A/N: Thanks so much for all the reviews, favorites, follows, and reads. I appreciate your enthusiasm and all your wonderful prompts, too. :) You guys are the greatest!
Special thank you to the guest who sent in today's prompt: Alex secretly goes on a dangerous solo mission that Kara was determined to go on to prevent Kara from getting hurt. Alex gets seriously injured and Kara fears that their last conversation will be an argument about the mission.
I had a really good time writing this prompt and it ended up being super long!
Also, I wanted to let you know that I'll be gone for three weeks and will have limited Internet access and no computer, so updates will be on hiatus for a bit. I'm hoping to still get writing done, so head over to my profile and vote for which prompts you'd like me to write next and I'll try to get a few done while I'm away. :)
I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll see you in a little bit!
"J'onn, I'm going on that mission. Kara has no place being there," Alex said, approaching his desk and placing a hand on the top, fire in her eyes.
J'onn looked up, eyebrows raised. "Your sister was in here an hour ago saying the same thing about you. Supergirl wants this mission."
"She's out of her mind!" Alex yelled. "We already know there's going to be tons of green kryptonite, and I am not losing my sister to some stupid solo mission just so we can receive insight on obscure alien tech, especially when I can complete the mission just as well myself without getting killed. The green k will take away her powers the instant she steps into that cave. It could have her dead in minutes."
"I know."
"Then how can you let her do this?" Alex asked pausing in her pacing and tugging a hand through her hair before resuming her walk.
"I'm not," J'onn said.
Alex froze and looked up again. "What do you mean?"
He rubbed a hand over his face. "I'm not sending Supergirl."
"Then who are you sending?"
"You."
Alex let out a sigh of relief, resting her elbows on his desk as she slumped over and dropped her head into her hands, rubbing her eyes before looking up. "Thank you so much, Sir. I can't express how much I appreciate it."
J'onn nodded. "I'll tell your sister later today that she's off the mission."
"Can you do me one more favor?" Alex asked as she straightened up.
J'onn looked at the agent, urging her to continue.
"Please don't tell Kara I'm the one going on the mission. She'll totally flip and try to stop me."
"You know she's still going to be mad when she finds out after the mission."
"I know," Alex sighed. "But it's worth it if it keeps her safe. If she finds out before the mission she might do something stupid and try to follow me. She can't get hurt. I won't forgive myself."
"Okay," J'onn nodded. "It's confidential anyway, so she won't know."
"Thank you," she said sincerely, heading toward the door.
"You leave Tuesday at midnight, in eighteen hours. We'll debrief you once more and go over the plan again today."
This time, Alex nodded. "Got it," she said, as she slipped out the door.
/
"You can't do this!" Kara cried, finger twisting around the cape of her Supergirl suit. "It was supposed to be my mission."
"It's too dangerous. The amount of green kryptonite that will be there could kill you. I'm sending someone else," J'onn replied.
"Who?" Kara asked, stepping toward his desk.
"I can't tell you, it's classified. I'm sorry."
"Is it Alex?" She challenged.
"It's classified," he repeated firmly.
Kara let out a frustrated sigh and threw her head back, forcing herself to take a deep breath. "Please, J'onn. I have to do this."
"My decision's final, you're off this mission."
Kara deflated, murmuring a quiet 'okay,' as she left his office, running into Alex in the hallway.
"What's wrong?" Alex asked, noting the pout on Kara's lips, the furrow between her brows.
"J'onn took me off the mission," Kara sighed and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "No one ever thinks I'm capable of doing anything."
"It's not that, Kara," Alex said as she put an arm on her sister's shoulder. "You're the strongest person here, but there are somethings you can't fight. You and I were at the same meeting yesterday, we both heard how much green kryptonite is there. It's not safe for you."
Kara rolled her eyes and jerked her shoulder away from Alex's touch. "I'm so sick of hearing that. It's not safe for me, sure, but it's not safe for anyone else either. Nothing we do at the DEO is safe, but it never seems to be a problem until I'm involved."
