Two Days Later…
A bubbly blonde superhero bounded into the medical bay of the DEO. She came to a pause when she saw the Commander of the Deo not at his normal post in Command Center but sitting cross-legged in front of Alex's tube. Kara softened her steps trying not to disturb Jonn. She was not completely happy with his words the other day, but she knew they made sense. She did need to make a choice. She did need to finally stop the back and forth. Lena had also withdrawn ever so slightly when she was around, and she wondered if there was a sign on her back that said Social Pariah.
Kara sat down on the floor next to Jonn and crossed her legs. She meditated, went through chants in her mind, and thought of her planet, and Rao. She thought of her mother and her heart felt warm then Eliza and she smiled slightly at the warmth filling her chest. She thought of Alex and she could not help but peek and look at her floating sister, then to Jonn. She sighed. Cat and Lena had also plagued her thoughts.
"Kara," came the low timber of Jonn's voice. Kara looked to the Martian and saw in his eyes his concern. It made her shoulders hunch and her eyes drop.
"What was the real reason why Alex came here and tried the tube?" Kara asked and looked back to her sister. She noticed the healing almost instantly when she stepped through the door, but she hated the still look on her sister's face. She wondered if she looked like that? Lifeless, inches from death. She watched as Jonn pushed up on his fingers and slid his feet under him and stood. He walked to the glass of the chamber and did something so fantastically human Kara had to blink to see that it wasn't her imagination. Jonn, stoic resilient Jonn, placed his hand on the cold glass of the chamber, and left it there, as if he wished and longed to be able to touch Alex. Hold her in his harms.
"She is broken Kara," Jonn said hoping he didn't reveal too much. Kara shot to her feet and placed a hand on his shoulder. He didn't turn around, but he could see her reflection.
"Maggie and Alex's relationship was special. It will take time for her to get over it," Kara spoke softly. Jonn shook his head and walked away from the chamber and out of Kara's reach. He leaned against a desk, crossed his arms.
"She was finding her heart again," Jonn said in a raspy emotion filled voice when he turned his head to look at Alex floating. Kara felt the floor fall from under her feet. Alex had been hiding things from her. She kept things from her and didn't trust her.
"NO," came a booming voice as Jonn bellowed and shook her from her thoughts, "I am a mind reader Kara, she has told me nothing."
Kara felt her chest filling with air and she shoulders lighten.
"So she hasn't been pushing me away?" she asked and almost sounded like a small child. Jonn shook his head.
"Then why has she been away? Why won't she talk to me? What is wrong with me?" Kara's eyes began to fill with salty tears.
"Nothing Alien Daughter," Jonn said gently as he reached out for her. Kara quicker than him and flew into his and cried into his chest.
"I can't lose my sister Jonn," Kara sniffed into his shirt. His arms came around her and she stilled absorbing his strength and kindness.
"You never will. Alex will never abandon you. She will love you, sacrifice for you, and die for you," Jonn pulled away and placed fatherly hands on her shoulders. "She would put your happiness first before her own," he said softly then walked back to the tube.
She looked at Alex. How much has Alex, aside from her childhood and protecting her, sacrificed for Kara? How much of that sacrifice would have made Alex truly happy?
The Next Day…
After Jonn's conversation in the medical unit she was constantly torn between what her wants were. Kara felt herself split between being a sister, friend, reporter and then Supergirl. She didn't know when it happened when she felt Alex had drifted slightly from her. Kara mused as she tried to focus on writing a fluff piece on one of the up and coming philanthropists in National City. He was a nice guy from what Kara could glean, said all the right things, and smiled at all the right times. The interview, in Kara's opinion, was lackluster. Which make Kara's thought drift always to Lena or Alex.
What could have pushed Alex to try the chamber for healing? She did well in it while she was in her coma when Reign kicked the hell out of her, but she was Kara, Kryptonian, and could heal with the light of the sun. Alex was not. Alex was a regular old human being. Outwardly Alex was like herself but every time she saw Alex she was either buried nose deep in her laptop, with Lena, or at the DEO. They have not had much sister time. Kara nodded to herself as she hit save. She would make more time for Alex and get Alex to come over to Game night. Or maybe they could do Game night at Alex's depending on how she healed. It was time she reconnected with her sister. It was time that Kara put her first for once. It was also time to try and get Alex to open up to her. There was a ping on her phone and she smiled. Cat.
