Alex parted from J'onn as soon as her feet touched Lena's balcony. She raced through the open balcony door, her heart in her throat. She froze in place, her hand slipping away from where it had rested on her belt. J'onn bumped into her back and Alex would have stumbled had he not steadied her.
Lena looked up from where she was kneeling on the desk next to Kara, frantically performing CPR. Her face was flushed, strands of hair which had fallen from her usually pristine ponytail sticking to her cheeks.
Alex noticed Kara's wound had been sloppily bandaged up and spotted an open first aid kit lying on the floor, it's contents scattered around it.
"Sha started seizing," Lena said breathlessly as she pushed her clasped hands down against Kara's chest. "They stopped after 30 seconds or so. She's been down for 4 minutes, 19 seconds."
Alex finally managed to move, hurrying over to the other side of the desk. "Stop!" She ordered Lena who stopped what she was doing, panic and confusion written across her face.
Alex fumbled to find a pulse, pressing two fingers to Kara's neck. "Damn it, damn it, DAMN IT! We need to get back to the DEO. I…" She looked around, struggling to figure out what to do. They needed something strong enough to start Kara's heart up again. She unholstered her gun, pointing it at Kara.
Lena's eyes widened and she instinctively stooped over Kara, shielding her. "ALEX!"
"Move," Alex ordered, her finger trembling on the trigger of her gun. Pointing a gun at her sister felt wrong but it was the only way. "J'onn!"
Lena felt arms go around her and she was dragged away from Kara with a gentle strength she was helpless to fight against. That didn't mean she wasn't going to try. She struggled to no avail as J'onn held her to his chest. "What are you doing?! You'll kill her!"
Alex took a breath. There wasn't much time. "Please forgive me, Kara." She squeezed the trigger, shooting a pulse of energy at Kara's chest. She saw it hit and saw the way it coursed through Kara's body in the form of spasms.
She quickly holstered her gun and rushed forward, fumbling for a pulse. Her knees almost buckled in relief when she found one. "She's alive. We have to get her to the DEO. J'onn?"
J'onn nodded and quickly made his way to Kara, carefully picking her up.
"Don't leave her alone," Alex warned him before he could leave. "I'll be there in ten minutes tops but don't leave her alone for a second. And keep her alive. Promise me!"
"I promise," J'onn said sincerely. He cast one last look between Alex and Lena before he turned and left with Kara.
Lena's bloody hands shook at her sides as she stared at Alex. "You'll have to drive us. I can provide a-a car."
"What?" Alex's brow furrowed in confusion. "You're coming with me?"
"Of course I am." Lena crossed her office to take her blazer from the back of her seat, trying hard not to look at her bloody desk where Kara had been lying a moment ago. "I'm still an asset to you. I can still help."
"But why…?" Alex followed Lena as the CEO made her way quickly to the door.
"Because it's K...because it's the right thing to do."
-
"What happened?!" Nia exclaimed as she sped into Kara's room. She froze at the sight of Kara lying unconscious on a flat table, sunlamps shining down on her from above. "Is she okay?!"
Alex looked up from where she was checking over Kara's vitals. Her eyes swept over Nia, taking note of the fact that her friend was in her suit. "She's going to be. The sunlamps are doing their job."
Nia's shoulders visibly slumped in relief and she made her way over to the side of the table Kara was lying on. "God…" She rubbed at her teary eyes with her hand, sniffling softly. "When Brainy told me what happened, I-I…"
Alex stared closely at Nia, noticing her struggle to stay composed. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah. I was just...scared." Nia took a deep breath, trying to fight through her lingering panic. "Sorry, just...she's my mentor. My friend. When Brainy told me what happened, I-I thought she was going to…I care about her. A lot."
Alex managed a small smile at the comment. If there was one thing she could say about her sister, it was that she had a knack for making her way into people's hearts. Alex could attest to that herself. "Why are you suited up?"
"Oh...that." Nia blushed, glancing down at herself. "Well I was coming to the DEO and I wanted to be ready in case…"
"Can you please shut up?"
Alex and Nia both looked down in surprise in time to see Kara's eyes were open, just a little.
"Kara!" Nia exclaimed, reaching down to take Kara's hand. "You're awake!"
"Why does my head hurt?" Kara looked at Alex, her brow furrowed. "Actually…" She gritted her teeth as she tried to move. "Why does everything hurt?"
"You were attacked. By a speedster from the looks of it." Alex replied quietly, mindful of Kara's apparent headache. "You were stabbed with kryptonite. You don't remember?"
