Note: This Chapter contains canon dialog from the episode "Crime and Punishment"
March 16, 2019
Getting back into Maggie's apartment was a lot easier than leaving. There was no trip through the utility tunnels. They just landed near where they took off. Kara retrieved her cloths and did a super speed wardrobe change, and they walked back to Maggie's building. They even stopped at the donut shop and picked up a dozen for the two poor guys stuck on stakeout duty. Five minutes, and two very confused cops later, they headed up stairs.
There was no pretense once they were inside. Kara didn't offer to go home. Maggie didn't offer to sleep on the couch. Kara just ducked into the bathroom and changed into a pair of white flannel pajamas with pink House of El coat of arms printed on them. When she came out of the bathroom, she found Maggie in a pair of grey pajama pants and a tank top.
Maggie smiled at Kara's pajamas, and Kara smiled back when Maggie took her hand and led her to the bed. They climbed in together, and Kara felt herself tear up at how right and how perfect it felt to settle in against Maggie's side, to lay her head on Maggie's shoulder, to wrap her arm around Maggie's waist, and to feel Maggie's arm around her shoulders.
"Maggie," Kara said, looking up at Maggie.
"Yes?"
"My name is / ,kahrah,zor,el,/."
Maggie looked down at her for a moment, and Kara could see the understanding in her eyes. "Say it again."
"/ ,kahrah,zor,el,/."
"/ ,karah,zorel,/," Maggie said.
"Almost," Kara said. "You're saying it too fast. There's a slight pause between the syllables. Like, Kuh… ara…, and then a longer pause between 'zor' and 'el'. / ,kahrah,zor,el,/."
"/ ,kahrah,zor,el,/," Maggie said, and Kara couldn't stop herself from giggling.
"What?" Maggie asked. "Did I butcher it that badly."
"No," Kara said. "It was perfect."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"You have a Kandoran accent," Kara said.
"Is that bad?" Maggie asked. "Do I sound like a hick?"
"No," Kara said. "You sound wonderful. The House of El has spoken with a Kandoran accent since before the Unification. We were kind of known for it. I grew up in Argo, but I have perfect Kandoran inflection."
"Then what is so funny?"
"Kal-El has a thick Kryptonopolis accent."
"And that's bad?"
"It's terrible," Kara said. "I want to cry every time I hear him speak Kryptonain. It's like, imagine you're a member of the British royal family, but the crown prince has a thick Brooklyn accent."
"Truth, justice and the American way," Maggie said, in a think fake Brooklyn accent, and Kara started laughing. "Yooss guys wanna stop robbin that bank?"
"Oh, great Rao," Kara said as she laughed, and Maggie broke down laughing too. The shared moment of hilarity washed away the stress of the day, even if for just a moment. The laughter eventually faded into a comfortable silence, and the two of them lay there, holding each other in comfortable silence.
"/ ,kahrah,/?" Maggie asked.
"Yes?"
"Did you hear what Alex said?"
"No. I didn't listen. I didn't want to intrude."
Maggie pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Kara said. The two of them lapsed into silence again, but the implied question hung between them until Kara finally asked, "What did she say?"
"She said we should be together."
Kara closed her eyes. She felt a tightness in her chest as she wished the words were true. "She doesn't know."
"I know," Maggie said.
"We can't."
"I know."
"I want to."
"So do I."
"What are we going to do?" Kara asked.
"Lie," Maggie said. "When she gets her memories back, we let her think I had a crush on her straight sister."
"I don't want to lie anymore."
"I know, but I won't come between you and Alex. You can't lose her."
"I can't lose you, either," Kara said.
"You won't," Maggie said. "I can't lose you, either, / ,kahrah,/."
"I-"
"Don't say it," Maggie said, cutting her off. "If you really mean it, please, don't ever say it."
Kara swallowed the words she wanted to say, and silence filled the room. This time, it wasn't comfortable. It was filled with the weight of things unsaid hanging there like a thick smoke, choking the life out of them both, until Kara couldn't stand it anymore.
"Tell me something," she said.
"What do you want to know?"
"Something about you. Something no one else knows."
"You know how some kids have teddy bears?" Maggie asked.
"Yeah."