Cat: What is your sister's favortite color?
What in the world kind of question is that? Kara didn't know that Cat was social with her sister. Kara's thumbs hovered over the phone wondering what in the world was going on.
Kara: Greens, blacks and blues. Why? What's up?
Cat: So, the colors of nasty bruises. Interesting. How about an emerald green?
Kara looked at the response. It was so Cat, but it didn't answer her question. What did Cat want? Why was she asking about Alex?
Kara: I am not sure. Why?
Kara hedged as she waited for the answer to her question.
Cat: I know she was worse for wear and I wanted to get her something nice.
Kara: Cat you don't do nice. I didn't know you knew my sister. What's going on?
Cat: Your assessment of me pierced my blackened heart. I care for Agent Danvers and simply wanted to get her a get well soon gift.
Kara: When did you meet her? How did you become friends?
Cat: I filled out a massive amount of paperwork for a specific agency, and she was the currier. We got to talking and found we are easy in each other's presence.
Kara looked at her phone. She blinked, then blinked again. She could feel the plastic screaming under the pressure from her finger tips. She let her grip ease.
Kara: Cat… what paperwork did you fill out?
Cat: I would have thought they would have told you or at the very least it would have been apparent, Kara.
Kara felt her heart beat rise, and her phone slipped from her fingers. She snatched the phone off the desk holding on to the device like it was some sort of lifeline. Why? She had no idea. She looked over the document and then printed. She sped through the office and submitted her story to Snapper, and missed his eyebrow rise at her abrupt arrival, then departure. She missed the snarky comment about her not being bubbly enough to wear a ponytail like hers. She missed just about everything as she took the stairwell and literally flew up the steps, and then almost threw the door from its hinges and took a deep breath and stepped out onto Cat's floor of the building. She walked as fast as possible while still looking and appearing human. She investigated the glass walled office and saw her boss. She murmured a good afternoon to Eve, and then pushed the door open, and then stumbled as she quickly reached for the door before it slammed into the glass wall and then eased the door shut.
Cat sat up straighter in her chair, and then looked up over her glasses. Brown watched Kara's every movement. Kara felt the flame of her anger quickly subside into embers. She stood there watching the blonde watch her. Then she garnered the last of her anger and clenched her fist and planted her feet.
"What documents, Cat?" Kara growled. She watched as the blonde looked around Kara and into the busy media room, then back to the cardigan wearing superhero before her.
"You want to do this here? Have this conversation right now?" Cat asked eyeing the brunette on the far wall talking to a coworker. Then she looked up, as did the woman next to her.
"Yes," Kara said firmly. Cat stood, tossed her glasses on the desk and indicated to the balcony with a snap of her arm pointing to the balcony. She looked back to the pair watching her then glared. Heads snapped down into files and then Cat squared her shoulders as she walked after Kara. Cat walked to the open area with a slight stomp in her step and then she slowed when she saw Kara standing there in the sun, as if bathing in the radiant energy fed the woman's soul. Kara's hands were resting on the railing, and her head tilted up to the golden star. Wisps of her hair blew gently in the wind, and the sky was a beautiful blue, just like the color of…
Kara turned, and those blue eyes pinned her to the spot, but she was Cat grant, she would not let a mere glance make her into a bumbling fool, a lovesick child. No, she was Queen of All Media, and she will conduct herself as such. She walked to the rail and stood next to the woman that tore her heart from her chest by choosing a Luthor, and then shoving the half dead organ back into her chest with the force of her warm smile. Dear newspaper Gods, she was a sucker for those blue eyes.
"Cat, your heart rate increased, are you alright?" Kara asked as she turned to the older woman and waited with a furrowed brow. Cat sighed and looked out over the city, in some instances, her city, then turned back to the woman, and looked at her. She lifted her hand to the flesh between Kara's eyebrows, and caressed that spot smoothing out the ridges.
"Don't have that look Dear, you could get wrinkles," Cat spoke softly, then her fingertips slid over the scar.
"I have said this once Kara, that this scar, is both Kara Danvers's, and Supergirl's distinguishing flaw. This beautiful score of skin just here is how people will see that you are both people. I have known for a very long time," Cat looked away and placed her hands on the rail. "I wanted to show you that you can trust me," Cat looked to Kara as she heard the exhale of air from the taller woman and then an intake of breath as if to speak but Cat intercepted.