"You know that's not it. We send you on dangerous missions all the time. The only difference is that the rest of us are aware that we have limitations, while you seem to think that you're untouchable, but you're not Kara. You have weaknesses just like everyone else."
"You're unbelievable!" Kara yelled. "You're probably the one that talked J'onn out of sending me on the mission."
Alex felt guilt twist in her stomach, but Kara was being completely irrational and frustration was taking over, her body growing hot. "Where would you even get that from?"
"Because you've been pulling stuff like that ever since I met you. Always "protecting" me, always trying to keep me from doing what I was meant to do, always holding me back and holding me down."
"Right, and the next time you want to get yourself killed just to prove that you're "capable," go ahead. I won't be there to pick up the pieces when you get hurt or don't come home."
"So you did tell him?" Kara asked, huffing out a sigh as they turned the corner in the hall.
"I never said that! The only thing I'm saying is that this isn't the right mission for you and maybe if you could get over the fact that you think everyone is treating you like a child, you'd actually be able to act like an adult."
"You're just jealous because you know I can handle this mission better than you can and I'm able to do it with half the training."
"Whatever," Alex said.
Kara paused outside the base's exit. "I just have one question for you."
"Fire away," Alex huffed.
"Why do you always think you know better than I do? You treat me like I'm fragile. You're not the one who lost her whole family and you're not the one who watched her planet explode; you didn't arrive on earth years after you were supposed to, just to find out that you failed your parents' dying wish; you're not the one who had to hide her powers or go through half of her life feeling like she was living in a world where she doesn't belong. You act like I've never gone through anything. You act like I'm helpless, but I'm not."
"I'm just trying to protect you!" Alex yelled, her voice echoing through the empty metal halls. "I know what you've been through. I know you're tougher than anyone I've ever met, but you can't do everything."
"How many times do I have to tell you that I don't need your protection? You're not my mom, you're not even my sister by blood. I've technically been alive for more years than you have, so you're not even really older than I am. You always try to protect me, but you don't even know what's right for me. You never bother asking what I want, you just assume that you know what's best. You're smothering me. I don't need you to protect me, I don't want you to protect me. I don't even want you to be near me."
"Kara…" Alex breathed out, her anger dissipating as she'd watched tears pool in Kara's eyes and red color her cheeks. Kara's frustration was a product of underlying hurt and insecurity, Alex just wished she'd seen it sooner.
"Don't 'Kara' me," the blonde said, shaking her head and turning to the door, her hand lingering on the handle. "I don't want to hear it. You don't get to do that. Not now." She squeezed her hands into fists, nails digging into her palms as she pushed open the door.
"Please, Kara. Wait," Alex said, reaching out and grabbing her sister's hand.
Kara yanked herself free. "You told J'onn not to send me. You always make me feel small and I hate you for it. I hate you," Kara yelled, stepping outside and shoving the door closed behind her, tears burning in her eyes as Alex watched her fly away.
The brunette leaned against the wall and let her head fall back, taking in the sting of metal against her skin.
/
Alex sighed, tossing her phone aside and pulling off her shirt and jeans in the locker room of the DEO. She'd tried, and failed, for the seventh time to get ahold of Kara. If Kara had her answering machine set up Alex could at least leave a message, but she'd had to get a new damn phone and had been too busy to set up the answering machine.
Alex shook her head, she didn't want to leave for a mission like this, not before making up with Kara and making sure her little sister was okay. As Alex tugged on her tactical suit she wondered what Kara was doing right then. Alex glanced at her watch and read 11:03 PM.
She pictured Kara back in her apartment, probably wearing the navy and golden star pajamas she wore when she was upset. The image was clear in Alex's head, with Kara curled beneath her comforter, snuggled against her pillows and trying to fall asleep.
Alex hoped with all her heart that Kara wasn't crying into those pillows, the way Alex had found her after the few times they'd fought as teenagers.
The agent finished suiting up before climbing onto the plane, her thoughts still occupied as she settled in for the flight.