"I had a stuffed pink hippopotamus named Mullida. I slept with her until I was fourteen years old. I had her my whole life. Dad bought her the day they found out they were having a girl. When I was little, I used to have nightmares about monsters coming into my room. One night, Papá took Mullida, and he held her up, and he told me that Hippos are strongest, fiercest animals in all of Africa. So strong people used to worship them. He said I would always be safe, as long as I had Mullida with me because she would protect me."
"What happened to her?"
"Papá didn't pack her when he kicked me out," Maggie said.
"I'm sorry," Kara said.
"It was a long time ago."
"That doesn't mean it ever stops hurting."
"No it doesn't," Maggie said.
Kara shifted a bit, pressing herself more firmly against Maggie's side and fisting her hand in the fabric of Maggie's tank top.
"Goodnight, Maggie."
"Goodnight, / ,kahrah,/."
March 17, 2019
"My fellow Americans, it has been a day since Supergirl's attack on the White House. In apparent retaliation for our repeal of the Alien Amnesty Act. While she and those with whom she conspired remain at large, I have an obligation to ensure the safety of all citizens. So, at 1900 hours today, I am imposing a sundown to sunup curfew. Humans caught loitering will be cited. Aliens will be stopped by any means necessary. And to Supergirl, turn yourself in. We do not want a war with you, but we vow to use every asset in our power to see that justice is done."
"Justice," Lena said. "What a crock."
The words sounded odd coming from Lena, but Maggie could hardly fault the sentiment. There was already at least one well documented case of a Supergirl imposter, and at least three cases of Superman imposters on record, and those were just the ones Maggie could recall from memory. Supergirl had saved the world three times that Maggie knew of. She deserved the benefit of the doubt, but Baker was ready to throw her under the bus. Maggie wasn't sure if it was the man's demonstrated anti-alien bigotry, or fear, or political opportunism, but whatever it was, she would dearly love to punch him in the face.
"Someone's in trouble," Kara said. "I have to go."
Maggie looked over at her, and she wanted to ask her not to, but she swallowed the impulse. She knew it wouldn't do any good to ask, because Kara would never stay when someone was in danger, and because even asking felt selfish. Alex, on the other hand no such qualms.
"You heard the President. It isn't safe."
"If the government wants to stop me from helping people, let them try," Kara said.
"Be careful," Maggie said.
Kara nodded, and disappeared out of the balcony door of Lena's office. The moment she was gone, Alex turned to Maggie.
"Be careful?" Alex asked, anger in her voice. "That's the best you can do?"
"Yeah. It is," Maggie said.
"She's going to go out there and get herself killed."
"No, she's not," Maggie said. "She can handle herself. Something you should know since you trained her. Besides, there's nothing I could say that would stop her, and I won't insult her by trying."
"How is trying to keep her alive an insult?" Lena asked.
"Because being Supergirl isn't just some hobby for her. It's part of who she is. Neither of you have any idea of the sacrifices she's made since she put on that cape. Asking her to stop being Supergirl would disrespect everything she's lost and everything she's given up. I won't do that anymore than she would ask me to stop being a cop."
"If she gets herself killed, none of those sacrifices will matter," Lena said.
"They matter to her," Maggie said. "She watched her entire world burn and die because people stood by. She would rather die than do nothing."
Kara landed on the balcony, cutting off any further argument. Maggie felt relief flood through her that Kara had made it back safely, but she also felt worry at the pain in Kara's eyes. She held out her hand, and Kara took it as she came inside.
"What happened?" Maggie asked.
"A guy rolled his car. I was pulling him out when this idiot with a gun just started blasting away. One of the bullets hit the car's gas tank. I barely got the guy out of his car, and when I did, he said his daughter saw me attack the White House, and it crushed her."
"I'm sorry," Maggie said.
"I don't believe it," Kara said. "I mean, people actually believe I attacked the White House. They think I'm a terrorist. Years of helping people wiped away with one lie."
"No, not one lie," Alex said. "It's lots of lies, and Ben Lockwood has been telling whoppers for months."
"Alex is right," Maggie said. "It's lots of lies, but it didn't start with Lockwood. It started Lex, back when it was just your cousin. Then when you showed up, Maxwell Lord picked up the torch. After him, it was Cadmus and Morgan Edge. And it's not just lies. Sometimes the truth is just as ugly. Cat Grant's speech denouncing you when you got infected by the Red Kryptonite has been making the rounds."
"She was trying to protect people!" Kara said.
