Notes: This chapter incorporates canon dialog from the episode "All About Eve"
March 15, 2019
"J'onn?" Kara called as she walked into his office.
"Up here," J'onn called down from the upper level. Kara rushed up the stairs and found J'onn kneeling in a meditation pose. He looked up at her, and the contemplative expression on his face changed to one of concern.
"What's wrong?" He asked as he stood up.
"Lex Luthor's escaped from prison."
"How?" J'onn asked.
"I don't know," Kara said. "I was on my way from the hospital back to my apartment to change for work, when I heard gunfire and explosions out by the Luthor Estate. I went to investigate, and Lex was flying away in a stolen air ambulance. He jumped out and one of his Lexosuits caught him. We fought, but he caught me off guard. He had Superpowers, and he dosed me with Kryptonite."
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. The Kryptonite's worn off, but we have to find him before he does something terrible."
"I'll let Alex know."
"I already have. I went to the hospital first. She was still there with James. She's looking for Lena."
"Lena's missing?"
"She's not at her apartment, LCorp, or the Luthor Estate. I didn't have time to do much of a search. Lex already has a half hour or so head start."
"Okay. Where did you last see him?"
"Metropolis. We-"
Her phone's text alert sounded and had reached down and pulled her phone out of her boot.
Maggie: Need to see you.
Kara felt a surge of panic. Lex was notorious for going after people who had any sort of public connection to Superman. Jimmy and Lois were the most frequent fliers, but they weren't the only ones, and Maggie was connected to her. Not recently, and not overtly, but there were more than a few pictures floating around of them talking at crime scenes. Most people would dismiss it, but Lex was obsessed, and the thought that he might go after Maggie because of her was enough to make it hard to breath.
Kara: Where are you?
Maggie: On my way to my apartment. I'll be there in ten minutes.
Kara: I'm on my way.
She looked up at J'onn.
"What is it?"
"Maggie. She needs to see me."
"Go," J'onn said. "I'll go to the Luthor Estate and see if I can pick up the trail."
Maggie looked up as Kara flew in through the window of her apartment and was on her feet before Kara touched down.
"Are you okay?" Kara asked.
Maggie didn't answer, she just wrapped her arms around Kara and squeezed as her as she could, trying to convince herself that Kara was actually there. That she was solid and real and most of all, alive. When she felt Kara's arms wrap around her, she was able to relax for the first time since she realized what Hodges was talking about.
"Maggie?" Kara asked, confusion in her voice.
"You're alive," Maggie said.
"Yeah. Um…"
The sob surprised her, and she held Kara tighter. "You're alive."
"Maggie, I don't understand."
"He shot you with Kryptonite, and then he hit you with that stupid globe, and I thought…"
She couldn't get the words out, but Kara seemed to understand. She squeezed a little harder.
"I'm sorry," Kara said. "I didn't… I… I didn't know anyone even knew about the fight."
"You didn't know?" Maggie asked, sounding a little hysterical even to her own ears. She pulled away so she could see Kara's face. "Half the fucking planet saw it."
"It was just a fight," Kara said.
"It was Lex fucking Luthor," Maggie said. "He had Kryptonite. He had a sword and Kryptonite lasers and I thought I saw you die."
"Maggie-"
"Shut up!" Maggie said as she pulled Kara back into a hug and buried her face in Kara's neck.
"I'm sorry," Kara said.
"Shut up," Maggie said. "You can't do this to me. You can't come into my life and make me feel like someone cares about me, make me feel like I matter, make me feel like someone loves me and then just take it away from me."
"Maggie-"
"Shut up." She pulled back and looked up at Kara, looking into those blue gray eyes that were looking back at her like she was the most important thing in the world, and she couldn't breathe. It felt like an elephant was standing on her chest.
"You can't make me love you and then leave," she said. "You can't. You can't take that away from me."
"Maggie, I'm not-"
Maggie reached up and covered Kara's mouth with her fingers. Kara stopped talking, but she didn't move away. She just took there and waited as Maggie stared up at her. She shifted her hand, running her fingers over soft, smooth skin, trying to reassure herself that Kara was really there, really alive, and that what she'd thought she'd seen wasn't what she'd actually seen.
Kara was there. Kara was alive. Kara hadn't left her.
She watched as Kara closed her eyes as she cupped her cheek. Kara leaned into the touch, and Maggie felt her shudder.
"Kara?"
Kara opened her eyes, and Maggie felt something shift between as she saw the look in Kara's eyes. The air was suddenly thick with tension, and the whole atmosphere charged as they stared into each other's eyes. Maggie's heart pounded and her breathe quickened and she squeezed her thighs together.
"Maggie…" Kara said softly.