Kara's brow furrowed. "It's blurry. I remember you and...Lena?" She shook her head slightly. That couldn't be right. "You said it was a speedster?"
Alex nodded grimly. "The suit was different but do you think it could have been…?"
"No." Kara shook her head before Alex could finish what she was saying. "Barry would never hurt me. It has to be someone with the same abilities as him. Like at the wedding."
"I'll see if I can find anything else out." Alex leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of Kara's head. "Don't scare me like that again. I'm serious, Kara."
"No promises," Kara said with a slight smile as Alex straightened up again. "When can I get out of here?"
Alex sighed, shaking her head. "Kara…you have to stay under the sun lamps at least until your wound starts healing properly."
"Deal," Kara replied brightly. With some effort, she pushed herself up on her arms to look down at her wound. "It's almost…"
"No, it's not. Lie back down." Alex gently pushed at Kara's shoulder, forcing her to lay back. "Nia, if my sister even thinks about moving from this bed you have my permission to restrain her in any way you see fit."
Kara pouted.
"So uh...who's Barry?" Nia asked, deciding to intervene before the sisters could start to bicker. "An alien?"
"A friend. He's from Earth 1. I'll introduce you when I have a chance. He's great. Oh, Oliver too!"
"Right. Wait, Earth what?"
Alex rolled her eyes and turned to head toward the door, electing to leave Kara to explain that one.
Lena stared at the monitor in front of her, watching on the camera as Alex walked out of the room. She watched Nia perch on the edge of Kara's makeshift bed and frowned when she noticed Nia was still clutching Kara's hand. A familiar feeling of envy washed over her and she forced herself to look away, only to look back a second later.
Nia and Kara seemed to be chatting idly, the former looking somewhat confused as Kara spoke. Lena's eyes flicked toward their hands again and she vaguely wondered whether herself and Kara had ever held hands for that long. She quickly brushed the thought off. It was ridiculous, to be jealous of Kara's friendship with Nia. She was the one who'd decided she could never be friends with Kara again.
"I thought I'd find you hiding in here."
Lena jumped with a startled gasp, knocking the mouse from the desk she was sitting at as she whirled around to see Alex walking toward her. "Don't DO that! How did you manage to get here so quickly?"
"Jumpy?" Alex raised an eyebrow at Lena's alarm and stopped next to her, looking over her shoulder. "You could just go and see her, you know. Instead of watching from here. I'm sure she'd like to see you. And know what you did for her."
"We both know that's not going to happen." Lena's voice was cold once more as she turned back to the monitor. "And I'm not hiding from anyone."
"Besides Kara?" Alex asked gently. She held up her hands when Lena glared at her. "Sorry. I was just going to review the security footage again to see if we can find anything out about this speedster if you want to stay and help?"
Lena sighed. She knew that Alex was trying but she couldn't bring herself to do the same. Not after everything that had happened. "The speedster's name is Godspeed."
"What?" Alex exclaimed in surprise. "How do you know that?!"
"He told me when he came to my office. That's all I know." Lena stood up, straightening out the blazer she'd put on over her bloody shirt. "He said he was sent by Lex. Most likely before I...shot him. He said it was a final gift from my brother."
"Lex tried to kill Supergirl...for you?" Alex asked slowly.
The words hit Lena like a punch to the stomach but she did her best not to show it. "I suppose. That's all I know. You're welcome to the security footage at L-Corp of course. If you feel it would help."
"Yeah…" Alex frowned as she watched Lena walk away. She was sure there was more to it than that but she didn't want to push. Not yet.
Kara had just settled on the couch, cradling a hot mug of tea in her hands when there was a knock at the door to her apartment.
"Come in!" She called, figuring Alex had forgotten something. Her sister had only left about thirty minutes ago, at Kara's insistence that she would be fine. There was a moment of silence before another knock came.
Kara whimpered at the thought of getting up. Every movement seemed to tug at her stitches, sending a throb of pain coursing through her. It was easing slowly so Kara figured her healing ability should kick in by tomorrow.
Another knock came at the door and Kara cursed internally at the impact the kryptonite she'd been stabbed with was having on her. She couldn't even use her x-ray vision to check who was on the other side of the door.
"Alright, I'm coming!" Kara carefully stood up from the couch, tentatively placing her mug down as she did so. She walked slowly to the door, pulling it open with a sigh. "It was open, Ale…" She trailed off, her eyes widening when she found Lena standing on the other side of the doorway. "Lena?"
"Can I come in?" Lena didn't wait for an answer before she brushed past Kara, walking into the apartment. "You really shouldn't leave your door unlocked."
