Late the next morning Kara is sitting at her desk trying to concentrate on editing her piece before turning it in. But she is distracted at the thought of finally getting to see and talk to Ms Grant. In the almost three years as the woman's assistant, they never went longer than a week without communicating. Kara takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, as much as she is tempted to find a reason to go upstairs, she knows that it's pointless because Ms Grant is in meetings all day. Another hour passes and Kara realizes that she has been staring at the same paragraph without making a single edit. Checking her phone for messages, she hears Snapper grumbling his way through the bullpen. She pushes her phone aside and resumes editing her story.
He slows a bit, barely stopping at her desk, "Danvers. My office. Now." He grumbles before continuing on his way.
Not sure she heard correctly, she pauses and somehow he knows that she's reluctant and he adds.
"Has the concept of now, somehow escaped your tiny brain? Get in here Danvers," he grumbles louder holding his office door open and glaring at her. Dropping her head embarrassed, Kara grabs her steno pad and paper and scrambles after him.
"Chief if this is about the piece on the Mayor's office staff, it's done, I'm just doing the final edit before I submit it," she explains quickly as she passes by him and into the office.
He shuts the door and turns around to face her.
"The Mayor's staff story has been tabled," he replies gruffly.
"Oh," Kara replies disappointedly.
"I just got out of a meeting. Olsen resigned and Grant is back," he states as if that should explain everything.
Kara doesn't respond, instead she tries to look confused.
He narrows his eyes at her in disbelief. "You don't seem surprised by either of those things?"
"James Olsen is personal friend of mine," Kara admits carefully.
"You know what I think Danvers?" He asks rhetorically. "I think that Cat Grant called you to find out why your buddy Olsen quit, and I think that you took that opportunity to go around me to pitch her this piece on Guardian?" Snapper challenges tossing a folder at her.
"I would not do that," Kara blurts out anxiously. "And I've never even seen this pitch before," she adds glancing through the folder.
He stares at her a bit and decides that she is being honest, besides he knows that she is a terrible liar.
"Well, it's yours now. That's your new story assignment," he barks nodding at the folder in her hands.
Kara is stunned. Her mouth opens but no words come out.
"You gotta question Danvers, or have you just decided to share your fish impersonation?" He snarks.
"Questions," Kara retorts, opening and closing the folder again, but still confused as to how she got this assignment.
"Care to share them with me or should I try to guess what they are. I know, why don't we play charades," he snaps sarcastically.
She closes the folder and looks up at him. "I -I'll just should go back to my desk and review this... If I have questions, I'll come back," she suggests.
"Great, I'll just sit here patiently awaiting your return," he quips as he picks up his ringing phone. "Carr!" He barks into the receiver.
At her desk, Kara reviews the assignment outline again. It's an expose on the vigilante known as Guardian. The contact list includes the director of the vigilante task force at NCPD, a criminal justice professor at NCU and several eyewitnesses. Kara definitely has questions and she quickly begins making notes and highlighting areas that she wants more information on. A few minutes into it and her phone buzzes in her pocket alerting her that it is time to go meet Alex for lunch..
"Happy Birthday," Alex says as soon as Kara enters the lobby area..
"Alex," Kara says brightly giving her sister a quick hug. "Hey, I thought that we were meeting at Noonan's."
"Yeah well, I was early so I thought I'd meet you here and walk over with you," Alex replies brightly, slipping her arm into Kara's. "So how was your morning?
"Well, the story that I've been working on all week was pulled, but at least I got another assignment," Kara answers.
"What, they killed the puff piece on the Mayor's staff," Alex remarks in mock horror.
Kara laughs, "Actually, I probably should discuss this new one with you, but not now," Kara says glancing around at all the people surrounding them as they cross the lobby.
"Okay," Alex says wondering why Kara doesn't seem herself. "Hey, what's going on? You're usually more excited about your Earth Birthday," Alex asks before ducking them both into a small alcove for a bit of privacy.
"It's nothing," Kara replies, but Alex knows better and she waits. "Alex, this is my thirteenth year here," Kara says softly to her.
"And," Alex replies softly to prompt her to continue.
"From this point on I will have been on Earth longer than I was on Krypton," Kara whispers. "I will have known you and Eliza longer than I knew my parents."
"I should have known that. Damn it. I feel like I'm letting you down. I am a terrible sister," Alex groans.
"You're not a terrible sister. But lately I just can't stop thinking about what my life would be like if I had arrived here on time and taken care of Kal-El," Kara admits. "We wouldn't be sisters and I can't imagine my life without you."
"Oh Kara, I'm canceling with Maggie tonight," Alex replies, pulling her phone out of her pocket.