It took an eternity for her to rise up on her toes, an eternity for Kara to lean down, an eternity until their lips finally met in a kiss that felt as surprising as it did inevitable. Surprising because Maggie wasn't prepared for it. Not for the softness of Kara's lips, or the strength of her arms, or the way her lips parted so quickly, or the slightly sweet, slightly tart taste of her mouth, or the moan that seemed to fill the room. Inevitable because kissing Kara felt like coming home. It felt like the entire world went away. There was no fear, no pain, no stress, no supervillains or backlog of cases. Nothing but Kara, holding her and kissing her like their lives depended on it.
Maggie prayed to a god she hadn't believed in since she was fourteen that it would never end, even as she felt the moment it would coming. They pulled away from each other at the same moment, and stared at each other, both of them wondering what the hell had just happened. She could see the shock on Kara's face, could feel it deep in her own bones, could hear her own mind screaming all the reasons this could never, ever happen. For a moment, she was afraid Kara would run, and for a moment, she was afraid she would run, but then they were kissing again, clinging to each other as if the universe might tear them apart at any moment.
"What are we doing?" Maggie asked between kisses.
"Do you want me to stop?" Kara asked.
"No," Maggie said.
Kara reached down and picked Maggie up. Maggie wrapped her legs around Kara as Kara walked them over to the kitchen table. She sat Maggie down and leaned in, her hands sliding up, roaming over Maggie's body as Maggie squeezed Kara closer with her legs and arms.
What was going to happen next was obvious to both of them. Maggie could have listened a dozen reasons it was a terrible idea off the top of her head, and none of them mattered. Not the fact that Kara was supposed to be hunting Lex, not the fact that she had walked out of work, not the fact that there was no way they could ever have a relationship, because it would destroy both of them. She didn't care. In that moment, she just needed. She needed Kara on top of her and inside of her. She needed to feel Kara touching her, to feel the real, tangible reminder that Kara was there and Kara was alive.
The only thing that stopped it was the opening guitar licks of Johnny Rivers' Secret Agent Man suddenly blaring out of Kara's phone. The two of them jumped apart, Maggie falling back onto the table when Kara scrambled for her phone.
"Hey, Alex," Kara squeaked. "No. Nothing's wrong." She sighed and took a deep breath, and Maggie could see her setting herself in that 'I'm Supergirl and nothing affects me' mode.
"Alex, nothing is wrong. Yes, I'd heard that Lex escaped. Why would he come after me? Other reporters have interviewed Supergirl. Cat Grant. She doesn't have a security detail since she stepped down as press secretary. Well, I mean… Look, Alex, I'm fine. Lex Luthor is not going to come after me. Fine. Look, there's a place near work that sells Tasers. I'll stop by and pick one up. Yes, I know how to use one. Alex, you said you were going to trust me to look after myself, so trust me. Okay. I love you. Go find Lena. And be careful."
Kara hung up the phone and turned to look at her.
"Maggie, I-"
"It's okay, Kara. I know. I shouldn't have… I just…"
Kara walked over and took her hands. "That wasn't just you," Kara said. "I felt it too. I have for a while, and I really want to stay here and talk to you about it, but Lex is out there and no one is safe right now. Not until he's caught."
Maggie nodded. "Go."
"Be careful," Kara said. "Because Alex is right. Lex will go after anyone with a connection to Supergirl. So please, please, be careful."
"I will."
Maggie expected Kara to go, but instead, she reached up and took Maggie's face in her hands and leaned in to kiss her one more time before she turned and flew out through the window, leaving Maggie to stare after her, and wonder what the hell they were going to do.
March 16, 2019
Maggie walked into the donut shop and looked around for Kara. She frowned when spotted her sitting in the back corner with a dark-haired girl and wondered for a moment if Kara was afraid to be alone with her after what had happened the day before. Maggie wasn't sure she would blame her if she was. Despite what Kara might have said, Maggie knew she was out of line kissing Kara. What made things worse is that she couldn't stop thinking about the way Kara had kissed her before she left, and she had kind of hoped that there would be more kissing this morning.
"Maggie!" Kara called out, waving her over.
Maggie forced a smile onto her face and headed over. She slid into the booth across from Kara and smiled as Kara pushed a cup of coffee towards her.
"Coffee, black," Kara said. "You're lucky. If I hadn't been Cat's assistant for two years, I never would have remembered such a ridiculously complex order."
Maggie laughed, and Kara smiled so brightly the wrong room lit up.
"You remember Nia?" Kara asked.
Maggie turned and got her first good look at the dark-haired girl's face, and sure enough, it was the girl from the hospital. "Nice to see you again."
"Likewise," Nia said.
"I know you probably weren't expecting her to be here, but we're on our way to my cousin's place up north."
"Oh," Maggie said, trying to tamp down her surprise. She looked over at Nia for a moment, and everything clicked into place. Long dark hair. Just a bit shorter than Kara. Nia was Dreamer.