"I know," Maggie said. "She did the right thing, but that just makes it worse. People like Lockwood and Lex, they take a little bit of truth, they strip it of context and nuance, and they turn it something sick and twisted, and then they parade the lie around until everyone is terrified."
"And people are terrified," Alex said. "They are looking for answers, and right now, Baker and Lockwood are giving them easy ones, with convenient targets for their fear."
"But it's not true," Kara said. "Shouldn't the truth matter more?"
"Truth doesn't matter when Lex is involved," Lena said. "He's a master of perception. A consummate gaslighter. He can make you doubt things you know to be true."
"So, what do we do?" Maggie asked.
"Right now, I really believe that the four of us working together is our best chance of vindicating Supergirl and catching Lex."
"Okay, so how did he do it? I mean, it wasn't Bizzaro. I already checked," Alex said.
"Shape shifter? Hologram? Image Inducer?" Kara asked.
"No," Maggie said. "Heat vision burn patterns are had to fake. You'd need a high-powered laser. Could be another cyborg, like Henshaw. I've still got the scar from the hole he put in me, and that wasn't a sustained blast with two eyes."
"The thermal imaging would give it away," Lena said.
"She's right," Alex said. "Kryptonians run hotter than humans. Even a cyborg wouldn't be able to match the heat signature."
"It would help if we knew what his goal was," Maggie said.
"That's a good question, but we don't have an answer," Alex said.
"I have a lead," Lena said.
"Good," Maggie said. "Great. Next time, start with that."
"Well, there's a catch, and you're probably not going to like it," Lena said. "The lead comes from my mother. She said that Lex's escape from Stryker's Island prison wasn't his first. That he's been coming and going as he pleases for months."
"So, someone's been helping him," Kara said.
"The Warden," Lena said.
"Do we have proof?" Maggie asked.
"I have the number of the account in the Caymans where the bribes are going," Lena said. "Along with detailed bank records."
"Right," Maggie said. "So tomorrow, we go to Stryker's Island, blackmail the Warden into letting us search Lex's cell, and when we're done, we drop a dime to the FBI on him."
"That sounds like a plan," Lena said.
"I'll go to work," Alex said. "Keep an eye on things at the DEO. With any luck, I might be able to pick up the trail."
"Good idea," Lena said. "The Warden's in his office by nine most mornings. We'll meet back here at eight."
"Sound's good," Kara said.
Maggie sat on her bed, setting up the new cell phone with military grade encryption that Lena had given her. It cost more than Maggie made in a month, but she wasn't complaining. Even with a warrant and wiretap order, Internal Affairs wouldn't be able to track her or listen to her conversations on the phone. At least, not her conversations with Lena and Alex. Of course, the phone number wasn't in her name, and Internal Affairs didn't know about it, so that helped too.
"Maggie," Kara said. Maggie looked up from the phone to see Kara standing at the foot of the bed with a look she recognized a little too well. It was the look Kara had always worn right before she told Alex something she didn't think Alex was going to like. Maggie felt her stomach sink, seeing that look turned towards her, because she could think of far too many things that Kara might say that would break her heart.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want you to come with us tomorrow."
"What?" Maggie asked, not quite able to believe what she'd just heard.
"I don't want you to come to Stryker's Island."
Maggie stared at Kara for a moment, feeling a swell of anger building inside her. "What am I supposed to do then? Sit here on my ass and twiddle my thumbs."
"Yes," Kara said. "Or go see a movie, or read a book, or get a new bonsai tree, or go to the zoo. Do anything you want."
"I want a help you clear your name," Maggie said. "I want to help you find Lex and put that miserable, murdering son of a bitch back behind bars where he belongs."
"I know," Kara said. "But it's too dangerous."
"It's too dangerous?" Maggie asked, trying to push down the anger that had her ready to scream. "For me. Not for Lena, though." For some reason, it was that last part that stung. If Kara had said she wanted to go alone, it would have been one thing, but the idea of Kara to taking Lena and leaving her behind made her want to throw something.
"Yes!" Kara snapped. "You're already suspended because of me. When we go to that jail, there's a chance that people will see us. If someone sees me, it doesn't matter. I'm already public enemy number one. Lena's a pretty white human billionaire. If someone sees her, the absolute worst that will happen is she'll be sentenced to buy her lawyer a new BMW. But if someone sees you, you could lose your job. You could lose everything that matters to you, everything you've worked for. You could go to jail. You could die. For me."