"Alex, no. You are not canceling with Maggie. I'm fine. It's just, Winn is now training to be a field agent, and James, James is leaving CATCO, it's all happening so fast," Kara says her voice breaking a little at the end. "And you know that change is hard for me."
"Kara, Maggie will understand," Alex pushes back.
"No Alex. I'm fine, really," Kara states firmly with a smile. "Besides I already have plans tonight, so go out and enjoy the concert."
"Wait, you have dinner plans tonight? With who?" Alex questions.
"Ms Grant is back and I'm having dinner with her tonight," Kara answers.
"Oh god, Kara doesn't she know it's your birthday? She's going to suck you back into being her assistant and you're a great reporter, you just need a chance to..." Alex begins to rant.
"I don't know if she remembers that it's my birthday and it's fine if she doesn't. But it's not a work dinner, she invited me over to catch up, I think maybe she misses me," Kara suggests hopefully.
"I'm sure that she has missed you in her own way, but she is probably counting on you telling her what's been going on at CATCO since she left. Kara this might be sort of a work dinner," Alex replies not wanting her sister to be disappointed by her dinner with her former boss.
Kara looks away, she doesn't want Alex to see how disappointed she feels at the thought of what she's said.
Alex understands that Kara is done talking about Cat Grant for now, and while she hopes that tonight goes well for Kara, she doesn't want her to get her hopes up that it's anything more than Cat trying to get information. The two sisters each steal wary glances at each other as they begins walking towards the restaurant.
"Um, so what time is the concert tonight?" Kara asks, mostly to change the topic.
"Maggie's picking me up at seven, then we're going to grab a quick dinner before the concert," Alex replies as they reach the door, she casts a glance near the back to see if James and Winn are ready for them.
"Well, I still can't believe that Maggie shares your love of the Barenaked Ladies," Kara teases. "You guys must really be made for each other," she adds as they enter the restaurant.
"I think that she has seen them more than I have. But then I haven't been to a concert since I went with you to that Backstreet Boys tour a couple years ago," Alex reminds her.
"Which was a really awesome birthday by the way," Kara inserts, but now she is noticing that not only is Alex acting weird, she is heading to the back of the restaurant. Past all their usual tables, Kara thinks as she looks around, before finally noticing James and Winn, arguing as they put candles on her birthday cake.
"I can't believe that you didn't get enough candles," Winn grumbles.
"I didn't notice that there were only 24 in a box, I don't buy birthday candles that often," James retorts.
"It's fine guys 24 is close enough," Kara says laughing at them.
The two guys turn around shocked that they didn't notice her approaching.
"Kara! Surprise!" They shout out together.
"Thank you," Kara says smiling at both of them.
"Happy Birthday Kara," James offers not quite making eye contact with her, but offering her a hug.
"Thanks James," she murmurs into his ear as they embrace.
"It's good to see you, I guess we'll have to work on that now that I am persona non grata at CATCO," he says letting his voice trail off.
"Yeah, I am surprised that you were able to get this close," Kara jokes.
"Me too," he returns with another laugh.
"I'm just glad that we're all here and not still stuck on the ceiling at the DEO," Winn says laughing.
"Winn," Alex says shushing him with a smack on his head. "You can't say stuff like that in places like this," she reminds him.
"Happy Birthday Kara," Maggie says as she approaches the little group. "Sorry that I am late, but here, I got a little something for you," the brunette says handing over a small gift bag.
"Maggie, you didn't have to do that," Kara says giving her a shy hug and taking the gift.
"I totally did though," Maggie replies. "I'm so sorry that I didn't know it was your birthday before I bought tickets for tonight," she adds.
"It's fine and Alex loves Barenaked Ladies," Kara replies.
"Oh I know she does," Maggie teases arching an eyebrow at her girlfriend, which immediately cause Alex and Kara to flush matching shades of red. "Guess that runs in the family," the small brunette quips teasing them both again.
Kara smiles brightly watching her sister wrap her arms around her girlfriend in public.
"Oh, hey the food is up," Winn says as the pager thing flashes and vibrates on the table. James follows him to help, leaving Kara, Alex and Maggie at the table.
"I love you," Kara mouths silently to her sister and Alex says it back.
Maggie catches the exchange and she reaches over and slips an arm around Kara to pull her in.
"You two are so damn cute," she exclaims giving them each a squeeze.
"Hey time for a gift!" Maggie shakes the gift bag at Kara, who smiles and opens it quickly.
"Yes!" Kara gushes and pumps her fist, two tickets to see an NSYNC tribute band next month. "I've heard that these guys are really really good, thank you Maggie!" She exclaims happily.