"Blue's a good color on you."
"Thanks," Nia said.
"I thought you two should know each other in case anything happens to me."
"Kara-"
"Maggie," Kara said, cutting her off, "I'm going to be careful, but after what happened yesterday… I don't want you to be alone if something does happen. Alex has J'onn, and Eliza, and Lena, and Brainy, and James. Nia's family. Her mother was from a neighborhood not too far from where I spent my first twelve years."
Maggie stared at Kara and tried to swallow past the lump in her throat, but Kara wasn't done. She reached into the pocket of her coat, pulled out a watch, and slid it across the table.
"I know you already have a watch, but I thought you might like this one a little better."
Maggie reached out and took it. She gave a quick glance around to make sure no one was watching before she flipped up the face to reveal the beacon inside.
"Press once, and I'll come. Anywhere, any time. Twice, and I'll know to stay away."
"Got it," Maggie said, silently promising herself she'd never use it in a situation that might put Kara in danger.
"Nia, would you grab a dozen assorted, and whatever you want while you're at my cousin's place?" Kara asked.
"Of course," Nia said. She slid out of the booth and headed up to the counter.
Kara reached across the table and took Maggie's hand. "I know we need to talk about what happened-"
"Kara, it's okay. I don't expect anything. Emotions were high and-"
"Stop," Kara said.
"Kara-"
"No," Kara said. "Maggie, I know we can't, but I don't want to just brush it off. You deserve more than that. We'll talk as soon as I have time."
"Okay," Maggie said, not sure what there was to talk about. The fact that they both apparently had feelings for each other didn't mean they could be together. Maggie's relationship with Alex was proof of that.
"Come on," Kara said. "You and Nia can trade contact info before we head north."
Kara put Nia down just outside the fortress door and bent over to pick up the key. She slipped it into the slot and watched as the door slid aside before she put the key down again and followed Nia inside.
"She's nice," Nia said.
"What?" Kara asked.
"Your girlfriend."
"She's not my girlfriend," Kara said.
"She isn't?" Nia asked. "Because it sure sounded like she was your girlfriend."
"It's complicated."
"What's complicated about it. You like her. She likes you."
"She used to be engaged to Alex."
"Oh," Nia said.
They moved through the Fortress for a few minutes in silence. They were almost to the bed chamber Kara had set up for Nia to practice her dreaming when Nia spoke again.
"Have you talked to Alex about it?" Nia asked.
"No," Kara said. "And I'm not going to."
"You should," Nia said. "If what happened with Maeve taught me anything, it's that keeping a secret like that just means you end up hurting the person you're trying to protect more."
"It's different."
"How?" Nia asked.
"When I arrived on Earth, and the Danvers took me in, I ruined Alex's life. She lost so much because of me. Her father, her friends. If it wasn't for me, it might not have taken her twenty-eight years to figure out she's a lesbian. Her entire life before Maggie was about me. Taking care of me, protecting me, hiding my secret, making sure I was okay. Then Maggie came along, and everything changed. Alex started opening up. She fell in love for the first time. She realized she wanted a wife and kids. She wanted to rebuild the family I took away from her. I can't take that away from her."
"But she and Maggie aren't together anymore," Nia said.
"I know," Kara said. "But they didn't split up because they didn't love each other anymore. Alex called things off because Maggie doesn't want kids. How would you feel if Maeve started dating someone you were still in love with?"
"I'd hate it," Nia said. "But if I called things off, and if they looked at each other the way I saw you looking and Maggie looking at each other, I think I'd get past it, because I would want the people I love to be happy."
"But it would hurt you, every day. I can't do that to Alex."
"What about what you're doing to yourself?" Nia asked.
"Sometimes loving someone means making sacrifices," Kara said. "Alex has made so many for me. I can make this one for her."
"Maybe you should ask her if she wants you to first."
"I can't. Not without hurting her." Kara stopped as they reached the bedchamber. "Kelex will get you anything you need. If you dream anything that will help us find Lex, let me know."
"Okay," Nia said.
"And Nia…"
"Yes?"
"Not a word of what you saw this morning to anyone."
"Of course," Nia said.
Kara took one of the boxes of donuts Nia was carrying and headed to the DEO.
"Hey, Sawyer," Hodges yelled across the bullpen. "You got a visitor."
Maggie looked up from her computer, and felt her heart skip a beat as she saw Kara standing there in civvies. She waved her over, and Kara smiled as she crossed the bullpen. Maggie stood up and led her into observation three.
Kara pulled her into a hug the moment the door was shut.
"Are you okay?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah," Kara said. "I'm just getting really tired of getting attacked with Kryptonite everywhere I go."
