The next morning, Lena seemed at least to be more peaceful, serene and content. The discomfort and disgust still hovered around her like a mourner's shroud, but it was not nearly as volatile as the previous night. It was clear that Sam had done wonders for her and helped ease her mind at least a little, at least temporarily. Lena was able to smile that next morning as she made herself and Sam some breakfast. Although Sam was planning on going back to her home in Metropolis, she was more than happy to share one last meal with the Luthor before she left.

"Feel free to visit any time," Sam said as she and Lena ate breakfast. "My door is always open and I'm sure Ruby would be delighted to see you."

"I'll keep that as an option," Lena replied with a gentle and grateful smile. She paused to reach over and squeeze Sam's hand. She really did feel so much better now and she was infinitely relived to know that she would always have a place of refuge to run to if things back here in National City ever became overwhelming or unbearable. If National City could not be her home, then Metropolis (or at least, its L-Corp building) could.

Then it came time for the painful and teary farewells. Many hugs and kisses were exchanged, mingled with promises and words of affirmation, love, support and last-second reminders.

"Stay safe!"

"Travel swiftly!"

"Call me when you get home!"

"Visit soon!"

"I'll miss you!"

"Hopefully we'll meet up again soon!"

"Thank you!"

"Goodbye!"

"Good luck!"

Back and forth the little adages shot as the two old friends continued to embrace, neither wanting to be the first to let go. But once they finally parted, Sam whispered one final word of wisdom to Lena as she got into her car.

"I know Kara has hurt you deeply and, like I said, you do have every right to be angry at her and there is no shame if you do decide to sever ties with her forever, because you have no obligation to stay friends with someone who no longer feel comfortable around, but I implore you first to keep your eyes open. See if anything in your history with her was ever real, because I honestly think it was. Even if you don't anymore. There are a few memories I have of Kara and I am certain that at least part of her affection for you was serious and sincere. Don't let that go away just because you are angry with her. Keep those good memories in mind when you talk to her. Remember how much you mean to each other and how much you have done together already. Remember how much she genuinely loves you."

"Loves me," Lena echoed, trying her best to take Sam's words of wisdom to heart.

"Yes. Loves you," Sam replied calmly. "Like I said, I can't speak for you or her, but I firmly believe that there was at least one time when Kara genuinely liked you. I mean, I think there was more than just one moment, but my point is that I want you to hang onto that. Don't forget everything you've been through now. Keep it close. See if anything else measures up. See how much else might have been real between the two of you..." Then with that, Sam finally backed up out of the driveway and headed off. Lena watched her go long after she was out of sight.

When Lena finally returned inside, her heart and mind and eyes all felt heavy once again. With Sam gone, her anxieties had returned. She slumped over her kitchen table with a heavy sigh. Although Sam's words made her bristle, she felt grateful enough to Sam that she was willing to at least give those ideas one little shot. She would try. She would honestly try. She would try to see the good in Kara and she would try to understand where the girl, the Kryptonian, was coming from. She would try to remember all of their good memories. She would try to figure out what else was genuine in all of that. She would try to be patient and understanding. She would try to see any potential love Kara felt for her. And she would try to see it with an open, honest, willing heart...

As Lena went through the rest of her quiet and lonely day, she found all of thoughts pointing to Kara and any potential future encounter between the two of them. But occasionally, her thoughts slipped into the past. She couldn't help but feel like Sam was right. All of the memories Lena had of Kara (and Supergirl) were mostly positive. Even if they weren't necessarily happy, as far as Lena could remember, the two had always been there for each other when it mattered the most. No matter what bad blood ever got between them, they always managed to come out on top in the end. That didn't make her feel any better about this recent dark discovery, but it did give her something new to think about.

Even if Kara had been lying to her this entire time (and that fact would definitely be something Lena would never forget), it didn't seem as if Kara had been lying to her completely. Like Sam said, there seemed to eb some measure of genuine love between Kara and Lena. That much had not been falsified. If that were the case, then, what else had been true in Kara's feelings for Lena? Although Lena loathed the fact that she had to examine her own (ex) best friend like this, it did intrigue her to some degree. How much of it was real? How much was a lie? And if it turned out that Kara did genuinely love Lena, despite lying to her for all these years, what would Lena feel and think then?

