A/N: Thanks for your response on the last chapter! Also, the poll has been updated.
Prompt from OrwellHuxZam (thanks for sending it in!): The robbery scene in 1x07 goes wrong, resulting in Kara being shot.
I think I have a thing for Maggie comforting crying Danvers sisters.
So this is more 'inspired' by 1x07 than set directly in it, because I took creative liberties to change a few things… 1. Maggie is here (duh, I love her), 2. James knows about the DEO, 3. The Jemm alien thing (?) plot is kind of shoved to the side a little (a lot) so that Alex can be where I need her to be. Okay, I think that's all. Hope you enjoy!
The gun goes off before anyone can react, bullet piercing the air, spitting Kara's skin, and lodging itself in her abdomen. She lowers a shaking hand to the hole in her side, blood pouring between her fingers and painting the floor.
She furrows her brows and her eyes move back up to meet the gunman, whose gaze is trained, unblinking, toward the wound in Kara's side. The firearm drops from his hands and clatters against the ground and he is gone, sprinting out of the building with a choked 'I'm sorry.' James makes a move to chase him, but then Kara falls against the ground with a sharp thud of her body collapsing and he drops to her side instead.
"I—I got shot," she mutters. Her gaze is unfocused as she speaks and stares somewhere beyond James. She blinks hard. "I'm—I'm bleeding."
"I know," he says and hovers above her. "This is going to hurt, Supergirl," James mutters, pressing a towel from the storeowner against Kara's abdomen. She flinches, a yelp filling the air. The pain burns through her body until it's all she can feel. She grits her teeth as James pushes harder and tugs his phone from his pocket with the other and contacting the DEO to inform them that Supergirl is down. "Medics are on their way," he says calmly and Kara nods.
"Alex-?"
"They haven't contacted her yet, there's a situation at headquarters and they can't reach her. But she'll be there when you arrive, they assured me that."
"Is she—is she okay?" Kara chokes out.
"Yeah, Supergirl, she's fine."
Kara nods, another gasp burns through her lungs as James applies more pressure. "I'm sorry," he says gently. "Just hold on a little longer."
From the other side of the street, Maggie had heard the gunshot while patrolling the city after the precinct had sent out a memo that all detectives were needed following the earthquake. She followed the noise, feet carrying her across the street until she enters the store and sees Supergirl gushing blood onto the tile floor.
Her heart sinks, stomach clenching. Kara.
"Hey, kid," she murmurs as she rushes to the blonde's side, kneeling next to James. He looks just as shocked as the youngest Danvers, whose face is pulled in pain, skin paling. Maggie needs to keep Kara calm, she needs to get them out of here.
"Maggie?" Kara asks, her voice breathy and weak, eyes seeking out her sister's girlfriend.
She moves into Kara's view and the blonde instantly feels a bit better, like a piece of the protection and comfort Alex provides has been replicated in Maggie. "Yeah, hey. What happened?" she asks, eyes looking toward James.
"Robbery gone wrong. She blew out her powers earlier."
Maggie nods, looking down when she feels Kara's hand reaching out and knocking against her own. The detective opens her palm and curls her fingers around Kara's, giving a gentle squeeze. "You're going to be fine, sweetie, okay? Just breathe with me." Maggie brushes a piece of hair off Kara's forehead. "No way I'm letting Little Danvers go this easily."
Maggie looks at James. "The road is blocked. We need to carry her a block or two south. I take it you called this in already?"
He nods.
"Send them our location. The easiest route is just behind us, I was out there a second ago, but we need to move fast so we can meet the medical team when they arrive. You got her?"
"Yeah," James says, slipping one arm under Kara's knees and the other beneath her shoulder blades. "You okay, Supergirl?" he asks as he eases her off the ground until he and Maggie are standing and Kara's secure in his hold.