Kara shut her door, making sure to lock it this time. "I didn't expect to see you."
"I need to clear some things up." Lena gestured for Kara to sit down on the couch and the weakened hero did so without hesitation, wincing a little at the throb of pain it caused. "I didn't attack you with kryptonite, nor did I provide anyone with kryptonite so they could attack you."
"I know," Kara replied, her brow furrowing slightly. "You didn't have to come here to tell me that."
"Oh." Lena blinked in surprise at the immediate response. "I just wanted to get that out in the open. So there's no misunderstanding." She shifted slightly, glancing at the door like she was thinking about leaving.
"Are you okay?" Kara asked quickly, trying to keep Lena in the same room with her for as long as possible.
Lena laughed despite herself. "You were stabbed with kryptonite and you're asking me if I'm okay?"
"Oh, I'm fine. See…" Kara stood up, tugging up her shirt to reveal the small bandaged wound on her stomach.
Lena glanced over to Kara. She saw the bandage but that wasn't what caused her to look away. She willed herself not to blush or look back at the ripple of abs beneath Kara's skin. "Um...well I'm fine then. Sit down before you…" She inhaled sharply at the gentle hand suddenly touching her cheek, guiding her to look forward again. She found Kara standing in front of her and gaped at her in surprise.
"I miss you," Kara said earnestly, her voice soft. "I miss you like hell. And I know it's my fault. All of this is my fault but the thought of never being your friend again scares me more than any kryptonite or maniac who wants to kill me. I'm a coward, I'm not perfect but I love you. You're my best friend."
"I didn't want you to be perfect, Kara. Just honest." Lena swallowed thickly and cursed herself for the way her eyes misted over. She lifted her hand to Kara's, intending to push it away but clutched it lightly instead. Her eyes locked with Kara's and she watched the look in Kara's eyes change. There was something off about it, something that Lena felt the need to question. "What…?" Her eyes widened as Kara leaned in suddenly, pressing their lips together.
She couldn't say that she'd never imagined Kara kissing her before. She most definitely had but this was not what she'd imagined. She'd assumed that Kara would be careful and tentative. Unsure, even. She would lean in and pause midway before she would finally gather the courage to gently kiss Lena. It would be Lena herself who would have to cup the back of Kara's neck to keep her from pulling away.
As much as she knew that she should pull away, Lena couldn't deny how much she'd wanted this. For the longest time. She kissed Kara back, her senses overwhelmed by the woman holding her. The smell of her skin, the touch of her lips and the way Kara tugged her closer by her hips, boldly pressing their fronts together.
Lena wasn't sure when she lifted her arms but suddenly they were wrapped around Kara's neck, holding her as close as she could. She whimpered softly as Kara's tongue slipped into her mouth, reminding her again of how bold Kara's behavior suddenly was.
It was wrong, something was wrong despite how right it all felt. Lena pulled back only for Kara to keep hold of her. Squeaking in surprise, Lena shoved hard at Kara's chest, sending her stumbling back.
Kara clutched her chest for a moment, her blue eyes pained.
"Kara…" Lena looked at her hands, then at Kara. She was stunned that she'd even managed to budge the Kryptonian, let alone almost shove her to the ground. "Did I hurt you?"
"A little." Kara lowered her hand from her chest, her eyes steely once more. "You can do it again if you want."
Lena swallowed thickly at the suggestion. "What are we doing? W-What are you doing?"
"Being honest," Kara replied, taking a small step forward. "I want you, Lena. And I think you want me too."
Lena willed herself to take a step back but her feet felt as though they were glued to the floor as Kara slowly advanced on her. "Kara, stop."
Kara did as she was told, stopping a couple of inches from Lena. "When you look at me do you really only see Supergirl? Can't I just be Kara Danvers? Just for a little while?"
Lena bit her lip as she watched Kara closely, the sickening memories of almost losing her coming back to her. She stepped toward Kara' gripping the hem of the blonde's shirt. She tugged it up and off with little resistance from Kara.
Kara's breath caught as Lena's fingers drifted down her chest and over her stomach until they reached the edge of the bandage over her wound.
"Tell me again," Lena whispered. "What you told me last week in my apartment. Say it again."
Kara's brow furrowed in confusion for a moment as she thought back to when she'd last been in Lena's apartment. She had been drunk, she remembered that much. "I told you you're my best friend and…"
"And?" Lena peeled off her jacket, letting it drop to the floor. Kara's eyes followed it before flicking up the Lena's once more.
