Kara and Lena find out what went down! Sam is a wreck, Alex is a mess and Ruby is pissed their trio seems to be falling apart. Lena gets down to the real reason Sam kissed Alex and Kara tries to help her sister figure out what it all means. What will Maggie do once she realizes the effect her absence has had?
"Hey, Lena! What's up?" Kara chirped as she bounced into Cat's old office.
"So you haven't heard? Alex didn't tell you?" Lena questioned, eyes wide with worry as she quickly closed the glass doors behind Kara.
"Tell me what? I just saw Alex..." Kara trailed off confused.
"Something happened between Alex and Sam," Lena began cryptically.
"Lena, what is going on? What happened?"
"Sam kissed Alex!" Lena blurted out before clapping her hands over her mouth in shock!
"What? When?!"
"Today in her lab! And Maggie saw it and Alex doesn't want to spend time with Sam and Ruby anymore." Lena rambled as she flopped ungracefully onto the couch. "What a mess!"
"Yeah..." Kara sighed in shock. "That's, that's uh...whoa..."
"Whoa, indeed." Lena parroted as Kara plopped onto the couch beside her. "What in the world was Sam thinking?"
"What did she say when she told you?" Kara asked quietly.
"She just kept saying how she 'messed up' and how she couldn't lose Alex." Lena sighed.
"I'm sure Alex doesn't want to lose her or Ruby either. They've been really good for her during the time Maggie's been gone. I'm actually surprised...it didn't happen sooner."
"What?! Kara how could you say that?" Lena gaped at the blonde in disbelief.
"Think about it Lena. Ever since Maggie went to Metropolis Alex has been lost. Hanging out with Sam and Ruby gave her that old spark back. I've never seen her so happy to get up on a Saturday morning as she is when Ruby has a game."
"Still, Kara, Alex and Maggie are engaged!"
"Not really, Maggie left her ring behind." Kara admitted. From the look on Lena's face she could tell she hadn't known. "A lot has changed in the past few months...I love Maggie like my own sister but sometimes I feel like Alex is always the one left wanting. When she's with Sam and Ruby, she seems whole, content."
As much as Lena hated to admit it, she had noticed how well the agent and her friend seemed to get along. And Ruby...well she thought Alex hung the moon and stars! Without anyone noticing, Alex, Sam, and Ruby had become a trio. Hell, if Lena didn't know Sam and Alex, she would have no trouble believing they were a couple. It seemed the only thing keeping them from truly becoming a family was Alex's unsteady relationship with Maggie.
"I suppose it doesn't matter what we think..." Lena stood and headed to the bar to pour herself a drink.
"Lena, I need to..." Kara glanced anxiously at the window.
"Go! Go!" Lena shooed her as she gulped down the burning Scotch. "I'll go check on Sam." Kara was gone off the balcony before Lena finished speaking.
Alex's apartment was dark as Kara landed on the balcony. She could hear her sister inside, breathes unsteady with hushed sobs.
"Lexie?" Kara called out as she stepped through the glass door.
"Go away, Kara." Alex whispered knowing her sister could hear her.
"You know I'm not gonna leave you like this." Kara responded, pulling the blinds open and moving towards Alex who was curled on the couch in misery. "Where's Maggie?"
"I don't know...she said she needed some time to think so..." Alex mumbled with a shrug as she sat up. Kara could see the drying tears on her sister's face and it broke her heart.
"So, uh, you and Sam, huh?" Kara asked quietly as she took one of Alex's hands in her own and began running her thumb gently over her sister's knuckles. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Tell you what, exactly?" Alex sighed in defeat. "Everything happened so fast and then Sam is kissing me and insisting Maggie's a bad partner and I blew up at Sam but she wouldn't back down..."
"Probably because she's felt this way for awhile." Kara reasoned as she raised her arm for Alex to slide under. "Do you think you might like her...like that?"
" I just...it's complicated." Alex nestled deeper into her sister's embrace, relishing the security. "I haven't felt this confused since I came out."
"Oh, sweetie." Kara pressed a kiss to her sister's forehead, pulling her impossibly closer. "We're gonna figure it out, I promise."
"I do, though..."Alex whispered.
"Do what, Lexie?"
"Like Sam." Alex shuddered. "Like that. But I still love Maggie. After all we've been through, I owe it to her to keep trying...don't I?"
"You don't owe anyone, anything." Kara asserted, ducking her head to catch her sister's eye. "You haven't done anything wrong but I do think you need to be honest with Maggie. And Sam. And maybe yourself?"
"I don't know how." Alex whined, tucking her head under Kara's chin. "I mean I love spending time with Ruby, she's such an amazing kid. And Sam...We just click, you know? At first I just saw her at Game Night but then it was Ruby's games and then suddenly we had plans every other night. It felt good to laugh and just hang out...to not miss Maggie. Oh, god, I'm a horrible person!"