As they landed, hours later, another agent, Lawrence, debriefed Alex one last time, "Remember, there will be some lifeforms around the tech. They are hostile and dangerous. Your mission does not concern them. Do what you have to do to retrieve the device and get out. Only engage if necessary. The object has information about Fort Rozz and the prisoners, but we are yet to determine if the creatures are alien or have simply undergone mutations from the green kryptonite that's imbedded in the cave walls. Additionally, we've observed irregular weather patterns within the area, often dangerous and extreme"
Alex nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt as the plane touched down with a jolt. "Lovely," she said, sending a wry smile at the Lawrence.
He laughed and handed her the gun she was about to fit into its holster. "I'll be back here in two and half hours with the evac team to get you out. Staying any longer is bad for your health, the environment is toxic, among other things. Your body will start to wear down."
"This just keeps getting better," Alex said, tugging the mission goggles over her face.
"You're the best for the job, Alex Danvers. See you in two and a half hours, at 6:33, our time" he said, opening the plane's door. "It'll still be dark out, this place gets like four hours of light midday."
Alex sighed, a disbelieving smirk on her face. "6:33 AM, see you then," she repeated, grabbing her bag and hopping out the hatch.
/
"Shit!" Alex cursed, as her foot caught in a hole and sent her spiraling to the ground. Sharp rocks bit into her palms as mud oozed between her fingers and splattered against her suit.
She checked that the small metal device that had been the source of her mission was still in her backpack. Fortunately, it had stayed in her bag; less fortunately, the demon hell beast that'd been trailing her for the past hour had also stayed with her.
Groaning as she stood up, Alex took a glance behind her just as the creature caught her leg with its claws. She screamed as her skin split, blood pooling over and coloring the dirt red.
In the sixty minutes the animal had been tracking her, Alex had yet to get a real idea of what it looked like. All she could make out was a massive, dark figure, with teeth like daggers and claws that tore through her leg with ease. She rolled over, landing a kick in the creature's abdomen. It stumbled back and Alex bit her lip, as excruciating pain seared in her leg.
As she fumbled for the gun strapped to her thigh the creature remerged, sinking a claw into her hip and biting her abdomen. She felt bone snap, heard it crackle beneath the monster.
White hot pain scorched through her limbs.
Bile rose in her throat, her brain screamed, her muscles kept moving as the creature toyed with her body, shaking it, dangling it, tossing it to the side before returning for more. It leaned down, Alex could smell death on its breath.
/
Kara rolled out of bed with a sigh. Seven hours of staring at the ceiling and she still hadn't fallen asleep. The floor was cold against her feet as she stood up. Her eyes stung and her hair was knotted.
The sun had begun its ascent, its rays peeking through the buildings of National City.
The blonde turned away from the window, checking her phone for the time: 6:31. She swiped away the notifications about Alex's missed calls.
The mission was probably going on as she stood there, Kara thought, deciding to pull on her Supergirl suit and fly down to the DEO to see what was happening before she went to CatCo.
/
With trembling fingers Alex unhooked her gun and pulled the trigger. She held her breath as the creature fell backward, crushing her foot.
She couldn't help the yelp that slipped from her lips as she eased herself out from beneath the monster. Everything hurt so much, tears pricked in her eyes, her heart pounded in her chest, her breath was ragged and shallow, her lungs ached.
Through the darkness, she dragged herself forward, eyes darting for hints of any other animals.
She needed to get out of the cave, where she could get signal for her comms and get onto the evac plane. Her muscles burned with each inch and the pain made her lean to her side as she vomited. She kept moving, a trail of blood streaking behind her.
Getting to the evac site meant getting out alive.
Finally, light edged into her vision and she caught sight of the moon, illuminating the forest in front of the cave. She kept her gaze locked onto the light, exhaustion magnifying her pain as she pulled herself into the forest and rain soaked her skin, mixing with blood as lightning patterned the sky.
Her hand shook as she glanced at her watch. 6:54. The evac site was empty.