"And I love you."
Lena's heart tightened at the comment. "Say it again."
"I love you."
"Agai…" Lena was cut off as Kara kissed her hard. Desperately. Lena closed her eyes, kissing Kara back without thinking about it. Her hands threaded into Kara's wavy hair and she deepened the kiss, pressing her tongue into Kara's mouth. Kara whimpered and Lena felt a wave of heat wash over her. She'd done that.
Kara parted from Lena, breathlessly kissing her way to the underside of Lena's jaw, down to her neck. "I love you, Lena Luthor. Let me show you. Please."
Lena gasped softly, her eyes fluttering shut. "Yes."
When Kara kissed her again, it felt right. Like it was always meant to be this way for the two of them. Deep down, Lena knew that everything wasn't okay between them. But for a while, she could let herself pretend.
-
Kara closed her eyes as Lena's head fell to her shoulder. For a couple of minutes, the only sound in the room was that of their mixed breathing, heavy and erratic until finally it slowed and quietened.
Kara opened her eyes, glancing to her right at Lena. The CEO's head was still cushioned on Kara's right bicep and her eyes were half-closed. Kara's gaze wandered over Lena's bare form and she watched goosebumps spring to Lena's pale skin. She used her free hand to tug her blankets over Lena, ignoring the slight throb in her side.
Lena flinched slightly at the movement. "I'm not staying."
"I know," Kara said in response, her voice raspier than Lena had ever heard it. "I won't ask you to. Even though I don't want you to leave."
Lena let out a slow breath and tugging the blankets to her chest, she slowly turned onto her side. With her head still pillowed on Kara's bicep, she examined the Kryptonian's face closely. Kara's cheeks were flushed, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the ceiling.
Kara seemed to feel Lena staring at her and turned her head, locking eyes with the other woman. "Are you okay?"
Lena felt a wave of relief at the question. Something about the way Kara had been acting had felt wrong. Different. But that question was so Kara Danvers. She hummed slightly in response and carefully put her arm around Kara's waist. "I'll leave when my legs won't give out beneath me"
Kara smiled softly at the sentiment. "I don't feel much stronger at the minute."
"Obviously." Lena eyed the mark she'd left on Kara's collarbone only a short while ago. "You almost seem normal right now."
"I am normal," Kara replied earnestly. She cautiously rolled onto her side to face Lena, being careful not to dislodge Lena's head on her arm or the arm around her waist. "There's barely any Super in me right now. I'm just Kara."
Lena let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes. She almost wished this had happened before Kara had told her the truth about who she was. Maybe she would have been more forgiving. Or maybe it would have hurt more. She felt the whisper of a kiss to her lips and opened her eyes, finding Kara's face inches from her own.
"I should go," Lena whispered.
Kara hummed softly in response and closed her eyes.
Lena shuffled closer, her arm sliding up Kara's back until her hand rested between the Kryptonian's shoulder blades. She could let herself have just a few minutes before she left, she thought to herself as she closed her eyes. It wasn't as though this would ever happen again.
-
Lena whimpered in protest as she was dragged into consciousness. She wasn't sure what was waking her but she wanted it to stop. She moved deeper under the thicker than usual duvet she was sleeping under, only to freeze in realization. She was at Kara's house. She peeked her head out from under the blankets and squinted blearily into the bedroom, hoping she hadn't been sleeping for too long. Waking up the next morning in Kara's bed, with Kara naked next to her would be too confusing.
She was relieved to find that it was still dark in the bedroom but that relief was quickly washed away when she glanced in Kara's direction only to find her curled into a ball beneath the blankets, shivering uncontrollably.
"Kara?" Lena quickly shuffled closer and reached out, touching Kara's arm. She inhaled sharply. Kara was warm to the touch. "Kara, what's wrong? Tell me what's happening!"
"S-So cold." Kara managed to speak through chattering teeth. "Everything is...hurting. Lena…" She buried her head in her pillow, a sharp sob escaping her throat.
Lena swallowed thickly. She wasn't sure what she could do for Kara, as unprepared as she was. The thought terrified her. "Do you want me to call Alex?"
"No." Kara shook her head quickly only to stop, grimacing at the pain it caused. She looked up at Lena through teary, red eyes. "Yes. Please."
"Alright, just wait here." Lena brushed Kara's hair back from her forehead and placed a gentle kiss there. She was too worried to think about what she was doing and Kara looked so scared that Lena instinctively wanted to comfort her.
Kara's hand shot out and she grabbed Lena's wrist, keeping her from getting up. "Don't leave."
