Tell me you at least bought the poor woman a cup of coffee or something to thank her," Nia said, knowing the answer.

"I just said thank you," Kara said. "I know I should be ashamed of myself."

"Jesus, you're hopeless."

"You're hopeless," Sam said to Lena as they waited in line at the movies.

"I know I am," Lena said, shaking her head.

"You should have asked her out."

"And risked her trying to fire me again? No thanks."

"But now you're totally obsessing about her."

"I'm not obsessing. I just can't get her off of my mind. I know it's wrong. I've done everything I can to distract myself with work, but it's hopeless. She smells like fresh strawberries, so I put a picture of strawberries on my desktop at work. Sometimes I just stare at it and miss her. Who am I kidding? I stare at it every free moment I have, and I am utterly hopeless. I miss her so much."

"What the hell? You are so damn hopeless. Ask her out or stop obsessing, but choose one. This eternal suffering is so lame and so not you."

"I can't eat or sleep. Every time I sit down and try to concentrate on anything, I hear her voice. Before I met her, I didn't think a voice could be sexy, but my God, it makes my body quake with desire."

"Wow babe, you really have it bad."

"So bad and I am so pissed at myself. I know we can't be together. I know that she is a professional and everything is working against us. I tell myself to stop thinking about her, but she slips into every one of my thoughts. I have never missed someone so much, and I really don't know her. All I know is that she made me fall in love with her heart. Well, she didn't make me do anything. She was just wonderful. Her sweet nurturing disposition lured me in and now I'm completely captivated. She made me fall in love with her sense of humor and that smile. I love her smile. As much as I miss her and hate this helpless feeling, she is still my happy thought. I went to the gym last night and when I wanted to give up, I just thought of her and my strength was renewed. I swear I would do anything to be with her, but I can't risk losing the best dentist in LA just to find out she has no interest in me."

"I say fuck it! Do it!" Sam said.

They walked into the movie theatre and sat down.

"Hey, do you want snacks?," Sam asked.

"Nah. I'm not hungry," Lena said, distracted by her thoughts of Kara.

"I'm going to grab some snacks. You sit her and pine for your forbidden love."

Sam got up and walked down the aisle towards the snack bar.

Lena closed her eyes and imagined what it would be like to watch a movie with Kara. She imagined what it would feel like to hold her hand and rest her head on Kara's shoulder.

"I barely know her," Lena whispered to herself. "Why can't I get her out of my head or my heart? Why does it hurt so bad to be away from her?"

"Looks like we're all set. That went beautifully," Kara said to Lena as she rolled her chair back. Nia helped Lena rinse her mouth and smiled at Kara knowingly.

"Yeah, Lena. You did great. You've come a long way since that first day."

"Thanks again for not firing me," Lena said with a grin.

"Thanks again for helping Dr. Danvers the other night. You were a real lifesaver." Nia gave Lena a pat on the shoulder and grinned.

Kara peeled off her gloves and tossed them in the trash.

"It was my pleasure," Lena said, still feeling the effects of the numbness.

"Hey boss, do you mind if I head out? Remember, I have that dinner engagement."

"Of course not. I can lock up. Have a good night."

"Ms. Luthor, have a wonderful evening. You did great!"

"Thanks. Have a good night Nia," Lena said with a crooked smile.

Nia walked towards the exam room doorway and gave Kara a wink. Before they knew it, they were alone once more.

Kara unclipped the bib from Lena's tan suede jacket.

"I really love the jacket and the boots. It's weird to see you in jeans and not a dress, but I like it."

"The office is freezing this time of year, so I usually dress warmer."

"How are you feeling?"

"Not bad," Lena said. "Just a little numb."

"You know the drill. It should wear off in a few hours. Be kind to your teeth and eat soft foods for the next day or so."

"I will. Did you want me to stick around and walk you out?" Lena asked.

"Nah. I have some things to finish up. You head home and I'll lock up after you."

"Okay. Thanks again for being so gentle. You have undone a lifetime of fear and anxiety," Lena said tenderly.

"I have soft hands and fingers so it's easy to be gentle", Kara said realizing too late just how sexual her innocent comment sounded.

A blush fired across Kara's cheeks and she quickly turned around in horror.

"Oh, I know," Lena said as butterflies whirled around in her stomach. She gasped for breath.

Every word this woman says turns me on. She is so sexy I can't take it. This is so bad. I want her soft hands all over me. Fuck. Where do I go from here?

Kara buried her face in her hands and turned back around.

"Oh, my God. I am so sorry. That sounded so umm...wow...okay...I need to...can we just pretend that didn't happen?"

You are so adorable.

Lena laughed hysterically and put a hand on Kara's shoulder.

"It's okay. Seriously. Come on," Lena said, rubbing her shoulder.

Kara moved her hands away from her face slowly and looked at Lena.

"You don't even have to try to be adorable, do you?" Lena asked.

Kara laughed and blushed even more. She covered her face again.

