The 'super-friends' celebrate their victory over Reign, elated to have Sam back in their fold. Is all as well as it seems? Alex isn't convinced but won't let that stop her from showing Sam how much she loves her.

Sam slowly fought her way back to consciousness, having slipped in and out for the better part of a day.

It seemed wrestling with one's inner-Kryptonian demons was exhausting and terrifying all in the same. But it was over; Sam had won...or so they all were desperately hoping. She finally managed to pry her eyes open, smiling at the sight that met her. Ruby was curled up beside her in the tiny med-bed, snoring softly, her breath tickling her mother's neck. Sam closed her eyes again briefly, reveling in the warmth, remembering their tearful reunion hours before.

Ruby had thrown herself into her mother's arms with reckless abandon, unwilling to believe until she could feel Sam's strong arms wrapped around her. The pair had cried together until Sam passed out for the first of many times but each time she woke, her daughter was nearby. Ruby, however, wasn't the only person Sam had been longing to see. She rolled her head to the left and found the other half of her heart.

Alex had hung back at that initial reunion, struggling to keep her emotions in check. She had watched them from a distance before quietly slipping away, claiming the need to run tests. Sam had seen through the excuse and so had Lena. The young CEO found her friend sitting on the roof of the DEO, tears of relief streaming down her face. It had been a difficult few months for the agent and she simply needed a chance to release. After once again ruining Lena's blouse, she'd returned to her family's side to await Sam's awakening.

Currently, Alex was hunched over on a tiny lab stool; somehow fast asleep sitting up, her chin tucked against her chest. Sam wiggled her fingers to find her hand sandwiched securely between Alex's warm, calloused ones. She remembered how safe she'd felt when those hands had cradled her face back in Lena's lab after weeks of uncertainty. Sam never doubted that Alex would fight for her, that the fiery redhead would never give up trying to bring Sam back to her family.

She had doubted, however, that Alex could actually do it. That her brilliant, badass girlfriend could truly defeat an alien virus implanted in her as a child. It was impossible and yet...here she lay, whole and loved.

Alex loved her.

They'd told each other that last day in Lena's lab, the last time she had truly felt like herself before today. She couldn't remember having ever been with someone who fought for her like Alex did, who would literally lay down her life so she could live, so Ruby could live. Sam had no idea what she did to deserve to Alex Danvers but she knew she would spend the rest of her life trying to be worthy of her.

"Baby," she whispered, wiggling her fingers against Alex's palm. She didn't want to startle the agent out of her sleep; afraid she might topple off her precarious perch. "Babe, wake up."

Alex snorted before her head snapped up, bleary eyes roaming the room until they settled on Sam. A lazy smile lifted one corner of her mouth. "Hey. Sorry I must've drifted off..." she murmured, one hand scrubbing her face while the other continued to grip Sam's. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm okay baby but you," Sam wriggled her hand free; the other was still trapped beneath Ruby, and cupped the agent's face gently. "You look tired."

As she spoke, Alex leaned further into her, close to drifting off again.

"Can't sleep when I'm worried." Alex murmured, turning to kiss Sam's palm lightly before pulling it to her chest.

"I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault, Sammy." Alex told her sincerely, pressing a gentle kiss against her lips. "We couldn't lose you."

Sam melted into the kiss, reveled in it, having been so sure she would never taste another. "I love you so much." She whispered against Alex's soft lips.

"That's good," The agent teased her with another light peck before leaning back. "Because I love you, too and it would be really awkward if you didn't!"

"Dork!" Sam snorted, pulling Alex back to her for a much deeper, slightly inappropriate kiss.

"Ugh! In front of my salad?" a sleepy voice complained from the other side of the bed. Both women turned to find Ruby awake but peeking at them through her fingers, an expression of mock-disgust on her face. "Couldn't wait till we got home could you?"

Sam tugged her arm from beneath her daughter, only to slip it back under the girl's shirt! Ruby squealed at the relentless tickling but had no room to maneuver in the tiny bed.