"Who attacked you with Kryptonite?" Maggie asked.
"It's a long story," Kara said as she pulled back from the hug. "I went to the DEO to see if they would be willing to work with me to track Lex. Haley agreed, and I found out Eve Teshmacher was working with Lex. Alex, Lena and I tracked her to a lab she'd been working at in secret, and there was a Metallo unit hidden there. There's more to it, but I'll fill you in when I get back from DC."
"You're going to DC?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah," Kara said. "I have to stop by CatCo, and let James know that it wasn't Manchester Black who shot him. Lex had someone do it. And we think Lex is connected to Ben Lockwood, so I'm headed to DC to question him."
"Jesus Christ. Lex had James shot?"
"Definitely."
"I don't like this. Lex is involved with Lockwood and with James being shot, and he somehow gets superpowers?"
"Yeah, I know how that last part happened," Kara said.
"You do?"
"The drug Lena used on James was based on a substance called Harun-El. It's something from Krypton. Argo is using it as a power source, and they were running low, so I asked Lena if she could replicate it. I figured since she already figured out how to duplicate Kryptonite, it would be easy. But she didn't just make it for Argo. She's been making more of it for months and using it to create this drug. And since Ever was Lena's assistant, Lex knew all about it."
"Lena has been experimenting with some sort of Kryptonian stuff that gives people superpowers?"
"Yeah," Kara said. "Like I said, it's a long story, and I don't have a lot of time. I just wanted to make sure you're okay before I head to DC."
"I'm good," Maggie said. "But if Lockwood is involved with Lex Luthor, you need to be careful."
"I know," Kara said. "I've got to go."
"Okay," Maggie said.
Kara turned to leave. On impulse, Maggie reached out and caught her wrist, and when Kara turned back around, Maggie stepped in and kissed her.
"Be careful," Maggie said. "And come see me when you get back. I don't care how late it is."
Kara nodded, and then she was gone.
"Delta-399 to Sierra-117 do you copy, over?"
Maggie reached down and grabbed the mic from her radio. "This is Sierra-117. I copy, over."
"Sierra-117, you are to report to the barn immediately, over."
Maggie frowned. "Delta-399, my shift ended thirty minutes ago, over."
"Understood Sierra-117. Orders were firm. You're to report to your Lieutenant immediately upon arrival, over."
"Understood. Seirra-117 is on her way to the barn, over."
Maggie hung up the radio, and turned on the lights in her cruiser, then did a U-turn and headed back to headquarters. She spent the whole way there wondering what could possibly be going on that would have Lieutenant Isaacs call her back.
By the time Maggie got to headquarters, the place was a madhouse. People were running around in riot gear and she wondered, briefly, if there was another invasion in the works. She moved quickly through the chaos, dodging people as she headed for Lieutenant Isaacs' office. She was about halfway there when she noticed it. Everyone in the room was avoiding looking at her. Everyone except Debbie, who was trying to catch her eye. When Maggie looked at her, Debbie mouthed 'be careful', and Maggie felt a knot of unease settle in her stomach.
When she stepped through the door of Lieutenant Isaacs' office, there were two men there in suits, and Maggie glanced at Lieutenant Isaacs.
"Sir, dispatch said you wanted to see me?"
Isaacs nodded. "Have a seat, Sawyer."
Maggie sat down at glanced over at the men in suits.
"Have you met detective Russel and detective Williams before Sawyer?" Isaacs asked.
"No, sir."
"They're from internal affairs."
"Okay. And why are they here?"
"It's about Supergirl," Isaacs said.
"What about her?"
"She just killed eight Senators and four secret service agents in the oval office," Isaacs said.
"WHAT?" Maggie asked. "Sir, that can't be right. Supergirl would never do something like that."
"You're awful quick to defend her," Russel said.
"Yeah, because she's innocent."
"How can you be so sure?" Williams asked.
"Because I've known the woman for almost three years. Because she's saved my life on more than one occasion. Because she kept me from losing my arm a couple of months ago. Because she's one of the kindest people I've ever met."
"What's your relationship with Supergirl?" Russel asked.
"We used to work together when I was working with Agent Danvers at the FBI."
"That's the same Agent Danvers you used to be engaged to?" Williams asked.
"Yes," Maggie said.
"You haven't worked with Agent Danvers in a year and a half." Russel said.
"So?"
"So, did your relationship with Supergirl continue after you stopped working with the FBI?" Williams asked
"We didn't talk for a while after Alex and I broke up. I left town. Did some transfer assignments. I didn't see her other than on the news from the time Alex and I split until Supergirl showed up to help at a warehouse raid just after Thanksgiving."
"And have you seen her since then?" Russel asked.
"A couple of times," Maggie said.
"And what's the natural of your current relationship with her?" Williams asked.