She turned on her comms. "Agent Lawrence, this is Danvers. I need the evac."
He crackled through the system and into her earpiece. She could barely make out his voice as thunder snarled above her. "The plane's delayed due to weather. We're trying to get there as fast as we can, but it could be another hour, maybe more."
"Okay," Alex wheezed into the comm. She wasn't going to make it.
"Agent Danvers?" he asked, waiting for a reply. "Alex?"
"Huh?" she replied, her eyes closing then opening as she curled into a ball outside the cave, unsure of which wound to apply pressure to first.
"Are you hurt? You sound hurt."
She looked down at the blood forming a puddle around her, she was having trouble remembering where it'd come from. She grit her teeth as she pressed against the gash across her abdomen. "Uh yeah, a little. Maybe, I think so." Pain was overwhelming her body, burning each cell. She swallowed a scream and bit hard on the inside of cheek, tasting blood.
"Are you crying?"
She squeezed her eyes shut and couldn't think of anything but making the pain stop. "I don't know." Her words were fast, her voice weak and high.
"All right, it's okay. We're coming." In the background she heard Agent Lawrence talking to the pilot. "Your feed has been hooked up to the base, too. They can here you. Are you still there?"
"Yes," Alex replied, whimpering as she tightened the pressure on her stomach. "I'm not sure I'm going to survive another hour. I've lost a lot of blood."
"What happened?"
"I can't really remember, there was a creature thing. It attacked me." she said, looking down. "Ah, shit!" she muttered, pushing her head into the dirt and flinching. "Damn, that hurts, too. I got the tech though."
"Good, that's good. You did well. We're rushing the flight, we'll be there soon. Stick with me."
"Okay," Alex said, her voice going breathy, muffled by the down pour of rain. She shivered violently and the motion amplified the pain coursing through her body. She squeezed her eyes closed more tightly. "Can J'onn hear me back at the base?"
"He can hear you, but he won't be able to respond."
"Okay, that's okay," she sniffled. "I just – J'onn, if things… if things don't work out here, don't-don't let Kara feel guilty. She al-always feels so guilty. It's not her fault. You- you have to promise me you'll go e-easy on her, that you'll help her." Alex brought her blood saturated hands to her face, wiping away tears and smearing new blood with the dried crimson that had trickled from her forehead. "I love my little sister. I love her m-more than anything. Tell Kara I l-love her, and my mom, too."
Alex leaned to her side, stomach heaving as she vomited again. Her body quivered and her heart pounded in her chest. "I'm tired," she said softly. "I think… I think I might go to sleep," she murmured. "It's dark, but there are lights in the sky. It's loud. The monster's probably waking up now."
"Danvers?" Lawrence's voice came through. "We need you to stay awake. Come on, you can do it. Just a little longer."
She felt her eyes closing as she whispered into the comms, "I really, I really don't want to die," just as Kara entered the DEO base and the connection crackled into nothing.
The blonde's eyes went wide as she heard the words, echoing through the room. Agent Hamilton turned around, sympathy etched across her face as she looked at Kara.
"We just lost connection, sir," Agent Lawrence came through, voice nervous and words rushed. "We're still ten minutes out and the comms are completely down."
"Did you get a check on her vitals?"
"Yes, and they're rapidly deteriorating. Heartrate's up, blood pressure down. She's probably lost at least 35% of her blood. If we get there soon enough there's a chance of survival, but once she hits 40% the outcome doesn't look good."
"Move faster," J'onn said. "I don't care if it endangers the plane. The plane is meant to be in danger, it'll survive, she might not if we're not there soon enough."
Kara dropped the coffee she'd been holding, the hot liquid splattered around her feet. "It's my sister isn't it?" she asked. "It's Alex?"
J'onn turned in his chair, face grim as he nodded. "Yes."
"No," she cried as she stumbled backward. "No, there's no way. Alex can't die. That should be me. That's supposed to be me. Alex shouldn't be the one that's dying. It's not fair."
