Alex didn't know where she was, but she did know what she lay on was the most awesome mattress on the planet. She looked around and then saw the wheelchair and groaned. Yeah, she over did it, but she needed to see Lena. It was when she heard voices in the other room that she calmed her breathing and she listened. Her door was open and there was the smell of food in the air. She tried to move but it fucking hurt. She sighed, her meds wore off. Her shoulder hurt like it was on fire, her ribs screamed at her and her ankle was throbbing. Yup, over did it. She reached out for the chair and hoisted herself into the seat. When she was situated a head popped into the door. A smile brighter than LED flashlights in a cavern beamed at her.
"Alex! Here let me help you," Kara said as she grasped the handles.
"Kara I just need the meds, and to use the bathroom. Where am I?" Alex asked as she sighed.
"You are at Lena's, and I'll get the meds, where are they and the bathroom is down this hall," Kara rambled off. Alex stopped the chair and made Kara stand in front of her.
"Look, Get the meds, I'll go to the bathroom, and we can meet in the room and eat. I'm ok to do that on my own, ok?" Alex asked her sister with a hint of firmness. Kara nodded and then went into the room and used her X-ray vision. Alex wheeled to the restroom. She lifted her body up with difficulty but hell no was she going to let Kara help her use the bathroom. She drew the line at the chair.
When she was finished she came back out into the large room and she saw Kara on the couch eating popcorn. She looked around, no Lena.
"Hey," Alex said as she rolled up and tried to stand so she could sit in the high-backed chair. Kara made to get up but Alex stopped her. She then nodded when Kara put pillows on the table and helped Alex lift her leg up to elevate her ankle and because her screaming ribs wouldn't let her bend over much.
"You didn't tell me you were found," Kara said and looked at her hands. Alex's heart went to her sister.
"I thought you would have been told. I am sorry Kar," Alex said, "But from what I hear you are following up on the food lead,' Alex said, and Kara beamed. Alex relaxed. If you could turn the conversation back to work, what Kara likes, or about Kara in general it would be a good 10 minutes and you did not have to talk. Kara told Alex about Maggie's help and how they found out that the shipments really where food.
Alex frowned. Who would want to blow up food? The bell rang. Out of nowhere Lena strutted from behind Alex in emerald satin pajama pants and long sleeve shirt. She looked at Kara. She had a similar pair of blue ones. Alex had none. She watched how they flitted about together and moved in sync like they have done this for years. Maybe they have. Alex sighed. This is not where she is meant to be. They are so happy, she is not meant to be there, popping their domestic bubble. She watched for a few more moments. The small touches, smiles, and lack of personal space. The only thing missing was a kiss here and there and someone calling the other dear. NOPE… Alex was definitely not supposed to be there. OK, mission protocol. Eat dinner, then leave. She could do that.
Kara brought loaded plates into the living room and Alex winced at the amount of food on the plate Kara gave to her. She smiled slightly and shook her head as she tried to dig into her Chinese takeout. Kara never seemed to know that other people did not eat as much as she did. It was funny sometimes in public, especially at all you can eat buffets. Alex waited a moment as did Kara and Lena sat down with them and beamed at both of the women. Alex smiled and, nodded, and then began to eat as much as she could. The meds she took part way into the meal where making her stomach turn slightly and she put her plate down, finished. Kara looked at her and then to Lena. Lena only watched the brunette with eyes like a hawk.
"You didn't eat very much?" questioned Lena as she looked back to her plate and made to eat more by making a point. Alex smile softly to both Kara and Lena embarrassed.
"I think the meds are making my stomach flip," then Alex looked at Kara, "and she always gives me too much food, so she can eat the rest," Alex looked at her sister adoringly. Then her eyes clouded up, a tear fell down her cheek. She lifted her fingers to her cheek and wiped away moisture looking at her finger tips.
"Alex are you ok?" Kara asked as she put her plate down and knelt next to her sister.
"I don't know why I'm crying Kar," Alex looked up and caught Kara's blue eyes, "It probably just the pain. Its ok. I'll feel better when I get home and back to sleep." Alex patted Kara on the arm reassuring her sister that it was ok. Kara stood and looked down at Lena.
"I think I should get her home," Kara turned to get her clothes on.
"No, she can stay here for the evening Kara. Its fine," Lena said looking into blue. Then they heard the clearing of one's voices in the background.
"I am sitting right here, ya know. I wish to go home if it is possible. May I please borrow the chair? I can get home from there, and I have an elevator in my building," Alex said as softly as she could without being rude. Then looked at them both, eyes unfocussed, and pressure in the back of her throat as if tears welled below the surface, "Please I just want my own bed," Alex turned her head feeling her face redden in embarrassment. Kara heard the phone tone and cursed.
