There was no real need for Lena to escort Kara, Alex and Sara to the station. Though it was after sunrise, the sky was still dark due to the dense rain clouds and the wind was bitter; they were all grateful that the station was undercover. It was all but deserted as there were no other passengers from Luthorsport, and what little seafood had been caught last night had already been loaded into the goods carriages. Mr O'Brien the stationmaster blew his whistle. It was time to go.
Lena was wrapped up against the weather and stood with Caoimhe sitting at her feet. She had had a deep, peaceful sleep, and had woken feeling snug and joyous, though that had faded all too quickly when she remembered that today her new-found friends were going home. They'd chatted on the walk to the station as though nothing was going to change. As though they were just going to the post office and general store and would be safely back inside with a packet of cards and a hot drink in no time. But that was not to be.
"Thank-you, Lena," Sara said. "I, ah - well, I guess I have a nice quiet, peaceful, summer holiday destination now. If I get a summer holiday this year, that is."
"It's been a pleasure to meet you," Lena said, shaking Sara's hand.
"Pleasure's all mine."
"I brought you this," Lena said, pulling a bottle of whisky out of her bag. "My condolences. Don't drink it all at once, but don't let it collect dust, either."
"I'll save it for a special occasion," Sara smiled, recognising the label on the bottle and knowing it would cost her a week's wages to buy a bottle like this. Lena's words were exactly what Sara could imagine Laurel saying, which brought an odd level of comfort. "Thank-you, Lena. Really. All right, Danverses, if we don't get on that train, we'll never get back."
"One moment more," Kara said, wishing she could stay with Lena. Part of her wanted to defy Sara and H and whoever it was forcing them to return to London, though her sense of duty, the reason she and Alex had volunteered and crossed the Atlantic in the first place, was stronger.
Sara nodded and boarded the train. "I'll go find us a compartment."
"You really should go," Lena said, "The train does have to leave on time and - "
Alex wrapped Lena into a hug. "You saved us. We can never thank you enough."
Lena held onto Alex. "I - it's what anyone would have done."
"Maybe," Alex said, letting go of Lena, "But it wasn't anyone. It was you. Thank-you, Lena. I'll miss this place, but we will be back and we'll be in touch before then."
Kara bobbed down to say her farewells to Caoimhe. "You'll remember me, won't you Caoimhe? Yes you will because you're a good, smart dog. You're the best girl and I'm going to miss you a lot."
Lena nodded. Her throat felt tight and she could feel tears stinging her eyes.
"Oh, come here," Kara said, flinging her around Lena. "Alex is right. She's always right and she's right about this and about you. We will come back. We'll write. You're not alone. Not anymore. We - thank-you, Lena."
"I don't have any more bottles of drink," Lena managed to say.
"Sara needs it more than we do," Alex replied.
"Bye, Lena," Kara said, forcing herself to let go of Lena as the train whistle blew and steam filled the station. She gave Lena a kiss on the cheek. "We'll see you again."
"Goodbye, Lena," Alex said, grabbing their suitcase and climbing onboard, Kara behind her. Mr O'Brien secured the door, then signalled to the driver that the train was ready to depart.
Kara pulled open the window in their compartment and leant out. "Bye Lena! We'll miss you!" she called and waved as the train departed.
Lena stood on the platform and waved until the train was out of sight, then slowly walked home with Caoimhe by her side. When she got home, Lena sent Caoimhe down to the kitchen and dragged herself upstairs, feeling empty and cold. She pulled off her outwear and boots and slipped back into bed. If she went to sleep, perhaps it would all go away. Perhaps it was all just a dream, and she would wake up, and there would be no one coming out of the waves, no desperate need for help, no Supergirl, no card games, no whisky, no dinner, no walks along the beach or over hills and farmland. No Lex deserting her, leaving her alone on the edge of the world. No war. Lena pulled the covers tightly around herself as the wind made the windowpanes shake. No need to go back out today. No need to do anything at all. No one to visit. No one to care about. Lena buried her face in her pillow and cried.
…
Kara, Alex and Sara had made the afternoon ferry from Dublin to Holyhead where they'd stayed the night in a hotel. Though it was larger and arguably more modern than the Luthorsport Hotel, it was lacking a certain charm. The ferry ride had been rough, and both Alex and Sara had been sick. The following morning they boarded the train to take them west to Chester, where they were able to change for a direct service to London.
The train from Chester rocked and rattled as it travelled south, the rolling hills and paddocks finally giving way to houses. No one said much, and paid little attention to the grey skies, and grey, smouldering city they were fast approaching. They were all tired after two days of travelling and Kara in particular was feeling lonely and heavy-hearted, not knowing how to explain to Alex or Sara why she felt that way. As the train pulled into Paddington Station, Kara pulled down their suitcases. She needed to feel useful, to have something to do, and right now, carrying the cases was all there was.
"Well, we're back," Alex said as the train came to a halt. The soldiers on the misty, steamy platform were the most obvious reminder that the war was still going on, along with the posters alternating between government-issued propaganda and air-raid safety initiatives.