"Okay. You're going to need to get out of here and have a good night. I need to go into my office and die of shame. I'll see you next week. Have a wonderful week and try not to judge me too harshly. I'm a dork."

"You're a lovely human being and a very sweet dork," Lena said with a smile. "Okay. Are you sure you don't want me to stay and walk you out?"

"Absolutely. I have some work to do and a lot of wine to drink to kill this embarrassment. Maggie will send you a bill in a few days. Thanks for the offer. You're the lovely one. Good night."

Lena looked at Kara, and she knew to stop loving her would be a hopeless endeavor.

Stop making me love you, Kara Danvers.

Lena walked out to the parking lot, beaming. There was something about their interaction that felt different. Maybe it was because she helped her in the office, or maybe it was because Kara was letting her in. All she knew was she had to see her again. She noticed there was a liquor store that shared the same parking lot.

"Maybe if I buy the wine, she'll offer to share," Lena said to herself.

She grabbed an expensive bottle of champagne as a thank you gift and a cheap bottle as her little gag gift. She would use any pretense to see her again. She doubted she would have the courage to ask her out, but she knew she would rest easier with Kara's beautiful face imprinted on her dreams.

She returned to the parking lot and saw Kara's car still parked in the lot. The back door opened and Lena saw two figures emerge out of the back door. At first, Lena felt a pang of jealousy when she saw the man holding Kara's arm. Her jealousy quickly turned to rage when she saw the man grab Kara hard and drag her down the stairs. He threw her to the ground.

Lena's pulse quickened, and her heart thumped inside her chest. The man picked Kara up off the ground and dragged her towards her car. Lena grabbed both bottles firmly in her hands and ran at the man as fast as she could. She didn't hesitate. She didn't think about the consequences. She just wanted to help Kara.

Surprise was on Lena's side. She ran hard at the man Alex would later refer to as "the despicable piece of shit" and hit him in the side of the head with the bottle of champagne. He fell hard onto the ground, face first. Lena stepped onto his back and swung the cheap bottle of wine into the other side of his head to even things out. He was out like a light. Kara pulled out her cell, but her hands were shaking so much she couldn't dial. Lena walked over to Kara and took the phone. She spoke to 911 and explained that she had subdued Kara's attacker. They heard the faint sound of sirens approaching within a few minutes. Lena kicked the guy hard in the head to make sure he was good and unconscious before she moved to Kara's side.

"Are you okay?" Lena asked Kara, deeply concerned. She stood in front of her and placed a bracing hand on her arm.

"You... you saved me," Kara said with tears in her eyes.

Kara stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Lena's neck. Her body shook uncontrollably. She buried her face in Lena's chest and held on so tight it hurt a little.

Lena squeezed Kara and held her close. She moved a hand to her head and caressed it softly.

"Everything is okay now. You're okay. I'm here," Lena said, trying to stop Kara from shaking.

When the police and the paramedics arrived, Kara and Lena did their best to explain the events that occurred after Lena left her appointment. The police commended Lena for acting fast and saving Kara. They were sure Kara's attacker was the suspect who had been terrorizing local women for weeks.

The officers at the scene took their statements, and a paramedic treated Kara's cuts and bruises.

When the last police car left, Kara and Lena stood together in the empty parking lot. Lena gave Kara a sad smile.

"How are you doing there, doc?" Lena asked.

"I'm okay, thanks to you. I don't know what I would have done without you. You were spectacular."

"I was crazy and not at all spectacular. When I saw the way he hurt you, something went off inside of me and all I wanted to do was kick his fucking ass."

Kara smiled sweetly.

"Well, you kicked his ass good. He's destined for a mean headache when he comes to."

Kara took a step froward so their bodies were only inches apart. Suddenly, she winced in pain and fell into Lena's arms.

"Are you okay, Kara?" Lena asked, holding Kara up.

"It's my ankle. It just gave out. That is so weird."

"Not weird at all. You were in shock earlier. Shock can sometimes cover up injuries. Come on. I have a first aid kit in my car. I'll wrap your ankle and drive you home."

"You don't have to do that. I can call Alex. She's already going to be furious with me for not calling her sooner, but I just couldn't deal with her coddling."

"Nonsense. I'm here. Besides, I need to make sure you get home safely. This is really a selfish pursuit. I won't sleep well unless I know you're safe in bed."

Kara placed a hand on Lena's cheek and looked deep into her eyes.

"You're so protective," Kara whispered softly.

"Sorry. I know we just met, and it's weird that I'm so protective. I just care about you."

"It's sweet. You saved my life tonight. I like that you want to protect me."

Oh, my God. She just said that. I want to protect you, Kara. I want to matter to you.

"Come on, brace yourself against me and we'll get you fixed up."

Kara wrapped an arm around Lena's shoulders, and Lena wrapped her arm around Kara's waist. They slowly hobbled over to the Range Rover. Lena opened the back and pulled out the first aid kit. She grabbed Kara by the waist and lifted her just enough for her to slip into the trunk.