"Alright! Alright! Make out in front of the whole DEO if you want!" Ruby conceded and Sam blushed momentarily as she remembered that, yes, Alex's place of work was indeed a maze of windows.

The agent had wanted to move Sam to a private room but had held off until the tall brunette was able to remain awake for more than a few minutes at a time. The monitors they used in the private rooms weren't nearly as sensitive and Alex wanted to be certain Sam was stable before moving her again. Having her moved from L-Corp had been a necessity but Alex was willing to take no more chances with her mate's health.

"You have no idea how good it is to hear you laugh." Lena appeared at the doorway, one hand clutched to her chest and tears in her eyes. "I was so worried..."

Alex stood and wrapped an arm around Lena's shoulders as she led her closer to the bed. As soon as she was near enough, Sam latched onto her wrist and pulled her down into a tight hug that was soon joined by Ruby and Alex! When the four finally pulled apart, Lena stood, hastily straightening her blouse in an attempt to regain her decorum.

"I just came to give you all the good news," She began, voice still tight with emotion. "The tests have come back and all the Kryptonian DNA, though still present, appears to be latent. She's gone, Sam. Hopefully, for good."

"That's amazing Aunt Lena!" Ruby launched from the bed and wrinkled Lena's blouse once more as she crushed the young woman in a bear hug. "Thank you, thank you!"

Lena was rigid at first, unused to the amount of affection she had been shown in the last few days. However, she couldn't help but melt into the embrace as her niece expressed heartfelt gratitude. She stiffly brought her arms around the girl and was rewarded with Ruby's arms squeezing her ever tighter.

"You're welcome, dear." She managed squeak out beyond the crushing embrace. "But I didn't do it alone."

"I know," the girl replied as she pulled back. "But you've always looked out for me and mom. And now we have Alex, and Kara, Nana and Papa J'onn..." the girl continued, naming off their extended family.

"Alright, Rubes, I think she gets it." Sam interjected from her bed, eyes watery at the list of people who have accepted them as their own.

"Glad you remember whose at the top of that list." Lena quipped, trying to bring some levity to the heavy moment. "You're free to go home as far as I'm concerned though your physician may fight you on that." She tilted her head towards Alex who was scrutinizing the test results on her tablet.

All eyes turned to the agent, anxiously awaiting her response. "Well, as your doctor, I would recommend you stay one more night for observation. But as your girlfriend," Alex paused to flash Sam a dopey grin. " I just want you home."

The agent leaned over to capture her girlfriend's lips once more in a soft kiss to punctuate her statement. The move was met with a round of kissing sounds and gagging from Ruby.

Lena simply smiled as she teased her friend. "Domesticity has made you soft, Agent."

Alex didn't bother to deny it, pleased when she was saved by her little sister barging in, still clad in her super suit, both arms weighed down with pizza boxes.

"Whose hungry?" She asked in a singsong, holding the food out with flourish.

"I am!" Ruby exclaimed, rushing to liberate one of the boxes, quickly settling on the end of her mother's bed. The pair began to dig in as Alex pulled her sister aside.

"Hey. We haven't really had a chance to talk since," she glanced towards Sam as she snuck a bite of her daughter's pizza while the girl chatted with Lena, "since everything."

"It's okay, Alex. I'm okay." Kara assured her sister with a bright smile. "Right now you need to focus on your family."

"You're my family, too."

"I know that, silly. I could never doubt that. But, Sam and Ruby need you more than I do at the moment." Kara bumped her shoulder lightly against her big sister. "I promise my 'mommy issues' will still be here in a few days!"

"They better be." Alex teased back with a growing smile. "I'm expecting full-scale emotional upheaval...and ice cream."

"Oh, Rao! I think we're both gonna need it since Eliza just took my mom to lunch." Kara explained, a crinkle rapidly forming on her brow.

"What? Why?" Alex exclaimed, pulling her sister closer. "Is that a good idea?"

Kara shrugged awkwardly, arms still occupied with half a dozen pizzas. "Nobody asked me." She huffed, eyes rolling. "Eliza simply said they had things to discuss 'mother to mother'."