The anger Maggie felt faded away as she heard the flutter of terror in Kara's voice. It wasn't gone completely, but it subsided enough that she could push it aside long enough to figure out what was going on. She reached over and patted the bed next to her. "Come sit with me," she said.
Kara walked over and climbed into bed. Maggie sat her phone on the bedside table and wrapped her arm around Kara. "Tell me what's going on," Maggie said.
"A man almost died tonight because of me. The guy with the gun… He started shooting at me while I was trying to help someone. And I was standing next to the person I was trying to help. A stray bullet hit the gas tank, and all I could think about Joe Watkins."
"Who?"
"He… He died. He was a source for the story on Spherical Industries. I was sitting in his car talking to him, when the car exploded. I… I watched the explosion tear him apart and there wasn't anything I could do to save him. And that could have happened to someone tonight because I was trying to help. And I keep thinking of all the horrible things that could happen if I take you with me tomorrow.
"I need you to be safe. I don't want to leave you behind, but I'm afraid. I'm so afraid."
"Okay," Maggie said.
"Okay?" Kara asked.
"Yeah," Maggie said. "If you need me to be safe so you can do what you need to do, then I'll be safe. And when you get done you come see me, so I know you're safe. Okay?" It wasn't what she wanted to say. She wanted to demand to go with Kara, to stay by her side, but she knew Kara was walking into a dangerous situation, and if having her there was going to distract Kara, she'd swallow her pride and accept it.
"Okay."
"Do you need to go home tonight?" Maggie asked.
"I probably should, but…"
"Stay," Maggie said. "Please, stay."
"Okay."
March 18, 2019
At the sound of the text alert, Maggie picked up her secure phone and unlocked it. A text from Alex was waiting for her. Short and to the point.
Alex: I need to see you.
There was a time when those words would have started her heart racing. Now they filled her with dread. If Alex wanted to see her in the middle of the day, something was wrong.
Maggie: When and where?
Alex: Ice cream cart. Fifteen minutes.
Maggie: On my way.
She grabbed her old phone and her motorcycle helmet and headed for the door.
It took Maggie about ten minutes to get to the park near the DEO building where she and Alex used to meet for their lunch breaks. Once there, she parked, swiped her card to feed the meter, and headed for the ice cream cart she and Alex used to go to a couple of times a week. Alex was waiting for her when she got there, and Maggie walked right up to her and pulled her into a hug. Alex hesitated for a moment before she returned it.
"We're being watched," Maggie said.
"By who?" Alex asked.
"Internal affairs," Maggie said as she let go of Alex. "They think I might lead them to Supergirl."
"Why?" Alex asked.
Maggie started walking, and Alex fell in beside her. "The morning Supergirl fought Lex, I went to work in a really good mood. The smiling so big that cartoon birds start circling your head and singing kind of mood. My friend Debbie, the one who was with me at the party, decided that meant I must have a girlfriend. I told her I was just in a good mood because I'd had breakfast with a friend. She wouldn't leave it alone, so I finally told her that I was in a good mood because Supergirl had spent the night at my place.
"She flipped me the bird and went back to her desk, because who believes that kind of shit, right? It's like claiming you banged Angelina Jolie on your vacation."
"Except you actually know Supergirl," Alex said.
"So do half the cops on the force," Maggie said. "But then Supergirl fought Lex and… Have you seen the footage?"
"No," Alex said. "I know I should watch it, but finding time is hard."
"Near the end, he shot her with some sort of Kryptonite beam, then slammed that big globe from the top of the Daily Planet building down on her. I thought she was dead. I thought I watched her die, and I had a pretty visceral reaction. I spent about twenty minutes in the bathroom puking my guts out before one of the uniforms came in and told me she was alive."
"Damn," Alex said.
"Yeah. So, now half the department thinks I'm fucking Supergirl. Which wouldn't be an issue, if the entire department didn't think she murdered eight Senators and four Secret Service agents."
"Fuck," Alex said.
"Yeah. So, you needed to see me?"
"Ben Lockwood showed up at the DEO. He was going to requisition all the alien tech from the armory, and then have us call Supergirl so he could ambush her."
"Fuck."
"Yeah. I pulled a legal block to slow it down. Told him he couldn't have a damn thing until I had a signed Presidential Order. He'll be back in a few hours with the order, and men to enforce it."
"Well, Supergirl's hardly going to fly into the DEO just because they ask nicely," Maggie said.