She nods, gaze frantically scanning the room as more pain rips through her abdomen and a gasp escapes in response. Maggie notices and threads her fingers back around Kara's. "Hey, Kar," she whispers softly, to avoid any bystanders to catch Supergirl's identity. "I know it hurts. I know it hurts a lot. But I know you're stronger than it and you're going to be okay and pretty soon there are going to be a bunch of doctors and Alex will be there and they're going to stitch you up until you're good as new."
Kara squeezes her eyes closed and tears drip from the corners. "I'm… I'm bl-bleeding. There-there's s-so much blood."
Maggie yells to clear the path, shaking off gawking citizens to help James carry Kara, before she returns her attention to the shivering blonde. Kara writhes in pain, turns her face against James' chest and pushes it against him. Her breath is thready and strained, wheezing inhales and exhales that scorch her skin with each movement.
Maggie closes her eyes for a minute and she's overcome with how difficult it is to see Kara in so much pain. The detective bites her quivering lower lip and tucks her hands into her pocket to keep herself from shaking them.
"Kara, I'm so sorry, but I need to reapply pressure, so how about we make a deal? With one hand, I need to press down on your abdomen, but I'm going to give you the other to hold if you want and you can squeeze as hard as you need. Sound good?"
Maggie receives a faint, involuntary whimper in response as James maneuvers the pair around debris lining the street and Kara is jolted.
"I'm sorry, Kara," James says gently.
" 's okay," Kara mumbles and her voice is laced with tears. "You can do it Maggie."
The other woman nods, moving as close as possible to Kara without interfering with James' gait. "Hand?" she offers, extending her palm to the blonde. Kara takes it, tries to find a pulse—a heartbeat—that will calm her.
With her other hand, Maggie presses down just as they turn the corner and Kara yelps in response, vision blurring and heartrate increasing. She grasps Maggie's hand tighter until her groan fades.
"Good girl," the detective encourages. "Keep holding on."
Kara squirms and squeezes again. "You're doing great, we're almost there," Maggie whispers soothingly, she wishes she could run a hand over Kara's hair, rub circles on her back the way she has seen Alex do so many times before and have the same instant calming effect. But when it comes to Kara, no one is like Alex.
"I see them," Maggie tells James as she pushes up on her tiptoes to see over a van. "Right ahead."
/
Alex walks out of the briefing room into a flurry of lab coats and brisk paces tearing through the halls. "GSW… page a surgeon stat" "prep an OR" "Ma'am can you hear me" "Stay with me" Their speech ricochets back and forth through the sterile white walls, rebounds off Alex.
She furrows her brows. "What's wrong? Who's there?" she asks and tries to push her way between the doctors to catch a glimpse of the figure on the stretcher, but a stray lab coat clad elbow jostles her back. Just before the cluster disappears between two swinging doors one doctor glances over and shoots Alex a sympathetic look that makes the brunette throw her hands up in frustration as the group disappears behind the doors.
She rolls her eyes, turning around to see Maggie at the other end of the hall, with James on her heels, running after the medics. Their clothes are drenched in blood, a deep crimson that blooms across the fabric of their shirts. Alex's stomach flips, dread settling sickly in her abdomen as their shoes smear bloody footprints across the floor.
It takes a moment for James and Maggie to notice Alex, gaze finally shifting her way. Alex reaches out, curls her fingers around Maggie's wrist and pulls her over. "What happened? Who's hurt?"
"Kara," Maggie murmurs and Alex's stomach hurts when she realizes the blood covering the pair, now smudged across her own palm and filling the creases of her skin, belongs to her sister.
Alex drops Maggie's wrist and stumbles her first few strides into a run before shoving through the double doors of the DEO medical wing. "That's my sister," she screams, "wait!" She skids up next to the stretcher as it waits outside a closed room, this time her pushing brings her closer to Kara.
The blonde's vision is a blur of LED lights that hurt her eyes and foreign faces staring down and gloved hands and pain that scatters black gaps in her sight. She heaves another burning breath through her lungs and fights the tug to close her eyes and fade away. Without James and Maggie by her side she feels more panic surge and crash like a tidal wave in her chest.
