Two parcels awaited Kara at the post office on Monday morning, one small and lumpy, the other larger and heavier. A glance at the hand-written labels on each parcel told Kara who they were from. The sun was doing its best to shine, and Lena had promised to take Kara for a longer walk, but as Joe handed over the parcels and a grin spread across Kara's face, Lena knew she'd have to wait a little longer for the walk.
"I have to get these back to hotel. I can't believe they're here!" Kara said as they walked along the cobblestone street, avoiding the puddles which Caoimhe happily ran straight through. "I thought we might be waiting weeks."
"Luthorsport may look remote, but it isn't that far from Galway and from there there's the express train to Dublin," Lena said. "Besides, I think it's going to take more than total war for the illustrious Royal Mail to grind to a halt at the London end."
Kara struggled not to skip back to the hotel, and Caoimhe picked up on Kara's excitement, bounding along beside her. When they returned to the hotel, Kara leapt up the stairs to her room two at a time, while Lena took Caoimhe and went to see Mary.
"Alex! It came! Out stuff came!" Kara said, flinging the door open, as excited as a child on Christmas morning.
Alex was propped up in bed with the wireless crackling away for company. "The parcels?"
"One from H, one from Miss Kane," Kara said, climbing onto Alex's bed and passing her the smaller parcel. Alex fumbled with the string on her parcel, while Kara tore the larger one open with ease. "Oh, Kate I could kiss you," Kara grinned, scanning over the letter that sat on top of the two smaller, albeit still fairly large, parcels wrapped neatly in brown paper. "This one's yours," Kara said, handing one to Alex.
"You take this then," Alex said, giving up on the parcel from H. Kara took it and pulled off the string and brown paper. Inside were passports, Irish currency in notes and coins, and a pair of glasses.
"My glasses!" Kara exclaimed, putting on the tortoiseshell-rimmed glasses.
Alex chuckled. "Trust H to send the essentials."
Kara put the money and passports aside, then tore open the parcel from Kate. "My stuff!"
"Our stuff," Alex said, finally getting her parcel undone. Alex sorted through her pile of clothes, all rolled up as tightly as possible, a quick glance told her that Kara's was more-or-less identical. "What does Kate's note say?"
"Mostly that we owe her, but if we need anything else, just let her know. Also a packing list," Kara read, "You each have one nightgown, two pairs of tights, two pairs of socks, two sets of underwear, two blouses, one skirt, one pair of trousers, one jumper, one cardigan, one dress, one scarf, one pair of gloves. Apologies for no evening wear, coats, hats, or shoes. I'm sending a parcel, not a whole bloody trunk. Also I have it on fairly good authority that they do have shops in Ireland. Stay safe, much love, &etcetera."
Looking over their personal belongings spread over her bed, Alex felt an anxiety lift that she didn't realise she'd been harbouring. They were safe here. They could stay, at least for a little while. The world would survive without them. H would know that Miss Kane sent them a parcel of their belongings. As Kara collected up their clothing, hanging what would fit in the small cupboard, and piling the rest into the chest of draws, Alex noticed a letter tucked into her passport.
"Kara, look at this," Alex said, unfolding the paper. "Alex and Kara, I will buy you what time I can, but know that it won't be forever. It can't be - your absence will be noticed. Take care of yourselves; you are important assets to this team, this country and our war efforts. H."
"That is a terrible pep-talk letter," Kara said, wondering how Kate had folded everything to fit into the parcel when she couldn't get a quarter of the clothing to fit in a draw twice the size. "Even Kate's was better, and it's mostly just a list. And Kate is well-known to be pretty terrible at pep-talks."
"Maybe H thought someone else would see the letter," Alex suggested, trying to defend their commander.
"Are we in trouble?" Kara asked, forcing the draw shut.
Alex sighed. "I don't know. H will buy us time, I believe that, only I - I don't know how long that will be. Things used to be so certain…"
Kara pushed her glasses up. "Well, I'm going for a walk with Lena. It's sunny, or at least what passes as sunny around here." She collected the brown paper and string off Alex's bed and dumped it on her own. "I'll clean that up later. Enjoy your wireless program." Kara gave Alex a kiss on the forehead.
"See you later," Alex smiled as Kara closed the door and skipped downstairs.
Lena was waiting in the hallway, with Caoimhe sitting at her feet.
"Sorry if I kept you," Kara said, patting Caoimhe's ears.
"Are you talking to me or the dog?" Lena asked.
Kara laughed. "Both because who is the cutest dog who wants to go for a big long walk? You are, Caoimhe, you're the cutest dog."
Lena chuckled and shook her head. "Those are new," Lena said, looking at Kara's glasses.