Alex whistled long and low as she considered her mother's statement. "I know Alura is pretty much invulnerable on Earth but I'm still kinda worried for her. You know how mom can get..."

"Not to mention she knows way too much about Kryptonite so..." Kara trailed off for dramatic effect. "If they're not back in an hour, I'm sending in the Calvary."

"I got your back sis!" Alex agreed with a wide smile that turned into a slight frown when her sister exclaimed, "No you do not!"

"Kara..."

"Nope. You take your family home and get some real rest. J'onn told me to tell you that you're 'banned from the DEO pending a life threatening illness or situation until further notice'. That's a direct quote."

"I could use a break." Alex agreed with a shrug, missing the completely flabbergasted expression her sister was wearing. "I mean it's been a hell of a few months..."

Kara continued to stare at her sister in confusion, mouth agape, as the elder Danvers made her way back over to Sam's bedside. She quickly explained that there were a few projects she needed to hand off before they left and she would be back within the hour to take them home. Sam agreed with another slightly inappropriate kiss before Alex was slipping back out the door, pressing a quick kiss to her sister's temple as she headed towards J'onn's office.

"Are you alright darling?" Lena asked, as she approached the stunned super.

"Who was that? And what has she done with my sister?" Kara was still staring down the hall at Alex's retreating form.

"I think facing down the end of the world for the third, or is it the fourth, time can really change a person." Lena smirked as she snatched a pizza from the pile. "Come on, dear, the pizza is getting cold and your heat vision always makes it soggy!"

That snapped Kara out of her haze! "It does not!" She exclaimed, genuinely hurt by the accusation. "Lee, take that back!"

Alex had just finished gathering the files she would need to turn over to Vasquez when there was a gentle knock on the frame of her office door. She glanced up to find Maggie leaning there, looking far too comfortable in a standard DEO uniform.

"Hey you." The agent greeted her in their usual manner.

"Hey." Maggie replied, slipping in and closing the door behind her. "I just saw Sam and Ruby. She says you're breaking her out of here!"

"Yeah. All her tests came back clear so there's no reason for her to stay, I can monitor her at home. I just," Alex paused to correct herself. "We just really want her home."

Maggie smiled warmly at that, stepping closer to place a hand gently over Alex's. "I can understand that. I remember pacing the med-bay with Kara waiting for Hamilton to give you the all clear, too."

"How did you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Stay strong." Alex replied quietly. "All those times I was hurt or...missing...I've been going crazy with worry but you were always so calm."

"I'm a very good actor." Maggie replied with a sad smirk, plopping down in the chair across from Alex.

"What?"

"I had toactstrong because that's what you needed from me, what Kara needed, even Winn and J'onn." Maggie explained bashfully. "How could I not be going crazy when the woman I love, um loved, was out there somewhere hurt?"

"The woman you love?" Alex teased, enjoying the blush rising on the Latina's cheeks.

"I said loved but whatever..." Maggie huffed before meeting Alex's eyes. "I think there's a part of me that will always love you, ya know?"

"I do. I get it, Mags. You'll always be special to me too." Alex replied wistfully. "You're a big part of helping me figure myself out and then you let me go to be with Sam. I'm forever grateful for that, for you."

"Don't go getting all soft on me..." Maggie grumbled but they both knew she appreciated the sentiment. "Beside, as always, you're being too hard on yourself Danvers. You took in Ruby, kept her safe, all while still trying to cure Sam and letting Reign toss you around like a rag doll! I've seen the way Sam looks at you, the way she talks about you. That woman thinks you're anything but weak, Alex. And she's right."

Alex ducked her head to hide the blush growing on her cheeks. "And here I thought nothing cold make me blush harder than 'kiss the girls we wanna kiss'..." the agent trailed off with a teary laugh.

"Hey, I can be profound when I want to Danvers." Maggie protested with mock indignation.

"Definitely your best kept secret." Alex agreed.

