They sat and talked for a few more hours talking about what they'd missed the past sixteen months.
Kara didn't like how she felt around Lena… She felt the pain of her abandonment all over again, but she also had so many things she wanted to know. She still didn't understand why she would run, to begin with. Nothing seemed to make sense, Lena's reasoning did not excuse what she did in Kara's opinion.
Sure, the running she could get, she could even understand Lena ignoring her for a month or two while she processed the information… but the threats? Disappearing for a year? None of that made sense to Kara, and quite honestly the way Lena just popped back up and expected an apology to fix everything made Kara angry. What the hell did she think was going to happen?
XXX
Two days later, Lena was sitting on her couch, longing to cuddle with Kara, but then she remembered that Kara snuggled with Sam now… and her heart shattered all over again.
She decided that if she couldn't hold Kara anymore, she could at least text her.
Lena: Hey
She waited for a response for about fifteen minutes and then texted again.
Lena: How is your day going so far today?
She got a response instantly.
Kara: It's going fine. Yours?
Lena smiled and hoped that her next move wouldn't be too presumptuous.
Lena: I'd like to talk to you about it in person… brunch?
She only had to wait a moment before the response came.
Kara: Sorry, can't. Brunch with Sam today.
Lena's body felt limp with jealousy as she responded.
Lena: Oh. That's okay, another time then.
Kara: I'm free Thursday for brunch if you are. It'd have to be at the office though because I will have to get right back to work.
Lena smiled as she replied.
Lena: Sounds perfect. I'll be there.
XXX
It was that night when she realized what Kara being in a relationship with Sam meant… It meant that she was likely having sex with her. It meant that they kissed and cuddled and held hands. It meant that the love of Lena's life was doing everything that Lena wanted to be doing with her, with someone else.
It meant that Lena was about to get sick with jealousy.
She knew that she brought this onto herself. Knew that this was all her fault. Knew that if she'd just stayed there and roughed it out they would still be together, but it didn't make any of it less painful.
Kara Danvers was kissing someone else, and that knowledge alone made Lena want to die.
XXX
Lena walked through the elevator doors on the thirty-eighth floor of CatCo, and all eyes focused on her.
Everyone there knew about her past relationship with Kara. Everyone knew that she'd broken Kara's heart, and everyone there loved Kara… so the glares she received weren't unexpected, but they still stung. Although she knew she deserved them.
She walked down the halls until she found Kara's office, the one where they'd spent so much time together when she owned CatCo. She let out a long, deep, steadying breath and knocked.
The door opened a few moments later to show Kara smiling back at her. "Hey."
Lena's heart flipped as Kara stood in front of her with her hair done in a professional bun. She was wearing a pink top, black slacks, and a brown belt… she was the epitome of gorgeous. "Hey," Lena replied as she lifted up two take out bags. "I brought food." She smiled nervously.
Kara smiled and stepped aside to let her in. "Good, I brought an appetite." She laughed hesitantly.
Kara sat behind her desk and gestured for Lena to take the seat opposite her. "Please, sit." She insisted.
Lena did so and placed the two bags on the desk between them. She smiled as she emptied the contents of the first bag. "I got you your favorite." She announced as she placed the container on the desk.
Kara squealed. "Potstickers!"
Lena giggled and nodded. "Potstickers."
"Thank you!" Kara said sincerely. "I'm going to devour these."
Lena smiled as her heart fluttered from making Kara happy… That's all she ever wanted to do.
XXX
They were having a great conversation about the new direction. Cat was taking CatCo, when something caught Lena's eye… The picture on Kara's desk was not the one of Kara giving Alex a noogie; it was of Kara and Sam… kissing.
Lena's stomach churned, her eyes burned with tears and her heart tore in two… she needed to leave.
"Well, I suppose I shall go back to the salt mine." She said, hoping to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Kara nodded. "Yeah, you probably have a lot of C.E.O things to attend to." She teased.
"I'll see you soon, yes?" Lena asked hopefully, her heart in her throat as she fought back tears.
"Sure. I'll text you when I'm available." She answered.
Lena smiled shakily. "Yes, Please do." She replied before turning to leave.
"Are you okay?" Kara asked. "You seem off all of a sudden."
Lena turned around and smiled, fighting back a sob that threatened to rip out of her throat. No, I'm not fine. You're in love with someone else. "Yes, I think that the chicken in my salad was bad." She lied.
Kara frowned. "Do you need anything?"
Yes, you. "No," Lena said. "Just some fresh air. I'll see you later."
With that, she was out the door and into the elevator, where she finally let herself break down.
XXX
Kara wasn't sure what to make of Lena's newest behavior. She wanted to hate her, to not want a single thing to do with her, but she was acting like the Lena she had been best friends with, and that Lena was someone that she could never turn away no matter how hurt she was. So, instead of fighting Lena at every turn, she decided to let things play out and see where they ended up… Who knew? Maybe they could be friends again in the distant future.
XXX
Kara: You home?
Lena: Yes. Do you need something?
Kara: Open your door.
Lena immediately did as asked, it'd been a week since she saw Kara and she was dying to hear her beautiful voice again. She rushed to the mirror, fixed her lipstick and hair as fast as she could and then ran to the door and opened it.
"I brought ice cream!" Kara singsonged.
Lena giggled. "What brings you out tonight?"
Kara shrugged. "Sam and Ruby are at parent-teacher conferences tonight, and Alex is working late at the D.E.O so I figured I would come say hi… with ice cream."
Lena smiled. "Rocky Road or Butter Pecan?"
Kara smiled conspiratorially. "Both." She whispered.
Lena mock gasped. "Are you trying to fatten me up, Miss Danvers?"
Kara chuckled. "With your workout routine, you're as safe as me on that front."
They both laughed for a moment before Lena sighed, all she wanted to do was lean in and capture Kara's lips with her own… but she didn't get to do that anymore… Sam did.
"Which do you want first?" Kara asked. "Butter Pecan?"
Lena nodded. "Butter Pecan."
They talked and ate, and even laughed, and it felt just like it had felt when they were friends until Kara sighed and put down her carton of Rocky Road. "I can't do this. I can't pretend I'm not mad at you. I can't lie to you and say that I'm not still hurt because you left… because I am, still mad, and I am still hurt."
Lena nodded, her chest clenching with regret. "I understand." She said honestly. "I hurt you in a way no one else has ever hurt you, and because of that you have every right to hate me."
Kara shook her head, "I don't hate you, but I am still hurt, I'm still angry, and I just thought that you should know that."
Lena nodded. "I do, and I tend to do whatever it takes to earn back your forgiveness."
Kara shrugged. "I just need time."
"Time away from me?" Lena asked.
"No. Just… time."
Lena nodded. She could live with that.