"Kara." She hears a voice calling her name—it's distant and gurgled like she's underwater, but it's familiar and it's safety.
It's Alex.
"Al-lex," she whispers and her words are barely a tremble in the air and it hurts just to breath. "Alex, Alex," she repeats the same name she'd murmured through the ambulance ride and down the hall. It's an anchor to this world and she clings to it. "Alex," she mutters again, blinking hard as more hands press against her abdomen and warm tears sting her cheeks and her insides simultaneous feel hollow and burnt and torn. Then the hazy figure of her sister's face comes into view and it's such a stark contrast to the strangers with stethoscopes that a sob emerges from her throat. She reaches a cold hand to her sister and misses by half a foot but Alex grasps that shaking palm and envelops it in her own, pulling it close to her chest, before she's pushed away and their grasp is broken.
"Kara," she yells to the stretcher disappearing behind more doors and makes a move to follow but a doctor appears in front of her. "Sorry, Agent Danvers, but you can't come here, she needs surgery." Alex looks over the woman's shoulder. "Kara, I love you, okay? I love you. You just hang on, I'll be right at your side when you wake up," she calls and the doors flutter closed and the doctor disappears and Alex is left alone in the hall that suddenly feels too big and too quiet.
Alex tips her head back, relishes the bite of the metal against her skin and the distraction it creates. A shuddery breath escapes her lips, all the panic and angst of the previous moments surfacing. She feels sick and faint and leans more heavily against the wall until she slides down and sits on the floor, pulling her knees crisscross and dropping her head into her hands.
Alex doesn't know how long she stays there, chest tight and fighting tears and shoving away all the things she doesn't want to feel. She needs to be collected when Kara wakes up, needs to be composed and smart and calm. But then, Maggie's at her side, changed into DEO issued gray sweatpants and a matching crewneck sweater and she's running her hand gently across Alex's back while tilting Alex's head up and cupping her cheek. The agent fights the comfort, curling away, but Maggie kneels and moves her arms up and down Alex's sides just above her hips and her touch is gentle and the oldest Danvers sister can't help the tears that form.
"Come on, babe," Maggie says softly and helps pull Alex up to her feet. The agent curls into Maggie's touch and leans heavily into her shoulder. Despite her fight to avoid crying, the silent tears pool over and wet Maggie's shirt.
"Oh, Danvers." Maggie tugs her closer and Alex clutches her tightly. She wants to promise Alex that it will be okay, that Kara will be fine, but Maggie doesn't make promises she can't keep. So she hugs Alex toward her, rocking her slightly as they sway back and forth in the empty hall of the DEO's emergency unit.
"I'm supposed to protect her, I was supposed to keep her safe," Alex whispers and her voice cracks.
"You can't be so hard on yourself, Alex." Maggie cradles the back of Alex's head in her hand, hair pushing up and skin warm. "You are not responsible for every bad thing that happens."
Even after Alex's tears stop she grips Maggie, presses her face hard into the detective's shoulder. Maggie rubs circles across Alex's back, fingers dancing gently over the agent's spine. The brunette lets out a soft little shake of a breath before leaning back to look Maggie in the eyes.
The detective smiles warmly, cupping Alex's cheeks and thumbing away the tear tracks on each side.
Alex pulls her back into a hug. "Thank you for taking care of Kara."
"Of course," she whispers and tightens the embrace.
"I love you," Alex mumbles into the woman's shoulder.
Maggie runs a hand over Alex's hair. "I love you."
/
"Kara, what the hell were you thinking?"
Alex asks as Kara sits up in bed for the first time since coming out of surgery. The blonde stares up at her sister, her eyes wide.
"You better have a damn good reason for throwing yourself into an armed robbery and standing in front of a gunman."
"Al—" Maggie begins, seated next to Kara's bed and holding the younger woman's hand. "Not now."