"No, you're not!" Kara practically yelled, causing Alex to jump a little at the volume. "You are Alex 'Badass' Danvers. If anyone is brave enough to face this, it's you. And if either Sam or Maggie can't respect your decision, then I'll throw them into space."
"Kara!"
"What?" The Kryptonian batted her eyes. "It would not be hard."
Alex gave a wet laugh at that, giving her sister a small but genuine smile. "I love you."
"You too, Lexie. To the moon and back!"
Lena exited her private elevator at L-Corp and straightening her jacket, she marched towards Sam's office with purpose. She had no idea what had gotten into her friend but she fully intended to find out. Jess waved her in with a worried look and Lena hastened to the door. What she found on the other side shattered her resolve.
Sam was slouched over at her desk, staring at her phone and crying softly. She didn't look up when Lena entered or even when the brunette placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. From her vantage point behind Sam, Lena could see the series of texts the woman had sent to Alex, all going unanswered, most even marked unread.
"Sam?"
"I know I messed up." Sam admitted turning puffy eyes on Lena. "I just...with my blackouts...something could be really wrong...I didn't want to wait any longer. I didn't want to miss out on her. On having something real again. It's been so long since I've felt this way about anyone."
Lena nodded sympathetically, perching on the edge of Sam's desk. "Maybe you should have led with that?" She suggested with a small smile causing Sam to laugh wetly.
"Yeah, maybe." She agreed before frowning back at her phone. "But she won't let me explain and she won't let me apologize. And Ruby's devastated that Alex won't be there this Saturday to see her starting in her new position, a position Alex coached her to play."
"Give her time, Sam."
"Time is the one thing I'm not sure I have Lena." Sam responded sadly. "Alex is amazing and she's so good with Ruby and it's like she just...she just fits. No one else has ever felt like the right fit. If something happened to me, I would want someone like her watching over Ruby."
"Sam, you're not going anywhere!" Lena asserted, pulling her friend in for a smothering hug. "And we'll fix things with Alex. Don't give up on her. Don't give up on yourself."
"What if this isn't what she wants? Or what if she does choose me and I get worse? I can't do that to her, Lena. I won't. Alex has dealt with enough in her life, I won't be another burden." Sam stated, jaw tight with resolve. "Promise me you won't let that happen."
"Samantha Arias, you are not now nor will you ever be a burden." Lena asserted eyes bright with unshed tears. "But I promise, that no matter what happens, I'll be there for you and I know Alex will too."
"I hope you're right." Sam whispered, laying her head on Lena's shoulder.
"Me too."
Maggie finally came home later that night but Alex couldn't bring herself to tell the other woman how she truly felt, couldn't bring herself to hurt Maggie like that. The tiny detective had returned proclaiming her love for Alex and offering forgiveness, something the agent latched onto like a drowning woman would a life vest.
They spent the next few days making up; lying in bed watching movies and tiptoeing around the elephant in the room. Sam continued to call and text Alex but the agent wasn't ready to face the other woman, not yet. Ruby had texted as well, but only once, to tell Alex she was mad at her, something to be expected from a thirteen year old. Saturday morning rolled around and Alex was up, ready to head to the field when she remembered... she wasn't going to the game.
She couldn't.
Alex definitely wasn't ready to see Sam and she couldn't imagine asking Maggie to tag along after the mess Sam had caused just a few days ago. She stared down at her "National City Sparklers" tee shirt and sighed; at least she could support Ruby in spirit.
Maggie emerged from the bathroom to find Alex staring out the window, her cup of coffee virtually untouched. She took a moment to look the other woman over and squinted at Alex's choice of outfit. The redhead was wearing a grey t-shirt with a team Maggie couldn't place, cargo shorts cuffed high on her thighs and white converse. It was a far cry from her usual denim and boots.
"Hey babe," She spoke softly as she wrapped her arms gently around the other woman's waist from behind.
"Hey you." Alex responded, leaning back into Maggie's embrace.
"You're up early." Maggie observed and she felt Alex tense in her grip before she turned around to face her.
"Yeah. I, uh, usually have somewhere to be on Saturday mornings..." Alex explained shyly. "But you're here, so whatever you want to do today is fine."
"You sure?" Maggie asked with a raised eyebrow. "You're dressed for a day in the park."
"It's fine." Alex insisted. "But if you want to do some stuff outdoors, I'm in."
"Okay. It's been awhile since we enjoyed the California sun!" Maggie exclaimed suddenly excited about the day outdoors with her girl.
"Breakfast at Noonan's and maybe head over to the beach?"