She felt her breath catch in her lungs, her throat felt tight and the room felt like it was closing in on her. She leaned against the wall and sunk to the floor, dropping her head against her knees as her breath grew faster.
"I told Alex I hated her. It was the last thing I said to her and now… now she's going to die," Kara said to no one in particular as something snapped inside her and tears poured down her cheeks.
"I have to go," Kara muttered, vision blurred. With trembling arms, she pushed herself off the ground, swaying as she stood up. She looked down at the hands she'd used just hours earlier to shove Alex away; they stung. "I have to help her. I'll get her out myself."
"It's too dangerous, Supergirl," J'onn said, placing a hand on her elbow to help hold her up.
"No, no, I have to go. I have to help her." Kara broke free from his hold and stumbled forward, suddenly feeling lightheaded.
"You should sit down," J'onn said and she shook her head. He put an arm around her shoulder and felt her body quiver, her diaphragm rising and falling rapidly with each breath. She shivered beneath his hand, her skin was cold and damp.
"I have to get her. I have to," Kara repeated, her vision going spotty. She couldn't focus, couldn't hold herself together. Her breath was coming quicker. Her heart was sprinting in her chest. Her stomach flipped.
Alex was dying.
Kara was helpless.
Heat vision shot from her eyes, singeing the fabric of her suit, just below her wrist. She couldn't breathe and she couldn't think and she couldn't see. She felt the burning sensation and grimaced.
Control was slipping between her hands.
She twisted her fingers together, attempting to ground herself. The further she spiraled, the tighter she gripped her fingers, until a bone cracked and she yelped.
She wasn't aware of J'onn holding her up, of the agents in the room moving around, watching with worry. All she could think about was Alex dying, and how much it hurt. Like every fiber of her body was screaming, like she was drowning and burning and suffocating all at once.
Alex was dying.
Kara couldn't breathe. She'd yelled at Alex, said she hated her. If Alex died, Kara was going to die, too. She couldn't imagine living in a world without Alex. It wasn't possible. It wasn't worth it.
Agent Hamilton approached J'onn, handing him a syringe. She reached out, wanting to do something to comfort Kara. The blonde was doubled over, sobbing and hyperventilating, mumbling nonsense.
"Help me hold her up?" J'onn asked.
Hamilton nodded and gently took Kara's other side, stilling the thrashing girl. "It's okay, Supergirl. Everything will be okay," the agent said.
Kara couldn't hear her.
"Kara, I'm going to give you a sedative before you hurt yourself anymore. We're doing everything we can to help your sister," J'onn said calmly. "You're going to be just fine."
Kara stopped fight, slumping over as J'onn punctured her skin with the green kryptonite needle. Her voice was a hoarse whisper when she spoke again. "I have to save Alex. I have to…" Her eyes closed, her limbs went heavy, and her head fell forward.
/
"Agent Danvers," Agent Lawrence called as he stepped off the plane the rest of the evac team on his heels. The storm had temporarily eased, so that only a hazy drizzle hung in the air.
"Danvers," he yelled, traipsing through the thick mud.
She raised her head, squinting as she wondered if she'd started hallucinating. "Over here," she mumbled and the agents almost missed the noise.
When they found her, she was curled on the ground, fumbling with laces of her boot as she tried to tug it off.
"What are you doing?" Agent Lawrence asked.
"Getting it off," she answered, her words slurred.
"Getting what off?"
"My boot," she huffed. "It hurts." She tugged it off and cast it aside. The agents grimaced at the sight, Alex's left foot and ankle had swollen nearly twice in size and grown a deep purple hue. Lacerations covered her skin, the bones had been broken and dislocated, the skin torn.
Agent Lawrence knelt beside her, his boots pressed into the dirt, water and blood pooled around his shoes. "Holy shit," he said, noting just how much blood had gathered around Alex. He felt a weak, rapid pulse in her wrist.
She shivered and her eyes kept moving, unable to focus.
"We need to move now."
"I'll call for the stretcher."
"No time," the other agent said, looking at Lawrence. "Just pick her up and go, she's not going to make it if we wait any longer."