Kara, Alex and Sara stepped off the train and made their way up the platform.
"Any chance the Underground is working?" Alex asked.
"Should be all right," said Sara, "Want to get dinner here? I know soggy chips isn't quite the same as anything Miss Luthor and team were serving up, but dinner options are sadly scarce."
"Kara, do you want to get some chips and coffee for dinner?" Alex called to Kara, who was walking ahead, lost in her own thoughts. "No answer means yes," Alex said to Sara, "Soggy chips and watered-down coffee it is."
Sara gave a wry smile. "Whoever thought you'd have London train station food options spoiled by a stay in Ireland?"
Kara turned back to Sara and Alex. "Do you think they'd have pies? I'd rather a pie and gravy."
"Maybe," Alex said. "Kara, watch where you're walking," she said, as Kara almost walked into a post.
Kara turned and poked her tongue out at Alex, then as she turned back towards the concourse, she recognised a figure waiting for them. "Wait, is that…" Kara put the suitcases down and grinned. "Kate! Kate is here! Alex, look! Kate is here!" Kara broke into a run and sprinted to Kate Kane, who stood waiting at the end of the platform.
Alex and Sara picked up their suitcases as Kara flung her arms around Kate, almost knocking her over.
"And I'm glad to see you too," Kate said, giving Kara a hug.
"How did you know when we were coming back?"
"Alex sent me a telegram this morning," Kate said, "So I thought I'd come and meet your train."
Kara turned to Alex. "Did you?"
"Thought you'd like to see a friendly face when we got back," Alex shrugged.
Kara let go of Kate only to throw her arms around Alex. "You always know what I need," she said.
"Miss Kane," Sara said.
"Captain Lance. Looks like Ireland treated you well."
"I needed the break."
"I know. I'm sorry for your loss."
Sara nodded.
"Now we are all going to get pies and chips and terrible coffee," Kara announced, her enthusiasm returned. "Kate, I have to tell you everything about Luthorsport. I made best friends with a dog called Caoimhe, and I will have to write down the spelling of that for you because it is crazy, and I made friends with Lena and I have to tell you everything about her."
"Well, we'd better go find a table then," Kate said.
"Oh, and thank-you for our clothes, because we pretty much had nothing, but Lena found some things like nighties and coats and hats, and we ordered some essentials to be sent from Galway, but that wasn't until after your parcel arrived and - "
"She's not going to stop until she gets food in her mouth, is she?" Sara asked as Kara continued to prattle on to Kate as they made their way across the concourse.
"Even then it's going to be hard to make her stop," Alex said. "You were right about her needing to see Kate as soon as we got here."
Sara shrugged and took Alex by the arm, "Sometimes all you need is your people."
…
Kara was hungry, cold and tired as she let herself back into the flat. She didn't bother turning on the lights as she could see well enough in the dark, and didn't want to see her reflection in the hall mirror, which would no doubt show her to be looking dirty and exhausted. Kara was about to flop onto the couch when she noticed Alex was lying there, bundled up in blankets.
"Alex? Alex, are you all right?" she asked, gently shaking Alex's shoulder.
Alex stirred and sat up. "…Fell asleep…" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
"Why didn't you just go to bed?" Kara asked. "You're not sick or anything?"
"I was waiting for you," Alex said. She felt around for the lamp switch and turned it on.
"You don't have to wait up for me," Kara said, getting herself a glass of water, relieved that Alex was all right.
"I've got something for you," Alex said, pulling a slightly crushed envelope out from under the cushions. "Thought you'd want to deliver it straight away."
"Deliver it?" Kara asked.
Alex smiled. "I may have promised it to Lena. I don't think she believed me, or she just pretended not to hear. But I - I vouched for her, and so did Sara."
Kara put her glass down and apprehensively took the envelope from Alex. "So this is…?"
"Travel papers and a job offer. She can choose not to accept them, but don't think that will be the case."
Kara stood holding the envelope in both hands. "What do I do?" she asked, feeling her heart rate increase.
"Go to her. Go to Luthorsport. Go now. It's still mostly dark, you'll probably reach Luthorsport just as the sun is coming up behind the hills. Go and get the girl, Kara."
"Alex, I - I'm…"
"I'm not blind and I am far from stupid," Alex said, standing up. "We've been back for nearly three weeks, and you can't get through a whole conversation without bringing her up. Take a coat and scarf, you can't go dressed like that."
Kara put the envelope down and allowed Alex to dress her in a standard-issue coat. "Alex, what if she…?"
"What if she, what, Kara?" Alex asked, wrapping Kara's red scarf around her neck and buttoning up the coat. "Lena said she didn't want to hurt anyone. The job is code-breaking. She'd be good at that. The details enclosed are fairly light on, but - "
"It's at Bletchley?" Kara asked.
"Do not give that location away. I'm pretty sure the documents don't state it outright. Just - let her decide. She will say yes, Kara."
Kara flung her arms around Alex. "I love you, Alex Danvers."