"Wow. You're deceptively strong. With those high heels and killer dresses, I never would have imagined. I'm impressed."

"There's more to me than meets the eye, Dr. Danvers," Lena said, beaming.

The wounded dentist sat back and grinned as Lena gently removed Kara's shoe. She wrapped her ankle gently with an ace bandage, taking care to use a soft touch. She grabbed one of the break and shake ice packs and handed it to Kara to ice her ankle on the way home. She gently slipped Kara's sock back on and helped her climb into the front seat of the car.

Lena climbed in beside her and smiled. Kara stared deep into her eyes and Lena was spellbound.

"I'd better text Alex. She's going to kill me for not calling her immediately. I'll tell her you're giving me a ride home."

Kara looked exhausted. She sent Alex a quick text and laid her phone on her lap.

"I live on Kings Road, just above Santa Monica. 1387."

"Perfect. I know exactly where that is."

Lena helped her find a comfortable position, propping her foot up on Lena's briefcase.

Lena took off her coat and laid it over Kara gently.

"Close your eyes and I'll have you home in no time," Lena said with her most charming smile.

Kara leaned back and closed her eyes. Lena looked over at the woman who had stolen her heart away and let out a deep sigh.

You are so soft and so lovely. I wish I could kiss you. I have no idea what will happen with us, but I hope you know that I would run through fire for you.

Lena took a deep breath and steadied herself enough to drive Kara home.

Lena pulled up in front of Kara's place just after 10:30. It was a sweet little home painted in pristine white and trimmed in periwinkle blue.

Kara was still fast asleep. Lena watched Kara resting peacefully and wished she could fall asleep next to her. She watched her breathing softly, her lips pursing and moving a little.

Lena didn't want to wake her, but she knew she had to. She couldn't very well watch Kara sleep all night.

Lena took her hand and gently caressed Kara's cheek. Kara's eyes opened, and she smiled when she saw Lena staring back at her.

Kara sat up and looked around.

"I'm so sorry I passed out. I can never sleep in the car. That was so weird."

"Shock does weird things to the body."

"Thank you again for everything. Really. I don't know how to thank you for all the things you have done. Nia scolded me for not buying you coffee or something the other day when you helped me. Somehow coffee doesn't seem like enough to repay all of your kindness."

Lena reached up and moved a strand of Kara's blond hair out of her face and smiled. She whispered softly.

"You don't have to thank me, Kara. Everything I do, I do because I car...", Lena said before she was interrupted by the startling lights and screeching tires of a car pulling up behind her. Alex leapt out of the car and ran towards Lena's Range Rover.

"Alex," Kara said under her breath. "I am so sorry. My sister can be crazy sometimes. What were you saying?"

"It's not important," Lena said with a sad smile.

Kara's face dropped with disappointment.

Alex appeared at the window, knocking frantically.

Lena couldn't help but chuckle seeing the state of Alex's hair and her half buttoned pajama shirt. Lena rolled down the window.

"Kara! Kara, are you okay? What was up with that text message? Is everything okay? Where is that despicable piece of shit?", Alex blurted out like a crazy person.

"Everything is fine, Alex. Lena kicked the guy's ass, and he is in custody."

Alex leaned forward and smiled at Lena.

"Thank you for being there for my sister. I keep telling her she needs to take a self-defense class or something."

"It's no problem. I'm only glad I was there," Lena said.

"Hey, why did you come back?" Kara asked.

"I... um...", Lena said. Alex looked at Lena, and suddenly she felt silly admitting that she just wanted to see Kara again.

"I had to grab something from the liquor store next door. I came back and saw you two coming out the back door. It was just good timing, I guess," Lena said.

"Well, thank you, Lena. I'm going to call the station and make sure they give that guy an extra kick from me. Come on Kar, let's get you inside and straight to bed," Alex said.

"She's got a sprained ankle. I wrapped it, but she should probably stay off it for the next couple of days," Lena said to Alex.

"Oh, okay. Come on, Kar. Be careful."

Kara looked over at Lena, with an intensity Lena hadn't seen before.

"Do you need some help, Alex?" Lena asked hopefully.

"No. We've got it. You've done so much. Go home and get some sleep."

Lena gave Kara a sad smile.

"You sleep well, Kara."

"You too, Lena," Kara replied softly.

Kara moved a hand to Lena's face and kissed her cheek softly. She let her lips linger over Lena's skin for just a moment and pulled back.

Kara opened the door, and Alex helped her out. Kara went to hand Lena her jacket back, but she put up a hand and smiled.

"You hold on to it. It's cold out there and you need to stay warm," Lena said.

"Thank you."

Alex closed the car door and gave Lena a wave. Alex and Kara made their way up the walkway and to the front door. Before Lena knew it, they had entered the house and disappeared.

Lena watched as the lights inside the house turned on one at a time. She let out a deep sigh and pulled away from the curb, wishing she was the one helping Kara inside.

She turned up the radio and marveled at the timeliness of the song.

"From Nowhere", by Dan Kroll played.

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