He nodded in agreement. "We can't go too fast though, it could screw with her heartbeat," Lawrence turned back to Alex. "Agent Danvers, this might hurt a lot."
" 's okay," she slurred, eyes drooping closed.
He tucked his hand beneath her knees and under her shoulder blades, gently lifting her up. She gritted her teeth and he connected with the medical team on the plane. "From what I've observed so far, she's suffered moderate to severe blood loss, mild – maybe moderate – hypothermia, and a crush injury to her left foot and ankle."
The plane came into view through the trees as the doctor responded. "We've got the blood for a transfusion, so we'll start once we're able to stop the bleeding. When she gets here we'll set her up on a warmed saline solution through an IV. Hopefully it'll be enough to stabilize her, but we need to start soon. Where are you?"
"Approaching the plane now, drop the ramp."
They climbed into the aircraft and Alex was transferred onto an examination table. Her vision was blurry, everything a dull haze. A woman leaned above her, speaking softly as she lead the medical team. Alex missed most of her words, flitting in and out of consciousness as she felt an IV pierce her skin and gloved hands touch her body. The head doctor placed a warm hand on Alex's shoulder. "You're going to be okay, Agent Danvers. We've got you now."
/
"She's here," J'onn said.
Kara eased into consciousness, feeling weak and shaky, but in control of her body at the least. She ran a hand through her hair and rubbed her eyes, looking around the room. They'd put her in Alex's lab while she slept. Her mind felt numb and she couldn't shake the tightness in her stomach telling her something was wrong. "Who's here?"
"Alex. Remember?"
Alex. Yeah. Alex fighting. Alex leaving. Alex dying. Kara squeezed her eyes closed and tears brimmed over the edge. "She's okay?" the blonde, her voice cracking as she tucked her knees against her chest.
J'onn nodded. "She's stable, unconscious and on a lot of morphine, but she'll make it. She's tough."
"The toughest," Kara agreed and let out a breath, her forehead falling against her knees. "Can I see her?"
"Not yet. She's about to go into surgery to fix an injury on her left foot and ankle. It'll be several more hours until she's in postop and conscious."
Kara sighed and nodded. "Is it dangerous?"
"A little, but the surgeons are confident that her chances are good. I was wondering if you would be able to help us with the alien tech your sister recovered. See if you know anything."
"Okay," Kara said, uncurling herself from Alex's chair and standing up, eager for a distraction.
She followed J'onn into a separate lab, took the small metal device into her hands and immediately wanted to put it down. Alex had almost died over the stupid foreign object resting in her fingers. The though made her sick and she turned away for a second, blonde hair sliding over her shoulder.
Hours passed as Kara fiddled with the object, determined to make Alex's mission mean something. A frustrated sigh filled the air and she gathered her hair in her hand, holding it out of her face. She was close to tossing the device across the room and deeming it useless when J'onn reentered the lab and slid a warm cup of coffee across the table to her.
"Your sister's awake. The doctors cleared her for visitors."
Kara stood up, worry shook in her stomach, but above everything, relief settled across her body. Alex was okay, Alex was alive. Everything else could be worked out.
A minute later found Kara outside Alex's postop recovery room, knocking softly on the door frame before walking in. "Alex?" she said quietly, as she lingered in the door way.
Alex opened her eyes, absorbing the sight of sister. "Hey, Kar," she said sleepily.
"Hey," Kara said and took a step toward Alex's bed. "Is it okay if I come in?"
Alex nodded, grimacing as she reached a hand out toward Kara, tugging on her stitches. "I want to see you."
Kara slipped her hand into Alex's and sat in the seat beside her bed. "How are you feeling?"
Alex gave a half shrug. "Fine."
Kara rolled her eyes. "That's what you always say."
" 'Cause it's true," Alex said, with a small smile. "Plus, I am on so many painkillers right now, you wouldn't even believe it."
Kara laughed softly, resting her head atop Alex's and feeling impossibly more affectionate toward her sister. "I'm really sorry for what I said before you left. I didn't mean it."