"Yes, but wait Kara. Here's the best part..." Alex says waiting until she has her sister's attention. "If you can't find a date, Maggie will go with you," she adds laughing.
"That is true, I love NSYNC," Maggie quips laughing, while Alex shakes her head.
"So Kara, what are you doing tonight for your birthday?" Winn asks as he walks with her back to CATCO.
"Oh, I have dinner plans," she says plainly.
"Oh, I guess that's why Mon-El wasn't here, because he's taking you out tonight," Winn remarks trying to be neutral.
"Actually, I don't have plans with Mon-El and he wasn't here because he's sort of avoiding me right now," Kara replies.
"Avoiding you? Why?" Winn asks curiously.
"He sort of told me how he feels the other night and I-I..." Kara stammers.
"Oh, you shot him down, because of course you did," Winn interjects sarcastically.
"Winn," Kara warns. "I shot him down because I don't feel the same way. Would it somehow have been better if I had lied to him?"
"No, no of course not. But just I thought that he might have a chance with you, what with him being an alien and all," Winn suggests.
She rolls her eyes at him. "I just want to focus on me right now and being a reporter is important to me," she reminds him.
"Yeah, so how is that going?" Winn questions, eager to change the subject.
"It's harder than I thought it would be," Kara admits. "But I think that I'm getting the hang of it and the new assignment that I got today is going to be a tough one," she says unsure if she should mention that it is about Guardian.
Winn's phone rings interrupting them, so Kara hangs back a moment to let him answer it.
"Hey, I've got to get back. Vasquez is running some system diagnostics after yesterday and she needs my help," he explains.
"Sure," Kara replies. "Thanks for lunch and everything," she adds.
"Of course, and Kara don't be a stranger. I know that I've been really busy lately, but I miss you. Maybe we could figure out a weekly lunch date or something," he suggests.
"I'd really like that," Kara says giving him a kiss on the cheek.
Entering the building Kara steps into the elevator and without thinking she hits the button for the 40th floor. As she watches the numbers fly past the floor that her office is on, she groans, realizing what she did. As the elevator approaches the 40th floor, she reaches out to punch the correct button but is distracted when she hears the flirty laugh Eve Teschmacher, which she knows because she's heard it before. The elevator doors open and there she is, standing beside Mon-El, their arms looped together.
"Hey Kara," Mon-El says greeting her quickly and stepping aside to let her pass.
"Oh hi Mike. Hi Eve." Kara replies, with a small wave, which brings attention to the gift bags in her hand.
"Oh gosh Kara, it's your birthday. Happy birthday," Eve says quickly.
"It's your birthday?" Mon-El questions.
"Uh, yeah happens every year, about this time," Kara quips awkwardly. "Enjoy your lunch, you two." She adds before dashing past them and down the hall to her office.
Unlocking the door, Kara slips into her office and quickly sets the bags on the desk. For a moment, she contemplates working from here the rest of the day. A light knock on the door behind her shakes her out of her reverie.
Kara turns around and almost jumps out of her skin. "Oh Ms Grant, what are you doing here?" She blurts out as the smaller woman pushes through the door and closes it behind her.
"Well, it is my building. And my office is on this floor," Cat points out teasingly.
"Right, that's not what I- what are you doing here in my office?" Kara asks rephrasing the question.
"I saw you get off the elevator and just wanted to say hello," Cat informs her.
Kara stares blankly at her a moment, slow to comprehend.
"We haven't seen each other in months," Cat reminds her. "Kara, have you recently hit your head or something?" She asks sarcastically but concerned just the same.
"No, nothing like that. It's just been a busy day," Kara answers, leaning back on her desk.
Cat's eyes go to the gift bags on the desk. "When I suggested that we have dinner tonight, I didn't remember that it was your birthday" she admits. "I understand if you have other plans," she remarks.
"No, I don't have any other plans tonight. Everyone is busy, so w-we just did a lunch thing," Kara explains waving her hands as if it's perfectly fine with it.
"Hmm," Cat murmurs, putting it together now. The falling out with James. Winn leaving CATCO and the sister is dating. Kara is lonely, that's why she is snappish and sad.
"Ms Grant, I am fine, really. And it's not really..., I mean it's a birthday, I'll have another one next year," Kara replies catching herself before she admits that today isn't really her birthday. Because she doesn't have one on this planet. Her birthday only exists in the Kryptonian universe.
Cat frowns, in over three years she has only seen this side of Kara a few times. But before she can decide what to say, her phone alerts her that it is almost time for her next meeting. "Kara, is seven too early for tonight?" She asks.
"Seven is fine Ms Grant," Kara replies. "Should I bring anything?"
"Steven will pick you up just before 7," Cat says flashing her a quick smile before darting out of the office.