Alex shakes her head, wrings her hands as she paces. "She always does this. You always do this, Kara. You go out and do something reckless and dangerous like no one cares. But I do, I care." Tears stream down Alex's face as she yells and they burn her skin as they pour out and splash onto the sterile tile floor. "I care so much that it hurts every day. If you died, Kara—if you died, I'd be destroyed."
Kara's bottom lip quivers.
"So maybe next time before you go out and try to get yourself killed you could think about the people that care about you. What you did today was stupid and—"
"I'm sorry, okay?" Kara screams back. The room is blurry and her head hurts and she can barely follow one of Alex's thoughts to the next but her sister is yelling at her and her sister is crying and Kara doesn't know what to do but reciprocate. "I said I'm sorry. I didn't particularly like bleeding out on the floor either," she says and her voice is sharp and pitched high by tears.
"Why does blood follow you everywhere?" Alex yells and then the strength of Kara's sobs augments until she's hyperventilating. Alex turns around and sees the tears on Kara's red cheeks and the shaking of her shoulders, the agent freezes. Her heart aches and the room falls silent to Kara's sobs.
"I'll give you two space," Maggie says quietly. She squeezes Kara's hand with a whispered 'I'm glad you're okay' before standing. On her way to the door Maggie pulls Alex into a tight, crushing hug, silently brushing away the brunette's tears and rubbing her shoulder. The door closes behind her.
Alex focuses on Kara and the sobs wracking her frame beneath the thin hospital sheet. "I was just trying to help," Kara yells. Her breath trembles. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she repeats, quietly this time.
When it comes to staying mad at Kara, Alex has never succeeded. Her face pales and she moves closer to her little sister. "I didn't mean that last thing I said," Alex says and opens her arms to Kara. "I didn't mean it."
Despite everything, Kara curls toward her sister, sobbing into her shoulder and grasping the fabric of Alex's shirt with the fist that's cast-free. It makes Alex feel impossibly worse. "It's true though," Kara murmurs.
"No, no it's not," Alex says and climbs into the bed, gripping Kara as tightly as she can. "You've done so much good and you've saved so many lives. You're so selfless and so brave that it scares me sometimes, because I can't stand to see you hurt and I can't live without you, Kara, you know that."
The blonde doesn't say anything in response and Alex holds her as Kara cries it out.
"I'm sorry I scared you," Kara says when her sobs fade out and only slow, silent tears remain. She lets her head drop against Alex's chest, so she can hear the heartbeat even without powers and feel the warmth of Alex's skin just above her collarbone.
"I'm just glad you're okay," Alex says. She runs a hand over Kara's hair and the blonde nuzzles deeper into her touch. "Saving people is what you do, it's who you are and even though it scares me to death on a daily basis, I'm proud of you. It's important that you know that."
"I love you," Kara murmurs.
"I love you, too. So much." Alex presses a kiss to Kara's forehead.
"Can we watch movies when we go home? And snuggle on the couch and eat potstickers and pizza and cookie dough ice cream?"
"In the past twenty four hours you've received what... a cold, a broken arm, and a gunshot wound? I think you deserve whatever you want."
Kara smiles against her sister, eyes drooping closed and breath slowing.
"We need to get you under the sunlamps," Alex says and Kara, eye still shut, shakes her head feverishly.
"Tomorrow," she groans and presses harder against Alex. "I just wanna sleep right now. Will you stay?"
Guilt still pulses through Alex's veins and of course she can't say no to Kara when she's like this, she'll see if they can get the sunlamps set up in here for the night. "Of course," she promises out loud and as Kara falls asleep they whisper about their plans for the weekend and Kara likes to ask about Maggie just to see the light that brightens Alex's face when the other woman is mentioned, they come up with plans to convince J'onn and the doctors to release Kara tomorrow, and as Kara finally falls asleep Alex makes sure the last words the blonde hears before drifting off are "I love you, I'm proud of you, I'm glad you're safe, and I'll always have your back."
Kara falls asleep with a soft smile etched across her features.