"I know," Alex said and brushed hair out of her sister's face, tucking a strand behind her ear.
"And you're always going to be my big sister. My years in the phantom zone don't really count anyway, but even if they did, I'd still want you to be my big sister, because you're the best and I-I've realized that you're always going to protect, even when I don't think I need it, but I do. I'm al-always going need you, Lexie." Kara brought a hand to her cheeks, wiping away the tears that'd slipped down her face.
"Don't think I don't need you too, Supergirl," Alex said. "The world is a better place with you in it."
"Well, that goes for you too, Alex." Kara readjusted her position and kissed her sister's head. Silence lapsed between them and Alex felt tears drip into her hair. She looked up as best she could and saw Kara's watery eyes and trembling lip.
"Hey, hey, hey, what's a matter," Alex said, trying to turn toward Kara and instantly regretting it when pain shot through her side. She eased herself back down with an annoyed sigh at her injuries and reached out to Kara, rubbing her back.
"You al-almost died and the last thing I'd s-said was that I h-hated you and then I went and ignored all- all your calls. I was horrible to you," Kara said. Alex moved her hand from Kara's back and slipped it into Kara's hand squeezing gently.
Kara let out a broken sob and grasped Alex's hand back, pulling it up to her face and leaning into it. Salty tears dripped between their fingers and over Alex's hand before splattering on to the floor.
"Kara, you were hurting and I knew you didn't mean what you said. We're sisters, we say things we don't mean all the time, but I'll always love you, and I know you love me too," Alex said, offering a small smile up at her sister.
Kara nodded as she cried. "I do. I love you so much, Alex."
"I know." Alex wiped the tears off Kara's face and slid over on the bed, patting the space beside her. "Come here."
"Are you s-sure there's space?" Kara asked, looking up.
"Always space for my little sister. Get up here, I'm cold and I want hugs."
Kara cracked a small watery smile and crawled into the cramped hospital bed, cuddling into Alex.
"You know, you said somethings the other day that kind of worried me," Alex said, leaning her head toward Kara and running a hand through her sister's hair.
Kara stayed quiet, shifting her eyes away from Alex.
"Sometimes you're so strong and you're so brave and determined and sweet," Alex continued, "That I forget how much you've been through and I forget how sad you might be sometimes. I should have paid more attention to how you were doing, I'm sorry."
Kara shrugged and looked up at Alex with big, innocent eyes. "It's okay."
"No, it's not, I should have known and I should've talked to you instead of going straight to J'onn," Alex shook her head. "I asked him not to let you go."
"I know. Nobody cares about my safety as much as you do," Kara said, smiling at her sister. "I understand."
"You can always talk to me, if you're sad or miss your parents or you're overwhelmed. I don't care what time or what it's for, you can always call me. You've always got me."
"I love you and I'm really lucky you're my sister."
"Ditto," Alex said, smirking at her sister. "I love you and I'm super lucky. Get it? Super lucky."
Kara rolled her eyes, snuggling into the sheets. "Yeah, I get it. You're a dork." She sat up. "Speaking of which, I grabbed something for you!" Kara said with a smile, leaning over the side of the bed and shuffling through a small bag she'd brought.
"Here!" she said, grinning and holding up Alex's famous periodic table blanket.
"You did not!" Alex smiled. "You know this blanket is my absolute favorite blanket in the whole world."
"I know," Kara said, handing it to Alex. The brunette took the soft fabric in her hands, spreading it across the bed. "Thanks for this and thanks for coming to visit."
Kara smiled sweetly, her features soft in the light. "I'm glad you're safe."
"Me too," Alex said, letting her eyes slip closed as exhaustion began pulling her away. "and I'm glad you're safe… Will you stay here with me, at least for a little longer?" Alex asked, tugging the blanket tighter around her.
"There's nowhere I'd rather be," Kara said, running a hand through Alex's short hair as the oldest Danvers sister fell asleep, a small smile on her lips.