"Not new as such, but newly delivered to Luthorsport!" Kara smiled as they stepped outside.
"I didn't realise you had trouble seeing," Lena said.
"Oh, it's not that I can't see," Kara said, "It's just easier with glasses. And Kate is my favourite person in London right now."
"And Kate would be…?"
"Kate Kane. She's one of our friends. She sent Alex and I a parcel each of our own clothing. I'll need to keep this coat though, she didn't include those. But she did include these!" Kara grinned as she pulled her gloves out of her pocket and put them on.
"Do you have many friends in London?" Lena asked, feeling oddly jealous as they crossed the quiet road and walked down to the beach.
"A few," Kara said, "We've only been there since August, but we found a few other Americans, and met a lot of people through work." As vaguely as she could, Kara went on to explain the merits of Kate Kane, Captain Lance, Lieutenant Allen, Mr Schott, and Mrs Grant. Lena couldn't help but think that Kara's descriptions of these people sounded like those of characters from a Boy's Own adventure book, but she did notice that Kate was the only person whose first name Kara used. Again, she felt a pang of jealously, and an all too common feeling of being left out of something. There was much more to Kara and Alex than met the eye. She still didn't know how to ask Kara about what she'd seen last week when she'd seen Kara fly, and let alone how to ask about the way the parcels had been addressed, to Dr. A. & Lt. K. Danvers.
They had almost reached the lighthouse, when Lena noticed that Kara was slowing down. "Stone in your shoe?" Lena asked as Kara stopped.
"No," Kara said, closing her eyes, a wave of vertigo hitting her. "More like - I'm not…"
"You don't look very well," Lena said, noticing that Kara had come over all pale. "Do you want to sit down?"
Kara shook her head. "Just - best to head back, I think."
"All right," Lena said, taking Kara by the arm.
Kara was grateful for the support, and for some reason knowing it was Lena supporting her meant even more. It was only a mile back to the village, but as another wave of vertigo swept over Kara, she felt as though she might as well have been walking back to National City.
"Are you going to faint?" Lena asked.
"No, I - don't know," Kara mumbled as they began shuffling back. Kara wanted to close her eyes, but the stones on the beach were treacherous, threatening to twist an ankle if one didn't watch where one was stepping. It took them nearly twice as long to return to the hotel, and Lena didn't let go of Kara's arm until they were safely back inside.
"I can make it up the stairs," Kara said, forcing a smile.
"Are you sure?" Lena asked, "I don't want you falling backwards and splitting your head open."
"I have a pretty hard head," Kara said, pulling off her gloves and shoving them in her coat pocket, "And I don't feel quite so faint now. I just - I think I just need a sleep. Also, Caoimhe is dripping with seawater."
"Oh, Caoimhe, go and shake outside," Lena said to the dog, who just looked at her mistress as Lena held the door open. "I'll let you be this afternoon," she said turning back to Kara.
"Oh no, do come back," Kara said.
"No no," Lena protested, "I'll let you and Alex have some time to yourselves. You've hardly had a minute without me since you arrived, and I - I have some things I need to catch up on."
"Oh, of course," Kara said, "We've just barged into your life and - "
"It's quite all right," Lena said, "Really. I'll see you tomorrow morning?"
"Of course," Kara smiled. "I'm looking forward to it already."
Lena gave a nod and left the hotel, walking briskly back to her house, Caoimhe at her heels. She did have things to catch up on, that was true, but she felt a strange kind of rejection that Kara hadn't insisted she return that afternoon.
Kara dragged herself upstairs, and collapsed onto her bed.
"That was a long walk. Lucky I needed to stand up and stretch before and folded up all the brown paper you'd otherwise be crushing right now. Take your boots off before you get sand all over the bed," Alex said, sitting up. The wireless hummed away, and a thin line of sun threatened to shine through the window.
Kara mumbled into the pillow.
"Kara?" Alex asked, pushing back the covers. She walked stiffly across to Kara's bed. "What's wrong?"
Kara rolled over and looked at Alex.
"Oh my gosh, you look terrible," Alex said, dread rising within her.
"Thanks," Kara said.
"What happened? How are you sick?"
"I think - we walked to the lighthouse. We were practically underneath it. I - there's something wrong, Alex," Kara said, tears welling in her eyes. She removed her glasses and placed them beside the bed.
Alex rubbed Kara's arm. "Is it kryptonite?" she asked, looking at Kara's eyes.
Kara shrugged. "I just need a nap."
"Kara - "
"Whatever it is, I don't think Lena knows," Kara said, desperately defending Lena despite no accusations being aimed her way. "It's not her doing, Alex. It can't be. It just can't."