"Don't, Kara," then Cat turned and went to go back in to her office, "I have made my choice," then she looked back at Kara with a look she had never seen before. Kara swallowed, then Cat's voice rang, "I have made my choice in more ways than one," with that statement Kara was left on a balcony replaying words that would taunt at the edges of her thoughts for days to come.
One Day Later…
Lena toyed with the phone in her hand. She sat at her desk and daydreamed. Kara literally flew over for lunch. Lena laughed when Kara came in with to-go boxes from a small restaurant in Italy. Lena simply shook her head and reached out for her box and ate the food with delight. It was different, spices where different, somewhat sweeter, and less acidic. She closed her eyes and loved this dish. She would have to tell… Lena's eyes flew open as she thought of a brunette. A brunette she kissed, returned affection toward. Then she looked to Kara and her heart seemed to ease, and worries slipped away. She enjoyed one of the best lunches Kara had brought for them. Who wouldn't love lunch from Italy, and breakfast from France?
Kara was extraordinary of course, but she was even more special than just the powers. She was kind and loving, and gentle. Lena leaned her head back against the chair and stared at her ceiling. She knew she would have to push things with Kara. She would have to take the step. But why did she always have to make choices? It was rather cumbersome. She wanted to be swept off her feet, and she had lunch with someone who could literally do just that with a finger.
She thought longer on the things she wanted. She wanted love. She wanted a family. She wanted as simple a life she could get while running a company and shouldering the name of Luthor. She wanted a simple life. Wake up, eat breakfast with her significant other, go to work, come home, and look forward to the moment her shoes hit her welcome mat at her door. She wanted to look forward to hearing a voice yell 'out honey, I'm home', or 'I'm back here' or 'I am glad to see you'. She wanted surprises, and passion. She wanted cozy fireside conversations, and nude swims in the ocean. She wanted to be equal in every way.
The more she thought of her wants she realized she made a mental pros and cons list for each of them women in her life. Lena shook her head and put her phone down. She was hopeful to hear from Alex, but Kara only said she was conducting research and could not be disturbed. When Alex wants she will come back. Lena nodded, she understood research, but that didn't mean she didn't look to her phone for a message or every time the door opened she was hoping for a chestnut headed woman toting coffee ice cream, and an easy yet impish smile.
She picked up her pin, looked at the stack of papers and grit her teeth. She would get lost in work. That always helped in the past.
Two days Later…
Jonn meditated and concluded he hated seeing Alex floating lifelessly in that small glass tube. She never once had an issue and her time to wake up was fast approaching. He heard an off beep and then his eyes flew open. He looked at his earth daughter and then to her read out, and then her heart machine. He promised her any hiccup he would call this project, but it was simply a moment where her heart rate skipped.
He looked at Alex, and saw her color had returned to normal, and her bruising had receded. There was a little hit of yellowing about her neck, but the bruises where in the final stages of healing and to everyone around him this was a success. Humans could use the chamber to heal as well. Jonn snapped his head to the left. The offbeat beep. Alex's fingers moved, he could swear on his Martian gods that they moved. He watched as her heart rate rose, and then he hit a button. He watched as fingers clenched and unclenched. She was waking up ahead of time. This was bad. If she woke up in the water, she risked the chance of drowning due to the strange environment and panic. The doctor and engineers came into the room and got to work. Jonn saw her eyes open and then the beeping blasted off the walls in a rapid staccato off the walls. Too fast, it was way too fast. But luckily the crew got the chamber open and he let out a breath as he heard a gasp of breath.
Jonn walked to the tube and moved one of the workers aside and lifted Alex to his chest and cradled her on his way to the medical bay beds. She was cold, but it was the water. He threw a blanket around her shoulders as she began to shake and reached for the heating pad. He plugged it in and put it against her body. One of the medical staff arrived right behind him and helped Alex remove her wet clothes. Then he looked back onto the bed. Her eyes, they were tired, and slightly empty. He opened his thoughts. Nightmares, constant barrage of nightmares had plagued her while she was in her recovery. He clenched his fist. Those eyes. They looked like a woman who lost everything, and nothing at the same time. Then a flash of a kiss, hands, bodies pressed together. He saw a spark, however small, light in the back of her brown eyes. He let out a breath. She would be fine. If not, he would be there for her and help her to come back to them. He turned to find his phone, but he heard a rasp from the bed.
"Don't tell her yet."