"Mostly, I buy her coffee and donuts, and she bitches about how hard it is to find makeup that holds up at supersonic speeds."
"So, you're not sleeping with her?" Russel asked.
"Where the fuck would you get that idea?" Maggie asked.
"Word is, you were bragging to another detective about fucking her yesterday morning," Williams said.
"Oh, Jesus fucking Christ," Maggie said. "Debbie… Detective Teigal was giving me shit about how I must have a new girlfriend because I was in a good mood. I told her I had breakfast with a friend, and she wouldn't drop it, so I fed her some bullshit story about being in a good mood because I banged Supergirl. She knew it was bullshit at the time, and I thought everyone else in the bullpen did too."
"Detective Hodges said that you had a breakdown yesterday when it looked like Supergirl had been killed by Lex Luthor." Russel said.
"Because someone I have worked with on and off for the past three years, someone I consider a friend, was murdered on National TV."
"So, she's your friend?" Williams asked.
"Yes," Maggie said.
"What's her name?" Russel asked.
"Supergirl," Maggie said.
"Her real name?" Williams asked.
"I don't know," Maggie said.
"Really?" Russel said. "Detective Sawyer, you realize if you're withholding information that could lead to the arrest of a terrorist, you could be charged with obstruction? Maybe even as an accessory if she kills someone else."
"I don't know her real name."
"What do you know about her?" Williams asked.
"Not a lot. She likes Hawaiian Pizza, Smores, really sweet coffee, donuts, Hello Kitty, math," said, repeating what she'd told Debbie the day before. "She's a decent field medic. Got her training from the FBI on that one."
"You're lying," Russel said.
"Excuse me?"
"You know more than you're telling us," Russel said.
Maggie turned back to Isaacs. "I want my union rep and a lawyer, now."
When the text chime on her phone sounded, Kara sat on the couch in her apartment, trying to decide what to do. She saw Maggie's name, and felt a small spike of fear run through her at the thought that Maggie might be in trouble. She opened the message and frowned in confusion.
Maggie: Hey. Was wondering if we were still on for tonight?
Maggie: If we are, you might want to bring an overnight bag. I'm apparently going to have some time off.
Maggie: Also, if you see a couple of guys sitting in a car across the street, they're harmless, as long as you feed them donuts.
Kara started at her phone for a minute, trying to decide what she wanted to do. The message in Maggie's texts were obvious. The police were watching her because of her connection to Supergirl. Maggie still wanted her to come over, but dressed as Kara, and Maggie was inviting her to spend the night. That last part was a bit ambiguous, because things were different now, but Kara suspected it was an offer of comfort, and company, just like it had been two nights ago.
Kara should say no. She knew she should, and she kept telling herself that the whole time she was packing her overnight bag.
Maggie looked through the peephole and let out a sigh of relief at the sight of Kara standing in the hallway. She opened the door, and stepped back, letting her in.
"You going to shoot me?" Kara asked, with a small nod at the gun in Maggie's hand.
"No, but I might shoot those idiots in the car out there," Maggie said as slipped her pistol back into her paddle holster. Once the gun was holstered, Kara pulled her into a tight hug, and Maggie hugged back as hard as she could, relaxing for the first time since Kara had walked out of Observation room three earlier that day. She really wanted to kiss Kara, but she wasn't sure if that would be welcome or not, so she pulled away from the hug.
"Give me your phone."
Kara pulled it out and handed it over. Maggie went over to the kitchen and put her phone and Kara's inside a stainless-steel saucepan, then put the matching stainless-steel lid on it.
"We're safe to talk," Maggie said.
"You're sure?" Kara asked.
"Yeah. I swept for bugs as soon as I got home, and the windows have a scatter coating on them to stop laser mics."
She didn't bring up that most of the gear she used to keep her apartment clean was stuff Alex had taught her about. Alex had been absolutely paranoid about any sort of surveillance after Maxwell Lord had figured out Kara's identity by bugging her.
"You said in your text you were going to have some time off."
"Paid administrative leave," Maggie said.
"Why?" Kara asked.
"Internal affairs got a tip that I might know your secret identity. I told them they were idiots, but they tried to push the matter. They wanted to arrest me for obstruction, but my lawyer and my union rep both reamed the detectives a new asshole, which was fun to watch. In the end, IA stuck me on paid leave 'until they could be sure I'm not involved with a known terrorist'."
"Maggie, I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," Maggie said. "If I hadn't freaked out the day before yesterday, this wouldn't have happened."
"You can't blame yourself for that," Kara said.
"I think we both know I can," Maggie said. "It's done, it can't be fixed until we clear your name. So, let's start with 'Are you okay?'"