"I love you too," Alex grinned. "Now I'm going back to bed for a few hours. Try to be back around dinner time. You'll probably be needed again tonight."
Kara nodded, still holding Alex. "I love you so much."
"Go," Alex smiled, pulling Kara off her. "Don't make me say it again."
Kara tucked the envelope into her coat and hurried out of their flat, grinning from ear to ear, desperate to get into the sky.
Within minutes the familiar outline of the Luthorsport lighthouse was in Kara's view. It was drizzling rain and the town was silent as the clouds behind it slowly turned a lighter shade of grey. The golden streetlights were a welcome sight as Kara landed outside Lena's house. Through a small gap in the curtains of one of the rooms upstairs, Kara could see a line of lamplight, and decided that Lena must be awake.
Kara's heart was pounding in her chest as she knocked on the door, and a moment later broke into a grin as she heard Caoimhe barking.
"Calm down, Caoimhe, it's probably just the milkman. I tell you what, they better not be rationing milk or I'll - oh, Miss Danvers!"
"Hullo!" Kara grinned, looking at Aine.
Aine looked up and down the street. "What - how…? I - I guess you want to see Miss Luthor?"
"Yes, please," Kara said.
"You best come inside, miss," Aine said, holding the door open as Kara stepped into the hallway. "I'll see if Miss Luthor is up."
Caoimhe leapt up on Kara. "Who's the best dog? You are Caoimhe!" Kara gushed, bobbing down to pat Caoimhe with enthusiasm and kissing her head. "Yes you are! You are! I missed you so much, yes I did, because you're the best girl! Yes, Caoimhe. Yes you - "
"Kara?"
"Lena!" Kara grinned, standing up.
Lena stood halfway down the stairs, still in her dressing gown and slippers, her hair loose around her shoulders. "I - this is a surprise."
"I didn't have time to send a wire," Kara said.
"I trust everything is all right?" Lena had theorised that the only reason Kara would show up unannounced would be if something terrible had happened to Alex, but the look on Kara's face told her that nothing of that kind had happened.
Kara nodded. "Quite all right."
"Aine, Miss Danvers and I will take breakfast in my study," Lena said.
"Very good, Miss Luthor," Aine said, and disappeared down to the kitchen.
Lena walked down the rest of the stairs and led the way into her study. The fire was already burning and Lena turned on the lights. "How did you get here?" she asked.
"I flew," Kara said, her tummy rumbling at the promise of breakfast.
"You're kidding?"
"I'm not," Kara smiled.
"You can take off your coat. Make yourself at home."
"I, ah - " Kara unbuttoned a couple of buttons and held the coat open. "I haven't had time to change."
Lena's eyes went wide. "What - is that…?"
"Yep, it's the costume. I've been out being Supergirl all night, and when I got back to our place Alex gave me - oh! This is for you!" Kara reached inside her coat and pulled the envelope out. "Alex and Sara arranged this. For you."
Lena tentatively opened the enveloped while Kara buttoned her coat back up. "Kara, these are…"
"I know what they are."
Lena nodded. "Is this a job offer?" she asked, scanning over a letter.
"Yep."
"I - I don't want to hurt anyone. I won't take part in making any weapons or - "
"Oh, no, it's none of that. Alex knew that wasn't what you wanted. It's code-breaking. And it's not in London either, so you'd be relatively safe and you'd be able to take Caoimhe and - I, er, can't really say any more," Kara said, hoping she hadn't said too much already.
Lena put the papers aside. "Alex did this?"
Kara nodded. "She and Sara vouched for you. I'm sorry to say I'm just the delivery girl. I had no idea they were doing this, but Alex said she had promised you?"
Lena swallowed and nodded. "No one - I don't… no one has ever done anything like this for me. No one has ever wanted me."
"You're wanted now. By us. By me." Kara stepped forward and took Lena's hands in hers. Kara smiled. "I promised I'd come back."
Lena sniffed and blinked back tears. "I - I don't…"
"You deserve the world, Lena Luthor. Please let us help you. We're returning the favour, if you will."
Lena let go of Kara's hand to wipe her eyes. "I'm sorry, you must think me so selfish. You've all gone to so much effort to do all this and I can't even say thank-you and I…"
"Don't have to say anything," Kara said, taking a tiny step even closer to Lena and gently putting her lips to Lena's. Lena leant in. Her lips were warm and soft, and Kara was aware that hers were cold and salty. Regardless, she closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Lena's waist.
"Thank-you," Lena said, pulling away to take a breath. "Kara Danvers, Supergirl, of all the people in the world to wash up in my town…"
"I couldn't think of anywhere better," Kara said.
"You showed up here begging for help, but you've helped me more than - " Lena's voice cracked.
"I think we can call it even," Kara said, leaning in to kiss Lena once more.
A/N: The end.
Thank-you very much for reading, and I hoped you enjoyed this story. The comments, favourites and follows are very much appreciated. I'm neither going to promise more from this universe, or say that's it completely, because at the moment I'm not sure.