"Perfect!" Maggie pecked Alex on the lips before darting towards the closet. "I'll be ready in ten."
The pair sat at one of Noonan's outdoor tables, enjoying their French toast in the warm sun. Conversation flowed naturally between them and Alex almost forgot the troubles of the past few days, that was until an all too familiar voice rang out.
"Alex?" the voice called before confirming, "Alex, that is you!"
A blonde woman in her early forties, clad in a short set far too young for her, scurried over to their table, drink carrier overflowing with lattes. She popped her sunglasses to the top of her head and squinted down at the pair.
"I thought that was you!" She exclaimed. "Guess I'm not the only one who couldn't stand the coffee and waffle sticks the concession stand sells."
"Yeah, those are awful." Alex agreed before realizing she was being rude. "Oh god! I'm terrible. Pam this is Maggie, my...partner. Mags this is Pam Richards, her daughter Hailey plays on Ruby's soccer team."
"So nice to meet you!" Pam gushed as she shook Maggie's hand. "Are you FBI as well?" She added with a stage whisper causing Alex to stare at her confused.
"Oh, no! Maggie's not my...she doesn't...Maggie is a Detective with the NCPD. When I said partner I meant, um, 'romantic'."
The shock on Pam's face was unmistakable and she narrowed her eyes at Alex. "I see, silly me. I just assumed that you and Sam were...?"
"Sam and I are just friends." Alex asserted. "Maggie and I have been together for awhile now, she's just been away for work."
"You must be over the moon that she's back then." Pam observed, still seeming unsure. "Well, welcome to the team, Maggie. I guess I'll see you both at the game in a bit."
Maggie glanced back and forth between Alex and Pam, trying to still her anger before she responded. "Thanks but we won't be headed to the game. Other plans."
"That's too bad." Pam tsked. "I'm sure Ruby must be absolutely crushed you can't make it."
Alex fidgeted in her chair uncomfortably and Maggie could tell that the last thing in the world the agent wanted was for the youngest Arias to be upset with her. She returned her attention to Pam and forced a smile.
"Maybe if we have time we'll stop by. Good to meet you Pam."
"You too, dear!" Pam gushed, still eyeing Maggie subtly. "Alex, hopefully you'll be back on the bleachers with us next week!" With a round of air kisses, Pam had hopped into her luxury SUV and peeled off in the direction of the field.
The two women sat in tense silence, Maggie's jaw working as she tried to figure out where to even start. "Your partner?" She finally managed to growl.
"What was I supposed to say?" Alex huffed, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "This is my 'sort of fiancée' who left her ring with me when she took of to Metropolis to pursue her dream job? Or this is Maggie, my girlfriend whom has only seen me four times in six months?"
"Babe! You know I was working." Maggie argued.
"Yeah, I do. Doesn't make it any easier to be the one left behind."
"Wow." Maggie raised both her palms in surrender. "You wanna go to the game, be my guest."
"You know this isn't about the game." Alex sighed in resignation. "What are we doing Maggie?"
"I can't do this right now, not here." Maggie stood and threw a few bills on the table.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk." Maggie huffed out. "Enjoy the game."
Ruby had been understandably upset when she'd heard that Alex wasn't coming to her first game as starting forward. The teen wasn't sure what had happened between the agent and her mom but her mother was noticeably sadder the past few days and Alex hadn't answered either of their calls. As much as Ruby wanted to know what the heck was going on, she had job to do and the first thing Alex had taught her was to support her team, no matter what. Which was how she ended up playing one of the best games of her young life and when she scored the winning goal with a dazzling instep kick Alex had taught her, there was one voice she heard cheering above the rest!
"ALEX!" The girl barreled across the field and threw herself into the woman's arms!
The agent hugged her back fiercely, unable to hold back how proud she was of the girl. These were the moments Alex had always dreamed of; watching her child play a sport they loved, consoling them through losses and celebrating over wins.
The ache of what happened with Maggie earlier almost dulled the emotion of the moment and a quick glance at Sam told her they would all be talking later but none of that mattered. Because this kid, hers or not, had stolen her heart and she would be damned if she let anything ruin this moment. Dimly she thought she heard a motorcycle engine in the distance but it was lost in the roar of Ruby and her teammates.
Across the lot, Maggie parked her bike and peered over to the field. She could make out a familiar redhead spinning one of the players around in jubilation. Alex looked so happy, so carefree like she was...home. The realization slammed into Maggie like a gut punch from the 'Girl of Steel' herself and the detective fought the rising wave of nausea. She pulled out her phone and sent a quick text before she took off from the lot.
Alex pulled her phone from her pocket as it buzzed. She stared at the text from Maggie blankly. Short and cryptic it read: We need to talk.