"Yeah. So, listen. I know everything is under control here but I'll be in town for a few more days, thought it would be nice to catch up a bit? Maybe, if Sam is feeling up to it, we can do dinner?"

"I would like that, and I'm sure Sam would too."

A sharp knock at the door interrupted the conversation and before Alex could even call out for the person to enter, the door swung open and Lucy strode in clad in the same uniform as Maggie.

"Danvers, what the hell are you still doing here?" She asked with a stern expression. "Don't make me pull rank on your ass again."

"I'm just grabbing some files for Vasquez and then I'm gone." Alex replied with an easy smile that seemed to catch Lucy off guard.

"Oh...well, um, good."

"Thanks for everything Luce. I guess I forgot how good it feels to have backup."

"Of course." Lucy responded without hesitation. "And thanks you Sawyer for backing me up."

"Anytime, Lane." Maggie stood to head out. "You going back to the desert soon?"

"Now that the world isn't ending, no reason for me to stick around." Lucy shrugged before Alex stood as well.

"Actually, Luce, I was hoping you could stick around? Just for a few days?" Alex asked hesitantly. "I, just, I don't know why but I feel like this whole Reign thing isn't quite put to bed."

The Major was understandably confused. "Lena said Sam was all clear..."

"She is, she is. Maybe, I'm just being paranoid..."

"No, hey Alex, no." Lucy stopped her friend. "If there's one thing I've learned in all these years working with you, it's that I trust your gut more than my own. If you need me to stay, it's done. I'm sure Maggie would agree."

"She's right, Danvers." The detective chimed in. "We're here for you."

"Thanks, guys. It means a lot to me. Sam is...she's everything and I appreciate you helping me keep her and Rubes safe."

Maggie thought it would hurt to hear Alex refer to someone else so reverently but all she felt was happiness that her former love had finally found what she was looking for. It validated her decision to leave almost a year before and left her with no regrets.

Lucy's voice cut through the detective's musings. "You don't have to thank us, it's what family does for one another. Though I still haven't officially met your girls. I passed by the med-bay but didn't want to ambush Sam while she's still recovering."

"I was just telling Maggie that we'd love to get together for dinner, that offer extends to you too Luce. You're my best friend, I want you and Sam to get to know each other."

"I wouldn't miss it." Lucy replied pulling Alex into a tight hug. "Now get out of here and take care of your family."

"Yes, ma'am." Alex gave a mock salute before hugging Maggie and heading out, feeling relieved and worried all the same.

Sam awoke for what seemed like the tenth time that day only to find herself nestled comfortably in her own bed. She frowned slightly when she realized she was alone in said bed. It took considerable effort for her to piece together what had occurred since she'd originally woken up cold and naked on the floor of Lena's lab. There had been the med-bay after, her tearful reunions with her daughter and Alex, finally coming back to their home, just the three of them.

It had warmed her heart to find their home exactly as she'd left it nearly two months prior, not a hand towel out of place, almost as if she had never left. But she had.Unwillingly, yet still...Sam wasn't quite sure how to fit back into the lives of the two people she loved more than anything else. Being home felt right, while also so very wrong.

They'd arrived at the house and immediately snuggled on the couch, Ruby between them, watching movie after movie until the girl finally passed out and Alex had sent her to bed. At first the teen had protested sleeping in her own bed but she knew her mother's deserved some time alone. Add to that the fact that both women were still recovering and the teen knew sleeping on her own was the best course of action. Not long after getting Ruby settled, Alex had helped Sam stagger up to their room, deposited her in bed with an order to rest and headed out to putter about the house finishing their nightly routine.

As she listened to the water being run in the other room, Sam couldn't help but daydream about how heavenly it would be to sink into the soothing bubbles with Alex curled lovingly against her. The woman in question exited the bathroom a moment later, intent on gathering all the things the pair would need to truly enjoy their quiet moment together. She had shucked her tactical uniform while in the other room, now bumbling about in merely a sports bra and boxers. It seemed she had yet to notice Sam was awake and as such opted to stumble around in the dark rather than disturb her beloved by turning on a light.