Kara walked over and dropped down onto the couch, then pulled a pillow into her lap and hugged it tightly. It was something Maggie had seen her do a few times before. It was Kara's go to way to comfort herself when she was feeling overwhelmed. Maggie sat down next to her and wrapped an arm around her. Kara leaned over and rested her head on Maggie's shoulder.
"It was terrible," Kara said. "The whole thing was a trap. Eve lured me to DC, and she made sure everyone saw me there, then she lured me into a blind spot and trapped me just long enough for the fake Supergirl to attack the White House and kill those people. Once it was over, all I could do was grab James, and come home. I tried to get ahold of J'onn, but he's not answering his phone, I don't want to get Brainy and Nia mixed up in this, because they can't defend themselves the way I can, and I'm afraid to reach out to Alex…"
"Because Alex might think you did it," Maggie said.
"Yeah," Kara said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to dump all of this on you."
"Hey," Maggie said. "We're family, Kara. You and me. We're family."
Kara lifted her head off Maggie's shoulder, and turned to look at her. Maggie saw the need in her eyes. She knew she shouldn't. She knew things were complicated and confusing, and that if they kept doing it, it was just going to make it hurt that much more when they finally admitted that it could never happen. But she still leaned in and kissed Kara, and it still felt right, and perfect, and like coming home.
The kiss stretched out, and Maggie shifted, reaching up to pull Kara closer. Kara turned and climbed into her lap, straddling her and threading fingers into her hair. Maggie started to wonder if never was going to come a lot sooner than she'd thought when she felt Kara go stiff, for a moment. She opened her eyes as Kara pulled away.
"What is it?" Maggie asked.
"It's the signal watch I gave Alex," Kara said. "She's calling me."
"Kara, you can't," Maggie said. "She doesn't know that you and Supergirl are the same person."
"I have too, Maggie," Kara said. "She's still my sister. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't go."
"Then take me with you," Maggie said.
"I can't. If I take you, and she really is going to arrest me, they'll arrest you too."
"I don't care," Maggie said.
"I do," Kara said. "I need to protect you."
"Kara, don't protect me from this," Maggie said. "Don't do to me what Alex did to you."
Kara stared at her for a moment, and Maggie could see the wheels turning, and she could see the moment Kara decided. "Okay," she said. "El Mayarah."
Maggie nodded. "Stronger together."
"So, how do we ditch the cops out front?"
Getting past the cops staking out Maggie's apartment turned out to be relatively easy. Maggie's building had basement access to the old utility tunnels that ran under most of National City. Once they were a few blocks away from Maggie's building, they left the tunnels, and Kara pulled Maggie against her, and shot into the air fast enough that no one would have seen them, even if they'd been looking.
Kara stopped once she was high enough that anyone on the ground would have trouble spotting them, but low enough that Maggie wouldn't have any trouble breathing. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to focus on the sound of the signal coming from the watch, but the press of Maggie's body against hers made it hard to focus.
"Where's the signal coming from?" Maggie asked.
Kara squeezed her eyes shot and recited a Torquasm Vo calming mantra to herself. The simple prayer helping her focus, until she could pinpoint the signal.
"It's coming from Lena's apartment," Kara said.
"I don't like it," Maggie said.
"It's better than the DEO," Kara said.
"Is it?" Maggie asked. "You said yourself, Lena can make Kryptonite, and she doesn't like you very much. She might have her whole house fortified with anti-Kryptonian defenses."
Kara hated hearing it, because it made Lena sound a bit too much like Lex, but she had to admit, Maggie had a point. Up until that afternoon, Lena's relationship with Supergirl tense, at best. If Lena had fortified her apartment against Supergirl, and she believed Supergirl was responsible for the attack, then, it was entirely possible that she would lend it to the DEO as a trap for Supergirl. Not that it really mattered.
"You may be right, but I still have to go," Kara said.
"I know," Maggie said. "And I'm still going with you."
"Thank you." Kara pressed a kiss to Maggie's temple, then shot towards Lena's apartment. She did a scan on approach, making sure there were no lead lined rooms or X-Ray scatter fields. She was careful to slow down before coming in for a landing so Maggie didn't get hurt, and kept her body between Maggie and the balcony door. She looked into the apartment. Lena and Alex staring out at her, and Kara whispered a quiet prayer to Rao that this wouldn't be a disaster.
"I'm here," Maggie whispered.
Kara nodded and let go of Maggie, then headed into the apartment. Once she was inside, she turned towards Alex and Lena, and felt sick. They stood there, looking at her with worry and fear written on their faces. These were people who were supposed to love her, to be her family. People who accepted and loved Kara Danvers, who had never been anything more than a mask, but who looked at Supergirl with anger, suspicion and distrust. People who considered her an enemy, or at the very least, a potential one.