Lena looked down at the hand gripping her wrist. The grip was weak, even for a normal human. Alarmingly weak for a Kryptonian. "Alright, I'm not going anywhere. I'm just going to get dressed."
Kara nodded and Lena gently prised Kara's fingers from around her wrist, setting her hand on the bed. She noticed Kara's phone and called Alex as she moved quickly around the bedroom, grabbing a pair of Kara's sweats and her old national city university sweatshirt. The call went through to voicemail and Lena sighed as she tugged the sweats on. She glanced over at Kara. She didn't want to leave her alone while she went to look for her own clothes which must have been scattered around the apartment. She was sure Kara wouldn't mind her borrowing something though.
Before Lena had a chance to call Alex back, the phone rang and Alex's name appeared on the screen.
"I know I said to call if you change your mind about pizza night but I'm in bed, Kara…"
"Alex, it's Lena." Lena interrupted before Alex could say anything else. She hated that she was about to tell Alex yet again that something was wrong with her sister. As angry and hurt as she was at the sisters she still didn't want to hurt them, at least not with each other. "Kara's sick. I need you to come over, she needs you."
"Sick?" The grogginess which had laced Alex's voice was gone instantly, replaced by alert panic. "Sick how?!"
Lena quickly made her way back to the Kara. "I don't know, she's burning up and she says she's in some kind of pain. I'm not sure what's wrong with her but you need to get here." She didn't give Alex a chance to say anything else, choosing to hang the phone up instead. She tossed it to the side as she perched on the edge of the bed, gently brushing Kara's hair from her sweaty forehead. "Alex is on her way, Kara."
Kara's eyes flew open as if she'd been woken suddenly. She relaxed when her eyes fell upon Lena. A weak smile tugged at her lips. "You look good in my clothes."
Lena forced a smile in response, not wanting Kara to see how worried she was. "How are you feeling?"
"Not good," Kara replied. Her eyes drifted over Lena's shoulder, widening slightly and she wrenched one arm free from her blankets, grabbing Lena's arm to drag her closer.
"What…?" Lena glanced over her shoulder in time to see a breach appear a few feet away.
"Something's coming," Kara said through gritted teeth as she tried to push herself up. "Help me up."
"Kara, I…" Before Lena could ask how Kara would fight in her condition, two figures stepped through the portal just before it closed. Lena breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Alex and Kelly standing there. Kara slumped back down onto the bed.
"What's going on?" Alex moved toward Kara, crouching down next to the bed as Kelly hurried to turn the lights on. She gently brushed her hand over Kara's sweaty forehead, pushing her hair back from her face. "Hey…"
Kara managed a smile at Alex's gentle tone. "I don't feel good, Alex…"
"I know…" Alex looked Kara over, her brow furrowing slightly at her sister's state of undress. She glanced back at Lena. "What the hell happened?"
"She was like this when I woke up," Lena answered worriedly, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "She said she's in pain. She has a fever, Alex."
"A fever, pain…" Alex mumbled to herself. "Kara, I need to move your blankets, okay?"
Kara whined at the thought. "Alex…"
"I know. Just for a second, I promise." Alex said softly. Teary blue eyes met her own and Alex felt her heart sink. She hated seeing Kara in pain. She waited for a consenting nod before she moved Kara's blanket down, stopping just below her wound.
Kelly averted her eyes to give Kara her privacy while Lena stepped forward to see what Alex was doing, seemingly unfazed by Kara's nudity.
"What do you think it is?" Kelly asked in concern.
Alex didn't answer. She carefully pulled Kara's bandage back to see purple tendrils spreading out from Kara's almost healed wound. She swore under her breath. She'd known it was too soon to let Kara go but her sister had pleaded with her. She quickly tucked the blankets around Kara again before she turned to Lena. "We have to take her to the DEO. I can't treat her here." She brushed past Lena to dig through Kara's closet for something warm for her to wear.
Lena perched on the bed next to Kara, gently stroking her hair. "An infection?"
Alex reappeared with a heap of clothes in her arms. "I don't know. Help me get her dressed. I need you to sit behind her and support her while I do this."
Lena nodded, trying not to think of the fear she saw in Alex's eyes. In the way she fumbled as she moved to help Kara up. In the way Alex's eyes glassed over with tears as Kara leaned into her, mumbling about her warmth. "Alex?"
"This hasn't happened before," Alex explained, blinking away her tears as Lena settled in behind Kara. "This is...new. I don't know how to fix this."
Lena wished she hadn't asked.
TBC