Sam decided to throw the other woman a bone before Alex hurt herself. "It's okay babe, I'm up."

Alex stiffened for a moment before trudging over and settling on her side of the bed. "Sorry. I was trying not to wake you until I was done."

"You didn't. I was just laying here thinking how amazing it feels to be home with you, to be the only person in my head. God, I can't remember the last time we shared a bath..."

Her girlfriend didn't comment, desperate to move away from the melancholy moment. She reached to the side table and easily flicked on the light, bathing the room in a soft glow. When she turned back to face her mate, Sam let out a gasp as her torso came into view.

"It wasn't a dream..." Sam murmured, one hand to her mouth, the other gently tracing the agent's bruised ribs up to the faded boot print in the center of Alex's chest.

Alex glanced down and instantly regretted turning on the light. Her bruises had improved significantly but not so much as to hide the shape of them. Alex gently pulled Sam's hand away, as touching the violent markings seemed to hurt Sam as much as they hurt her.

"I did that to you?" Sam asked in a voice far too small.

"No." Alex asserted pulling Sam close to her. "That wasn't you. I know you could never hurt me. She's not you, Sam."

The agent willed her girlfriend to hear her, to take comfort in her words but the other woman's attention was drawn to another scar she knew to be her handy work. Trembling fingers traced the jagged scar on Alex's shin where bone had been brutally forced through skin. Sam remembered the incident well and had written it off at the time as a terrifying nightmare, her subconscious trying to make sense of the tragedy.

Now she knew the truth.

How many times, how many different ways had she hurt Alex and yet the other woman remained?

"You shouldn't love me." She whispered but the agent heard her all the same.

"Nothing could ever keep me from loving you." Alex retorted before she pushed Sam back to meet her eyes. "Um, I know you know this but I had, I guess have, a problem with alcohol..."

The pair had spoken about their pasts in length but Alex had glossed over the darker parts of her addiction story, too ashamed to share that with anyone, even the women she loved. Maggie, too, had only gotten a small portion of the story even though they'd been together for nearly two years. And, Kara? Well, the agent wasn't ready to see disappointment in her little sister's eyes. Alex paused to gauge Sam's reaction before she surged onward, unaware that tears now streamed down her cheeks.

"I know it's not the same but I have a pretty good idea of what it feels like to be influenced by something else, to not be in control of your actions and then regret it later. My drinking hurt a lot of people I really loved...almost ruined my career before it even began."

Sam gently brushed the tears from Alex's cheeks before pressing their foreheads together as the redhead finished her statement. "So, yeah it's not what you went through but I get it Sammy, more than I think you know..."

"Thank you. For sharing that with me, for all you do." Sam whispered, her hand moving back to Alex's chest, with a feather light touch. "Does it still hurt?"

"Pfft, I've had worse," Alex deflected, pressing a quick kiss to Sam's lips.

"Liar." The tall brunette smirked, knowing her love was downplaying her pain for her benefit.

"Maybe..." Alex conceded with a shrug. "Though I wouldn't say no to soaking in a warm bath with a beautiful woman. If I was still sore, that might definitely help."

"How can I say no to that?"

Alex slid off the bed and helped Sam to her feet, wanting to simply carry her love to their bath but knowing her broken body would never comply. They made it into the large, claw foot tub without incident, Sam settling gently against her mate's chest as Alex's strong arms curled around her. She kept her ear pressed against the warm skin beneath her, taking all the comfort she could from the steady rhythm only Alex could produce.

The quiet moment was interrupted when a hearty snore rattled through the chest beneath her!

Sam tilted her head back to find that, yes; Alex had indeed fallen asleep mere minutes after getting settled. It was no secret that the agent had slept little in the past few days, perhaps even weeks. Guilt settled into Sam's stomach and she resolved to remain as still as she could to allow her love a few moments rest. She knew eventually the water would cool and she'd have to cajole her sore agent out of the tub but, for now, she was content to simply watch over Alex as her mate had done for her.