"Go Kara, I'll be fine. I promise," Alex said and then Lena reached out with her small hand and placed a finger under Alex's chin and made her look at her, green on brown.
"Alexandria Danvers, you will stay with me tonight," Lena said in a firm whisper and Alex just let her eyes drop and nod.
Kara, relieved, lifted Alex from the chair much to the protesting of the older woman and placed her in bed. She took such care taking Alex's layers from her body. Then when Kara was done she turned and kissed Alex on the forehead and then zoomed to the other room in a blur and then out the window. Alex turned from the light of the open door and stared at the wall. She felt the warm rivulets of tears collect on the pillow, she could hear her breathing rasp in her chest. She could feel her heart plummet to the first floor of Lena's building.
There was a depression on the bed next to her. She turned her head and saw the silhouette of the woman she was beginning to feel too much for. Her thoughts were not her own, her actions where not hers. Her hand reached out and the back of her fingers caressed Lena's cheek. Her eyes hooded from the drugs.
"You look like an elf with your hair down like this, and the light behind you," Alex's tongue felt thick, as if she couldn't speak properly. She heard the soft chuckle from Lena as a hand reached up and grasped her own.
"Like a Christmas elf or something? People would debate with you I'm cold enough to survive employment at the North Pole," Lena tried to joke but something hit Alex hard in the chest with that comment.
"No. Christmas Elves are a joke, you are so much more than that," Alex smiled, and she didn't know why.
"Then what kind of elf would I be? One of those Lord of the Rings elves? I admit I thought they were pretty awesome," Lena smiled as she held Alex's hand and continued the conversation.
"Yes, you are certainly full of grace, and have more than enough beauty to be one of those," Alex spoke, her words only slightly slurred. Alex shut her eyes and tried to open them again. She heard the woman gasp. What happened? Is she hurt? Was it something she said?
"You think I am beautiful?" Lena whispered. Alex let go of Lena's hand. She finally got one eye to cooperate and looked at the woman. Her head was down, staring at the covers of the bed. She slowly, sluggishly lifted her hand and put her hand under her chin, brown met green, then the weight of her hand was too much and fell to Lena's chest, right above her heart.
"You are beautiful right here," Alex tapped a finger and then her hand slid to the bed as her drugs finally took her into the land of grey oblivion.
Lena sat there, starring at the woman in her guest bed. She sighed and stood and walked to the door. She looked back once more to the woman in the bed. All the Luthor could think as she stared at the sleeping form was how the woman she watched over really thought of her. Was it the pain killers talking? She shook her head and turned to the dinner uneaten and began to box it up. Kara would be starving when she got back. Her thoughts got the better of her once more. Why couldn't Kara just…
Later…
Lena woke and stretched to see the clock. 8:30 am on a Saturday and she couldn't help but think of the Super saving the city and the sister sleeping in the guest room. She sighed as she thought of the hand on her chest, tapping over her heart. Then she thought to the easy company in the kitchen with a tall blonde. She shook her head and began her day, she had a patient to look after.
Lena stepped from her master bedroom squeaky clean from her shower, wet hair thrown up on her head in a tight bun, and comfortable jeans and a MIT sweatshirt. She began the coffee pot and got two mugs ready. She walked over to the bedroom and looked in.
She blinked. The bed was made, pillows arranged, and the room looked like it had not been used. She looked around, she went down the hall to the bathroom and saw the door open. She slowly pushed it open, and then threw it open when she found no one. Her eyes flew open, and her heart hammered in her chest. She ran to her phone and called Kara. The phone rang and rang then went to voicemail. She growled, hung up, and then texted the hero that Alex was gone. Then she opened Alex's message discussion and texted her. Where was she?
She sat there, in her kitchen, her heart pounding in her chest, and her ears ringing from the amount of blood being pumped through her veins. She hated this feeling, the waiting, the hurting, the emptiness. Nothing, not even a note.
The doorbell rang. She looked at the clock and noticed almost an hour had flown by. The doorbell rang once more and then she took a breath and opened the door. In the hall was a messenger boy and a medium box.
"Lena Luthor?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied slowly, weary of any packages where anyone asked her full name. Then the boy held a device and asked her to sign. She did and then he left. She took the medium box to the kitchen table. She was afraid to open it. She bit her lip. It was times like this she wished Kara was here to see if it was just a package, or a trap. Lena scheduled a message for Kara. She would delete the message if anything didn't happen but if something did she wanted there to record she got at this time, what she remembered, what the boy looked like, any and everything.