Jonn turned around and saw Alex, weak, and exhausted. He watched as she let the staff manhandle her body, strip her bare as if she were nothing more than a toy doll that needed to be cleaned up then studied. He let his eyes burrow into hers and then he nodded. No, he would not tell Kara right now, but he would tell her later. She needed her family, but she needed rest first.
That Night…
Kara flew into her apartment after a highspeed chase gone bad. Fire, and kids in a bus. She couldn't get the smell of smoke out of her nostrils. It was in her clothes, hair, and on her skin. She walked exhausted straight to the bedroom stripping her suit from her body and throwing it in the washer as she walked by it. She stood, nude, before a mirror as the water for the shower warmed up. The blast from the run away car exploded right after she got the driver out of the car. She still had ringing in her ears. She threw the man on the road and covered his body with hers and her cape. They were thrown away by the shock, but they survived. Ever since she had a slight muffled ringing in her ears. She checked out her body to make sure there were no pieces of debree alien or terrestrial. Eversince the Red-K incident she had taken to checking for even the tiniest specks of dust that land on her from explosions. Satisfied she hopped into the shower. She never heard her door open.
She heard the shower and smiled. She made herself comfortable as she depsited to-go boxes on the counters of the island in the kitchen and took a deep breath. Smoke, she stood and walked from the couch she sat on and followed her nose. She looked into the washing machine and saw the suit. She reached out and picked it up by the shoulders and caressed the suit with her thumbs. She took a deep breath and let the suit fall. She heard the water turn off and before she could make her way too far back to the living room her jaw dropped, and then she swallowed.
"Dear God, you are gorgeous," she whispered as she stood in the middle of the living room. Kara snapped and spun around. All you could see was a flash of pink in a blurr and then a head peek around the corner of the wall. Kara's eyes grew to the size of baseballs.
"CAT! What are you doing here!?"
The door opened. The two blondes look to the door. ANotehr woman looks up, closed the door softly while trying to breathe.
"Hello Cat, Hello Kara. Is this a bad time?"
"Yes," Cat scoffed.
"No," squeeked Kara.
"I see, well Ill sit right here and let you two figure it out," Green eyes watched Kara watching Cat. Kara nervously pulled her head back from the corner of the door. The two women looked to the other, and then away.
"Hows tricks Little Luthor?" asked Cat.
"Oh you know, the usual. And you?" Lena replied.
"Same," Cat replied.
Kara came into the living room and saw the women, and then the food. Her 1000 watt smile lit up the room.
"Lena you shouldn't have," Kara said as she dove into the bags.
"I didn't," Lena said lowly. Kara's head popped out of the bag. She looked at Cat.
"You should not have don't this, but thank you," Kara said with a warm smile and grabbed three plates. She dished up the food and then smiled as she watched both women had taken off their coats and got slightly more comfortable. Kara stood scarfing down her dinner while the two CEO's took bites measuring up the other.
"Did you find something for Alex?" Kara asked Cat. Cat smiled at Kara and shrugged.
"We will see when she comes back," Cat said with a warm smile and looked down to her food and then took a bite.
"No matter what I am sure she will love it," Kara said supporting the blonde.
"What did you get her, maybe I can help you decide if you haven't," Lena said with a smile, and a slight edge to her voice. Cat looked over to the other woman and then to Kara.
"You know her that well?" Cat asked and then picked up her fork, "How well is that, Little… Luthor?" Cat asked with more meaning to her question than Lena was comfortable with in front of Kara. She looked over to Kara and into those blue eyes.
"Never as well as her sister," Lena saved making Kara smile. But Cat did not miss the narrowing of Lena's eyes, and the slight pause before responding. Interesting.
"So, what did you get her?" Kara asked bubbly as ever as she went back for more food. Cat declined Kara's offer to top off her food as did Lena.
"Oh, just a small thing," Cat said mysterious as ever.
"Let me know if I need to drop it off and I'll take it to her," Kara offered, and Cat smiled and shook her head then looked at Lena. Brown bore into green, then back to Kara.
"Not necessary. I will see her soon," Cat said.
"How do you know? She is in research and development right now and could not be reached," Lena asked sharply. Cat turned slightly to Lena, and eyes clamped onto eyes once more. Then with a smirk, and a pat to Lena's hand she spoke.