"That's why I called you. Haley took the signal watch."
"You let her?" she asked.
"I didn't have a choice," Alex said. "She outranks me. If I'd refused, she would have relieved me of command and have me arrested. Then she'd have the watch, and I couldn't do a damn thing about it, like warn you so you could tell Supergirl to stay away."
"Fuck," Maggie said. "I'm sorry. You're right. You're absolutely right. I just…"
"You love her," Alex said.
"Don't say that," Maggie snapped.
"Why not? It's true," Alex said.
Maggie stopped and turned towards Alex. "You, of all people, should know that wanting to be with someone doesn't mean you can be."
Alex had the decency to look like she'd just been slapped, but Maggie couldn't even feel satisfied with that. She just turned and started walking again.
"I'm sorry," Alex said.
"Forget it," Maggie said.
"Maggie, I…"
"I said forget it, Danvers," Maggie said.
Alex's phone chimed, and Maggie looked over at her.
"I've got to go," Alex said.
"Back to the DEO?" Maggie asked.
"No. I'm supposed to meet someone."
"Who?"
"James's sister, Kelly," Alex said. "She's a military psychologist. I thought she might be able to give me some advice on how to convince Haley that this is a situation where following orders isn't the right thing to do."
"Good luck with that," Maggie said.
"You'll warn Supergirl?" Alex asked.
"Of course," Maggie said.
"Thank you," Alex said before she turned and headed for her bike.
Maggie stood there on the sidewalk and watched Alex leave. Once Alex was out of sight, she looked around until she spotted the IA follow team and made sure they were watching. Then she reached into her pocket and pulled out her old phone using a loose thumb and forefinger grip. She held it just a little too loose, and when her hand stopped, the phone kept going.
Maggie watched, her mouth open in feigned shock as it sailed across the sidewalk and came down on the curb, the screen shattering on impact before the phone bounced out into traffic. A car ran over it before Maggie had time to move. She let out a string of expletives that would have made a sailor blush, and which earned her more than a few glares.
She stomped over to the curb and had to wait as three more cars ran over it before traffic slowed down enough that she could grab the pieces of the phone. Once she picked up as much of it as she could, she made a show of looking through the pieces, then throwing them into the trash in disgust before she headed back to her bike.
Maggie pulled her secure phone out as she slid into the booth at Ellie's. She pulled up Kara's contact, and started typing a text.
Maggie: Just saw your sister. She's in a mood. Someone stole the smart watch you gave her.
Kara: What? Who?
Maggie: She says the new girl took it.
Maggie: She also said that the guy she worked with a few days ago was asking about how to get ahold of you.
Kara: The creepy one with the shiny face?
Maggie: That's the one.
Kara: Gross.
Maggie: Yeah. Figured you should know in case new girl gives creepy your number.
Kara: Thanks for the heads up.
Maggie: See you tonight?
Kara: I'd like that.
Maggie: See you then.
Kara: Be safe.
Maggie: Be careful.
Maggie deleted the entire message chain, then slipped the phone back into her pocket as the waiter approached.
"You ready to order, ma'am?"
"Yeah. I'll take the Kansas City Special with lemonade."
"Yes ma'am."
"You getting drunk in the middle of the day, Sawyer?"
Maggie looked up from the glass of lemonade she'd been nursing for the past hour to see Debbie standing by the table.
"Two questions," Maggie said. "One, what the hell are you doing here, and two, how the fuck did you find me?"
"It reverse order, barbeque is your go to comfort food, this is your favorite barbeque joint in the city, and word is, you saw your ex today and had a pretty heated argument, so I figured you'd would need the comfort.
"As for the why I'm here, that little stunt you pulled with your phone ruffled some feathers, and you ditching your tail has IA spitting fire. They want you brought in for questioning again, so pretty much the entire department is looking for you."
"You come to arrest me, Debbie?"
"Fuck that shit. I came to ask you what the hell you're doing?"
"Rotting my teeth with lemonade and trying to decide if I want another slice of carrot cake."
"I meant the part where you're fucking your ex-girlfriend's little sister."
"Jesus!" Maggie said. "Keep your voice down."
"Keep my voice down? That's the best you've got?"
Maggie glared up at her. "How about 'sit the fuck down before I shoot you with your own gun'?"
