A/N: Happy to report that my workload is easing up and I'm beginning to have more time to write. Thank you all for patiently waiting for updates. xoxo, Madly
Maggie is sitting in her living room trying to find something to watch on TV. It figures that she finally has an evening off and she's too mad at Alex to spend it with her. Pointing the remote at the tv, she brings up the queue on her DVR to look for something to watch. Before she can decide, she is interrupted by a knock at her door. Sighing, she drops the remote onto the table and stands up.
Crossing the room, she takes a moment to prepare herself, certain that it's Alex on the other side. She takes a deep breath and adjusts her gaze to unimpressed and annoyed before opening up the door to glare at her girlfriend.
"I'm an idiot," Alex blurts out as soon as the door opens.
Well, that's a good start, the small brunette thinks as she opens the door wider and prompts, "And..." as she waits for the other woman to enter.
"And you have every right to be mad at me," Alex continues. "Maggie, I'm sorry that I don't know how to do this. You're my first relationship since college and I'm still figuring it out. Please talk to me, I don't want to lie to you," she pleads as she enters the other woman's apartment.
The smaller brunette takes a breath and exhales slowly as she process the apology. "Alex, then don't lie to me. There are going to be times when we can't tell each other things, but we don't have to lie," Maggie points out. Her arms are crossed but she doesn't seem as angry as before.
"So if I had just told you that it wasn't Max, you wouldn't push me to tell you who it was?" Alex counters hopefully.
"No, I probably would have pushed for you to tell me who it was," Maggie concedes, stepping closer to her. "But you could have told me that you knew and couldn't tell me," she adds.
"Okay," Alex says considering that response.
The two women take a moment to consider each other, before Alex breaks the silence.
"For the record, I told James to tell you himself," she informs her before reaching out and pulling the brunette into her arms.
Maggie allows herself to relax into Alex's arms before responding with a sigh.
"I hate that he is going to get hurt or worse," Maggie mumbles into her hair.
"I know. Kara and I both have discussed it with him," Alex says pulling away slightly. "I guess I understand where he is coming from though, it is hard to sit on the sidelines and watch Kara putting herself on the line," Alex admits.
"Why do you think he's doing it? Is it to get her attention?" Maggie questions pulling back a little to see her girlfriend's face.
"I don't think that's it. You know we used to joke that he was a cape chaser, first Superman, then Supergirl, but maybe he has cape envy instead," Alex jokes.
"Hmm," Maggie murmurs, standing up on her toes to kiss the other woman. "I missed you," she admits softly.
"I was trying to give you space, like you asked, but then I remembered that you had tonight off and I really wanted to see you and apologize face to face," Alex confesses.
"I'm sorry that I got so angry last night," Maggie apologizes and pulls her over to the couch to sit down. "It was a really frustrating night and then finding out that you had added to it by not being honest with me... well, it pissed me off," she explains sitting down beside her.
"I get it and believe me when I say that I will try not to make that mistake again," Alex promises taking her hand and kissing it lightly.
Maggie's only response is to slip her other hand into Alex's short hair and pull her closer to deepen the kiss.
"It's not up for discussion, this isn't Livewire. Steve Waller is just a man. And I have pissed off more than my share of men over the years," Cat reminds her. "He'll be mad, hold a grudge. Probably troll me on Twitter, which he probably already does." Her voice sounds unimpressed and calm, but Kara knows that the media mogul's pulse rate is still higher than normal. Although it could be that she is annoyed at the conversation surrounding her safety, but Kara can't let it go. Now that Cat is back in her life and knows her identity, the hero needs her to be safe.
"Well, if it's not up for discussion and you are not going to bring in additional security, then I'm staying," Kara answers defiantly. Afterall, she would do this for any of her friends and family if they were in the same situation, she reminds herself.
Cat sighs. Not because she wants to be alone tonight, because she doesn't. And with Carter at his father's until the weekend, she would love to have the company. Cat begins to protest but Kara stops her.
"Staying," Kara repeats firmly.
A slight smirk on Cat's face indicates that she recognizes that they are at an impasse reminiscent of when Kara was trying to get Cat to leave the last time Livewire escaped.
"Fine," Cat replies flatly. "I'm going to change into something more comfortable," she adds.
"I should probably head out and get my nightly patrol done," Kara replies. "You'll be okay, while I'm gone?"
"Yes, yes. I'll be fine," Cat replies feigning annoyance, before adding, "Be safe Supergirl."
Kara lands on the balcony with a soft thud. Her patrol of the city allowed her to make sure that Steve Waller wasn't lurking anywhere nearby lying in wait for Cat. Taking a moment, she listens for Cat and realizes that the other woman is in her home office. Entering the french doors and closing them softly behind her, Kara spins out of her supersuit and back into her other clothes before checking the doors and windows and setting the alarm.
At the door to Cat's office, Kara pauses. The CEO is curled up on the small couch, glasses askew and laptop precariously balanced on the table in front of her.
Quietly, Kara enters and secures the laptop before gently removing the glasses from Cat's face.
"Hmm, You came back," Cat mumbles waking up a bit at the contact.
"Of course. I said that I was staying," Kara reminds her softly.
Cat wakes up and moves to a sitting position. "Kara, why is it so important to you?"
"Not many people know me like you do," Kara answers truthfully.
"Mmm," Cat murmurs, she didn't expect this level of honesty, but she should have known better.
"Cat," Kara says hesitantly. "I-I need you to be safe. Especially now that you know who I am."
"I've always known who you were," Cat reminds her.
"It's different now, you know that," Kara says softly.
"Is it though?" Cat asks rhetorically, sighing heavily.