"Did you call me here to arrest me?" she asked. She'd meant to say it in a firm tone. She'd meant it to be a challenge. Instead, it came out in a tremor, sounding hurt and lost and broken, because she couldn't keep fear out of her voice at the thought that Alex might be the one to finally lock her away in a cage.
"We know you didn't do this," Lena said.
"That you would never do something like this," Alex said.
"We're on your side, Supergirl. We're going to find out the truth, Together," Lena said.
Kara felt the tears of relief welling up in her eyes, because Alex believed in her. Her sister still believed in her. She felt a hand rest on her shoulder, and looked over at Maggie, who gave her an encouraging smile. Kara reached up and covered Maggie's hand with her own.
"You okay?" Maggie asked. Kara nodded, and they both turned back to Alex and Lena.
"Where do we start?" Maggie asked.
"Hey, Maggie," Alex said.
Maggie glanced up from the remnants of her Pad Thai and sighed as she saw the look on Alex's face. She'd been expecting this moment since they'd sat down to talk almost two hours earlier. She was mostly just surprised it had taken this long.
"What is it, Danvers?" she asked.
"You think we could talk for a minute?" Alex asked.
Maggie turned to Kara. "Will you be okay?"
"Yeah," Kara said.
Maggie turned to Lena. "Is there a room we can use?" she asked.
"My office," Lena said. "Down the hall, first door on the left."
"Thanks," Maggie said as she stood up. She headed down the hall found the office, which turned out to be a perfect copy of Lena's office at LCorp. She took a seat, and watched as Alex closed the door, then sat down on the other end of the sofa.
"I… um… I was surprised to see you tonight," Alex said.
"I was with her when she heard the signal. I came along in case you were planning on trying to arrest her. I figured I might still have enough pull to talk some sense into you if you were planning to do something stupid."
"You really thought I would arrest her?" Alex asked.
"I thought you might try," Maggie said. "You threatened to do it in Parthas over a lot less than twelve dead people."
Alex winced and looked away. "I thought about what you said at the hospital, and you're right. I shouldn't have done that. I should have trusted her."
"Is that why you didn't arrest her tonight?"
"No," Alex said. "I know she wouldn't do this. We might not agree on some things, but she protects people. She helps them. That's always been who she is."
"There's the Alex I know," Maggie said. "I was starting to wonder if you were still in there."
Alex smiled and blushed just a bit, and Maggie felt a little of the old flutter, but it was different than it had been. Warmth and affection, but not the rush of passion and desire it once would have been. It was a good feeling. Better than what she'd felt the last couple of time they'd seen each other. Maybe, just maybe, when this was over and Alex had her memories back, Maggie could manage to keep Kara in her life, and to reconnect to the friends and family that had been torn away when she had lost Alex.
Alex took a deep breath and Maggie frowned, because that was Alex's 'working up the nerve' face, and she knew they'd come to the heart of the reason Alex had wanted to talk to her alone.
"So," Alex said, "you and Supergirl, huh?"
"Alex, don't," Maggie said, a note of warning in her tone.
"No!" Alex said, holding out a hand in a placating gesture. "I don't mean anything bad by it. I'm… surprised. I remember the night I got kidnapped, you and Kara had some big fight because you didn't like the way Supergirl had gotten involved in one of your cases, and Kara was defending her. Honestly, that part's a little vague. Thank the drugs that asshole gave me I suppose. But…"
"You're rambling," Maggie said.
"I know. I just… I'm happy you found someone," Alex said.
"I didn't," Maggie said. "Supergirl and I aren't together, and we're not going to be together."
"Oh," Alex said. "I'm sorry. I just… I… I hoped, I guess."
"You hoped I was with Supergirl?" Maggie asked, because that didn't make any sense.
"Yeah," Alex said. She looked down at the floor. "I know I hurt you. I mean, I hurt myself, and I remember how bad it was. Every day, I would wake up, and it was like someone had cut me open and ripped out my insides. It still feels like that sometimes. And I did it to myself, you know? I can't even begin to imagine how much worse it was for you. I didn't realize how much I was taking from you. I don't think I expected you to just vanish out of our lives. But you did, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I took away your family too.
"When I saw the two of you together tonight, the way you touched her to reassure her, the way she touched you when she needed comfort… And the way you looked at her. I know that look. You used to look at me that way. So, I thought, and I guess I hoped that you found someone. I hoped that you didn't have to hurt anymore. That what I did wouldn't hurt you anymore."
"God, Danvers, there's a lot to unpack there, and I don't really have the time, but I will say this. My happiness and my pain aren't on you."
"But I hurt you…"
"Yeah, you did. You hurt me really bad. And me finding another girlfriend doesn't change that. Doesn't make it go away. What happened, happened. But I made choices that led us there too. You hurt me, but I hurt you too. I didn't listen, I didn't compromise, I didn't take your needs into account. You bent over backwards to make me happy, and I just expected you to. And then I found the one thing you wouldn't bend on.