She put the phone down and reached for the box and flipped open the lid as quickly as she could and jumped away. Nothing happened. No knockout gas, no bomb…. Nothing. She crept closer and looked in and tilted her head to the side. Flowers? She saw a card. She grabbed a paper towel and lifted the card thinking it could have been coated with a dust to get her to pass out. You could never trust people, packages, or her mother. She lifted it and read.
Lena,
I had a Doctor's appointment. I saw you sleeping and didn't have the heart to wake you up.
Thank you for your kindness.
Alex
Lena took the biggest breath she could and closed her eyes damning the brunette for not just waking her up. She opened the box again and pulled out the flowers. She smiled as she pulled soft white beautiful lilies from the box and began to place then on the counter. She hunted for a vase but never found one. She was never a flower person. So, she filled up a nice glass with water arranged the flowers, and set them on the bar. She grabbed her phone.
Lena: Thank you for the flowers and it was no problem being a guest in my home. Let me know how your appointment goes.
Lena went to the balcony and stepped out and looked out over her city. She clutched her arms around her. The November air was crisp and cold. A cold front blew through the city and drove her back inside. She went to retrieve socks and a cup of her coffee so she could read that story she rediscovered a few days ago. She felt for the lovers in the story. She kept seeing Alex as one of the women. Sacrificing, giving, and loving… to those around her. It is only a side she would ever show the people she loved. Alex was sensitive.
Alex: it went better than I thought. I just want sleep. Lol
Lena: Go home and rest, speaking of which, where is that so I can drop by and check up on you over the next few days?
Lena waited and it was nerve wracking then the message came through.
Alex: Kara knows where that is. Stop by with her im here all week, sorry I think my humor is off.
Lena looked at the message and wondered if Alex didn't want her there without Kara.
Lena: Kara has been very busy, but its ok if you don't want me by. I just hope you get better.
Alex: It's not that Lena, I just know how close you and Kara are and I thought you would like to be here with her.
Lena bit her lip. She didn't think of that. Kara would love to stop by and check up on her sister. Then her phone vibrated. An address showed, and she smiled.
Lena: See, how hard was that?
Alex: not hard at all. I'll see you later.
Lena: Bye
Lena looked down at her phone and smiled. Maybe she would drop by later.
Across the City…
Cat reached out and took the phone from the resting agent.
"What are you doing?" Alex demanded her phone back. Cat clucked her tongue and shook her head.
"You are hopeless," grinned Cat. A tone went off, and Cat replied. Alex tried to get her phone, but her ribs screamed. Cat only stepped a foot back teasing the agent and then another vibrate in Cat's hands and a devilish smile. She replied, and then she threw the phone back in Alex's lap. Alex looked over the texts and threw her head back with her eyes closed. She finally opened them and glared at the media mogul.
"Why in the hell are you in my apartment? And how did you get in here any ways?" Alex gritted out.
"I bribed the building super, and I needed to check up on my date to the gala," Cat eyed her and finally sat down, "You look like hell."
"Thanks, I am so happy I am beginning to look like how I feel," Alex huffed.
"How long with the bruises be visible and the cast on your foot?" Cat asked.
"You are sick!" Alex growled, "I am here laid up in bed after getting the shit kicked out of me and then lost for days, and all you want to know is how I will look for your gala!?"
"No," Cat clutched her bag and rolled her eyes, "I am not a kind person, Alex. This is about as nice as I get."
Alex looked at Cat, she saw the discomfort and sighed.
"You are right, you suck at nice," Alex paused and then softened her voice, and looked at the blonde, "I will be right as rain in about 4 weeks, just in time for our date," Alex grinned at the term. It was anything but a date.
"I'm glad to hear your recovery will be so quick. You really do look like you got hit by a truck," Cat tried once more with feeling.
"I think it will be a process Cat, don't get me wrong, but I think I will be able to walk around stiffly and be sufficient eye candy on your arm," Alex grinned.
"Ah yes About that, I do believe you will be quite exquisite no matter what I put you in," Cat flirted and smiled when Alex's blush spread down her neck.
"You are a shameless flirt," Alex jabbed at the woman.
"You are a stubborn chicken shit," Cat purred with a catlike smile. Alex could only smile softly. She was right. She was a chicken.
"I will be leaving but before I do is there anything I can get you?" Cat's smiled slipped and it was then that Alex saw how caring the shark could be. Alex smiled to the woman and reached out and shook her hand.
"Believe it or not I am simply happy you came by. Thank you. I will be alright," Alex said looking into brown eyes. She never realized that Cats eyes where the color of fallen leaves. Cat shook her hand back and then walked from the room, and out into the world.
Alex lay her head back and closed her eyes. Pain wracked her body and she was tired of pretending she was strong. A tear slipped from the side of her left eye. Before she could wipe away the tear she was once again engulfed by black.