"You know the Danvers Sisters," Cat paused and watched Lena once more, oh yes something was remiss, "When you get a promise from then they will move heaven and earth to make it so," Cat replied and then turned to Kara and then picked up her fork and took a small bite.
"When did she promise? What did she promise is a better question?" Kara asked food forgotten.
"I will see her in three weeks," Cat paused for effect, "as my date to the Gala."
Kara and Lena stared, jaws slack open. One shocked the other angry, but both hurt.
"Cat why are you here?" Lena asked as she narrowed her eyes. Cat looked at Lena and then to Kara. She leaned down and rummaged in her bag. She pulled out the magazine and tossed it on the counter between the two women.
"Sometimes, where there is one, there is the other, and I had a feeling you would come here to check up on Kara after watching what happened on the news," Cat said as she took one final bite and then pushed her still very full plate away. She stood as Kara reached for the magazine with both Lena's face looking up toward Kara's. Lena saw the cover as Kara opened the magazine to read the article. Cat made her way to the door.
"See you soon, you happy couple," Cat said as she devilishly winked, and then walked through the door. When the door was closed she walked down the hall and made it to her car and driver. When she knew she was far enough away, she let out a breath.
"Damn," she cursed. She tried with all her might, but the vision of Kara, all of Kara, filled her mind. He body reacted, her heart flipped, and her stomach clenched. Her core, she swallowed. The simple sight of Kara sans clothes made her body react like that of a 13-year-old boy. She rolled her on her shoulders and leaned it back. Then she let her smile slip onto her lips. She saw Kara and Kara reacted. Blue like the daytime sky slipped to that of the ocean as Cat said she was gorgeous.
Back at the Apartment…
"Did you know she was coming?" Lena asked Kara as the blonde packed away what was left over. Kara's shoulders straightened, and she stood upright and turned slowly. She looked at Lena and then she tried to listen.
"Stop gauging me like that," Lena gritted, "It isn't fair, and you only do that when you want to avoid an argument. So, speak to me, speak to me as if we are…" Lena stopped and took a breath.
"As if what Lena?" Kara asked. Lena shook her head.
"Answer my question," Lena demanded lowly.
"Answer mine," Kara retorted.
"I asked first," Lena clenched her hands together, narrowed her eyes, and then looked at the woman she said she loved.
"No, I did not know she was coming," Kara said and watched as Lena's shoulders dropped slightly. She reached out for Lena, but the brunette moved from the island pacing.
"What are we doing Kara?" Lena asked. Kara cocked her head. It was almost desperate. Kara opened her mouth words on her tongue.
BEEP! DUN DUN DUN!
Both women lunged for their phones. Kara smiled softly as she read the message. Lena's brow furrowed. Who was Jonn?
Lena didn't care at the moment, "Kara can we get there?" she asked hope in her eyes.
"Yeah, about her research," Kara pushed her glasses back up her nose nervously. Lena knew she lied as soon as she read her message.
"DEO said you couldn't talk about?" Lena asked. Kara looked at her. She gave her the perfect out. She gave her the perfect excuse for lying to her.
"Sort of," Kara bit her lip, "I didn't know when she decided to do what she did then I didn't know if she wanted me to tell you what she did, so I have kept it on the down low," Kara looked down and fiddled with her glasses.
"What did she do?" Lena growled.
"She volunteered for an experiment in a hydro chamber for healing. Like when," Kara swallowed and then looked up, "Like when I was in a coma after Reign attacked," Kara hated talking about those times. Lena blinked. That was dangerous. That was… reckless. She went into suspended animation… her mind did the calculations. She swallowed as the time matched up with the morning after their kiss. The morning she woke in Kara's arms, not Alex's in Alex's bed. She remembered she expected Alex to be holding her, and how peaceful that thought was.
"So many things could have gone wrong," Lena whispered and pulled her coat on trying to focus on seeing her friend.
"Are you mad at me?" Kara sped around the island and reached out for Lena. Lena raised her hands and warded Kara off.
"Yes, I am. Please, let's get to Alex," Lena then softly, "We can talk after."
Kara nodded and reached for Lean and the woman stepped slightly away.
"it will be faster if I fly us," Kara said holding out her hand. Lena stepped into Kara's arms.
As wind blew by she only thought of three things. Alex must have been more hurt than she thought, and it was her fault. Kara lied to her, but she kissed Alex back. Can she really be mad at Kara when she had not told her of that night in Alex's arms? Third, Cat was taking Alex to the gala, why?