Maggie watched as Debbie slid into the booth across from her. As she settled herself into her seat, she reached up and smoothed out her shirt. Maggie's hand tightened around her glass as she saw the outline of a wire pressed against Debbie's stomach. The move had to be deliberate. One of the first things they teach you about wearing a wire is to avoid anything that might profile it.
"Happy?" Debbie asked.
"No," Maggie said, a plan already forming in her head. "You just can't leave shit alone, can you? It's not bad enough you got me suspended. Now you've got to stick your nose in this too."
"I got you suspended?" Debbie asked, and Maggie was pretty sure the confusion written on her face was as genuine as the anger in Maggie's voice.
"Yeah. You got me suspended."
"How the fuck do you figure that?"
"Because if you had left me the fuck alone two days ago, I never would have made that stupid joke about Supergirl spending the night at my place."
"Yeah, because God forbid someone give a shit about Maggie fucking Sawyer."
Maggie leaned forward. "Giving a shit is fine, but you were being a nosey bitch. I told you what I was comfortable sharing about why I was in a good mood, but you just wouldn't let it go. You just pushed and pushed, just like you always do, and the more you pushed, the less I wanted to tell you about having breakfast with Kara, because I knew you'd make it into something it's not."
"So, tell me what it is, because it *looks* like you're fucking your ex fiancée's little sister, and that is not a good look on anyone."
"And there's the judgement. This is why I didn't want to tell you."
"Maggie-"
"I'm not fucking her, okay?" Maggie snapped.
"I've seen the surveillance reports, Maggie. She's spent the night at your place the last two nights."
"She's going through some really bad shit right now, okay. Family drama. Problems at work. Problems with her best friend, who also happens to be her boss. She just needs someone to be there for her. I know enough about what's going on that she can talk to me without violating anyone's trust, but I'm not in the middle of it anymore, so I can be there for her."
Debbie stared at her for a minute, and Maggie could watch the wheels turning. "Oh, fucking hell… You're in love with her."
Maggie slumped back in her chair and sighed. "So people keep telling me."
"Jesus fucking Christ."
"I'm pretty sure he had nothing to do with it."
"How the hell did it happen?"
"She's a reporter. She works at CatCo. She's on the alien beat. I ran into her while I was on the job. We talked a little bit, and it was nice, right up until I decided to be a bitch. But then that shit show out at Shelley Island happened."
"What did she have to do with that?"
"She used to date James Olsen. They're still good friends, and she knows Supergirl through Cat Grant, and her sister, who's an FBI agent, and through me. She's used Supergirl as a source a few times. She's also close to a few other aliens. I knew she'd be upset, and I was on medical leave after I caught that bullet last year, so I reached out because I didn't have anything better to do. We met for coffee and donuts, and it wasn't terrible. Actually, it was really nice, you know. Just being able to talk.
"After the first time it kept happening. She needed someone to talk to, and I liked being that person. It made me feel like I mattered. It made me feel like someone needed me. Then one night, I found her in a bar I go to sometimes, and she was already halfway to shit faced. She wouldn't let me stay unless I agreed to drink. By the end of the night, we were both plastered, and she didn't want to go home, so I took her to my place."
"I thought you said you weren't fucking her."
"I'm not," Maggie said. "I just held her while she slept. And after the first time, it just kept happening."
"So you, Maggie Sawyer, woman who fucked her way through half the lesbians in Gotham in just under three months, are a straight girl's cuddle bitch? God damn, that's pathetic, even for you."
"Fuck you."
"It does make a lot more sense though."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean you never seemed like you were up for the level of dyke drama involved in revenge fucking your ex's baby sister."
Maggie just glared at her.
"That's a compliment."
"I'm not feeling it."
Debbie shrugged.
"Why are we friends again?" Maggie asked.
"Because I'm the only other gay woman in the Science Division."
"What's Bell, chopped liver?"
"Married to a man."
"Um, no. Charlie is short for Charlene."
"How did I not know that?" Debbie asked.
"Because you're a terrible lesbian, a worse detective, and a horrible friend."
"Eat me."
"That's what your wife said last night."
"Funny," Debbie said. "So, you never banged Supergirl."
"I wish," Maggie said. "The flying thing is way hotter than it has any right to be."
"Wait, you've gone flying with her?"
"Yeah. A couple of times. It's on the record in my reports."
"And you really don't know her secret identity?"
"She never told me, and I never asked."
"Do you know how to get ahold of her?"
"Tape an 'S' over one of the search lights, then point it at the sky after dark."