Unsure of what to do, Kara bites her lip nervously.
"It's fine Kara," Cat adds noticing the indecision and concern on the younger woman's face.
"It's not though, I can tell," Kara replies worriedly, as she watches Cat stand up and stretch lightly. Rising to her feet, Kara hesitates, there are so many things that she wants to say, but she isn't sure if she should. Instead, she just pulls her into her arms and hugs her tightly.
Shocked at first, Cat's body is stiff and Kara is about to pull back and apologize when she feels her relax into the embrace.
Cat pulls the girl closer, nuzzling her face into the long soft blonde tresses, she allows herself a moment to revel in the warmth and strength of Kara's arms.
Without thinking, Kara pulls back to look at her. Cat's eyes are closed, Kara dips her head down and presses a soft kiss to her lips. Green eyes fly open at the contact and for a moment Kara fears that she has overstepped.
"If you're staying... the guest room is across the hall," Cat says softly before leaving the room.
"Kara!"
Cat's voice calling out for her shatters the silence. The hero dashes out of the guest room and into the master bedroom instantly.
As the bedroom door flies open, Kara murmurs, "I'm right here, Cat," as she surveys the room to assess the situation.
"Oh," Cat replies in confusion as she watches the other woman settle onto the edge of the bed.
"Bad dream?" Kara asks.
Cat nods, then closes her eyes again taking a moment to let the dream dissipate.
"Cat is everything alright?" Kara asks softly.
"Sorry about waking you up, especially like that," Cat says embarrassedly.
"It's fine, I wasn't really sleeping," Kara admits.
"You do sleep though?" Cat asks curiously.
"Of course, I just don't need as much as you do," Kara answers flushing a bit as she realizes that she can practically see through Cat's lacy nightgown without much effort.
Kara stands up and walks across the room to Cat's reading chair. "If you don't mind, I'll just stay over here until you fall back asleep," she says sitting down.
"That's not necessary," Cat says protesting lightly. "There's no need for you to stand guard, it was just a bad dream Kara."
"Please," Kara pleads, moving to the edge of the chair.
"If you insist on staying, then at least lie down. This bed is big enough for both of us," Cat points out gently patting the bed for effect.
A nervous look crosses Kara's face and Cat is sure that it has to do with the kiss, that she still hasn't acknowledged.
Cat swallows hard. "Okay, the dream was quite disturbing and it would help if you were here, not there," she admits finally.
"Okay," Kara replies moving towards the bed. "If it will help you sleep, I'll stay here," she adds sitting down lightly on the edge of the bed.
"Thank you," Cat remarks with a soft smile. "Thank you for staying."
Waking up the next morning, Cat relishes the warmth of the bed before realizing that she isn't alone in it. Green eyes fly open as she takes in the sight of her bed partner. Kara mumbles softly, but doesn't wake up, instead she pulls Cat even closer.
Unsure what to do, Cat nudges her softly.
"Kara. Kara, wake up."
"Just a few more minutes," Kara murmurs softly, nuzzling into the other woman's hair.
"Rao!" She blurts out a moment later and scampers away from Cat. "I-I am so sorry, again. I mean, first I kissed you and now, I-I'm just so sorry."
"Kara, it's fine, I didn't mind the kiss," Cat says calmly. "And I believe that I asked you to stay here. In retrospect, I should have pegged you as a cuddler," she quips as she turns to get out of bed.
Pulling on her robe, she shakes her head and wordlessly heads into her ensuite.
Kara takes a moment to herself to glance around the room, the morning light streaming in the floor to ceiling windows provides a different effect than when she first saw the room last night. Yawning, she sits on the side of the bed and goes through her morning routine of mentally checking in on her family and friends, noting that each heartbeat is strong and steady. Hearing the shower turn on in the ensuite, Kara decides to head to the guest room and get ready for the day.
"The police have not identified the body, but the townhouse is owned by Steven Waller. Mr Waller has been in the news lately as he was escorted from CATCO Worldwide Media yesterday after threatening Cat Grant..."
"No comment means that I am not commenting," Cat snaps as she hangs up the phone.
"What's happening?" Kara asks as she enters Cat's home office and stares at the TV.
"Apparently Steve Waller was found dead by his neighbor," Cat informs her. "And I need to issue a statement or call a press conference, I'm not sure which yet," she adds nodding at the TV screen that has side by side photos of Cat and Waller.
Before Kara can respond, her own phone rings. She looks at the caller id and then exits the room to take the call.
"Alex?"
"Kara, um, where are you right now?" Alex questions. "I'm at the loft and it doesn't look like you were home last night."
"Alex, what is going on?" Kara asks worriedly.
"Maggie asked me to locate you, so where are you?" Alex questions again.
"I'm at Cat's. I stayed here to protect her," Kara answers. "Wait, why does Maggie want to know where I am?"
"They called her in on the Waller case... and this is off the record," Alex replies before continuing. "Whoever killed him last night entered through a balcony door that was unlocked."
"I flew over his place on my last patrol and everything seemed fine," Kara informs her sister.
"Yeah, about that. Apparently, the neighbor saw you fly by and the police want to talk to you," Alex says carefully.
"Why would they... Alex, they think that I had something to do with his death?" Kara blurts out.
Cat stands at the office doorway, she can't believe what she is hearing. She waits for Kara to finish the call before clearing her throat.
"I guess that you heard all of that?" Kara says turning around to face her.
"Yes, it would seem that we have a bit of quandary," Cat remarks.
"What do you mean?" Kara questions, still processing everything.
"Well, security footage will prove that Kara Danvers escorted me home last night, which only gives one of you an alibi," Cat points out.