"I was mad for a long time, but I'm not anymore. Alex, I still love you, I will always love you, but sometimes, the person you love isn't the right person for you, and seeing you at that party made me realize that you were never the right person for me. I just wanted you to be so much that I ignored what I already knew. Because I was scared and because I didn't want to be alone and because you were so amazing and because I loved you so much.
Maggie turned and looked away from Alex. "You know what the funny part is? Sometimes you do find the right person, and it's like some cosmic joke, because it can just never happen."
"Why? I don't understand," Alex said.
"Yeah. I know," Maggie said.
"She feels the same way," Alex said.
Maggie stood up and started towards the door. "I'm not talking about this."
"Maggie, if the two of you love each other…,"
"Don't say it," Maggie said.
"Why not?" Alex asked. "If you love Supergirl, and she loves you, the two of you should be together."
Maggie looked back at Alex and shook her head before leaving.
"So," Lena said.
Kara looked over at Lena. "Yes?"
"You and Detective Sawyer seem to be close these days."
"She's been a good friend the last few months," Kara said. "You might have noticed I've had a bit of a rough time since President Marsdin got outed. I mean, let's see. I've been poisoned. It sucked. Confined to a life support suit, which, thank you again for saving my life with that. Got betrayed by someone I trusted, but what's one more time, right? Got fired by the DEO, which actually sucked more than getting poisoned. Fought a god on a parallel Earth, which is way less fun than it sounds. Also, that whole body swap thing is *way* more annoying when it's happening to your friends and not Linsey Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Had a government official try to Blackmail me, which, also not fun. I was at a funeral that got firebombed and Alex threatened to arrest me, so that was a day. Got to watch a fourteen-year-old kid behead an alien right in front of me, which, you know, best Valentine's day ever. Found out the President was going to launch a satellite that would destroy any ship coming to Earth. Watched an anti-alien terrorist be named Director of Alien Affairs. Had to stop a riot at what was supposed to be a peaceful protest for alien rights. One of my best friends was shot in the back by Lex, who has escaped from prison and somehow managed to frame me for a dozen murders and an act of terrorism."
"That's a lot," Lena said.
"Yeah," Kara said. "Maggie was there for me through a lot of it. It's nice, having someone just accepts me as me. Someone who doesn't want me to be human."
"I would think there are a lot of people who are glad you're not human," Lena said.
"There are a lot of people who are glad I have powers," Kara said. "Most people… They don't understand that I'm not like you. However much I have to pretend, however much I have to twist myself to fit in to your world, I'm not human. I never will be. I don't want to be. And when I'm with her, I don't have to be."
"How long have the two of you been dating?"
"We're not," Kara said.
"Really?" Lena said, and Kara could hear the disbelief in her voice.
"Really," Kara said.
"So, you're going to tell me that isn't her lipstick on your neck?" Lena asked.
"Nice try, but Maggie doesn't wear lipstick unless she's under cover. Just cherry flavored chapstick."
"So you admit know what her chapstick tastes like?"
"I've seen her use it. She has a bad habit of gnawing on her lips when she's thinking about a case. I noticed it when Alex and Maggie first started dating and mentioned it to Alex. Alex gave her a tube of chapstick one day. She's been using it ever since."
"Still, it's clear-"
"We're not there yet, Ms. Luthor," Kara said, her tone cold. The use of Lena's family name had the desired effect. Kara saw the walls go up on Lena's face. The flash of anger, then the cold, haughty expression. Kara had known Lena long enough to know the right button to push to get her to back off, and she also knew damage control was necessary.
"I hope our relationship is on better terms than it was this morning. I would like to call you my friend, because I believe you're a good person. I believe you're nothing like your family. But all you need to know about my relationship with Maggie is that right now I trust her completely and without reservation. The rest is personal, and I don't want to talk about it."
"You mean you don't want to talk about it with me," Lena said.
"With anyone," Kara said, and given the look on Lena's face, it must have come out more harshly than she intended.
"I see," Lena said.
"Lena, it's not about you. Think about how you would feel if I started asking why you broke up with James."
"You know about that?" Lena asked.
"James is my friend," Kara said. She turned as she head the office door open, and saw Maggie walk back into the living room with Alex right behind her. She frowned slightly at the look on Maggie's face. It almost looked like she was glaring at Lena for some reason.
"Are we done?" Maggie asked.
"Yes," Kara said, standing up. "Thanks for dinner, Lena. Director Danvers-"
"Alex. Please, call me Alex."
Kara smiled, feeling a little lighter. "Good night, Alex."
"Good night," Alex said.
Kara followed Maggie out onto the balcony, and wrapped her arm around her, holding her close as she lifted off.