"Maggie…"
"It works in Gotham."
"For fuck sake…"
"Put a hot blonde billionaire media mogul in the park under a giant box propped up by a stick."
Debbie laughed. "Shit. Where the rumors after her and Cat Grant true?"
"No. Supergirl had a boyfriend."
"Any idea who he is?"
"Some alien. Claimed he was a palace guard or some shit on his home planet. He left the Earth not long after the Daxamite invasion. Messy breakup. Apparently, he has a wife."
"Damn."
"You know she's not guilty, right?"
"Maggie, I know she's your friend-"
"That's not it," Maggie said. "I asked her once why she's Supergirl. Why not just keep it to herself? And she told me. The Kryptonians have this… commandment I guess you'd call it. It's called The First Law of Rao. The English translation is 'You must make the universe whole'. It's a commandment to protect people, to ease suffering, and to help those around you. It's their most important religious precept. And Supergirl has made that the center of her life."
"The Bible says 'Thou shalt not kill'. I used to be a homicide detective. You know how many killers had a Bible in their house when I arrested them?"
"How many of them nearly killed themselves lifting an alien prison into space to keep the human race from getting their brains melted? How many of them fought the Daxamite Queen in single combat? How many of them went toe to toe with Reign? She's saved the world three times, and that's just what the public knows about."
"Yeah, and one night, she was in a bad mood and tossed Cat Grant off the fortieth floor of her building, then trashed most of downtown."
"Because she was drugged."
"That's what she said. But twelve dead bodies in DC tell a different story."
"Yeah, because there's totally not news footage of her fighting an imposter back before the Myriad wave."
"Look, I get it. She's your work buddy. You like her. She's your friend."
"She saved my life. Five times, by my count. She also kept me from losing my arm last November."
"If you keep up like this, that promotion you're up for is going to go away, and it might take your badge with it. Your girl did this. You need to get on board with that."
Maggie reached back, took out her wallet, and dropped two twenties on the table. "I don't believe it. I won't believe it unless she stands in front of me and tells me she did it, and even then, I'd have my doubts."
She stood up and looked down at Debbie. "To be clear, I'm not fucking Supergirl, she's never told me her secret identity, and when I worked with her, she wore an earpiece from the agency I was liaising with. If you want to contact her, try them. But I will not help you or anyone else hunt down someone I know to be innocent. If that costs me my badge, I'm good with that."
Before Debbie could say anything else, Maggie headed for the door.
"Authorities have identified Supergirl as the attacker in an attempt to free prisoners of Stryker's Island."
Maggie stood next to Kara as the watched the news report in Lena's office, and had to work to swallow the bitter taste in her mouth that came with it. She'd been a cop for a long time, and she'd always tried to do her job the right way, to catch the right person. She wasn't under any illusion that she'd never gotten it wrong. It was something she hated about the job. The near certainty that at some point, she'd sent someone to prison who didn't deserve it. She lived with it by telling herself she did more good than harm, that she helped more people than she hurt. That if it wasn't her, then it would be someone else, someone who might be less careful, less concerned about making sure justice was done instead of just closing cases. Standing there now, she felt sick at how eager the system she'd spent a huge portion of her life serving was so eager to lock up or kill someone she knew was innocent.
"Attempt to free prisoners. That's ridiculous!" Alex said, and Maggie smiled at the indignity in her voice. It was so like Alex, to rage against what she perceived as injustice.
"It's always a joy to see the new and creative ways people find to hate the good guys," Lena said.
Maggie looked over at Kara, and she could see the pain on her face. Could see Kara working herself up to say something she didn't want to say.
"That prisoner, Steve, he wasn't wrong. I did make things worse. How many prisoners almost died today because of me? I put you in jeopardy at the prison. Alex was in jeopardy at the DEO. Maggie's under investigation by internal affairs. It's clear I am doing more harm than good right now. So I think it's time Supergirl lay low. There are other ways to get to the truth."
Kara looked over at her, the unvoiced question written on her face. Maggie smiled and reached out, taking her hand for a moment, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I'll text you once I'm done here."
"You going home after?" Kara asked.
Maggie shook her head. "I thought I might crash with a friend tonight. Going back to my apartment feels like a bad idea."
"Okay," Kara said before she walked out onto the balcony and shot into the air.
"Is she going to be okay?" Alex asked.