What if, like Sam said, Kara's lies had been a twisted sense of love in the same way Reign's rampages had been a twisted sense of justice? That didn't make Kara's actions any more acceptable or right, but it did make them understandable. And as Lena continued to ponder these things, she suddenly remembered all the things that Kara had ever said to her...

"You are too good and too smart to follow in her footsteps! Be your own hero!"

"So... my office is overflowing with flowers!"

"I will always protect you, I promise."

"Kara Danvers believes in you."

"You are one of the strongest women I know!"

"No! I'm not gonna drop you!"

"When you're family, you can say what you need to say and the people that love you, still will love you."

"Take me. Take me instead! Please!"

"The Luthor name doesn't deserve Lena!"

"No, you are not weak! You are a brilliant, kindhearted, beautiful soul."

"We will always be on the same side."

There were so many more things and Lena remembered every last one of them. Was all of that really false? This was something she could not be sure of. She was certain that at least some of Kara's affection had been real. But the problem still remained: that affection was not strong enough to trust Lena with her secret identity. That was what hurt the most. And it hurt even more to realize how many other people were in on it, all agreeing to keep silent as well, leaving Lena as the only one in the friend group that was out of the loop. It was that loneliness and isolation. It was that status as an outsider. That was what hurt the most. Maybe Lena could forgive the secrets and the lies. Maybe she could see Kara as a girl who made mistake. But could she forgive such a complete, intricate and total betrayal? This was something she could not be sure of. And now that left her right back at square one once again.

For the rest of the day, even though Sam's words continued to ring in her head, so did Kara's and Lex's and her own. Every last word about Supergirl that anyone had ever said to Lena came to the surface of her mind. It very loud up there with so many voices each pulling her in different directions, but she could do nothing but listen to them all. Unfortunately, since every voice did end up pulling her in different directions, she was not able to make any progress through speculation alone. It was circular logic and something always put her back at square one.

Lena heaved another sigh. It seemed that the only way she would be able to make any sort of plans for the next step would be if and when she finally just went in there and confronted Kara about the secret. It frustrated and terrified her to no end, but there was literally nothing else she could do at this point except get it over with. This confrontation had to happen and it had to be the next step, even though Lena badly wished that anything else could help her hold it off just for a little while longer...

Lena could still feel Sam hugging her close, telling her that it was ok to be angry, just as long she did not forget to love. She could hear Sam reminding her about all the adventures she and Kara had survived... together. She could remember Sam's words and comfort. She could remember Ruby's innocent adoration of Lena. She could remember Sam's advice and maternal warmth.

Then Lena could remember all the years she spent alone, as the only one, of everything! And then Sam had become her "only one". In that one little night together, Sam had become the new "only one", only this time it was a good thing. She was the only one. The only one to still be Lena's friend. The only one Lena could turn to. The only one who really listened to Lena. The only one who understood Lena. The only one who could offer up any sort of advice or comfort at all. The only who could make Lena smile anymore. The only one Lena still loved and trusted completely. The only one Lena felt safe or happy with.

"The only one," she whispered to the woman who wasn't there. "You were the only one to be my friend through all of it. You were the only one to talk to. And you were the only one to talk to me..."

Sam's voice finally trumped all of the others in Lena's mind. First hers faded, then Lex's, then Kara's and one by one her mind went silence again. Now it was only Sam, whispering words of encouragement, affirmation, friendship and hope. She gave Lena a mission... and an offer. Lena nodded at the ideas. Then she picked up the phone. The shattered picture of her and Kara was still resting at the bottom of the trashcan in her office. She made the call. She dialed a number... and she waited...

AN: Just a very long ReignCorp/SuperCorp fic that I (and Lena) really needed after 4x22. As you can see, that ep really left my SuperCorp heart shaking. This is my second one behind the Carmilla/Supergirl crossover I posted just a few hours ago.

I wish this would be canon, but I doubt we'll ever see Sam again, which is unfortunate, because I really liked her. And she did seem like Lena's only other friend aside from Kara. They made a great trio in S3. I would die to see this scene unfold IRL. They all really could use it, and Sam honestly would be a great character in this situation.

Also, the only reason this is in chapters was because I didn't want to slam out a 11,000 word story all at once. The chapters make it a bit easier to read.