Alex woke to a tingly feeling in her leg, she looked at the time to see she had been sleeping for four hours. Zack and Maggie were playing with toy cars on the couch.
"Hey," Alex smiled.
"Mommy's up," Zack said putting his cars down and racing towards the bed.
"How was school?"
"Boring. We got to outside to play. Gabby and I played with a ball."
"Sounds like you had fun." Alex said pulling Zack closer.
"Hey babe how you feeling?" Maggie asks kissing Alex's forehead.
"Tired, my leg feels tingly like pins and needles but other than that I'm good."
"How long do you have until your next dose?"
Alex looked at the clock, "nine hours. We should start seeing improvements in a day or two, hopefully."
"Mommy can we watch a movie on your tablet? Mama said I could bring it."
"Yes sweetie and you can pick the movie too."
"Moana!"
After five days in the hospital Alex about had it with lying in bed. Lena's serum has started to show improvements, so they upped Alex's dose to the experimental dose. Today they were going to retest Alex's cells to see if the treatment is working at the proposed rate. During the stimulation test, Alex couldn't help laughing. Alex had always been ticklish.
"You feel this?" Lena asked with a surprised tone in her voice.
"Yea it tickles," Alex said giggling.
"Alex you realize we are barely applying any pressure?"
Alex looked stunned, "wait really?" She looked down to what Lena was doing. Lena did it again. Alex watch as moved the object slowly down her leg to the bottom of her foot, causing her toes to move."
"My toes moved! That didn't happen last time right?"
Lena smiled back at Alex, "you're correct. Even without analyzing the cells we can already conclude the nerves are beginning grow back. Look at the color of your leg as well. It's definitely improved from last time."
Alex fist bumped the air, "YES! Thank you Lena, thank you so much."
"I'm happy to help. This is great progress Alex. We need to show Jessica."
Dr. Hamilton came in and saw Alex's improvement and was astonished, "in all my years of practicing medicine I have never seen such progress. Lena this is amazing."
Lena tense for a moment, she wasn't use to people complimenting her on her work, "Uh thank you so much. The only issue is the financial aspect. While this product is extremely helpful, production costs would be through the roof. Depending on the results of the trial, we may have to adjust it to cut back some costs. At this point, only people with money will have access to this."
Alex hesitantly asked, "Lena how much does it cost?"
Lena bit her lip, "with everything $25,000."
"That's not as bad as it thought."
Lena spoke up again, "$25,000 a dose."
Alex spit out the sip of water she had just taken from her cup, "shit your not kidding. Geeze and you tested it on me. How many more doses do I need?"
"Alex you're family so money has no boundary. If we are going by my research, at least another week's worth. Alex it is working, that is what you need to focus on."
"Yea I guess your right." Alex said looking at her toes and moving them around. It's crazy to think she couldn't do that a few days ago.
"With the progress you've made I think you should be cleared to go home this time tomorrow."
"Oh thank god." Alex said leaning her head back on the pillows while the other two laugh at Alex's reaction. Alex took her phone out and called Maggie.
"Hey babe." Maggie answered
"Mags I get to go home tomorrow!"
"That's amazing! So the stuff's working?"
"Just like Lena said it would."
"This calls for celebration. I'll bring chinese and ice cream when Zack and I come by later tonight. I got to go Love you."
"Love you bye." Alex said smiling. After the hell week that she has been through, she cannot wait to lay back on her couch and in her bed.
6 weeks later
Alex's coffee table is stacked with bridal magazines courtesy of Kara. Alex has had it with the wedding planning. She was promoted to a knee brace that allows her to put pressure on her leg and walk on it, but she still needs her crutches every now and then. Eliza had come down a couple times to help out around the house. This weekend Alex had different plans, she wanted to visit Midvale. With her mother's approval she packed a bag for herself and Maggie as well as Zack. Alex texted J'onn asking if she could get Maggie pulled out of work for "DEO" business for the next two days.
When Maggie got home with Zack, she saw the packed bags and panicked. Why would Alex have bags ready? Zack ran to his room while Maggie went in search for Alex. Maggie laughed when she saw Alex spread out on their bed with Kara completely covered in wedding things.
Maggie began collecting the stuff off the bed, "I'm up," Alex said sitting up.
Maggie laughed.
"5 more minutes," Kara whined nuzzling her head into the blankets.
"Alex why are their bags packed downstairs?"
"Oh I thought we could use a little family vacation and I wanted to surprise you. I guess that wasn't the smartest idea huh?"
Maggie shook her head, "so where and when are we going?"
"Got has you working with the DEO for the two days so I thought tomorrow and we're going to Midvale. Zack's first trip."
Kara sat up, "I'm jealous. Lena and I have to go to this Gala that L-corp is hosting on Saturday. You know I hate going to those."
"But look on the bright side little D, you get to see Lena dressed up all fancy."
With a glimmer in her eye Kara responded, "that's true. Okay love birds gotta go. I got a lady waiting for me myself. Have fun this weekend sis and don't over do it."
"Yes mom," Alex said as Kara flew out the window.
Maggie jumped onto the bed and into Alex's arms, "maybe your mom could take Zack out on day this weekend so you and I could have some alone time."
Alex smiled, "I think that could be arranged."
NEXT CHAPTER PREVIEW: Family trip to Midvale