"I don't know," Maggie said. "Like I said last night, being Supergirl isn't some hobby for her. It's part of who she is. It's almost a religious mandate. The First Law of Rao. 'You must make the universe whole'."
"Make the universe whole? What does that even mean?" Lena asked.
"It means you have to try to make the world a better place. Ease misery and suffering. Help whoever you can. I don't know all the ins and outs of it but helping people as Supergirl is how she honors the world, the people, the culture, and the religion that she lost. Take that away from her, and it's stripping away a part of who she is. I don't know how that's going to affect her."
"You need to make sure she holds it together," Alex said. "When we find out what Lex is doing, we're going to need her."
"I know," Maggie said. "How far do you think we can trust Haley?"
"I don't know," Alex said. "She didn't call Supergirl into an ambush, so that's a good start, but I don't think I'll be inviting her into our little club anytime soon."
"What about the weapons Lockwood took?"
"We didn't have any stores of Kryptonite, thank god, and he didn't take any of the red sunlight grenades, so only a couple of the weapons can actually hurt her. There's a grenade launcher type weapon that shoots this ball of acidic tar. It sticks and even for a Kryptonian, it's hard to get off. It can't kill her, but it can burn her pretty badly. Most of the rest of the stuff can't do much more than knock her around. There's a sonic canon that's the biggest danger. It could disable her long enough for someone to get inhibitor cuffs on her.
"Great. That's just fucking great."
"You know, this would be a lot easier if we could contact her directly," Lena said.
"It would also be a lot easier if every law enforcement agency in the country wasn't hunting her," Maggie said.
"Yes, but-"
"Lena," Alex said in a warning tone.
"I'm just trying to make things easier," Lena said.
Maggie bit down on the urge to say things would be a lot easier if Lena hadn't been fucking around with the Harun-El in the first place. "Call me if you need anything. I'll pass the message along. But if you need her, and I mean, really, life and death need her, just call her name. She'll hear you."
Kara wiped the tears from her eyes when she heard the key on the lock. She looked over to make sure it was actually Maggie and smiled when she saw the bag full of clothes slung over her shoulder and the box of donuts. The door opened and Maggie stepped inside.
"You really should change the hiding place for the spare key once in a while," Maggie said.
"You should keep the key," Kara said.
Maggie paused for a second, then looked over at her. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'll get another one cut tomorrow and find a new hiding spot for it."
"Okay," Maggie said. She sat down the donuts, took out her keys and put Kara's spare on the ring before putting them back in her pocket. Then she dropped her overnight bag on the bed and brought the donuts over to Kara on the couch.
"How are you holding up?" Maggie asked.
"I had a good cry," Kara said.
"I figured," Maggie said. "That's why I brought donuts."
"I saw that," Kara said. "And I appreciate it."
"First rule of being a successful lesbian. Always give the ladies what they want."
Kara laughed and made grabby hands at the donut box, so Maggie opened it and held it out, so Kara could take her pick. Shockingly Kara took the strawberry glazed with sprinkles. Maggie grabbed one of the chocolate glazed custard filled and took a bite.
"So, tell me about this Steve guy?" Maggie said.
"Steve Lomeli," Kara said. "He released tens of thousands of documents detailing illegal domestic surveillance. The CIA monitoring US citizens. Warrantless wiretaps. All sorts of things. He was in the cell next to Lex's."
"What did he say to you?"
"He called me a malignant narcissist, and he said I ruin everything I touch. He said I thought I was above the law."
"You know he's full of shit, right?" Maggie said.
"I don't know. I mean, you said it yourself. I never look before I leap."
"I was angry when I said that, and I was wrong," Maggie said. "You, /,kahrah,zor,el,/, help people. You save lives. You inspire hope."
"Today, I didn't inspire hope. I nearly inspired a massacre. Those soldiers came into that prison, ready to kill anything that moved, because I was there. They were willing to slaughter all of those people, just to get to me. I can't justify going back out there. Not when I know that I'll be putting people in danger, just by being around them."
"Then don't," Maggie said. "If your instincts are telling you to step back, then do it. Step back. Come at it from another angle. The world will survive without Supergirl until we can clear your name. And when we do, you will go back out there, you will help people, and you will feel Rao's light on your face again."
"Donuts and a speech about hope from Maggie Sawyer. This is not how I expected my night to go."
"Yeah, but, it's better, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Kara said. "Yeah, actually it is."